Episodes

An index of tropes regarding different episodes of any television series.

Not to be confused with the British sitcom of the same name.

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Character-Centered Episode

Episodes focusing on specific character(s), or on their personality traits.

• Ageless Birthday Episode: Same as below, except without any visible increase in age.
• Birthday Episode: Where a character's birthday is celebrated.
• The Bus Came Back: A long gone character comes back.
• A Day in the Limelight: A secondary character shifts into the narrative focus for one episode.
• Gender-Separated Ensemble Episode: The ensemble cast is split by gender for one episode, with their separate plots.
• Girls' Night Out Episode: The female characters shift into exclusive spotlight for one episode. May be related to the above.
• How Dad Met Mom: The backstory of how two parents first met.
• Lower-Deck Episode: Minor supporting characters shift into spotlight for one episode.
• Origins Episode: The origin of a previously introduced character is explained.
• Villain Episode: The antagonists shift into the spotlight.
• "Walk on the Wild Side" Episode: The responsible character becomes wild and spontaneous.
• Welcome Episode: The POV character is introduced to an established character group.
• "What Do They Fear?" Episode: The characters try to discover each other's deepest fears.
• With a Foot on the Bus: It looks like a character might leave, but they don't.

Contest/Game/Sports Episode

Episodes where the main cast participates in sports or other kinds of games and contests.

• Baseball Episode: The characters train for and participate in a baseball game.
• The Boxing Episode: The characters train for, participate in, or attend a boxing match.
• Evasive Fight-Thread Episode: The characters compete in some discipline but the outcome is never revealed.
• Mini-Golf Episode: The characters visit a mini-golf course- competition ensues.
• The Olympics: The characters partake in the Olympics, whether a local version or the real deal.
• Paintball Episode: The characters train for and participate in a paintball game.
• RPG Episode: The characters play a role-playing game for most of the episode.
• Town Contest Episode: The characters participate in a town-wide contest in some discipline.

Genre Shift Episode

The show switches genres for one episode, but keeps the main cast.

• Alternate Reality Episode: The actors play different characters in an alternate universe.
• Cowboy Episode: The characters visit the historical American frontier (or any vaguely similar setting).
• Fairy Tale Episode: The characters reenact a (parody of a) famous fairy tale.
• Noir Episode: Episode shot in the style of film noir. Black-and-white visuals and first-person narrations are usually mandatory.
• Parody Episode: Comedic episode parodying something.
• Rhyming Episode: The characters are cast in a story where they rhyme all the time.
• Sitcom Homage Episode: Episode spoofing a classic situation comedy show.
• Storybook Episode: The characters are cast as fairy tale archetypes.
• Superhero Episode: The characters gain superpowers (or at least fancy costumes) and fight crime for an episode.

Illness Episode

Episodes where members of the main cast fall ill or are injured.

• Amnesia Episode: Someone loses their memory. Hilarity may or may not ensue.
• Contamination Situation: Characters are exposed to a potentially deadly pathogen that infects them.
• The Dentist Episode: A character has to visit the dentist.
• Fever Dream Episode: A character is sick and has bad trips the entire episode.
• Injured Limb Episode: A character injures their limb.
• Lost Voice Plot: A character loses their voice (whether by disease, magic, or just straining it), and they must get it back.
• Sick Episode: One or more characters fall ill and the others tend to them.
• Single-Episode Handicap: A character is handicapped for an episode.
• The Tonsillitis Episode: A character has tonsillitis.

(Non-)Continuity Episode

Episodes important (or completely irrelevant) to the show's overall continuity.

• Bizarro Episode: Episode without any connection to the prior or following continuity.
• Breather Episode: Light-hearted episode wedged in-between emotionally taxing ones.
• Crossover: Episode that mixes in characters and settings from another series.
• Dénouement Episode: Series finale episode that cleans up loose ends after the main story arc is concluded.
• Filler: Standalone episode produced solely to postpone advancing the main story arc. Adaptations may use it to avoid running out of source material.
• Grand Finale: The epicly definitive conclusion of a whole series.
• Innocuously Important Episode: Episode that subtly sets up the future story arc.
• Mid-Season Twist: A Wham Episode that happens midway through the season.
• Non-Indicative First Episode: First episode whose contents don't reflect the rest of the show adequately.
• Pilot: An episode or (short) film made to launch a new series; a prototype of a series premiere.
• Poorly Disguised Pilot: An episode introducing new characters or a storyline for a potential spin off series.
• Premiere: The first official episode of a series, which may or may not overlap with the pilot episode.
• Standalone Episode: Episode that can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the series.
• Synchronous Episodes: Several consecutively broadcast episodes take place at the same time in-story.
• Recap Episode: Episode that sums up previous story developments.
• Season Finale: The last episode of a season, and (usually) of a seasonal story arc.
• Sequel Episode: Episode that continues the storyline of a much earlier one.
• Series Fauxnale: Episode produced as a grand finale for the series that didn't end after it.
• Stock Series Finales: Common plots often used in final episodes of shows.
• Stock Sitcom Grand Finale: Common plots for ending a situation comedy series.
• Unexpectedly Dark Episode: Episode that is dark for a light-hearted show, but doesn't leave an impact on the show.
• Very Special Episode: Episode in an otherwise lighthearted series in which the characters deal with serious real-life issues.
• Wham Episode: Episode produced to surprise or shock the viewers.
• Whole Episode Flashback: Episode consisting mainly of one long flashback.

Production Trivia Episode

Episodes notable for unusual format or production details.

• Banned Episode: An episode that was removed from the air, whether by the TV networks or national censors.
• Bonus Episode: Episode that never aired but was added to the retail version.
• Bottle Episode: Low-budget episode to preserve production expenses for later.
• Clip Show: Episode (usually a form of Recap Episode) that is largely made up of actual clips from earlier episodes.
• Extra Long Episode: Episode that is longer than usual for the show, season, or format.
• In Memoriam: Episode dedicated to a person who passed away recently in real life.
• Live Episode: Episode that is shot and broadcast in real time.
• Missing Episode: An episode which is missing from most broadcasts and retail versions.
• Multi-Part Episode: Episode split into several parts for broadcast.
• No-Dialogue Episode: Episode without any spoken lines.
• Three-Dimensional Episode: Episode produced to be watched with 3-D glasses on.
• Unfinished Episode: An episode that never gets finished or made.
• Un Installment: The series skips a number in its episode/installment progression.
• Vignette Episode: Episode composed of several vignettes.
• Webisode: Episode only available on the internet.

Significant Date Episode

Episodes that revolve around what the characters do (or not) to celebrate culturally significant dates, especially holidays.

• April Fools' Plot: It's April Fools Day and everyone is having fun.
• Christmas Episode: It's Christmas Eve and everyone is having fun. May feature Yet Another Christmas Carol.
• Crappy Holidays: It's holiday season but nobody is having fun.
• Election Day Episode: It's an election day, and someone is involved in a campaign for office.
• Festival Episode: It's festival season and the Japanese are having fun.
• Halloween Episode: It's Halloween and everybody is terrified.
• Thanksgiving Episode: It's Thanksgiving and the relatives are arguing.
• Valentine's Day Episodes: It's Valentine's Day and everybody is lovesick.

Unusual Activity Episode

Episodes where members of the main cast engage in unusual (for them) activities.

• Ballet Episode: One or more characters either try their hand at ballet or go to the ballet.
• Door-to-Door Episode: The characters go on a fund raising drive.
• Dress-Up Episode: The modern protagonists of the work in question suddenly and inexplicably need to dress as if it's the Victorian Era.
• First Day of School Episode: A character starts to attend a new year of school.
• Fundraiser Carnival: The characters organize a fundraiser carnival.
• Guinness Episode: The characters attempt to break a world record (or several); usually, Hilarity Ensues.
• Musical Episode: The characters prepare and perform a musical.
• Pro Wrestling Episode: The characters train for, participate in, or attend a wrestling match.
• School Play: The characters prepare for and/or perform a play for class.

Unusual Location Episode

Episode where the main cast goes to places they don't usually hang out at.

• Beach Episode: The characters go to a beach.
• Boot Camp Episode: The characters receive military training.
• Camping Episode: The characters go camping.
• Casino Episode: The characters go to a casino.
• Circus Episode: The characters get involved with a circus for an episode.
• Courtroom Episode: The characters are involved in a court case.
• Detention Episode: The characters go to a detention room in school.
• Episode on a Plane: The characters take a plane to somewhere and spend most of the episode on board.
• Grocery Store Episode: The characters go shopping for food and other goods.
• Hot Springs Episode: The characters go to the hot springs.
• Movie Theater Episode: The characters go watch a film at the local cinema.
• Picnic Episode: The characters go on a picnic.
• Prison Episode: The characters go to prison.
• Real World Episode: The characters come from their fictional world to the 'real' one for an episode.
• Road Trip Plot: The characters go on a road trip. AKA "Road Trip Episode".
• The Show Goes Hollywood: The characters go to Hollywood.
• Space Episode: The characters go to outer space.
• Vacation Episode: The characters go on a vacation.
• Viva Las Vegas!: The characters go to Vegas for an episode.

Unusual Situation Episode

Episodes where the main cast is placed into unusual situations.

• Alien Episode: The characters encounter extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth, whether hostile or friendly.
• Baby Morph Episode: One or more characters is transformed into a baby and the others must take care of them.
• Babysitting Episode: The characters have to babysit someone.
• Big Storm Episode: There's a big storm. The characters have to work around it.
• Broke Episode: The characters are broke and must make ends meet somehow.
• Cryptid Episode: The characters go and search for some kind of mysterious mythical creature.
• Diet Episode: The characters start dieting for one episode.
• Documentary Episode: A journalist makes a documentary about the characters and their occupation.
• The Doll Episode: Creepy episode revolving around dolls and their owners and makers.
• Feud Episode: The characters spend the episode feuding against each other.
• Insomnia Episode: A character is unable to sleep for unknown reasons for one episode.
• New Job Episode: A character changes jobs for an episode.
• Paranormal Episode: The characters find themselves dealing with a paranormal/supernatural situation in an otherwise mundane setting.
• Parents for a Day: A baby or something like it is raised, who leaves by the end of the episode.
• "Rear Window" Homage: A character forced to sit around in their bedroom ends up recreating the plot of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.
• Second Episode Morning: A character has to deal with the strange events that happened in the first episode.
• Society-on-Edge Episode: The characters have to deal with how volatile and unstable the setting has recently become.
• Strike Episode: The characters go on strike.
• Superstition Episode: A character does something considered unlucky and has bad luck for the rest of the episode.
• "Stuck at the Airport" Plot: The airport is Snowed-In and the flight's been cancelled. Or was it some kind of terrorist attack?
• Time Travel Episode: The characters go back and/or forth through time.
• Toilet Training Plot: The characters attempt to toilet-train another character (usually a small child).
• Torture Chamber Episode: A character spends the episode being tortured.
• Trainwreck Episode: The characters are involved in or have to deal with a major disaster.
• Treasure Hunt Episode: The characters look for treasure.
• Vampire Episode: The characters encounter undead bloodsuckers.
• Vegetarian For A Day: Characters go vegetarian for the episode and then go back to their normal eating habits by the end.

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