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Episode Power Rankings

The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.

#1
S7E14 9.6
International Airports II

Everyday 3-million passengers board the 10,000 aircraft flying at any given moment. Go behind the scenes at international airports to see the inner workings that make commercial air travel possible–from ground control in air traffic towers, the plane's cargo holds and high-tech security, and back to earth at customs.

#2
S9E23 9.4
High Voltage

Blade implements have been a part of civilized man's arsenal since the Paleolithic Age, when sharp tools were chipped off of flint or obsidian. But with the discovery of metallurgy, people were able to forge stronger, more versatile blade implements. We visit an axe-throwing contest in Wisconsin for an introduction to the least subtle of the blade tools. Then we visit a swordsmith and an experienced swordfighter who work in traditional methods from ancient sources, and review the history of knives.

#3
S7E65 9.2
Glass

The history of glass from BC times through the innovations of glass blowing to create all types of glass. Also featured are colored glass, eye glasses, microscopes, telescopes, mirrors, light bulbs, lighthouses, and Corning's development of fiber optic cable.

#4 Building a Skyscraper: The Exterior S10E32 9.2
#5 The Technology of Kitty Hawk S10E78 9.2
#6 Engineering Disasters 2 S5E30 9.0
#7 Household Wonders S6E11 9.0
#8 The F-14 S8E11 9.0
#9 The Tackle Box S8E21 9.0
#10 Engineering Disasters 22 S17E4 9.0

▼ Lowlights

#491 S6E47 Casino Technology 4.5
#490 Stink S19E4 5.1
#489 Environmental Tech S14E2 5.7
#488 The Pig S14E37 5.9
#487 Environmental Tech II S14E35 6.0

The Quality Arc

Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.

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Episode Engagement

High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.

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Series Trajectory

One point per season. Smooths out the episode-to-episode noise to reveal the bigger arc.

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Season Momentum

Did each season build or fizzle? Green means the finale outscored the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows, bigger swings.

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Season Consistency

How steady is each season? Tightly clustered dots mean reliable quality. Scattered dots mean a wild ride.

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