Some of the highest-rated TV episodes from a show chronicle stories that de-center the main character. Sometimes, these narratives are bottle episodes, but they don’t necessarily have to fall into this format for them to focus on secondary characters.Some TV show’s bottle episodes are pointless, and these detract from the overall quality of the series. However, spending time away from the protagonists andgetting to know other characters can help the worldbuilding of the show and make the audience more investedin the overarching plot. Additionally, these episodes can save money and time for showrunners and producers.
There are creative ways to work around the main character’s arc, and these storylines demonstrate how creative the writers of a TV series are.
Leaving out the protagonist for a few episodes doesn’t indicate that aTV show is disrespectful to its main characters, as their return after a break in the action makes the viewer appreciate them more. There are creative ways to work around the main character’s arc, and these storylines demonstrate how creative the writers of a TV series are. This is why they’re often so well-received by critics. Every genre of television incorporates these episodes into their plot, andin recent years, streaming shows have been even more innovative in approaching these subjects.
10Doctor Who (1963–Present) - “Blink”
Season 3, Episode 10
“Blink” premiered during David Tennant’s first era onDoctor Whoas the tenth Doctor. Steven Moffat, who went on to become the showrunner for many seasons, wrote one of the most iconic episodes in the series' history.“Blink” saw the Doctor and their companion Martha (Freema Agyeman) trapped in the pastthanks to the Weeping Angels. This was the first episode to introduce the Weeping Angels, one of the most terrifying antagonists inDoctor Who.
Mulligan is a great actress, and the episode is so good that the viewer barely misses the Doctor.
Since the Doctor and Martha are stuck in the past,the audience follows the story of Sally Sparrow, played by a young Carey Mulligan,as she encounters the Angels and becomes the lifeline for the Doctor and Martha to return to the present. The audience only sees the Doctor in person a few times throughout the episode, with their longest scene being a recorded videotape message giving Sally instructions to find the Tardis and stop the angels. Mulligan is a great actress, and the episode is so good that the viewer barely misses the Doctor.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on July 06, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
All 10 Doctor-Lite Episodes In Doctor Who, Ranked Worst To Best
In Doctor Who’s modern era, there are several Doctor-Lite episodes, and with the Time Lord missing from the story, someone else has to take over.
9Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996–2003) - “The Wish”
Season 3, Episode 9
After getting her heart broken by Xander inBuffy The Vampire Slayerseason 3, Cordelia makes a wish without thinking that has dire consequences for the entire world.“The Wish” marks the first appearance of Anya, who’s still a vengeance demon,when she comes to town after sensing Cordelia’s deep feeling of betrayal. After some goading, Cordelia wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale, and Anya grants her request. From the beginning, it’s Cordelia’s episode, and Buffy is gone or in the background.
Cordelia wakes up to find Sunnydale ravaged by vampires, as Buffy wasn’t there to stop the Masterfrom rising. Willow and Xander have been turned into vampires, and Giles is fighting against the forces of evil with a ragtag group of students. Towards the end of the episode, Buffy reappears, but she’s not the Buffy that audiences know and love. She’s independent, stubborn, and uninterested in working with others, and in this alternate reality, the Master kills her.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
8Atlanta - “B.A.N.”
Season 1, Episode 7
Donald Glover’s character, Earn, is only addressed offscreen in theAtlantaseason 1 episode “B.A.N.,“as the majority of the story revolves around Paper Boi’s experience on a talk show on the Black American Network. Brian Tyree Henry is at his best in “B.A.N.,” touching upon relevant social issues like the intersection of gender and race in his conversation with an activist who’s invited to speak alongside him. The episode is intercut with surrealist commercials and asides of different characters who’ve never been seen before.
Glover has proven himself to be a visionary in film, television, music, and many other facets of the creative industries.
Glover has proven himself to be a visionary in film, television, music, and many other facets of the creative industries.Donald Glover’s best movies and TV showsincludeAtlantaat the top of the list, as his contributions as a writer, actor, and director made the show the incredible work of television that it is.“B.A.N.” was both written and directed by Glover,and his absence from the episode allows Henry to shine and for the audience to learn more about Paper Boi and the show’s take on the political climate without bogging down the overarching story.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a TV series created by and starring Donald Glover as Earnest “Earn” Marks as he navigates life in the Georgia capital. Most of Earnest’s focus is on improving his and his daughter’s life. From attempting to make amends with his former girlfriend Vanessa (Zazie Beats) to helping his cousin Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, Earnest does what he can. Atlanta tends to follow separate story arcs in an anthology-like approach in the later seasons with a surreal style.
7Smallville (2001–2017) - “Gemini”
Season 7, Season 9
Lois Lane takes center stage in theSmallvilleepisode “Gemini,“as Clark has been missing from Smallville. However, he reappears and works with Lana to save Chloe from a bomb that Adrian has planted. Adrian reveals to Lois that he’s a clone Lex Luthor created, and by the end of the story, Grant realizes that he’s one of Lex’s clones as well. “Gemini” is full of shocking betrayals and revelations between the secondary characters inSmallville.
Tom Welling is still present in the episode but as Bizzaro instead of Superman.Bizzaro is masquerading as Clark throughout the episode, making it seem as though he’s presentwhen he’s frozen in the fortress of solitude. Though the actor who plays Clark is in the episode, the actual character never makes an appearance. It’s a clever way to subvert audience expectations and set up the frightening arc with Bizarro that unfolds in the later episodes.
Smallville
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
6Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) - “Lower Decks”
Season 7, Episode 15
The “redshirt” stereotype for disposable characters originated from theStar Trekfranchise, but theStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode “Lower Decks” subverts this trope. In the season 7 episode,a group of junior officers go through the trials and tribulations of moving up in the ranks of Starfleetand how every day can turn into a dangerous mission aboard the ship. While the show usually chronicled the stories of the senior officers on the bridge, “Lower Decks” reminded the audience that there are teams of important people working below their feet.
“Lower Decks” has been singled out as one of the best episodes of the series many times and is a highlight of the seventh season.
“Lower Decks” showswhy Patti Yasutake’s Nurse Ogawa was so important toStar Trek: TNG, as Yasutake’s performance is the emotional heart of the story. The story of the episode becomes surprisingly poignant and emotional, asthe death included in the narrative is a devastating moment of lossfor the characters who aren’t often centered by the series. “Lower Decks” has been singled out as one of the best episodes of the series many times and is a highlight of the seventh season.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
5The Sopranos (1999–2007) - “Pine Barrens”
Season 3, Episode 11
Though James Gandolfini usually carried every episode ofThe Sopranos, he’s almost completely absent in “Pine Barrens,” which centers on Christopher and Paulie. While Christopher’s backstory and side stories had been developed up to this point, Paulie remained more of a mystery despite his growing tension with Tony. WhileThe Sopranosconsistently paints its characters as deeply flawed and imperfect,Paulie and Chris are at their worst in “Pine Barrens,” making it a scrutinizing character study.
The episode sees Christopher and Paulie lost and trapped in the New Jersey Pine Barrensin the middle of winter to dump the body of a rival mafia member. “Pine Barrens' devolves into a narrative reminiscent ofLord of the Fliesas Chris and Paulie have to survive in the wilderness in ways they never have before. Additionally, they are forced to grapple with the violence of their actions and the fact that Tony cares little about their safety and lives.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
4The Last Of Us (2023–Present) - “Long, Long Time”
Season 1, Episode 3
The Last of Usis one of the most faithful video game adaptations on TV, but episode 3 of the series, “Long, Long Time,” reimagined an aspect of the game in a beautiful way.Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett play Bill and Frank, lovers who meet and build a lifetogether during the apocalypse. Joel and Ellie hit the road heading to their home for help, and the story splits off, explaining the backstory of the two men and their relationship.
Though they fall for each other in the midst of violence, the narrative that unfolds in the narrative is human and relatable.
Though they fall for each other in the midst of violence, the narrative that unfolds in the narrative is human and relatable. Joel and Ellie are in the story at the beginning and end of the episode, but the love story and experience of growing old together in the middle of violence is what sustains the project.The Last of Usis a generally violent and unforgiving show, demonstrating some of the worst of humanity, and"Long, Long Time” is an empathetic look at people’s experiences and a welcome change from the cruelty.
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
3The Bear (2022–Present) - “Honeydew” & “Forks”
Season 2, Episodes 4 & 7
The Bearseason 2 has some of the strongest episodes of the series, and there are two incredible standalone stories within the arc.“Honeydew” sees Marcus travel to Copenhagen to work in a different kitchenand expand his horizons to develop new desserts for the restaurant. Marcus is one of the characters that the series hadn’t focused on as much, and “Honeydew” opened viewers' eyes to his relationship with food, his career, and himself. His conversations with guest star Will Poulter reveal a lot about him and leave Carmy in the background.
Conversely, “Forks” has a few scenes between Ritchie and Carmy, but the episode primarily deals with Ritichie’s time in another Chicago kitchen, which changes him forever. One of the highest-rated episodes of the season,“Forks,” explains to the audience what makes the fine dining industry so specialand humanizes Ritchie in an unexpected way. He learns a lot and decides that working at the restaurant and giving people amazing experiences with food is what he wants.
The Bear Season 2’s Fork References Have A Deeper Meaning Than You Realized
The Bear season 2 makes numerous references to forks over its 10-episode run, and these allusions may have a deeper meaning than it seems.
2BoJack Horseman (2014–2020) - “See Mr. Peanutbutter Run”
Season 4, Episode 1
In the season premiere ofBoJack Horsemanseason 4, the somewhat nebulous character of Mr. Peanutbutter is explored in “See Mr. Peanutbutter Run.“After the explosive events of the season 3 finale, BoJack is missing from the series,leaving the audience on the edge of their seats wondering what happened to him. However, Mr. Peanutbutter’s bid for Governor of California is more than enough to capture the attention of viewers in the episode.
Diane starts to realize that she isn’t happy with Mr. Peanutbutter and tries to get in contact with BoJack, but he remains out of the picture.
Much of the episode is a searing comment about the nature of politics and campaigns in the U.S., andBoJack Horsemanwas always a series that was in conversation with relevant cultural and social issues. However,the story is equally about Mr. Peanutbutter’s rise to fame and the events that made him the man he is,as well as his relationship with Diane. Diane starts to realize that she isn’t happy with Mr. Peanutbutter and tries to get in contact with BoJack, but he remains out of the picture.
BoJack Horseman
Once the famous star of a hit sitcom, BoJack Horseman has fallen on tough times. Stuck in a major career slump and longing to relive his glory days, BoJack attempts to once more become relevant in an industry that has long since turned its back on him. With a few dysfunctional friends at his side, BoJack begins his long-overdue career comeback.
1Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) - “Zuko Alone”
Season 2, Episode 7
Zuko’s character arc inAvatar: The Last Airbenderis one of the best redemption stories ever seen on TV, in animation or live-action. While Zuko is a vital character in the series, he serves as an antagonist until the final season, and Aang is inarguably the protagonist of the show. Aang is nowhere to be seen in “Zuko Alone,” asthe episode picks up with Zuko exiled in the Earth Kingdom after having parted ways with his Uncle Iroh.
Zuko has spent his life believing the rhetoric of the Fire Nation and his tyrant father, even after he was banished. However, his time with an Earth Kingdom family whose son is fighting in the war and the people who prey on them changes him.“Zuko Alone” is a turning point for Zukoand is one of his first steps towards becoming a hero and joining forces with Aang. The episode demonstrates why Zuko is one of the best and most complex characters in the show.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
