10 Brilliant TV Bottle Episodes

The term "bottle episode" is a strange one. Those expecting TV shows about alcoholism or a pub fight a là Kingsman: Secret Service may be somewhat disappointed, but basically, the name refers to episodes that are filmed almost exclusively in one location with the central cast. Bottle episodes are designed to be as cheap as possible, which means that there should be no guest stars and no new sets used at all. The original idea behind bottle episodes was to keep production costs down, saving money for expensive, climactic finales, but the format has since become a staple of television. The term was first coined by the original Star Trek series, which featured a number of episodes set solely in the Starship Enterprise, presumably to save money for more of those dime store alien costumes. Starship Enterprise, "Ship-in-a-bottle," bottle episodes... you get the picture. Although a key aim of bottle episodes is to cut down costs, some classic shows have utilized the format to take things back to basics, revitalizing their characters by honing in on the dynamics that made them so popular to begin with. Some of the more famous bottle episodes won't be found on this list, but what you will see is an eclectic mix of shows from both the UK and US which push the boundaries of the format in new and exciting ways. What I'm really trying to say is... sorry Star Trek fans. Maybe next time. 10) Community - Cooperative Calligraphy In case you're still not sure what a bottle episode is exactly, we recommend you seek out this episode of Community, where the characters themselves are fully aware of their situation, openly declaring that “We’re stuck in a bottle episode!” The show has always been extremely self aware with its unique brand of humor, but "Cooperative Calligraphy" takes this to a whole new level. The aim is simple. The gang need to find Annie's missing pen and no one is allowed to leave the library until they do. While this may seem somewhat insignificant in the grand scheme of things, this basic premise reveals more about each of the main characters than perhaps they themselves wanted to know, all while remaining hilariously bizarre throughout. Abed sums up the story perfectly, offering a uniquely succinct description of bottle episodes in general while he's at it: I hate bottle episodes. They’re wall-to-wall facial expressions and emotional nuance. I might as well sit in a corner with a bucket on my head. Bonus points to Abed for the disturbing revelation that he keeps track of everyone's menstrual cycles. 9) Family Guy - Brian And Stewie One of the unique benefits of animation is that the stories can be located anywhere, restricted only by the creators imagination, so few ever bother to experiment with the bottle episode format. However, Seth MacFarlane wanted to do something special for the 150th episode of Family Guy, so the team behind the long running show took a gamble and set the entire plot in one location. The episodes that focused solely on Brian and Stewie are usually epic in scope, involving time travel and alternate dimensions, so it was brave of the show to scale things down for this landmark occasion, trapping the pair in a locked bank vault. Along the way, Brian and Stewie get wasted and shoot some guns, but most importantly, we also learn more about the two characters and their relationship in some surprisingly poignant moments. For a show that's become more ridiculous and immature as the years have passed, MacFarlane's experiment paid off in a big way, producing the best episode of Family Guy since the program's heyday around season three and four. 8) Angel - Spin The Bottle The Angel spinoff has always stood in the shadow of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but the show has had its fair share of memorable moments, including an episode where the cast were transformed into muppets and another where they hopped between dimensions. Series creator Joss Whedon was usually too busy with other shows to fully commit to Angel, but when he did take the reigns, it often resulted in some of the program's strongest episodes. One of Whedon's highlights came in the form of "Spin The Bottle," where the main cast were all trapped inside the Hyperion Hotel. Through the use of magic - what else? - Angel and the gang are all transformed into their teenage selves, which is a godsend for fans who have followed the Buffyverse since the beginning. Angel reverts to the peasant he was before vampirism struck, Wesley becomes a bumbling watcher once more, and most importantly, the episode marks the return of shallow bimbo Cordleia from her days at Sunnydale High. "Spin The Bottle" is a hilarious showcase for each of the performers and acted as a breath of fresh air for those bogged down by season fours dark outlook. As with the best bottle episodes, the writing provided new insights into each of the characters and the huge journey they've each made since first appearing on the show. 7) Red Dwarf - Marooned A low-budget British comedy set in space has no right to work, but Red Dwarf has defied all the odds, continuing to churn out new episodes since the show first debuted in 1988. While the program is fairly unique within the BBC's oeuvre, the cult success of Red Dwarf is undoubtedly due to the well rounded characters, some of whom may seem ridiculous on the surface, but actually possess far more personality than the majority of America's more celebrated comedies. For this particular bottle episode, the writers behind Red Dwarf marooned Lister and Rimmer in a crashed Starbug where the two opened up about their pasts and ate dog food to survive, because... space. While the other characters appear briefly at the beginning and end of "Marooned," the focus is kept almost entirely on Lister and Rimmer as they somehow bond, despite the constant bickering. Focusing on the show's two strongest characters was a no-brainer, but even fans were impressed by the writing on display here, shedding new light on a dynamic that has been a foundation of the show since day one. "Marooned" doesn't work as a starting point for fans new to Red Dwarf, but those dedicated to the show since its inception were rewarded with intricate characterization and hilarious season highlights. 6) The X-Files - Ice Between pricey special effects and shifting locations, The X-Files was always going to be an expensive proposition for Fox to maintain, despite the show's global popularity, so the writers regularly devised ways to reduce costs using elements of the bottle episode format. The most memorable example arrived early on in the first season, where FBI agents Mulder and Scully are called out to an Arctic research station to investigate the unusual death of a scientist. Events quickly escalate until it becomes apparent that the pair are facing an alien parasite that can infect anyone without detection. Despite blatantly stealing its premise from John Carpenter's The Thing, "Ice" is a masterclass in building tension and is often called upon as an early fan favourite. The episode is also pivotal for the way it brings Mulder and Scully's conflicting ideologies to the fore, cementing the dynamic that fans worldwide would fall in love with for many seasons to come. 5) Friends - The One Where No One's Ready Friends rarely ventured out of the cast's apartments or Central Perk and it felt strange when they occasionally did, but the action would regularly flirt between the two with a host of guest stars thrown in for good measure. "The One Where No One's Ready" took the show's typically small-scale focus and tightened it even further by setting the entire episode in just one apartment. The premise of the episode focuses on Ross's attempts to get everyone ready for an event at the museum where he works, but really, this is just an excuse to hone in on the quirks that made each individual character so iconic within the landscape of 90's comedy. Highlights include fights over a chair, drinking the fat out of a frying pan and use of the phrase "Going commando" that subsequently made its way into the popular lexicon. Friends is one of those shows that's almost universally loved, but it's easy to overlook precisely how well written each episode actually is. Anyone who doubts why a simple sitcom about six twenty-somethings became elevated to iconic status could do worse than using this bottle episode as a starting point. 4) Firefly - Out of Gas Mere mention of the word Firefly can incite a strange mixture of unbridled joy and seething frustration for those who fell in love with Whedon's one season wonder. Despite drawing an extremely dedicated cult fanbase, Firefly was cancelled after just fourteen episodes, but those who are still in mourning should at least appreciate that this allowed the show to end on a high. Although "Out Of Gas" is confined to the location of the ship, flashbacks that depict each crew members first moments on Serenity make this a powerful origin story, something that's quite unusual considering the bottle episode format the story follows. Each individual tale is pulled together by Captain Mal Reynold's struggle in the present, as he fights to preserve what little oxygen he has left on the ship. The pilot episode of Firefly was a strong opener, but "Out Of Gas" could serve as a better introduction for those trying to convince their friends that this is a program worth watching. Like the best Whedon projects, this particular episode managed to successfully juggle gripping action with tender moments of pathos that brought out something special in each of the characters. Episodes like these prove exactly why Whedon was the perfect choice to direct the Avengers movie, giving each of the iconic heroes their own time in the spotlight while still bringing them together as a cohesive unit. 3) Doctor Who - Midnight Asking a Doctor Who fan to select their favourite actor from the long running show is like asking someone to choose their favourite child, but David Tennant would certainly be high on the majority of lists. His recent run on the program had a number of highlights, but one of the most memorable episodes was Russell T. Davies take on the bottle format, simply titled "Midnight." The episode begins with the Doctor finding himself trapped onboard a shuttle. One of the passengers has been possessed by an evil spirit that repeats everything it hears, forcing them all to turn on one another as they try to figure out how to save themselves. For all of its inter-dimensional space and time travel, Doctor Who often works best when tightening the focus to the main characters and just like fan favourite "Blink," this bottle episode is extremely effective at building suspense from a relatively simple premise. 2) Breaking Bad - The Fly Breaking Bad is one of those rare dramas that achieved legendary status while still on the air, elevating Bryan Cranston to the A-list. Those still unconvinced that the show is worth trying should look no further than "The Fly," a highlight from season three that used the bottle episode format to delve even deeper into the disturbed psyches of the two main leads. As with all great bottle episodes, the premise is remarkably simple. After discovering that there is a fly in the duos meth lab, Walter White shuts down production in fear of contamination. The rest of "The Fly" then follows the two as they try and dispose of the titular bug in order to resume business. For a show already renowned for its sophisticated direction, guest filmmaker Rian Johnson stepped things up a notch further, using claustrophobic camera work and point of view shots from the fly's perspective to immerse viewers in the episode. It's hard to imagine a storyline better suited to the bottle episode format, and it easily stands among one the greatest shown yet on TV. 1) Psychoville - Give Em Enough Rope At its heart, Psychoville is a British murder mystery/sitcom that stars some of the most bizarre characters ever seen on TV, including a midwife who believes her practice doll is a real baby and a pantomime dwarf who possesses telekinetic powers. However, such a description fails to do the premise justice and in this case, Psychoville really is one of those rare shows that you need to watch for yourself to truly appreciate. Fans of the cult hit League Of Gentlemen will find much to love in Psychoville's bottle episode, which reunites the principal cast in a homage to Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Rope. The story follows the disturbed mama's boy David and his mother Maureen as they try and cover up a murder, concealing the corpse from an Inspector who stands just inches away from the body that's been hidden inside a chest. True to the movie upon which its based, "Give Em Enough Rope" constitutes one long take, aside from a couple of sneaky close-up edits that build the intensity to nightmarish proportions. The episode works exceptionally well on every level, from the claustrophobic camera work and tight scripting to the unforgettable performances given by the three leads, redefining what bottle episodes and sitcoms in general are truly capable of.

10 Brilliant TV Bottle Episodes

6) The X-Files – Ice