Best TV Drama Episodes of 2010

For six years, fans anxiously awaited answers to dozens of maddening questions about that mysterious island and the occupants we loved so dearly. Although many questions weren't exactly answered, the ending satisfied most of us on a highly emotional level. It's hard to argue that Lost was easily one of the most unique series of all-time and we'll never, ever forget those wonderful years spent trying to uncover the secrets of the island. Now if only TPTB would break their radio silence and finally pony up some answers...

We all have bad days, but Jack Bauer had 8 of the most hellish days anyone could possibly imagine. The series may have disappointed some fans in the last couple of years, but TPTB did their best to give fans an ending we could be proud of. After the Russians killed Jack's ladylove Renee, he went on a murderous rampage and became the most wanted man in the country. As the last hour counted down, Jack did finally come to his senses, but his actions would force him to become a fugitive from the very country he has saved from annihilation time and time again.  All in all, it was an incredible 192 hours of nail-biting, teeth-clenching, absolutely thrilling television.

Grey's Anatomy isn't the type of show anyone would ever put into the "thriller/horror" category, but the season six finale was an episode the fans won't soon forget. Gary Clark, the man who believed Derek murdered his wife, entered Seattle Grace and immediately began shooting anyone who tried to prevent him from finding the good doc. For hours, the hospital was a shooting gallery and even Derek took a shot to the chest and almost died on the operating table when the gunman threatened to kill Cristina if she didn't stop operating on him. In the end, two of the new doctors from Mercy West died, Alex, Derek and Owen were shot and Meredith had a miscarriage. It was without a doubt, the most intense Grey's episode to date.

Following the hugely successful 'Power of Madonna' episode last season, fans began campaigning for an episode featuring Britney Spears music and TPTB gave us exactly what we wanted. While there may be many other great episodes to choose from, I picked this episode because it featured amazing solos by underused and incredibly talented characters such as Brittany and Santana. And we won't soon forget from Ms. Spears dressed in a Cheerios uniform!

After an entire season of becoming acquainted with the characters, we were all shocked in the finale when the girl we believed to be Elena kissed, headed inside the house, cut off uncle John's fingers, removed the ring and appeared to have fatally stabbed him -- Katherine had returned and proceeded to turn the town upside down when the show returned for season 2.

For a series where blood and gore is almost as prominent as its characters, the season four finale featured one of the most shocking deaths we've seen in a long time. After murdering Arthur (the Trinity Killer), Dexter heads home and finds Rita dead in the bathtub and baby Harrison sitting in a pool of her blood -- which is exactly what happened to Dexter as a child and the main reason he became a serial killer.

Charlotte King has always been one tough lady with an enormous sexual appetite, so when she was savagely beaten and raped, we got the opportunity to see a much deeper, more vulnerable side to this sassy doc. As if the actual rape wasn't enough, poor Charlotte, who is a recovering drug addict then had to endure the unconscionable pain of getting stitches and her broken wrist set without any sort of anesthesia. At the end of the episode, viewers got to see what actually happened to Charlotte in what many call one of the most realisitic rape scenes ever shown on network television.

Anyone who is a fan of the show will likely agree when I say that every single 2010 episode of Breaking Bad should be on this list, but since I can only pick one... After beating Jesse within an inch of his life, Hank's world continues to spiral out of control when he learns that Jesse is planning to take legal action against him -- and as if that isn't bad enough, Hank gets a phone call telling him that he only has one minute to live. Sure enough, a minute later he sees the cousins coming for him. Hank manages to kill one of the cousins and after being shot several times, he grabs a gun and fires one shot at the second cousin, who is coming after him with an axe, instantly killing him.

We've all seen our fair share of unusual and disturbing things on primetime TV, but I think this one truly takes the cake... After being kidnapped by the King of Mississippi and then forced to deal with Lorena, Bill loses complete control and has a shockingly violent sexual encounter with her. No, it wasn't rape, she seemed to enjoy every minute of it -- including the part where he twists her neck around and around and around -- yes, really.

After numerous reboots, failed crime dramas and other unexciting and unoriginal series over the years, finally something completely different has come our way! Taking place at the very beginning of the prohibition in 1920, the series tells the story of the historical character Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the crime boss who controlled Atlantic City during the Prohibition. The series also follows the early days of notorious gangsters such as Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and Arnold Rothstein. A highly entertaining series that actually gives us a bit of history along the way. I think we have a new Emmy darling on our hands.