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I still remember when TV shows defined our conversations! There was nothing like the next day at work, everyone buzzing about a single scene. I’ve been thinking about the absolute biggest of those moments – the ones that truly stunned the nation and everyone just had to share their thoughts on. Here are five I consider to be the greatest of all time.

The Season 6 episode “Subterranean” featured Clark assisting a young immigrant in escaping a hazardous job and finding his way back to his family. The story highlighted the challenges and exploitation faced by immigrants. Given that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was using controversial methods and detaining a historically high number of people in 2026, this often-overlooked episode of Smallville feels particularly relevant today.

While talking about his new film, Alien: Romulus, director Ridley Scott shared four of his all-time favorite movies: Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, George Lucas’ Star Wars: A New Hope, his own Blade Runner, and Quest for Fire. Scott particularly praised Quest for Fire, calling it “so clever and so brilliant” and recommending it to anyone who loves movies, even though it’s a film many people may not know.

Christian Bale, the Academy Award-winning actor, is known for playing memorable characters like Batman and John Connor. However, many fans consider his role as Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film American Psycho to be his most significant. The movie, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s often-debated 1991 novel, features Bale as a wealthy Wall Street banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.

When Peter Jackson adapted the story for film in the early 2000s, the result was truly special. The movies quickly became classics, thanks to the stunning New Zealand scenery, Howard Shore’s unforgettable music, and a perfectly cast ensemble. Even after twenty years, the trilogy remains incredibly impactful.

Prime Video has been working hard to become a major player in the fantasy genre, but progress has been uneven – for every success, there seem to be setbacks. The upcoming series based on Fourth Wing offers a real opportunity for Prime Video to finally establish itself as a leader in fantasy storytelling.

The show’s lasting impact is largely thanks to the outstanding performances of John Turturro and Riz Ahmed. Ahmed’s work on the series was a turning point in his career, leading to roles in films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, an Oscar nomination for The Sound of Metal, and an Academy Award for Best Short Film for The Long Goodbye. What’s truly remarkable about The Night Of is how well it holds up even after a decade. A miniseries’ enduring relevance often depends on a strong finale, and The Night Of delivered a hauntingly perfect one.

Today’s popular martial arts shows don’t feel much like the classic kung fu films from the 1970s and 80s. Instead of recreating that older style, most are either fast-paced action series or fantasy shows that simply use martial arts as a part of the action.

The third episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea features a battle between humanity and the Sea Devils (also called Homo Aqua). Sadly, this episode sees the death of Colonel Christofer Ibrahim, played by Alexander Devrient. This came shortly after the show confirmed a romantic connection between his character and Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), a pairing fans had long speculated about and hinted at. This development made Ibrahim’s death even more shocking and upsetting for viewers.

Many great sci-fi stories use their opening credits to hint at the world they’ve created or what’s to come for the characters. However, this particular show’s opening is special – it’s like a mini-movie in itself, a complete story told without any dialogue, acting as a captivating introduction.