Heh, well any ranking is my pair of shoes... I'll use your categories as I like them very much, adding one more. Our choices are about to differ, though...
A spontaneous choice here we go!
TOP-NOTCH
Ep.8 - between the very best of episode beginnings and one of the very best of episode endings there is the biggest number (and,indeed, variety) of top-notch moments
Ep.16 - nothing moves as much as the Leland death scene and yet it doesn't stand out that much because all the rest is superb, too, and I don't have any issues at all
Ep.14 - "the devastating heart of darkness for this show" I can only second.
I'm so sorry...
Ep.29 - I would call this one "the most flawlessly constructed episode" of all and cinematically probably the best; I miss Laura, though... and I don't really get what happened to Coop...
Ep.7 - absolute blast; every aspect of this episode is 100%
The Pilot - the most haunting and riveting intro one could expect. I still prefer when it goes deeper inside the town but the Pilot is just pure classic, it's the ancient Greece of Twin Peaks
EXCELLENT ("solid" sounds like understatement here, anyway this is the category where almost the whole Season 1 fits for me - individually the episodes are not as stunning as some of the later ones but all in all it proves to be top-notch, too...)
Ep.15 - it's practically perfect, just happens to be in the middle. BOB not so scary? Hmm, in a way this is perhaps his scariest episode to me!
Ep.6 - as above, it sets up something greater but even on its own it's practically perfect
Ep.4 - style!!
Ep.5 - style!!
(these two above are the core of Season 1)
Ep.2 - it may not appeal to me as much as to others but I can't really say a word against it
Ep.12 - "very underrated episode, the Donna-Harold scenes are fantastic" - now we agree!
SOLID
Ep.3 - couldn't make up my mind if this one should be here or above - whatever. Very very good and the last scene is perfect.
Ep.27 - Twin Peaks is back and even shivers down the spine a bit - again!
Ep.13 - everything works as should and MIKE is perfect
Ep.23 - everything works again even though people say it doesn't. Keeps me hooked from Caroline's mask to Josie's knob.
Ep.1 - everything works, too, but nothing much happens yet
Ep.9 - everything seems to work but I can't find any emotions in it
FLAWED, BUT COMPELLING (this category fits great with the mid-20 episodes of which I am very fond even if I am aware of all their flaws)
Ep.22 - obviously my favourite in this category. Truth is I prefer it to Ep.9 even though it's flawed and 9 is not
Ep.26 - I absolutely love the beginning with Windom's story and I absolutely love the Cooper/Wheeler scene by the fire. A few others also work well.
Ep.25 - it's genuinely funny even if not much more!
WEAK (well, not weak - but obviously weaker)
Ep.24 - silly stuff is one thing and a really lame ending is another. The best here are the opening shots with Harry, his glass, and the beautiful music
Ep.10 - yeah.. not bad but the beginning doesn't work at all and unfortunately I find the Donna at the grave scene just bad
Ep.11 - yeah.. not bad but not too good either
Ep.21 - if we forget Dr Hayward's speech it's got its moments... and the ending is truly memorable
Ep.28 - "sets up the finale & has a few great moments, but whole thing drags & reminds us show ain't quite back yet" - quite agreed!
HORRIFYINGLY FASCINATING TRAIN WRECK
Ep.18 - cut out Ben and it's the worst episode of all. But the Ben scene is a gem and neither of the episodes below had one.
"DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS!"
Ep.19 - seemed better than the former two when I watched it for the first time. But I can't remember why anymore.
Ep.20 - the good thing about this episode is that it ends the pointless Coop-suspended plot
Ep.17 -
On its own it could be decent. After Ep.16 it is just embarassing.