5 of the Best Catfish Episodes Ever

Nev Schulman has been uniting Catfish with their Catfish-ed for over a decade, and the 2010 documentary by two unsuspecting brothers suddenly feels like a distant memory.

With the show now in its ninth season, it feels like the drama has dialled up, but there was a time when it felt like a weekly road movie with two buddies documenting dynamic stories from people they'd meet along the way.

With over 200 episodes in the bank, it's often hard to remember where it all began, so here's a look back at five of the episodes that built the foundation of what the show is today.

As Max Joseph once said, "Nothing says I love you like showing up to the door with Nev Schulman".

John & Kelsey - "The King of Catfishes"

This is my favorite episode of all time, with one of the greatest reveals in Catfish history. It's the first episode I remember feeling like theater, establishing Catfish as a show that was more than just a reflection on the digital age but also defining the characters of Max and Nev. Max is exhausted. He can't believe they've been swindled by this guy who spends his days rigging the slots at this run-down casino dominated by a population of 60+ year-olds. Nev is trying to cling to his compassion, but it's slipping. Max slamming down the camera, proclaiming, "I'm done"?! Cinema.

Lucille & Kidd Cole - Phone in the Water

The lost episode of Catfish is a fan favorite because it's the first time Nev loses his cool. The Kidd Cole and Lucille episode is known by people who don't even watch the show due to Nev famously flinging a phone into the open water. While it's impossible to find because it's been erased from the history books, it remains an iconic memory.

Kayla & Courtney - The Medium

Kayla and Courtney's episode deviated from the usual romance plotline. Courtney is a medium who reached out to Kayla, claiming to be in spiritual contact with her father, who had passed away. Kayla's father had killed Kayla's mother - and later himself in prison - in this profoundly heartbreaking story that had Nev and Max hooked. The episode only took more turns when the two met in person, and Courtney revealed family secrets that only Kayla and her deceased parents would've known. It was an episode that showcased the nuance of what Catfish has to offer.

Antwane & Tony - "Fat Ass Kelly Price"

The cultural impact of "You should've never called me a fat ass Kelly Price" cannot be denied. This one is a meme you'd have seen all over your timeline as an internet dweller, and the whole episode is just as brilliant as the one-liner. We have to respect the grind for having Nev and Max drive them around just to drop the reveal in the middle of the street.

Lauren & Derek - The Fairytale Ending

One of the more wholesome episodes in Catfish history is the love story of Lauren and Derek, who had been talking for a decade. Nev and Max could not believe their eyes when it turned out that Derek was exactly who he said he was. It was a sweet story, and in the early days of the show, it still felt shocking to see people turn out to be telling the truth. Lauren and Derek actually got engaged during the season two reunion episode but later parted ways.