What Is a Bottle Episode?

As a seasoned TV critic with over two decades of binge-watching under my belt, let me weigh in on this intriguing topic of bottle episodes. Now, I’ve seen more sitcoms and dramas than I care to remember, and I can confidently say that a bottle episode is indeed a special kind of beast in the world of television.

Note: This post was originally published on June 26, 2023.

Hello there, curious web explorer! You might have stumbled upon this site in search of answers or clarification. Perhaps you’ve come across a term that sparks intrigue and confusion – the ‘bottle episode’. Your friend may have given you one interpretation, but you sense it means something different. Maybe you watched the second season episode “Cooperative Calligraphy” from Community, which discusses bottle episodes, yet never fully defines the term, leaving you wanting more. Or maybe you’re caught up in a debate about episode three of The Last of Us and need to settle the score. Whatever your reason for being here, we aim to provide the insights you seek.

Are you curious about what a bottle episode means? We’re here to explain it! And remember, whenever you need clarification again, we’ll be available at isitabottleepisode.com.

What Exactly Is a Bottle Episode Anyway?

A common understanding of the term “bottle episode” refers to a TV episode where the action primarily occurs in a single, limited location with a minimal cast and few or no guest stars. However, the definition can be somewhat vague: For instance, is an entire episode set on a cruise ship considered a bottle episode? (Perhaps not, but it could still qualify.) What constitutes a “small cast”? (It can involve more than just two or three people, but the number may vary.) If a tiny part of the episode takes place in a different setting, does it disqualify as a bottle episode? (Possibly not.) And what if there’s only one main cast member and one guest star? (Maybe.) Additionally, some might argue that a bottle episode is more about feeling distinct from the rest of the series rather than being confined to a specific setting. (Correctly so.)

A clearer explanation for the term “bottle episode” refers to the specific reasons behind creating an episode in a TV series, rather than its aesthetic or narrative qualities. Originating from shows like “Star Trek” and “The Outer Limits,” bottle episodes were primarily developed as a cost-effective strategy. When an episode requires elements such as new sets, outdoor filming, guest stars not under full-season contracts, extensive visual effects, or other factors that increase production costs, the purpose of a bottle episode is to save money so that other episodes in the season can be more elaborate. Therefore, a strict definition for a bottle episode involves filming it entirely on one pre-existing set, featuring only main cast members, and being easier and quicker to produce than a standard episode.

Financial constraints often inspire a particular type of narrative, where characters find themselves confined within a limited space for some reason – a door is locked, there’s a deadline, there’s a bomb threat, or they’re waiting for something. A well-known example of this is the season-three episode “Fly” from Breaking Bad, which focused on the two main characters being stuck inside a large underground lab with nothing but each other to talk to. Director Rian Johnson revealed that “Fly” was intentionally made cheaper due to budgetary constraints for other episodes in the season, and this financial pressure led to the creation of this intensely verbal, emotional TV episode that stands out from the rest of the series because the characters couldn’t escape.

Although such a fictional scenario can be constructed without literally producing a bottle episode, it’s understandable why some viewers and critics broaden the concept to encompass anything that carries a similar feel. “The X-Files” episode “Ice,” for instance, was initially intended as a cost-effective choice like typical bottle episodes, but it was set in an arctic exploration station with a menacing creature and a limited cast. However, the intricate horror movie production aspects unexpectedly exceeded the budget, primarily due to the heavy use of CGI. Far from being a bottle episode!

Mad Men’s “The Suitcase” from season four is another version of “feels like a bottle episode but is not one.” Peggy and Don are on deadline, and almost all of the episode is just them trying to work out a new campaign for a luggage company while also talking around (and eventually about) their whole relationship. But they don’t stay in the office. They go to a restaurant. They go to a bar. Peggy spends much of the night dodging a dinner she’s supposed to be at, and the episode cuts back and forth between the office and the restaurant. There are lots of sets, lots of little minor character roles, and the first 15 minutes are full of other characters and stories. It is not! A! Bottle episode! This kind of episode is often so compelling and exciting, though — it deserves its own name. We’re going to start calling it a “suitcase episode.” Everybody get on board!

There are instances where opinions can differ, such as specific examples that reasonable people might argue about. A good example to illustrate this is “The Chinese Restaurant” from Season 2 of Seinfeld; despite not being filmed on a pre-existing set, its minimal setup and relatively low production costs make it economical compared to many other productions at the time. As television production has evolved significantly since shows like The Outer Limits, it’s essential to reevaluate the original strict definition of bottle episodes based on contemporary TV models – this is a more flexible approach that takes into account changing times, rather than adhering rigidly to the traditional interpretation of bottle-episode rules.

Frequently Asked Bottle-Episode Questions

Can animated shows have bottle episodes?

The short answer: Not really.

Animated shows can save money and time by using pre-existing backdrops for scenes that take place in familiar settings. For instance, an episode of Bob’s Burgers where Bob stays inside his home kitchen is less costly to produce than one requiring new background drawings. While the number of locations in animated shows may be limited, they can still switch between various settings like Bob’s house, the restaurant, and Tina’s classroom using pre-made backdrops. This process differs significantly from a live-action show moving between different physical locations. Therefore, the concept of a ‘bottle episode’ (where a story is confined to a single location due to budget constraints) doesn’t have the same impact in animation as it does in live-action productions.

Can reality shows have bottle episodes?

I have a similar answer here as I do for animated TV. It is logical that episodes filmed entirely in a studio or competition space would be cheaper than those that go out on location or travel somewhere. But the process of scripting a fictional TV show and outlining an “unscripted” reality show are not entirely the same, and there’s a lot of variation even within reality. It’s difficult, for instance, to make any apples-to-apples comparison for what “bottle episode” would even mean between Real Housewives versus Top Chef versus Love Is Blind. So I’m going to go with “No,” and I accept that within some specific series and circumstances, there might be exceptions.

Wait, if the thing I’ve been calling a “bottle episode” isn’t a bottle episode, what is it?

Perhaps you’re searching for terms like “standalone episode” or “departure episode”, but there are various types of episodes such as musical episodes, clip shows, perspective-shifting episodes, flashback episodes, or what we call ‘suitcase episodes’. It seems confusing to categorize all these under the term “bottle episode”, as that phrase actually means something else entirely.

Can I call these “filler episodes”?

As a fellow enthusiast, I understand your point about clip shows being used to extend a season, hence the term “filler” seems fitting in that context. However, in current usage, “filler” doesn’t refer to a specific type of episode. Instead, it’s often employed casually to express personal feelings such as “I found this episode dull” or “This episode is focusing on character development, but it’s not moving the plot I’m invested in forward.”

Do you have any guesses about why I’d heard bottle episode meant something else?

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must admit that bottle episodes are becoming quite the rarity in this streaming age. You see, the way television is produced and filmed has significantly changed from the past. Instead of crafting each episode over five months, entire eight-episode seasons are often written and shot at once. This approach, popularized by streaming giants like Netflix, results in episodes that blend seamlessly into one another, with little variation between them.

Isn’t language fluid? Are we not supposed to adapt new meanings and new uses over time? And given that reality, doesn’t that mean that if enough people all decide bottle episode has an entirely different definition, this other one you’re using will become an outdated and irrelevant document entirely divorced from how people talk about television?

Indeed, you’re correct. However, it seems a pity to alter the established term “bottle episode,” doesn’t it? This term carries a significant and captivating meaning that arises not only from vague narrative perceptions but also from a specific production requirement. It’s a delightful fusion of practicality and aesthetics. And, as you pointed out earlier, we certainly have the ability to coin more precise names for other types of episodes!

2.
Bottle episodes are about being cheaper and faster than usual, but filming outside always adds time. Is the episode shot in an indoor, contained space?

➼ Indeed, I get it that a forest isn’t a collection: Move on to question 4.
➼ Not quite, but I believe the urban area of Copenhagen can be considered as a single bounded location: Proceed to question 11.

3.
It’s not the whole episode, but bottle episodes do often have one or two small scenes that take place somewhere else. Does, say, 90 percent of the episode happen on a set the show regularly uses?

➼ Yes: Go to question 6.
➼ No: Go to question 4.

4.
Okay, but does the vast majority of the episode happen inside one interior space? We’re talking about a single room, an apartment, or several rooms inside a home or workplace.

➼ Yes: Go to question 5.
➼ No: Go to question 11.

5.
Wait, not all workplaces are the same. Is this like the office building from Severance? A byzantine set of hallways with rooms full of goats and dance parties that needed months for the light board to program? Did the desks cost $100,000 to make?

➼ Yes: Go to question 11.
➼ No: Go to question 6.

6.
Is it just the show’s main cast?

➼ Yes: Go to question 10.
➼ No: Go to question 7.

7.
How many guest stars with speaking roles are involved? More than three?

➼ Yes: Go to question 8.
➼ No: Go to question 10.

8.
Here’s where we get into tricky speculation territory: Are the guest stars … fancy? Would they add a fair amount to the episode’s budget? Did Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson show up?

➼ Yes: Go to question 9.
➼ No: Go to question 10.

9.
Do we think Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson agreed to get paid scale for that appearance?

➼ Yes, I have a hunch he did: Go to question 10.
➼ No: Go to question 11.

10.
Does the episode have other pricey add-ons? Is there CGI? Fight choreography? Is the episode twice as long? Are there stunts? Elaborate props?

➼ Yes: Go to question 11.
➼ No: Go to question 12.

11.
Does the episode fail to meet the bottle-episode criteria, but it feels like a bottle episode? Does it tell a self-contained story? Is it mostly about people talking to one another rather than big plot swings?

➼ Sure thing! Instead of “This is not a bottle episode, but it’s probably a suitcase episode,” you could say “It’s unlikely to be a one-location episode, more like a story centered around a character’s bag.”

12.
Is this different from a standard episode of the show? Fewer people? Just one standing set instead of four? Takes place over a shorter period of time?

➼ Yes: It’s a bottle episode!
➼ No: It’s not a bottle episode!

Is That Episode I Just Watched a Bottle Episode?

Is Industry’s “White Mischief” a bottle episode? No. It’s a departure episode.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve been pondering if episodes titled “Next” and “Ice Chips” from The Bear could be considered bottle episodes. It’s a topic that might spark debates among fans, given the scarcity of information we get from the show’s creative team. Since they don’t often engage in press activities, it’s challenging to unravel the financial aspects behind each episode, especially considering high-profile actors like Jamie Lee Curtis likely don’t come cheap.

Is The Bear’s “Napkins” a bottle episode? No. It’s a departure episode.

Is Feud: Capote vs. the Swans’s “The Secret Inner Lives of Swans” a bottle episode? No.

Is Expats’s “Central” a bottle episode? No.

Is Mr. & Mrs. Smith a whole season of bottle episodes? No.

Is The Bear’s “Fishes” a bottle episode? No.

Is The Bear’s “Honeydew” a bottle episode? No.

Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’s “Ad Astra per Aspera” a bottle episode? No.

Is Succession’s “America Decides” a bottle episode? No.

In simpler terms, some might argue that the “Honeymoon States” episode of Succession is considered a bottle episode due to its primary setting being Logan’s apartment and the extensive use of the same set throughout the episode, despite featuring multiple characters and guest roles. However, the brief outdoor scene makes it a somewhat debatable classification.

Is Succession’s “Connor’s Wedding” a bottle episode? No.

Is Ted Lasso’s “Sunflowers” a bottle episode? No.

Is The Last of Us’s “Left Behind” a bottle episode? No.

Is The Last of Us’s “Long, Long Time” a bottle episode? No.

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2024-09-03 17:56