Episodes

Tropes that apply to a particular single episode of a TV show.

Significant date episode
Episodes that revolve around what the characters do (or not) to celebrate culturally significant dates.

It's April Fools Day and everyone is having fun. It's Christmas Eve and everyone is having fun. It's holiday season but nobody is having fun. It's festival season and everybody is having fun. It's Halloween and everybody is having fun. It's Valentine's Day and everybody is lovesick.
 * April Fool's Plot
 * Christmas Episode
 * Crappy Holidays
 * Festival Episode
 * Halloween Episode
 * Valentine's Day Episodes

Genre shift episode
The show switches genres for one episode but keeps the main cast.

The actors play different characters in an alternate universe. The characters go to the American Old West. Episode shot in the style of film noir. Comedic episode parodying something. The characters are cast as fairy tale archetypes. The characters gain superpowers and fight crime for an episode.
 * Alternate Reality Episode
 * Cowboy Episode
 * Noir Episode
 * Parody Episode
 * Storybook Episode
 * Superhero Episode

Unusual location episode
Episode where the main cast goes to places they don't usually hang out at.

The characters go to a beach. The characters receive military training. The characters are involved in a court case. The characters take a plane to somewhere and spend most of the episode on board. The characters go to the hot springs. The characters go on a picnic. The characters go to prison. The characters from fictional world come to the real one for an episode. The characters go on a road trip. The characters go to Hollywood. The characters go to the outer space. The characters go time traveling. A character spends the episode being tortured.
 * Beach Episode
 * Boot Camp Episode
 * Courtroom Episode
 * Episode on a Plane
 * Hot Springs Episode
 * Picnic Episode
 * Prison Episode
 * Real World Episode
 * Road Trip Episode
 * The Show Goes Hollywood
 * Space Episode
 * Time Travel Episode
 * Torture Chamber Episode

Unusual situation episode
Episodes where the main cast is placed into unusual situation.

The characters are broke and must make ends meet somehow. The characters start dieting for one episode. A journalist makes a documentary about the characters and their occupation. The characters spend the episode feuding against each other. The ensemble cast is split by gender for one episode, with their separate plots. A character changes jobs for an episode. A character has to deal with the strange events that happened in the first episode. The characters are involved in or have to deal with a major disaster. The characters go on a vacation.
 * Broke Episode
 * Diet Episode
 * Documentary Episode
 * Feud Episode
 * Gender Separated Ensemble Episode
 * New Job Episode
 * Second Episode Morning
 * Trainwreck Episode
 * Vacation Episode

Illness episode
Episodes where members of the main cast fall ill or are injured.

A character is sick and has bad trips the entire episode. One or more characters fall ill and the others tend to them. A character is handicapped for an episode. A character has tonsillitis.
 * Fever Dream Episode
 * Sick Episode
 * Single-Episode Handicap
 * The Tonsillitis Episode

Unusual activity episode
Episodes where members of the main cast engage in unusual (for them) activities.

The characters go on a fund raising drive. The characters organize a fundraiser carnival. The characters attempt to break a world record or several. The characters prepare and perform a play for class. The characters prepare and perform a musical. The characters train for, participate in, or attend a wrestling match.
 * Door to Door Episode
 * Fundraiser Carnival
 * Guinness Episode
 * School Play
 * Musical Episode
 * Pro Wrestling Episode

Contest/sports/game episode
Episodes where the main cast participates in sports or other kinds of games and contests.

The characters train for and participate in a baseball game. The characters train for, participate in, or attend a boxing match. The characters compete in some discipline but the outcome is never revealed. The characters train for and participate in a paintball game. The characters play a role-playing game for most of the episode. The characters participate in a town-wide contest in some discipline.
 * Baseball Episode
 * The Boxing Episode
 * Evasive Fight Thread Episode
 * Paintball Episode
 * RPG Episode
 * Town Contest Episode

Character-centered episode
Episodes focusing on secondary characters, personality traits of the main cast, exotic creatures, or even inanimate objects.

A long gone character comes back. The characters look for some mythical creature. A secondary character shifts into the narrative focus for one episode. Creepy episode revolving around dolls and their owners and makers. The female characters shift into exclusive spotlight for one episode. Minor supporting characters shift into spotlight for one episode. The origin of a previously introduced character is explained. The antagonists shift into the spotlight. The POV character is introduced to an established character group. The characters try to discover each other's deepest fears.
 * The Bus Came Back
 * Cryptid Episode
 * A Day in the Limelight
 * The Doll Episode
 * Girls Night Out Episode
 * Lower Deck Episode
 * Origins Episode
 * Villain Episode
 * Welcome Episode
 * "What Do They Fear?" Episode

(Non-)Continuity episode
Episodes important (or completely irrelevant) to the show's overall continuity.

Episode without any connection the prior or posterior continuity. Light-hearted episode wedged in-between emotionally taxing ones. Final episode cleans up loose ends after the main story arc was concluded. Standalone episode produced solely to postpone advancing the main story arc. Episode that subtly sets up the future story arc. First episode whose contents don't reflect the rest of the show adequately. Episode that can be enjoyed without any prior knowledge of the series. Several consecutively broadcast episodes take place at the same time in-story. Episode that sums up previous story developments. Episode that continues the storyline of a much earlier one. Episode produced as a grand finale for the series that didn't end after it. Serious and thought-provoking episode in an otherwise lighthearted series. Episode produced to surprise or shock the viewers. Episode consisting mainly of one long flashback.
 * Bizarro Episode
 * Breather Episode
 * Denouement Episode
 * Filler
 * Innocuously Important Episode
 * Non-Indicative First Episode
 * Stand Alone Episode
 * Synchronous Episodes
 * Recap Episode
 * Sequel Episode
 * Series Fauxnale
 * Very Special Episode
 * Wham! Episode
 * Whole-Episode Flashback

Production trivia episode
Episodes notable for unusual format or production details.

Episode that never aired but was added to the retail version. Low-budget episode to preserve production expenses for later. Episode dedicated to a person who passed away recently in real life. Episode that is shot and broadcast in real time. Episode missing from most broadcasts and retail versions. Episode split into several parts for broadcast. Episode without any spoken lines. Episode made to launch a new series. Episode produced to be watched with 3-D glasses on. The series skips a number in its episode/installment progression. Episode composed of several vignettes. Episode only available on the internet.
 * Bonus Episode
 * Bottle Episode
 * In Memoriam
 * Live Episode
 * Missing Episode
 * Multi Part Episode
 * No Dialogue Episode
 * Pilot
 * Three Dimensional Episode
 * Un Installment
 * Vignette Episode
 * Webisode