Top 10 Memorable TV Moments of 2018

Just like every year, 2018 had a lot of noteworthy moments on TV.  And once again, I’ll be enumerating in this list, not necessarily those that entertained me best, but those that retained in my memory the most.  Here are ten:

10.) The Winchester Brothers Meet the Scooby Gang

I don’t follow Supernatural, but I was compelled to watch the 16^th episode of its 13^th season, “Scoobynatural”, because it involved Sam and Dean getting sucked into the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode “A Night of Fright Is Not Delight.”  It was such a bizarre, hilarious, delightful, smart crossover that I just have to put it in this list.

9.) A Telepathic Battle Manifesting as a Dance Battle

What I can appreciate about Legion is that it’s a show that doesn’t play it safe.  It always takes a wild swing, which is why it has some bad misses – going overboard with the weirdness to the point of messiness.  But when it does connect, oh boy, it produces clever, awesome scenes like the time David engaged Oliver and Lenny (who are both under the influence of the Shadow King) in psychic combat, which was visually interpreted as a quirky dance battle.

8.) Ken Jeong Incinerates Shaq

In the past, my “memorable TV moments” lists only feature TV shows of fictional content.  But in 2018, two of the most unforgettable TV moments I had happened in non-fiction programs.  The first was over-the-top comedian Ken Jeong utterly owning basketball legend Shaquille O’neal – someone who has always fancied himself as something of a rapper – when they faced off in the season two premier of Drop the Mic, a show that spun off from a segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden.  Speaking of James Corden…

7.) Tom Cruise Takes James Corden Skydiving

In a previous guesting in The Late Late Show with James Corden, Cruise challenged Corden to sky dive with him, and the latter accepted.  Well, when that day arrived, Corden looked like he was regretting his decision more and more as the jump got nearer and nearer.  The genuine anguish that Corden underwent was tremendously hilarious, and his eventual childlike glee when he was finally diving in the sky was somewhat adorable.  Most importantly, the whole thing was another opportunity to grow in respect and awe of Tom Cruise.  The 56-year-old badass actor displaying his veteran sky diving skills in contrast to the hapless Corden was amazing to watch.  (Side note: another fantastic moment in The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2018 was Paul McCartney’s guesting in Carpool Karaoke.  It was easily the most uplifting moment on late night TV in years.  I recommend watching these two segments in Youtube.)

6.) Cheryl Blossom Becomes the Southside Serpent’s Muscle

In 2018, Riverdale – being, well, Riverdale – had had insane moments in spades, with mixed results.  But the most memorable of the lot – and one that entertainingly works – is when Cheryl Blossom just randomly became the female version of Oliver Queen, but in red.  Not only that, she also turned into a prominent member – and enforcer – of the Southside Serpents.  It was so delightfully crazy that I had to immediately write about it when it happened.

5.) Colleen Wing Becomes the Iron Fist

Danny Rand relinquishing the power of the Iron Fist to Colleen Wing was an unexpected, thrilling development in Iron Fist season two.  Thus, it really sucks that we won’t get to see how this new status quo will play out as the show was cancelled.

4.) Matt Murdock Fights His Way Out of a Rioting Prison

It has been the tradition of Daredevil to showcase one brutal, one-take action sequence per season, in which Daredevil has to fight through waves and waves of opponents as he moves along hallways, stairways, and other tight places.   Season 3 arguably had the best of such, as a drugged Matt Murdock had to fight for his life while escaping a prison full of inmates that have been let loose by the Kingpin to kill him.  Unfortunately, there might not be another opportunity for the show to up this as it was cancelled along with Luke Cage and Iron Fist (hopefully, these shows are revived elsewhere).

3.) Beebo vs. Mallus

One of the highest points of Legends of Tomorrow, if not the highest, is the season three finale.  It wraps up the season’s arcs nicely, and calls up various elements and characters that were shown during the season.  It was a quintessential season finale.  But the best part about it was when five of the Legends, using the mystical totems of Zambesi, had to combine and summon up an avatar of the personification of good which can fight the powerful demon Mallus, the season’s big bad.  And what did they produce?  A giant Beebo (a plush toy analogous to Tickle Me Elmo which appeared a couple of times in earlier episodes of the season).  The resulting titanic throwdown was a hilarious, kickass spectacle.

2.) Voltron Vehicle Force Cameo

Right from the very start of watching Voltron: Legendary Defender, I was hoping that the Voltron Vehicle Force would somehow show up, fit into the story, and team up with the Voltron Lion Force.  That didn’t happen in the show.  But at the end part of the series finale, it was stated that the Holts were working to create a new generation of Legendary Defenders, and what was briefly shown was clearly the Vehicle Force.  It’s not necessarily an indication of a spin-off series, but it was a fantastic Easter egg for fans of the classic Voltron cartoons to enjoy.

1.) Alucard, Trevor, and Sypha Bringeth the Smackdown upon Dracula’s Castle

The climactic battle in the penultimate episode of Castlevania season two is the payoff of the slow burn pace prior it.  The trio of Alucard, Trevor, and Sypha stepping into Dracula’s castle, interrupting the vampire civil war ensuing inside it, and proceeding to destroy everyone in their path was such a glorious moment.  It’s a huge reason why I consider Castlevania season two is a masterpiece.