1. Lucy in a Kilt: “Lucy Goes to Scotland” – I Love Lucy
Sometimes a show tries something different, and it just doesn’t land. That’s the story with “Lucy Goes to Scotland.” It’s a long dream sequence filled with music, kilts, and fantasy fluff that feels completely out of place in Lucy’s usual world of quick laughs and relatable hijinks. Fans tune in expecting comedy gold and walk into a confusing 1700s pageant. Even Lucille Ball’s charm can’t save it. On forums and fan sites, longtime viewers often admit they skip this one completely. One YouTube comment nailed it: “It felt like watching a school play that never ends.” It’s the kind of experiment people respect in theory, but most rewatchers don’t make it past the first few minutes.
2. “The One with the Invitation” – Friends
When you’re binging Friends, you’re probably not in the mood to rewatch scenes you’ve already seen five times. That’s what makes “The One with the Invitation” one of the most skipped episodes. It’s a clip show, built around Ross sending wedding invites and flashing back to his relationship with Rachel. The clips are sentimental, but they slow the season’s pace to a crawl. The laughs are few, and the fresh content is barely ten minutes long. One fan review said, “It felt like filler for syndication.” And for a show so full of big moments, this one doesn’t move anything forward. Fans usually skip it to get back to the actual story.
3. “Scott’s Tots” – The Office
There are cringe moments, and then there’s “Scott’s Tots.” What starts as a classic Michael Scott setup turns into a slow-motion disaster. Years earlier, he promised a class of underprivileged kids he’d pay their college tuition. When the day comes, he can’t deliver. It’s not just uncomfortable—it’s painful. “I’ve only watched it once, and that was enough,” one fan wrote on Reddit. Even die-hard fans avoid it on rewatches. The kids’ hope and Michael’s slow breakdown make it feel more like a tragedy than comedy. It’s often used as a litmus test to see how much secondhand embarrassment a viewer can handle. Most people agree it’s best skipped entirely.
4. “The Fly” – Breaking Bad
Every show has a moment where it tries to do something symbolic or artistic, but “The Fly” from Breaking Bad pushes patience to its limit. The entire episode takes place in the lab, where Walter becomes obsessed with a single fly contaminating their workspace. It’s quiet, filled with pauses, and honestly, not much happens. Some call it a brilliant metaphor, but many fans just don’t have the energy for it. One person on Twitter said, “I get what they were going for, but it was a waste of 45 minutes.” When you’re watching an intense show with drug lords and shootouts, a fly hunt feels like slamming the brakes.
5. “Lisa Goes Gaga” – The Simpsons
Celebrity cameos can be fun, but “Lisa Goes Gaga” proves there’s a limit. Lady Gaga swoops into Springfield with sparkly outfits and glittery monologues, but the story never really lands. Instead of the usual wit and layered jokes The Simpsons is known for, this episode feels like a long celebrity endorsement. Even loyal fans were puzzled. One review on AV Club called it “the most un-Simpsons episode ever.” Lisa’s internal struggle with popularity is drowned in spectacle, and it feels more like a music video than a sitcom. Many longtime viewers list it as their least favorite, and it’s usually skipped during rewatches without a second thought.
6. “The Secret War” – Stranger Things
Season 2 of Stranger Things was cruising along when suddenly Eleven left town and met up with a group of edgy street punks. That’s “The Secret War.” It breaks away from Hawkins completely and introduces characters who never show up again. The mood shifts from eerie small-town suspense to urban rebellion, and it just doesn’t feel like the same show. One fan said it best: “It felt like a different series trying to sneak in through the back door.” Even the show’s creators admitted it was divisive. When rewatching the series, most fans skip straight from Episode 6 to 8 and pretend this one never happened.
7. “Song Beneath the Song” – Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s has never shied away from emotional risks, but when the doctors started singing during surgery, it was a curveball many weren’t ready for. “Song Beneath the Song” is a full-on musical episode that tries to blend trauma and Broadway. Some fans found it touching. Others found it awkward, jarring, and totally out of sync with the rest of the season. “It felt like I was watching Glee in a hospital,” said one user on Tumblr. The idea was bold, but the execution pulled viewers out of the moment. During rewatches, fans often skip this one to stay in the emotional groove of the main storyline.
8. “Stranger in a Strange Land” – Lost
When Lost was firing on all cylinders, it gave us thrilling mysteries and emotional depth. Then came this episode about Jack’s tattoos. “Stranger in a Strange Land” pulls the story to a stop and gives us a flashback that doesn’t feel important. Even the creators later admitted it didn’t add much to the plot. Instead of solving island mysteries or building suspense, the episode focuses on Jack’s past romance and body ink. Fans often call it the worst episode in the series. One reviewer on Den of Geek wrote, “It’s the kind of detour that makes you wonder why it was greenlit.” Most viewers skip it without feeling like they’ve missed anything meaningful.
9. “The Puerto Rican Day” – Seinfeld
Seinfeld’s brilliance came from turning everyday moments into hilarious chaos. But “The Puerto Rican Day” felt different. The gang gets stuck in traffic after a parade, and the story goes nowhere fast. While it was one of the show’s final episodes, it didn’t deliver the clever punch most fans expected. The pacing felt slow, the jokes didn’t land, and it stirred controversy for its depiction of cultural events. NBC even pulled it from syndication for a while. “It just wasn’t funny,” one fan said on a Seinfeld forum. Today, many fans skip it during rewatches, preferring episodes that better reflect the show’s sharp, observational humor.
10. “Still” – The Walking Dead
By the time Season 4 rolled around, fans of The Walking Dead were used to tense, unpredictable storytelling. Then came “Still,” a slow-paced character piece focused entirely on Daryl and Beth. While it tried to explore their backstories and emotional scars, it ended up feeling like a stalled moment in an otherwise intense season. They wander, drink moonshine, and bond, but plot-wise, not much happens. “I respect the effort, but I skip it every time,” one viewer wrote on Twitter. In a show filled with cliffhangers and danger, this episode felt like pressing pause. It’s not offensive, just forgettable, and most fans quietly bypass it during rewatches.
11. “The Long Night” – Game of Thrones
The Battle of Winterfell was hyped as a television milestone, but when fans tuned in, they could barely see a thing. “The Long Night” was visually so dark that many viewers adjusted their screens in frustration. Cinematic ambition clashed with practical viewing, and instead of feeling epic, the battle felt confusing. The cinematographer later said it was intentional, but most fans didn’t care. “I turned off all the lights and still couldn’t follow what was happening,” one Redditor complained. For a scene that should have been unforgettable, many remember it only for its poor visibility. On rewatches, they skip to brighter, more satisfying moments.
12. “Twisted” – Star Trek: Voyager
Voyager took a strange turn with “Twisted,” where the ship’s layout constantly changes, trapping the crew in an endless loop. At first, it seems intriguing. But as the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that the plot isn’t going anywhere. The characters wander the halls, repeat conversations, and solve nothing. “It felt like a sci-fi maze with no ending,” one fan wrote. Even die-hard Trekkies admit this one doesn’t do the series justice. What was intended to be mysterious ends up being boring and repetitive. It’s the kind of episode you forget exists until it comes up during a binge, and then you quietly skip it.
13. “The Blood” – Seinfeld
Kramer’s antics are usually hilarious, but in “The Blood,” things veer into odd territory. He stores his own blood in Jerry’s freezer for safekeeping, which sets off a bizarre chain of events. Instead of punchy jokes, the humor here feels off-kilter and dark. Even loyal fans of Kramer’s outrageous ideas found this one a little much. “It didn’t feel like Seinfeld,” one fan wrote on a Reddit thread. The tone felt uneven, and the storyline more unsettling than funny. As a result, it’s one of those episodes that fans rarely revisit. In a sea of clever episodes, this one just doesn’t hold up.
14. “Valentine’s Day” – The Office (Season 2, Ep. 16)
The Office has some of the best holiday episodes in TV history, but “Valentine’s Day” doesn’t quite make the list. Michael heads to corporate while the rest of the team exchanges gifts and awkward flirtations. It has a few sweet moments but lacks the usual bite and pacing fans expect. “It’s not bad, but I always forget it exists,” one fan posted on Facebook. Unlike the Christmas parties or the chaotic Dundies, this one floats by without leaving much of an impression. On rewatches, it’s often skipped in favor of episodes that bring more heart, more laughs, or more memorable moments.
This story 14 TV Episodes We All Skip, even from the Shows We Love Most was first published on Daily FETCH
