At the end of each year, it is popular to be inundated with top 10 lists of just about everything: the best television shows, the best actors, the best quotes, and just the best of the best. So rather than just compile a list of 10 shows or episodes that stood out from the pack in this past year, I instead opted to select one episode from each sci-fi television show that stood out and deserves special recognition from 2009.

No matter how anyone felt about it, the "Battlestar Galactica" episode "Daybreak, Part 2" was a work of art. It was the epic episode everyone had been waiting for where Galactica and its crew mounted one last stand in order to rescue the child Hera from the clutches of the Cylons.

The showdown was tense, nail-biting, painful and never more bittersweet than when the survivors found themselves face-to-face with the long sought-after Earth.

The ensuing good-byes as each parted ways toward their final destiny was even more heartbreaking. But like those conflicting feelings of each character, those feelings were mirrored by the fans around the globe saying their good-byes to one of the most controversial and lauded shows on television.

Our hearts may grieve, but we were lucky to enjoy such an astounding journey.

The name Joss Whedon has been associated with groundbreaking, cult television for more than a decade. Thus, it was with surprise that when Joss unveiled his latest creation Dollhouse, it left the viewers stunned by its complacency. While titillating and thought-provoking, something was clearly missing: it had no heart.

It was not until the episode Belonging that we felt the chill of recognition. This was the classic Joss Whedon we all knew and loved. The episode was the darkest to date as it recounted how Sierra was taken captive and enslaved in the Dollhouse. But with the least likely of champions at her back, Adelle and Topher, it was a tale of vengeance and awakening conscience.

The show had taken long enough, but once it found its true path, the fans rejoiced. It was bittersweet, however, since it came on the heels of the news of the shows cancellation. Another reminder at how fleeting success is in this volatile industry. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Having now established itself as the popcorn king of summer television, Eureka returned this past summer with a delicious confection in the episode Welcome Back Carter. The introduction of Sheriff Andy, a robot in a box, as Carters replacement was a clever and humorous look at the pros and cons of having a robot try to take the place of a human being. Using the Wizard of Oz mythology as a framework, this episode brought back the charm and innocence that has made Eureka such a pleasure to watch over the years.

After dazzling everyone with its flash of brilliance in its pilot episode, FlashForward raised the ante on itself in the episode The Gift. While investigating the Blue Hand Club (a sly nod to the blue-handed men of Joss Whedons long-gone but not forgotten Firefly series), Agent Al Gough took matters into his own hands to prove to everyone that their fates were not predetermined as he took his own life.

With the simple act of stepping off a building, his sacrifice was mesmerizing and mind-boggling. He gave them all back their free-will. It was powerful and riveting.

Still reeling from the revelation that William Bell had been hiding in an alternate dimension at the end of its first season, Fringe embraced its walk on the wild side and gave us the episode, A New Day in an Old Town where everything was not as it seemed to be. Plus, with Olivia suffering from not only her auto accident injuries, but also a fractured psyche, the balance of power shifted as Peter took up the reins of the fringe division.

We also were introduced to shape-shifter Charlie, who hid in plain sight just waiting to strike. With all these surprises, the show rose to a new level of excitement and suspense.

While written off by many critics, none could disagree that in the episode Cold Snap, Heroes had regained some of its glossy allure. The episode sparkled from start to finish, offering not only an apparent major death, but also a major revelation.

It was a loving reminder of why we all fell in love with the show in the first place and why it deserves to be remembered for its highs more than its lows. Seeing Tracy Strauss shatter into a million tiny pieces was tragic and stunning. Her heart may have been frozen, but she melted ours.

It may have lasted but one short season, but Life on Mars (the American version) was a dazzling array of science-fiction subtly buried under all those 70s clothes. In the episode Let All the Children Boogie, it embraced its silly decadence and let us glimpse the fun frivolity at the heart of the show.

It also offered a phenomenal cameo by Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson who nearly swept Annie off her feet. And if you saw the series all the way through, you will know exactly why this show deserves to be on this list.

In an episode that deserves every rave review and award of recognition it can get, Lost reminded us why it is king of primetime drama with the episode The Incident. In a searing performance by Elizabeth Mitchell tangling with one nasty atomic bomb, this episode rose to new heights for the sterling drama. Flash-forward, flack-back or simply jumping around the timeline, Lost deserves its pedestal. It can bring us to tears or awe us with its audacity.

A newcomer in the sci-fi realm, Sanctuary is still finding its legs. But in a no-holds barred episode End of Nights, Part 2, it dared to stake its claim as a contender to be reckoned with. It took its characters and gave them each the fight of their lives and bravely struck down not one, but two of its own cherished characters. It felt premature, but still resonated loudly with its willingness to raise the stakes.

Continuing in its quest to fulfill its iconic legacy, Smallville ended its eighth season breaking our hearts. In the episode Doomsday, it was not the big explosive battle between Clark Kent and Doomsday that we remember. It was Jimmy Olsens swan song and his loving gift for his bride that we cannot forget.

If there was any character who was deemed untouchable, it was Jimmy Olsen and yet Smallville dared to change a key piece of mythology by striking him down. It was brave, gutsy and seemingly unforgivable, yet it pulled it off beautifully.

Another fresh face rising in the ranks of sci-fi television, Stargate: Universe tackled the big shoes left by its predecessors and strove to make its own mark in sci-fi television. In the episode Justice, it did just that. Unmasking Dr. Rush as the villain and leaving him stranded on a deserted planet was shocking and left us breathless for more.

It posed the question: Does the crime fit the punishment -- and we are still wondering. What an outstanding way to declare its independence and individuality.

Though many would wonder at its place on this list, Supernatural has always been a sci-fi sibling challenging the way we see the world around us through a distinct lens of good versus evil. Departing briefly from its somber theme and tone in the episode Changing Channels, it took a decidedly humorous turn and brilliantly unleashed its comedic core.

It invoked side-splitting laughter and we were amused as the Winchester boys danced to the Tricksters tune in order to woo another minion of evil to their cause. Proving that laughter is the best medicine, it was a pure devilish delight.

With tenacity rarely seen on television, the scrappy upstart Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles sought to secure its place in another iconic legacy. In the episode Today is the Day, Part 2, we glimpsed the man that John Connor would one day become as he stared into Jesses lost eyes debating whether her death was justified. As the series struggled under the weight of its intricate mythology, it never shined so bright as when we saw the lengths they would go to in order to preserve the future of the human race. Fortunately, it preserved its human heart in the process.

With echoes of yesterday hanging over it, it was with a dash of surreal ingenuity that the new series V stepped outside the long shadow of its predecessor and with the pivotal performances of its lead characters walking the tight-rope of finely tuned writing, the pilot episode captured the imagination of another generation of sci-fi fans.

As it unmasked a familiar face as the enemy, we all gasped with horror and wonder. It was a nice twist to an old tale and immediately set itself apart as a show to watch.

Last, but not least, the summer sensation Warehouse 13 made everyone take notice when it ratcheted up the tension and risk-level in the episode Implosion. It was classic sci-fi at its best with implosion grenades and an invisibility sword. It was also the episode in which the characters finally began working together as a team and the audience became invested in their survival.

It also steadily broke ratings and became the most watched original show in Syfys history. Not bad for a rookie.

Special mention should be made of Syfys Alice and the two-hour pilot episode of Caprica which was released early on DVD to whet the fansappetites as they mourned the end of their beloved Battlestar Galactica. Both offered up unique and intriguing tales on already established science-fiction canon and provided glimpses into worlds that we would love to spend more time in. They also were simply glorious to behold.

It should also be noted that Doctor Who and Torchwood were omitted, not because they are not the best shows in sci-fi, but because both did not have regular seasons in 2009. Rather both had television events. Thus, it was impossible to pick out the best episode when offered as television events or mini-series. Thus, like Alice and Caprica, Doctor Who and Torchwood deserve special recognition for being simply extraordinary in their entirety.

2009 was an epic year in science-fiction with no less than a dozen sci-fi shows falling prey to audience erosion and the ever increasing network budget cuts. But it also saw some extraordinary moments that deserve to be remembered.

So as we look back at 2009, let us remember the good and not just the bad. Let us remember the moments that made us laugh, made us cry and made us eternally grateful that they happened at all.