“Hannah Montana” first aired on March 24, 2006, and this past week marked the show’s 15th anniversary. To tell you the truth I wasn’t expecting anything to happen, so when I saw that Miley Cyrus sent out 20-pound gift packages to all of the cast members major and minor, and wrote a two-page handwritten letter to Hannah, my 9-year-old heart was swelling.
I’ve seen every episode of that show multiple times over the course of many years, so, the anniversary and the fact that I’m on spring break right now inspired me to do a re-watch. In honor of all those things, here is a list of my top 5 favorite episodes in the series.
1. Lily, Do You Want to Know a Secret? (S1 E1)
How could I make this list without adding the pilot of the show, where it all began? It sets everything up perfectly- from Miley’s double life to telling her best friend her secret, showing the bond Miley and Lily have, and of course the iconic ketchup moisturizer bit that Miley and Corbin Bleu still joke about to this day.
2. The Way We Almost Weren’t (S2 E23)
This episode follows a moment where Hannah is on tour and wants to rush home so she can get to a Maroon 5 concert while her dad wants to stop at the diner where he and her mom first met. Amidst an argument, Miley is struck by lightning and goes back in time to that day her parents met. It’s a heartwarming, emotional, deeper look into the Stewart family.
3. I Will Always Loathe You (S2 E20)
By far one of the most iconic cast members to grace the Hannah Montana set was Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus’ actual godmother, as well as Miley’s godmother in the show. This episode showcases the feud Dolly has with Robbie’s mom and Miley’s grandmother Mamaw, played by Vicki Lawrence. Their hilarious wrestling scene behind the curtains, while Hannah is receiving a huge award, is most definitely one to remember.
4. Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas (S2 E16)
Who doesn’t love a good Disney Channel crossover episode? Nine-year-old (and 19-year-old) me will forever love the Jonas Brothers, so when they made their way into an episode, I was living for it. This episode not only gives us hilarious one-liners but also the iconic song “We Got the Party” sung by all of them together.
5. He Could Be the One (Part 2 of 2) (S3 E19)
Another CLASSIC. If you’re into Hannah Montana, and maybe even if you aren’t, you’ve probably heard of the infamous Jake vs. Jesse debate. They were the original Edward and Jacob. In this episode, Miley struggles to pick between them both; Jake being the one she was currently in a relationship with, who her dad doesn’t love due to their complicated history, while Jesse is the new, exciting bad boy who plays guitar in her band. It’s a hilarious episode to see the two of them fight it out by coming alive in posters, and Hannah’s decision, in the end, is worth the wait.
6. I’ll Always Remember You (S4 E10)
In my opinion, all of season 4 is emotional, but this episode is especially. This is the episode when it happens; where Miley reveals she is actually Hannah Montana. It’s basically what the whole show has been building up to, and the moment is as dramatic as anticipated. Before the big moment, Miley takes a walk down memory lane by going through all the outfits she wore in past years as Hannah, and we get flashbacks to each of those moments. It’s an emotional, beautiful episode that shows Miley’s growth inside and outside of the show.
So, there you go! My top 6 favorite Hannah Montana episodes. This show remains one of my favorites to ever air on Disney Channel, and I think it will always have a special place in my heart.