 The episode was generally well received . IGN declared the episode " one of the smartest and funniest hours of television to grace the small screen yet this season . " They went on to applaud the decision not only to parody other works but the show itself . Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune agreed , but also noted that " you don 't need to be a longtime fan of the long @-@ running program to enjoy its jibes at sci @-@ fi clichés or expedient writing . " Eclipse Magazine noted that although the episode was " not a work of comic genius " , " 200 " was the best comedy episode of the series . 
