More than two decades after its finale, Seinfeld remains a comedy classic, but not every episode holds up on rewatch. A new TVLine article identifies 15 skippable installments from its nine seasons, citing shaky starts, outdated humor, and structural misfires. The guide helps fans focus on the show's strongest moments amid its fictional tales of Jerry and friends in Manhattan.
Overview
Seinfeld, which aired from 1989 to 1998, chronicled the awkward adventures of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Cosmo Kramer. While most episodes endure as hilarious takes on everyday absurdities, some fall flat due to uneven tone, insensitivities, or pointless plots. TVLine's November 10, 2025, article compiles these weaker entries for completionists to bypass.
Key Episodes to Skip
The list spans seasons, starting with early pilots:
- Season 1: "The Seinfeld Chronicles" (pilot) feels off and unfunny; "Male Unbonding" drags with awkward friendship drama.
- Season 3: "The Suicide" introduces Newman but mishandles dark themes; "The Good Samaritan" has subtle misogyny; "The Keys" pits Jerry against Kramer in a forced rift.
- Season 4: The two-part "The Trip" overstays in Los Angeles without Elaine.
- Season 5: "The Cigar Store Indian" ages poorly with racial insensitivity.
- Season 6: "The Chinese Woman" fumbles stereotypes; the clip show "The Highlights of 100" feels superfluous.
- Season 8: "The Van Buren Boys" features a bizarre presidential gang.
- Season 9: "The Blood" grosses out with blood storage; "The Betrayal" fails in reverse chronology; "The Wizard" stumbles on racial jokes; "The Puerto Rican Day" sparked backlash for a flag-burning gag, leading to its ban from reruns; the clip show "The Chronicle" offers sentiment but little new content, featuring Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)".
These picks highlight Seinfeld's occasional creative dips, especially in later seasons, allowing viewers to prioritize gems like iconic catchphrases and romantic mishaps.