Seinfeld is undoubtedly one of the most iconic TV shows of all time, and I’ve watched every episode more times than I care to count. There are so many famous storylines and characters, often within a single episode. So, here are 10 episodes to get you started.
10
The Yada Yada
Release Year
1997
Season
8
Episode
19
This episode brought “yada yada yada” into common usage, and it’s brilliant for putting a term to the fact that we often gloss over important details, sometimes with disastrous consequences. George’s new girlfriend uses it to hide her kleptomania, while Elaine’s use of it destroys a couple’s adoption dreams. The rest is, well, yada yada yada.
9
The Chinese Restaurant
Release Year
1991
Season
2
Episode
11
If there’s one episode that embodies the “show about nothing” label that Seinfeld unintentionally gave itself, it’s this one. The entire episode is about Jerry, Elaine, and George waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant. It captures the excruciating boredom and frustrations of everyday life, and was controversial at the time for being shot in one single location.
8
The Strike (Festivus)
Release Year
1997
Season
9
Episode
10
Festivus is another one of those things you probably know even if you’ve never seen Seinfeld. With its plain aluminum pole, the Airing of Grievances, and Feats of Strength, it’s a holiday for the rest of us. This episode introduced the world to Frank Costanza’s wonderfully deranged anti-consumerist holiday, and we’ve never forgotten it.
7
The Hamptons
Release Year
1994
Season
5
Episode
21
“I was in the pool!” This episode is iconic for “shrinkage,” but it was also always fun when Seinfeld made the rare trip out of the usual confines of New York. Their weekend getaway devolves into a series of awkward social faux pas and George’s quest for sexual payback after an unfortunate incident at the beach.
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6
The Merv Griffin Show
Release Year
1997
Season
9
Episode
6
Kramer finds the set of The Merv Griffin Show in a dumpster and, naturally, rebuilds it in his apartment. This episode is one of my favorites because it really dives into Kramer’s peculiar mind. He forces his friends into talk show segments, while Jerry drugs his girlfriend to play with her antique toys, and George battles a squirrel. It’s a perfect example of late Seinfeld surrealism.
5
The Chicken Roaster
Release Year
1996
Season
8
Episode
8
When a Kenny Rogers Roasters sign beams red light into Kramer’s apartment, a modern meme format is born. The absurdity of Kramer and Jerry swapping apartments and personalities, coupled with Elaine’s struggle with Peterman and George’s questionable hat, makes for an episode with multiple hilarious storylines.
4
The Soup Nazi
Release Year
1995
Season
7
Episode
6
“No soup for you!” Even if you’ve never watched Seinfeld, you know this line. It’s from one of the most iconic and frequently quoted characters in sitcom history. There’s something so perfectly Seinfeld about a tyrannical soup chef, and of course, Elaine would be the one to tear it all down at the end.
3
The Marine Biologist
Release Year
1994
Season
5
Episode
14
“The sea was angry that day, my friends.” George’s dramatic monologue at the coffee shop about saving a beached whale, culminating in the reveal of Kramer’s lost golf ball, is a perfect example of why I love Seinfeld. All the storylines come together in a way you never expect, and the payoff is so good.
2
The Opposite
Release Year
1994
Season
5
Episode
22
What happens when George Costanza, a man whose every instinct is wrong, decides to do the exact opposite? Gold, Jerry, gold! Five seasons into the show, we’ve seen George flounder over and over again, which makes his success when he simply defies his own terrible nature so funny. This episode also features Jerry’s realization that his life always evens out.
1
The Contest
Release Year
1992
Season
4
Episode
11
On a Wednesday night in November 1992, audiences watched 23 minutes of a prime time sitcom episode devoted entirely to the act of playing with yourself. The term was never used, but everyone knew what it was about. “The Contest” is a masterclass in suggestive comedy, pushing boundaries of network TV, while keeping things hilariously ambiguous. You need to see it.
These 10 episodes will get you well on your way to understanding what makes Seinfeld special. You’ll know what “Master of Your Domain” means, you’ll learn about mulagatawny soup, you’ll question the ethics of every character on the show, you’ll crave some Chinese food, and, yada yada yada, you might become a fan of the show about nothing.
