bottle episode
noun
plural bottle episodes
: an inexpensively produced episode of a television series that is typically confined to one setting
After weeks spent in the field, The Last Ship got back to basics tonight by delivering a very satisfying bottle episode that kept everyone situated on the ship.—
Merrill Barr
Merrill BarrThe six-part series is made up of mostly "bottle episodes," meaning the action takes place in one location. While that situation is a facility of a small budget, it has turned out to be a bit of a creative windfall.—Dana Gee
Dana GeeExamples of bottle episode in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then there’s Halloween Kills, which is like a bottle episode sandwiched in the middle of those two.
—Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2024
Consider this a bottle episode, which took place almost entirely in the Top Chef Kitchen.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2024
But of course, no one does bottle episodes as Community does.
—Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Turns out, bottle episodes are challenging in a lot really cool ways, but there’s no room for error in terms of having anything to cut to in post.
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2023
Having weird bottle episodes like Episode 3 with the clone scientist or Episode 6 with the Scooby Doo stuff and the cameos just felt so tonally bizarre.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023
Logan’s wake was basically a bottle episode.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 May 2023
Yes, the series might be, on the surface, about characters trying to prevent World War III, but my favorite hour was a bottle episode, kinda, focusing on the ins and outs of a high-profile lunch at which everybody has a different agenda.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2023
This is a reminder from your friendly neighborhood TV critic: an episode that breaks the format of a show in some way, and/or is especially distinctive, is not automatically a bottle episode.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2023
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Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2024
Consider this a bottle episode, which took place almost entirely in the Top Chef Kitchen.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2024
But of course, no one does bottle episodes as Community does.
—Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Turns out, bottle episodes are challenging in a lot really cool ways, but there’s no room for error in terms of having anything to cut to in post.
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2023
Having weird bottle episodes like Episode 3 with the clone scientist or Episode 6 with the Scooby Doo stuff and the cameos just felt so tonally bizarre.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023
Logan’s wake was basically a bottle episode.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 May 2023
Yes, the series might be, on the surface, about characters trying to prevent World War III, but my favorite hour was a bottle episode, kinda, focusing on the ins and outs of a high-profile lunch at which everybody has a different agenda.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2023
This is a reminder from your friendly neighborhood TV critic: an episode that breaks the format of a show in some way, and/or is especially distinctive, is not automatically a bottle episode.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Bottle episode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottle%20episode. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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