We’ve just hit fall and the new television seasons are dawning. So it seems like a good time to look back into my brain and see what episodes stood out in the last year. Here’s the first half of my list in order of airing dates:

Update: I should have warned that there are spoilers all over, so tread carefully.

Avatar: The Last Airbender
“The Blind Bandit”
Season 2: Episode 6
First aired: 5/5/2006
Writer: Michael Dante DiMartino
Director: Ethan Spaulding

In search for an Earthbending teacher for Aang, the kids go to an underground Earthbending tournament called Earth Rumble 6, where they encounter Toph (aka the Blind Bandit), a blind, but powerful Earthbending girl. After seeing her unique style of Earthbending, Aang wants Toph to become his teacher, but there are complications with Toph’s family.

What makes it great: While the stories and animation of this show are consistently excellent, this is the episode that made me really curious about the actual fighting styles of each culture. According to Wikipedia: “The creators use Tai Chi for waterbending, Hung Gar for earthbending (although Toph employs a Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis style), Northern Shaolin for firebending, and Ba Gua for airbending.” Also, this episode introduces Toph, who has become my favorite character. It’s amazing how deeply developed she feels in her first minute on the show.

Venture Bros.
“20 Years to Midnight”
Season 2: Episode 5
First aired: 8/6/2006
Writer: Christopher McCulloch
Director: Christopher McCulloch

Brock’s discovery of a lost videotape from Jonas Venture Sr. sends the team across the globe to find four vital components needed to save the world. Now all they have to do is overcome a strung-out Jonny Quest, a blissed-out Colonel Gentleman, and a paranoid Professor Impossible. While the Grand Galactic Inquisitor watches over them all.

What makes it great: It’s hard to pick a Venture Bros. episode out of the hilarious bunch, but this one really did it for me. Stephen Colbert as Professor Impossible is always brilliant (”You were a daydreamer, a sass-mouth, and, not infrequently, a bit of a gigglepuss.”). And Johnny Quest apparently became a heroin addict. Although the best line in the season goes to Hank in the episode Guess Who’s Coming to State Dinner?: “Honest Abe’s a ‘mo…”

Deadwood
“The Catbird Seat”
Season 3: Episode 11
First aired: 8/20/2006
Writer: Bernadette McNamara
Director: Gregg Fienberg

Hearst follows up Alma’s close call with one that’s decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie decides to take matters into her own hands. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from Custer City.

What makes it great: I put this here simply because this show always needs mention. But I picked this episode because it has some of the most memorable moments of the entire series. The most brilliant one being Bullock escorting Alma down the street. Sounds simple enough, but the amount of tension in that scene is astounding.

Battlestar Galactica
“Exodus, Part 2″
Season 3: Episode 4
First aired: 10/20/2006
Writer: David Weddle, Bradley Thompson
Director: Felix Enriquez Alcala

Tigh must decide the fate of his wife Ellen after the assistance she rendered to the Cylons. Lee struggles with his assignment to protect the civilian fleet on its journey toward Earth while Adama returns to New Caprica with just the Galactica. The Resistance coordinates an attack on the Cylons just as Galactica arrives. As the Cylons begin to lose control, Number Three (D’Anna Biers) vows to put a final end to the New Caprican experiment.

What makes it great: Remember Neo grabbing on to his harness’ rope and being slid across the rooftop by Trinity’s falling helicopter? How about Aragorn and Theoden riding out of Helm’s Deep, or Legolas taking down the oliphaunt? John McClane jumping from the rooftop of Nakatomi Plaza? Indiana Jones being dragged under a truck? These are what I call “FTW moments”: When action scenes built up to these instances of shear glory. The first I remember as a child is the “double jeopardy scene” in Superman: The Movie, when Superman catches Lois Lane and then the helicopter. The point of all this is that I NEVER thought I’d get a FTW moment on TV. And then I watched a certain scene in this episode as my hands covered my gaping mouth. “This is the Admiral. All hands brace for turbulence”.

[On to part 2]