Debuting in 2009 on Cartoon Network, Regular Show is a deceptively named animated workplace comedy that continues to enjoy a cult following to this day. That's because this show is anything but regular. Nearly every episode's premise involves the show's protagonists Mordecai and Rigby — an anthropomorphic bluejay and raccoon — trying to slack off at their groundskeeper jobs. However, in doing their best to get away with doing the bare minimum, they somehow always end up further unraveling the show's already shaky reality. The best episodes of Regular Show perfectly play with these dynamics, either through one-shot stories or episodes that dip into its long-term plot.
Indeed, similar to Adventure Time and Gravity Falls, Regular Show establishes an overarching story arc through subtle clues, plot points, and intense character development. At the same time, even these well-regarded and iconic Cartoon Network classics are comparably tame and wholesome when considering the sheer absurdity of Regular Show's humor and storytelling style. Undoubtedly one of the best Cartoon Network shows from the 2000s, here are some of the best episodes of Regular Show throughout its entire run.
15 Brilliant Century Duck Crisis Special
The episode began with Mordecai and Rigby playing with cheaply made toys from a company called PlayCo and seeing a commercial advertising their products. Later, Mordecai, Rigby, and the rest of the park crew team up with the Baby Ducks to chase away a prehistoric creature running through the park who had attacked Pops. At the same time, the owners of PlayCo show up and attempt to get everyone, specifically the Baby Ducks, Mordecai, and Rigby, to sign a contract for action figures based on their appearances, but they're all hesitant given the cheaply made products. "Brilliant Century Duck Crisis Special" is memorable for its meta-humor about big corporations.
14 The Dome Experiment Special
Based on the 1996 Jason Bloom/Pauly Shore movie Bio-Dome, "The Dome Experiment Special" followed the park crew during an experiment where they are all locked in a bio-dome together for a month. Benson is determined to prove to everyone that the dates of the dome experiment were off. Benson's theory makes the group wonder about the true intentions of the bio-dome experiment, and conspiracy theories swirl throughout the episode. One of the best episodes of Regular Show, "The Dome Experiment Special" had more than usual as it seemed to reference everything from The Simpsons Movie to Rambo.
13 The Ice Tape
"The Ice Tape" sees Mordecai, Rigby, and the park crew go on an adventure to find an ancient VCR player so they can play a VHS tape that's made of ice. The ice tape supposedly tells the truth about Pops, who is easily the most likable character in Regular Show. Pops' surprising history, from who his true father is to his species, is revealed in this episode. With Anti-Pops being introduced as Pops' brother in the 8th and final season, this gave viewers endless questions about who Pops really was, and this episode provided a lot of answers.
12 Cheer Up Pops
After meeting The Seer, the crew is on their way to Lolliland for the final battle. However, Pops is upset and worried that he won't be able to save them and the Universe. So, everyone tries to cheer up pops in their own unique ways. They eventually throw a party where Blue-ray shows up and offers to record everyone's memories on a Blue-ray set, so they will always be remembered. After some problems, the set is eventually completed and buried in the park. For breaking the fourth wall with its emotional message about the show nearing its end, "Cheer Up Pops" remains one of the best episodes of Regular Show.
11 Space Escape
After months of training at the Space Tree Academy, the park crew is finally set to graduate. However, before that can happen they encounter the mysterious and powerful entity that Rigby and Mordecai dub Anti-Pops. This new villain is ruthless and seemingly would stop at nothing to get to Pops. An epic battle erupts that ends with some of the crew of the Space Tree Academy sacrificing themselves in order to save Pops. Impressively, "Space Escape" took a far darker tone than what fans were used to seeing, and also perfectly set up the second half of the season.
10 Rigby's Graduation Day Special
Rigby was often seen as the less intelligent of the duo and, this was partly because he was a high school dropout. In the Regular Show season 7 finale, he finally graduates and is asked to give an inspirational graduation speech. As always, hijinks ensue. In the end, Rigby delivers a heartfelt speech that showed his growth over the season as well as the wholesomeness of his friendship with Mordecai. Funny and sweet, the episode also acted as the setup for the show's space adventures, a practical shoo-in for anyone's rankings for the best episodes of Regular Show.
9 Skips' Story
"Skips' Story" gave the audience background into Skips' past and how he became immortal in the first place. This 30-minute special impressed audiences with the tragic love story out of nowhere and gave more depth to the fan-favorite character. The story begins when Mordecai and Rigby tell Skips they think it would be great to be immortal and Skips feels the need to tell them the truth about how his immortality has affected him over the years. Largely remembered for being one of the best episodes of Regular Show, "Skips' Story" gives fans insight into one of the lovable main characters of the series and gives Skips a tragic, yet intriguing, backstory.
8 Rap It Up
Regular Show's magic realism rises to another level in "Rap It Up." When a group of battle rappers hang out at the park and challenge the crew, the ensuing rap battle between them sees their rhymes coming to life through some unexplained magic. Hyperbolic and vitriolic battle rap verses cause characters to grow wings, transform into different creatures, create diamonds from thin air, vomit words, and experience every word literally. "Rap It Up" ranks highly among the best episodes of Regular Show for how it animated new life into verses by then-niche rappers Tyler the Creator and Childish Gambino, a feat unmatched by even the best classic Cartoon Network shows.
7 Exit 9B
"Exit 9B" found Mordecai and Rigby trying to save the park from being turned into a freeway. Unfortunately, everyone else was brainwashed, and the duo spends most of the episode reverting everyone's memories. Eventually, the park crew finds itself in a massive fight against Garret Bobby Ferguson Jr and their previous enemies like Summertime Magic and Stag-Man. Eventually, Skips calls up the rest of his immortal friends and they win. With a bunch of callbacks to previous episodes and an alternate look at the park crew, it is easy to see why "Exit 9B" deserves a place among the best episodes of Regular Show.
6 Meet The Seer
The crew finds themselves on Planet Nielsen where they go see The Seer. Clearly based on The Architect from The Matrix, The Seer has been "watching" the lives of Pops and the park crew since the very beginning. She reveals to them that Pops and Anti-Pops will have their final battle on their home planet, Lolliland. Importantly, the episode is reminiscent of the Format Wars of the previous seasons, and just like those, "Meet The Seer" perfectly breaks the fourth wall by reflecting on the quality of the "show" and its inevitable ending.
5 No Train No Gain
One of the best parts of Regular Show was its really fun parodies of classic movie tropes. In the season eight episode "No Train No Gain," Pops gets trained by the mystical Earl who is clearly inspired by Pai Mei from the Kill Bill franchise. However, Earl has a very particular training style, the ancient art of the "montage." As with most things in the show, everything gets crazy very quickly and Mordecai and Rigby almost end up destroying the park. Silly and full of action movie references, this episode was a nice breather from the seriousness of the second half of the final season.
4 Stick Hockey
Arguably the greatest one-shot story out of the best episodes of Regular Show, "Stick Hockey" is basically a self-contained '80s sports drama and kung-fu movie rolled into one sweet and short arc. Mordecai and Rigby's usual shenanigans lead them to messing with a dome hockey or stick hockey table at the park. However, this somehow leads to Benson having to save them from the underground world of life-or-death stick hockey table matches, in which Benson was once known as "The Dragon" for his dominating skills. Older audiences will enjoy counting the many references "Stick Hockey" makes to classic Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.
3 A Regular Epic Final Battle: The Power
The last part of the finale brilliantly starts the same way the very first episode of Regular Show starts. However, Rigby feels there is something off and eventually is able to convince Mordecai by showing him the Blue-ray disk set buried in the park. The battle restarts between Pops and Anti-Pops, and in an emotional and dark twist Pops sacrifices himself by throwing both himself and Anti-Pops into the Sun. The Universe returns to normal and fans are able to see how the rest of the park crew live the rest of their lives. In the end, the entire finale was an action-packed and heartfelt sendoff to one of Cartoon Network's best shows.
2 A Regular Epic Final Battle: Part 2
The second part of the three-part finale sees Pops and Anti-Pops starting their universe-ending battle. Although the episode starts with just the two of them, it soon divulges into an epic group battle with the rest of the park crew and all their allies such as the Guardians of Eternal Youth, the older Formats, and The Baby Ducks. However, they aren't able to stop Anti-Pops and the fight continues. Just before they are able to lock fists, Rigby and Mordecai break up the fight, and the universe restarts.
1 A Regular Epic Final Battle: Part 1
In the first part of the last battle, the crew arrives at planet Lolliland. The crew is led through the agent tapestries, which reveal the history of all the previous battles between Pops and Anti-Pops as well as the importance of the rest of the park crew. Thanks to Mordecai, the crew sets up a bunch of traps to beat Anti-Pops and fans see the last bits of the hijinks and bombastic silliness that the show was known for. Although they don't succeed in stopping Anti-Pops, this episode was the perfect start to the series' 3-part finale, which comprises the best episodes of Regular Show.