My 12 Favorite Pop Culture Moments of 2014

Tomorrow will officially mark the start of 2015, which will bring nonstop excitement in the pop culture world from things like the hotly anticipated second "Avengers" movie to a (no doubt dark) third season of "House of Cards."

But for right now, I've decided to reminisce about 2014 and all the wonderful things it brought in the form of TV, film, music and even radio. Below I've ranked my top 12 pop culture moments from this year. Beware of a few spoilers!

12. Emma Stone's lip sync battle on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."

We've seem some pretty great lip sync battles on whichever show Jimmy Fallon is at the helm of (i.e. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and John Krasinski) but none quite as endearing as Emma Stone's explosive performance. Jimmy Fallon has nothing on Stone's rendition of "Hook" by Blues Traveler and "All I Do Is Win." It was definitely the highlight of 2014 late night. Her face after her crazy final performance says it all.

11. Realizing I'm a One Direction fan with their new album "Four."

Before you roll your eyes, just listen to it! I've gradually transformed from a closested 1D fan to an unashamed one. Most of that is due to the British boy band's fourth chart-topping album, aptly titled "Four." There are plenty of 80s' rock-sounding tracks from a touch of Journey in "Steal My Girl" to a tad of Paul Simon's "The Obvious Child" in "Girl Almighty." Whatever your opinion is of 1D, you can't deny their fourth album shows their genuinely steep vocal chops and their growth as artists.

10. "Gone Girl's" gruesome climax.

David Fincher releasing a new movie would have been a fine addition in itself to the pop culture world of 2014. But the scene in which a borderline psychopathic Amy (Rosamund Pike) brutally slashes the throat of her former stalker Desi (Neil Patrick Harris) during sex is definitely a pop culture moment of 2014 I will never forget. Yikes.

9. Beyonce's stellar VMA performance.

Her long performance was the perfect close to this year's VMAs, from sensual renditions of "Blow" and "Drunk in Love" to heart-wrenching emotional ones of "Jealous" and "Blue." Add in her daughter and husband joining her onstage to congratulate her and you easily have one of the best pop culture moments of 2014.

8. Deciding what the deal is with Jay on "Serial."

Sarah Koenig proved the entire world wrong about the death of interest in radio with her killer podcast "Serial." Her storytelling and reporting abilities were organized into an enticing narrative that had us wondering things like "was there really a payphone in the Best Buy parking lot in 1998?" and "what is the deal with Jay?" The complicated truths and lies of "Serial" were such a surprising high point of 2014 entertainment.

7. Scott and Stiles' emotional hug during season 3B of "Teen Wolf."

Dylan O'Brien blew me away on the latter half of "Teen Wolf's" third season. The usually quippy and cute sidekick to werewolf Scott McCall was suddenly possessed by an evil spirit, causing the beloved character of Stiles to turn utterly dark and sadistic. The change was not only heart-breaking to watch, but also extremely captivating. O'Brien's is definitely one to watch come 2015. But throughout the entire stellar part of the season, nothing will be more memorable than the moment before Stiles (temporarily back to his former self) undergoes an MRI to see if he has the same brain disease as his late mother. Scott gives him an encouraging and downright emotional hug, complete with tears. One of the best bromances on TV just became too real.

6. Jenny Slate's awkwardness in "Obvious Child."

"Obvious Child" was hands down my favorite movie of 2014. Jenny Slate's Donna all too realistically portrayed a twentysomething woman whose drunken romp with a stranger (an adorable Jake Lacy) leads to an abortion. The topic doesn't sound too cheery, but Slate's namebrand humor of self-deprication and extremely uncomfortable awkwarness make for a brilliant tale of young romance and finally growing up.

5. Pete Davidson's "Saturday Night Live" debut.

I don't think I've ever noticed a new cast member of "SNL" so quickly. Pete Davidson's mini standup act on Weekend Update during the season premiere was the perfect mix of provocative and endearing. From his delivery of "I'm a business man" to acknowledging his crazy young age (he was in high school only three years ago!) prove he's a unique addition to the team, and definitely one to look out for in the coming years.

4. Foster the People's new album.

Critics didn't seem to particularly like "Supermodel," Foster the People's second album that was released in March. I, on the other hand, loved it. From easy hits like "Coming of Age" to more alternative, emotional ballads like "The Truth," FTP proved in 2014 that they were back with a bang.

3. "The Mindy Project" season two finale.

Bruce Springsteen! The Empire State Building! So many romantic comedy cliches that "The Mindy Project" both loves to mock and embrace were combined into a perfect season two finale that found Danny racing to the top of the Emprie State Building to tell Mindy how he really feels. It was both hilarious and awe-inducing. Chris Messina can do no wrong.

2. Reese Witherspoon's entire performance in "Wild."

Definitely her best performance to date. Witherspoon single-handedly carried the movie based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed. From the very beginning scene of her shouting profanities at her shoes to her climactic breakdown at the end, Witherspoon easily reinvigorated her cutesy image to one of raw talent.

1. Peter Quinn shows up to Carrie's dad's funeral on "Homeland."

I don't think my heart leapt more this year than in the moment Carrie spots Peter Quinn in the distance outside the church at her father's funeral. It packed such an emotional punch, not only because right before Carrie gave a heart-breaking eulogy about her difficult father, but because she didn't know if Peter was even alive after that incident in Pakistan. And director Lesli Linka Glatter's perfect execution of the moment Carrie sees him (the camera placed behind her head, in between a group of people giving their condolences who are out of focus) makes it ten times more powerful. It was one of the best things out of the stellar fourth season, and also my favorite pop culture moment of 2014.