Episodes

Tropes that apply to a particular single episode of a TV show.

Significant date episode
Episodes that revolve around what the characters do (or not) to celebrate culturally significant dates.


 * April Fool's Plot It's April Fools Day and everyone is having fun.
 * Christmas Episode It's Christmas Eve and everyone is having fun.
 * Crappy Holidays It's holiday season but nobody is having fun.
 * Festival Episode It's festival season and everybody is having fun.
 * Halloween Episode It's Halloween and everybody is having fun.
 * Valentine's Day Episodes It's Valentine's Day and everybody is lovesick.

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 go to the American Old West.
 * Noir Episode Episode shot in the style of film noir.
 * Parody Episode Comedic episode parodying something.
 * Storybook Episode The characters are cast as fairy tale archetypes.
 * Superhero Episode The characters gain superpowers and fight crime for an episode.

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.
 * Courtroom Episode The characters are involved in a court case.
 * Episode on a Plane The characters take a plane to somewhere and spend most of the episode on board.
 * Hot Springs Episode The characters go to the hot springs.
 * Picnic Episode The characters go on a picnic.
 * Prison Episode The characters go to prison.
 * Real World Episode The characters from fictional world come to the real one for an episode.
 * Road Trip Episode The characters go on a road trip.
 * The Show Goes Hollywood The characters go to Hollywood.
 * Space Episode The characters go to the outer space.
 * Time Travel Episode The characters go time traveling.
 * Torture Chamber Episode A character spends the episode being tortured.

Unusual situation episode
Episodes where the main cast is placed into unusual situation.


 * Broke Episode The characters are broke and must make ends meet somehow.
 * Diet Episode The characters start dieting for one episode.
 * Documentary Episode A journalist makes a documentary about the characters and their occupation.
 * Feud Episode The characters spend the episode feuding against each other.
 * Gender Separated Ensemble Episode The ensemble cast is split by gender for one episode, with their separate plots.
 * New Job Episode A character changes jobs for an episode.
 * Second Episode Morning A character has to deal with the strange events that happened in the first episode.
 * Trainwreck Episode The characters are involved in or have to deal with a major disaster.
 * Vacation Episode The characters go on a vacation.

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


 * Fever Dream Episode A character is sick and has bad trips the entire episode.
 * 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.

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


 * Door to Door Episode The characters go on a fund raising drive.
 * Fundraiser Carnival The characters organize a fundraiser carnival.
 * Guinness Episode The characters attempt to break a world record or several.
 * School Play The characters prepare and perform a play for class.
 * Musical Episode The characters prepare and perform a musical.
 * Pro Wrestling Episode The characters train for, participate in, or attend a wrestling match.

Contest/sports/game 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.
 * 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.

Character-centered episode
Episodes focusing on secondary characters, personality traits of the main cast, exotic creatures, or even inanimate objects.


 * The Bus Came Back A long gone character comes back.
 * Cryptid Episode The characters look for some mythical creature.
 * A Day in the Limelight A secondary character shifts into the narrative focus for one episode.
 * The Doll Episode Creepy episode revolving around dolls and their owners and makers.
 * Girls' Night Out Episode The female characters shift into exclusive spotlight for one episode.
 * 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.
 * 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.

(Non-)Continuity episode
Episodes important (or completely irrelevant) to the show's overall continuity.


 * Bizarro Episode Episode without any connection the prior or posterior continuity.
 * Breather Episode Light-hearted episode wedged in-between emotionally taxing ones.
 * Denouement Episode Final episode cleans up loose ends after the main story arc was concluded.
 * Filler Standalone episode produced solely to postpone advancing the main story arc.
 * Innocuously Important Episode Episode that subtly sets up the future story arc.
 * Non-Indicative First Episode First episode whose contents don't reflect the rest of the show adequately.
 * Stand Alone 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.
 * 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.
 * Very Special Episode Serious and thought-provoking episode in an otherwise lighthearted series.
 * 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.


 * Bonus Episode Episode that never aired but was added to the retail version.
 * Bottle Episode Low-budget episode to preserve production expenses for later.
 * 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 Episode 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.
 * Pilot Episode made to launch a new series.
 * Three Dimensional Episode Episode produced to be watched with 3-D glasses on.
 * 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.