Although it’s become more common in recent years, a TV show reaching 100 episodes remains a huge deal.

It’s the point at which the show can be made available for syndication, and thus offers the networks the chance to make even more money off it, but it also marks a milestone worthy of celebration.

Not all shows take the chance – The Simpsons sent it up by having “I will not celebrate meaningless milestones” as the chalkboard gag, and its younger sibling Futurama missed the mark – but when shows do nail it, it offers up an episode that perfectly encapsulates and celebrates the past, continues the present, and lays groundwork for the future.

Honourable Mention: Brooklyn Nine-Nine – 99

As is befitting of the show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine chose to have their milestone instalment an episode early, making a big song-and-dance out of the 99th episode instead.

While that technically disqualifies it from the list, it’s nonetheless a brilliant example of everything the show does well: it has all of its great ensemble together, Die Hard references, Boyle trying to be Rosa’s friend, the Jake/Holt dynamic at play, Hitchcock being awful, and a whole lot of heart, even ending with each character saying “NINE NINE!”[/nextpage][nextpage]

10. Parks And Rec – Second Chunce

As 100th episodes go, especially for an NBC sitcom, Parks and Rec’s Second Chunce feels like a little bit more of a low-key affair, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. And if the scale is smaller, it makes up for it by serving as an essential component in the show’s turn towards its eventual endgame.

The plotline sees Ben and Leslie going on holiday to Paris, Ann and Chris learn the sex of their baby, and Tom finally realises his business RENT-A-SWAG is over, but what particularly makes this stand out as a special episode is what it represents to Leslie.

It’s here she realises her political goals could and perhaps should be bigger than Pawnee, and that she really is ready to move on. Coupled with the progression for a number of other characters, and a check-in with so many of the Pawnee townspeople who helped make the setting feel so real and lived in, and you’ve got a milestone episode that is more concerned with the future than the past, and that itself is cause for celebration.[/nextpage][nextpage]

9. Arrow – Invasion

Like Batman and Smallville before it, Arrow became the latest DC Comics show to reach three figures in its fifth season, and it celebrated in style.

The episode, Invasion, was part of that year’s epic Arrowverse crossover, which this time was dealing with an alien invasion. For Arrow’s instalment, it really decided to go heavy on homaging the past while doing everything the show had become known for.

Key players from throughout the show’s run returned, including Laurel Lance and Oliver’s parents, helping to give the hour a strong emotional core, and that was accompanied by a great action set-piece and some incredible Easter eggs.[/nextpage][nextpage]

8. Friends – The One Hundredth

Friends took the approach of having a huge climactic moment for its 100th episode, rather than something looking back, with Phoebe giving birth to her brother’s triplets.

It’s a rare moment in the spotlight for Pheebs, and the episode uses the birth for humour and pathos alike. There are some truly hilarious moments, especially involving the Fonzy-loving doctor, and Ross coaching Joey through passing his kidney stones, while Frank Jr screaming “Chandler’s a girl, Chandler’s a girl!” is iconic.

But it’s in the quiet moments Phoebe shares with the triplets, right before she has to give them up, that this episode really shines. Friends has rarely been so emotional.[/nextpage][nextpage]

7. Frasier – The 1000th Show

With its 100th episode upon it, Frasier took the opportunity to celebrate two milestones with one episode, by factoring in Dr Frasier Crane’s 1000th radio show into the instalment.

Frasier initially attempts to play down the milestone, but before long there’s a huge party taking place at Seattle’s Space Needle. There’s just one minor problem: the doc himself isn’t there.

The episode proceeds to play out as a classic example of Frasier’s high-farce comedy, with Frasier and Niles attempting to get to the celebrations and running into an increasingly ridiculous array of hurdles.

(Excerpt) Read More at: WhatCulture.com[/nextpage]