Summary

• Seinfeld's legacy comes from its excellent episodes that are both memorable and relatable, making it a popular show that continues to gain new viewers.
• The brilliance of Seinfeld lies in its perfectly orchestrated elements, including Jerry Seinfeld's observational comedy, Larry David's absurd scenarios, and the irreverent humor that sets it apart from other sitcoms.
• Memorable episodes showcase the talent of the cast and the show's ability to connect random storylines in unexpected but hilarious ways.

Part of hints about a Seinfeld reboot have brought more attention to the iconic sitcom. The show successfully maintained high standards through 180 episodes, making it a difficult task to pinpoint the best installments.

Seinfeld’s brilliance stems from several elements perfectly orchestrated. First, Jerry Seinfeld’s talent for observational comedy creates funny remarks on relatable topics. Secondly, Larry David’s ability to create absurd scenarios and make them connect cleverly adds huge value. Additionally, its humor being as irreverent as it is makes the show stand out from other sitcoms of its time. Finally, the characters hold everything together, as they are brilliantly depicted and wonderfully portrayed by all of Seinfeld's seasons, every memorable episode reflects at least one of these qualities at its best.

10 Seinfeld Season 8, Episode 9

"The Abstinence"

Seinfeld season 8, episode 9, "The Abstinence," showcases Jason Alexander's talent. When reflecting on Seinfeld's best characters, it's impossible to overlook George. In "The Abstinence," George comes to the conclusion that his brain works more effectively when he's not having sex. The premise produces some great moments of George behaving so intelligently that it's absurd. However, the episode's value resides in the fact that the very quality George acquires is the thing that causes him to lose it.

9 Seinfeld Season 3, Episode 8

"The Tape"

Seinfeld season 3, episode 8, “The Tape,” is a perfect example of a beautifully written installment that allows the cast to shine. The chemistry displayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Alexander makes it stand out from the rest. In "The Tape," an anonymous woman leaves a dirty message for Jerry on the tape he uses to record his shows. After George finds out the woman is Elaine, his perception of her changes completely. Seinfeld's ability to alter the main characters' dynamic in a humorous way places the show on another level. The performances in this episode demonstrate the cast's versatility, creating several of Elaine and George's funniest moments in the series.

8 Seinfeld Season 3, Episode 17

"The Boyfriend"

"The Boyfriend" is a Seinfeld episode with plenty of things going on, including one of the best Seinfeld movie references. Jerry becomes friends with Keith Hernandez, which leads to different reactions from the group. A huge part of Seinfeld’s brilliance lies how it connects its storylines in unexpected but hilarious ways. This happens in many episodes, but considering "The Boyfriend" is longer than usual, this installment takes that concept even further. Additionally, the random inclusion of a real-life personality makes a fun addition to the episode. "The Boyfriend" displays the Seinfeld writers' superb skills by connecting incredibly random scenarios.

7 Seinfeld Season 7, Episode 6

"The Soup Nazi"

Seinfeld season 7, episode 6, "The Soup Nazi," is one of the best representations of the show's observational comedy. The fact that it offers an accurate commentary on big-city culture is what makes it so great. In this installment, there's a big fuss over a soup restaurant, and it's apparently so good that everyone complies with its owner's outlandish demands. The episode is brilliant, and not just because the idea of a soup place with an intolerant owner is funny. It also cleverly comments on how nonsensical trends can be. Additionally, Seinfeld's Soup Nazi is one of the show's best "villains" because he is absurd, hilarious, and somehow still realistic.

6 Seinfeld Season 4, Episode 7

"The Bubble Boy"

Seinfeld season 4, episode 7, "The Bubble Boy," takes a serious issue, like a child living in a bubble, and turns it into a clever and comical scenario. The ability to tackle sensitive issues in comedy is not something every TV show has. Seinfeld proves it's up to the task, however, and the dark humor in this installment can only be sustained by characters who have been built over time to be anti-role models. "The Bubble Boy" is a great piece of comedy, as it synthesizes the show's ability to create humor out of characters who are not exactly likable.

5 Seinfeld Season 6, Episode 19

"The Jimmy"

Seinfeld season 6, episode 19, “The Jimmy” is another example of storylines connecting perfectly. This episode showcases similar strengths to "The Boyfriend," but its premise elevates it further. In "The Jimmy," George is trying to do business with Jimmy, a guy who talks about himself in the third person. Everyone becomes involved, as Elaine agrees to date him, and Kramer causes him to fall and hurt himself. The way that the threads come together is impressive. However, what makes this Seinfeld episode truly great is the brilliant writing and acting behind its random tertiary character.

4 Seinfeld Season 8, Episode 19

"The Yada Yada"

One of Seinfeld's best qualities is its ability to create deep ideas out of banal stuff. In "The Yada Yada," George is dating a woman who overuses the expression “yada yada” to avoid including unnecessary details in her stories. Initially, the comedic brilliance of the episode lies in the fact that the expression is used to leave out the most important parts of a tale. However, what truly shows the depth of Seinfeld's humor is the comment the episode makes on storytelling. Once George realizes he is editing himself for his own benefit, it becomes clear how subjective his perception of himself really is.

3 Seinfeld Season 2, Episode 11

"The Chinese Restaurant"

Although "The Chinese Restaurant" might not be the funniest Seinfeld episode in of jokes, its clever writing makes it one of the best. Penning a TV episode about three people waiting to get a table at a restaurant is risky and bold, but it shows personality. The writers' ability to create funny situations, no matter the context, is what made Seinfeld more than a sitcom. This installment deserves to be among the very best, as it reflects the show's essence: pulling humor out of the most ordinary but relatable scenarios.

Kramer isn't in this episode because, at this point in the show, he didn't leave his apartment.

2 Seinfeld Season 4, Episode 11

"The Contest"

"The Contest" is arguably Seinfeld's funniest episode. The group bets on who will last the longest without masturbating. Seinfeld's cast is brilliant in this installment, producing one of Seinfeld's funniest moments when Kramer caves in. However, to get deeper into the reasons this episode is so memorable, it is necessary to talk about the topic and the way it is handled. Considering that observational comedy is built around unspoken issues, masturbation fits perfectly into that humor. Additionally, the episode shines light on women's masturbation — a groundbreaking decision for a show in the '90s.

1 Seinfeld Season 3, Episode 6

"The Parking Garage"

"The Parking Garage" is a more mature version of “The Chinese Restaurant.” The episode revolves around the group trying to find Kramer’s car in a parking garage. Again, the proposal is bold for a TV show, but it is executed brilliantly, managing to exploit the characters' full comedic potential. However, Kramer’s appearance in the episode adds huge value, since the narrative is guided by him, which makes everything more chaotic. This episode represents Seinfeld at its best, presenting a relatable premise that triggers random and bizarre events, creating the ideal environment for the cast to shine.