10 Great Television "Bottle Episodes"

This formula works! Check out this selection of great bottle episodes that have shaped television history

The term "bottle episode" refers to a type of episode in a television series that has particular characteristics:

–The episode focuses on a particular problem, usually being faced by one character. However, all the other elements of the series become entangled in this problem.
–The episode usually takes place in one location.
–Production is kept simple. There are no effects, perhaps no soundtrack, no props, just the characters and a conflict, which develops through dialog and long scenes.

Bottle episodes: what are they for?

Bottle episodes are a great device currently being used in top TV series. Dramas, sitcoms, thrillers... all genres have adopted this narrative technique in their own way. These episodes are valued as standalone pieces and some even become cult works of television. However, initially, their primary objective is to keep production costs down rather than generate audience engagement.

Producing a standard episode for a television series incurs all kinds of expenses: locations, props, transport, set design, sound design, etc. However, a "bottle episode" strips production back and usually uses just one set. Brilliant minds can create brilliant work, no matter the budget. A lack of resources simply pushes the best writers and directors to compensate with great ideas and presents an opportunity to dive deeper into your character stories and strengthen your protagonists' emotional relationship with the audience.

The origin of the term

For many reasons, Star Trek is considered a classic. One of those reasons is how it played with narrative forms–many episodes from the series have the characteristics mentioned above. The production team and cast often joked about how the whole story always took place in the same place–they referred to their set as a "ship in a bottle.”

Over time, this joke became a reference for other productions, and it became the name given to episodes that take this format.

Below is a list of 10 iconic episodes from some of the best television series ever made; not only are they great examples of this storytelling format, they are episodes that have shaped television history.

"Balance of Terror", Star Trek

Season 1, Episode 14

The series that gave birth to the term "bottle episode" includes many examples of this device, but this episode is among the best references. The main conflict is a chase through space during which Captain Kirk and the other main characters have intimate and sentimental conversations.

"The Suitcase”, Mad Men

Season 4, Episode 7

It’s Peggy's birthday, and everyone has left the office apart from Don, who cunningly drags her into his world, making her forget all about her plans for celebrating. They end up sharing their deepest secrets over hours. In this episode, the two characters establish an intimate relationship and develop an understanding of each other.

"The Chinese Restaurant”, Seinfeld

Season 2, Episode 11

The whole episode unravels while the main characters are waiting in line at a Chinese restaurant. This episode allows the audience to get to know a deeper side of the characters.

"Fly", Breaking Bad

Season 3, Episode 10

Production costs for an episode of Breaking Bad totaled, on average, $3 million, which is why the third season went over budget. Vince Gilligan decided to use this narrative technique to create the most controversial episode of one of the best series of all time. Walt and Jesse find themselves in a very tense situation when a fly gets into the lab, and the pair go on a 47-minute fly hunt, during which all of their problems come to a head inside the lab.

"Out of Gas”, Firefly

Season 1, Episode 8

This Joss Whedon series is a pop culture mystery: while it was canceled after only 13 episodes, it became a bestseller and cult series when released on DVD. This episode is full of flashbacks that help the viewer understand how the team was formed and is, for many, the best for getting to know the characters. Perhaps it simply arrived too late.

"Rixty Minutes", Rick & Morty

Season 1, Episode 8

Full of pop culture references, this is one of the most memorable and celebrated episodes of the whole series. The main characters get to see alternative versions of their lives, causing them to feel regret, anxiety, and depression.

"Pine Barrers”, The Sopranos

Season 3, Episode 11

Christopher and Paulie end up lost in a forest in winter and are stalked by a Russian mobster. Directed by Steve Buscemi, many critics consider it the best episode of the entire series.

"Ice”, The X Files

Season 1, Episode 8

This bottle episode is inspired by John Carpenter's horror classic, "The Thing" (1982). It arrived at a point in the series where Mulder and Scully’s personal and professional ties were just starting to develop.

"Free Churro”, BoJack Horseman

Season 5, Episode 6

Throughout this episode, we only hear one voice: that of Will Arnett, who voices BoJack and Butterscotch–the only characters to appear in this episode comprising two powerful monologs. The first one, lasting two minutes, is one of BoJack’s memories. The second, lasting 20 minutes, is his clumsy interpretation of the last words a loved-one said to him before he died and the churro he was given as a gift of condolence in a food place.

Spoiler alert: Don't watch this video if you prefer not to discover something important that happens.

"Cooperative Calligraphy”, Community

Season 2, Episode 8

Annie loses a pen and sets out to find out who in her study group is to blame for her stationery constantly disappearing. The character gets incredibly frustrated at the situation and ends up opening the door to an avalanche of her classmate’s discontent. A bonus is that the characters know that they are in a bottle episode.

You may also like:

–Creation and Development of Graphic Novels, a course by María Luque
–Introduction to Video Testimonials, a course by David R. Romay
–Animated Micro-Stories with After Effects, a course by Sociedad Fantasma