Dialogue is often seen as a necessary part of a television programme. It’s how the characters communicate with each other, and pretty much how they share any information between themselves and the audience. However, dialogue may not always be necessary in an episode. Some programs have found ways to succeed with minimal spoken dialogue and a mostly silent episode. Even though they may sacrifice dialogue, they still manage to create a solid episode of TV. Here are seven shows that made episodes with very little dialogue.
7 Evil – “S stands for silence” (S02 E07)
Series Evil He regularly delves into the supernatural, and uses silence to build on that in this episode. When David (Mike Colter), Christine (Katya Herbers), and Ben (Aasif Mindavi) head to a monastery to investigate a death, they learn that not a word has been spoken there in 130 years. This vow of silence builds suspense, as any word spoken will release the demon around which the monastery was built. In addition to psychological and physical horror, it also succeeds in playing with comedy in terms of its setting and form; It features classics like hidden rooms and a great sense of humor in the interior ideas of the characters.
Related: 10 Long-running Supernatural TV Shows to Turn On Right Now
6 Murders In The Block Only – “The Boy From 6b” (S01 E07)
This episode of Only murders in the building It tells things from the perspective of Theo, a deaf man who lives in Apartment 6B. While the central characters investigate his murder case, Theo conducts investigations of his own, sharing information through sign language and adorable imagery. Actor James Caverly, who plays Theo, is deaf, and worked with the show’s writers to point out the difference in viewpoints between Theo and the others, per Salon. The result is a tightly focused episode that allows its main character to shine, while effectively bringing viewers into his world for a little while.
5 The Twilight Zone – “The Invaders” (S02 E15)
Twilight Zone It is a classic sci-fi series with many excellent episodes. “Invaders” is a movie that uses silence to enhance the creepy nature of the show. It centers around an old woman (Agnes Moorhead) who lives in a shack without any modern appliances. One night, she is attacked by small aliens from a saucer, which she fights. When their ship was attacked, one of the pilots began to speak. He reports that the planet is home to giants who cannot be defeated. It is then revealed that the ship is American, and has crash-landed on a planet of giants. Silence for most of the episode highlights anxiety and confusion about aliens. It also allows the woman and her struggle for survival to unfold, with Silence winning out as she eventually destroys the ship.
4 Mr. Robot, “405 Method Not Allowed” (S04 E05)
This episode of Mr. Robot She fully embraces silence, and has only two spoken lines of dialogue. The lines perfectly frame the episode; It starts with Elliot’s (Rami Malek) sister, Darlene (Carly Chaiken), telling him they don’t have to talk, and ends with two other characters deciding they need to talk. Between these lines, there is a tense episode where Elliot and Darlene infiltrate a company that controls Banks’ servers. They communicate through letters along the journey, which sees Elliot leading the police on a chase through Central Park. The Hollywood Reporter stated that creator Sam Esmail wanted the episode to emulate the tension between siblings and the “isolationism” that technology can bring about. It’s suspenseful and suspenseful that the lack of dialogue makes the tension really shine through, and it’s never really missed with all the action.
3 X Files – “Rm9sbG93ZXJz” (S11 E07)
The X-Files is a show that often pushes the boundaries of what’s expected, and this episode of the reboot series is no exception. It addresses technology overuse and AI concerns, as Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) visit a robotic restaurant and battle it out with the AI ​​until the restaurant is closed. They return home and are then bombarded by text messages and drones, and must flee when Scully’s robot vacuum causes an explosion. The two finally stop the uprising by giving the restaurant a late service tip. It brings a touch of humor to the case, and also shows just how special the relationship between Mulder and Scully is when they end the episode holding hands and embracing their personal connection.
Related: The X-Files: The Most Outstanding Episodes, Ranked
2 BoJack Horseman – “Fish Out of Water” (S03 E04)
In this episode of BoJack HorsemanBoJack (Will Arnett) travels to an underwater film festival to promote his movie, secretarial. He has to wear a helmet to breathe and he can’t talk to her. Trying to apologize to his former manager after accidentally firing her, he is caught helping a seahorse give birth. He must then help one of the children return home after being left behind. It allows for a fascinating visual journey through the underwater world, one that carries the humor into BoJack’s adventures and its exhaustion. It all ends in a perfect way: BoJack realizes that one of the buttons on his helmet allows him to speak, and immediately uses it to swear.
1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Hush” (S04 E10)
Silence is one of the most important episodes Buffy the Vampire SlayerAnd for good reason. In a show that sees Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) take on vampires and demons with witty lines week after week, “Hush” changes things up. The episode sees Sunnydale fall prey to the Dreadful Gentlemen, a group of demons who steal everyone’s votes. The majority of the episode takes place entirely without dialogue, which helps the talk-heavy show rely on different kinds of communication. Despite this, he still retains a sense of humor, such as Giles’ (Anthony Stewart Head) show to gentlemen, complete with his sketches. It’s a stunning example of dramatically changing the show’s formula and success.
