The Best Episodes Directed By Alan Ball

Every TV Episode Directed by Alan Ball Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Alan Ball Ratings Summary

The best episode directed by Alan Ball is "Untitled", rated 9.143/10 from 7 user votes. It was "written by Nancy Oliver". "Untitled" aired on 9/12/2004 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than their second highest rated, "Best episode of all time".

  • Untitled
    9.1/10 7 votes

    #1 - Untitled

    Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 9/12/2004

    Ruth is delighted to meet George's daughter, but worries as his paranoid 'views' of the future escalate. 'Star' Claire gets high off her newfound fame; Federico pleads his case to Vanessa, who delivers a verdict; David confronts a demon face-to-face; Keith considers a business proposal; and Nate comes to final blows with Barb and Hoyt.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Nancy Oliver

  • Best episode of all time
    9.0/10 26 votes

    #2 - Best episode of all time

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 8/21/2005

    David finally embraces a demon; Keith gives 'tough love'; Nathaniel talks to his younger son; Brenda delivers and fights Nate's negativity; Claire gets an exciting call; Ted inspires sexy photos; Margaret is impressed to see Olivier's nurturing side; George's limitations eclipse his intentions; and Claire drives into her future.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Knock, Knock
    8.9/10 7 votes

    #3 - Knock, Knock

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 8/19/2001

    The Fisher family experiences the control-freak side of Tracy Montrose Blaire; Brenda visits a remorseful Billy; David faces problems at his church; Gabe reverts to some bad habits; and Rico finds reason to celebrate.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • The Last Time
    8.9/10 9 votes

    #4 - The Last Time

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 6/2/2002

    Fisher & Sons is the subject of an unannounced inspection, which proves surprisingly beneficial for Federico. Meanwhile, Claire's art-school interview takes an unexpected turn, and things grow tense between Keith and David. Also, Nate finds himself at a crossroads, both with Brenda and with his AVM.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Kate Robin

  • Pilot
    8.8/10 12 votes

    #5 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/3/2001

    Nate Fisher returns home for the holidays to the shattering news of his father's death.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • You'll Be the Death of Me
    8.3/10 19 votes

    #6 - You'll Be the Death of Me

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 11/23/2008

    Sookie finds a link to the string of killings in Bon Temps; Tara wants to make the most of her second chance; Jason finds a new calling; Bill tempts fate; Sam is upset by an encounter with an old acquaintance.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Raelle Tucker

  • I'm Sorry, I'm Lost
    7.9/10 9 votes

    #7 - I'm Sorry, I'm Lost

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 6/1/2003

    Death continues to shuffle its deck randomly for would-be clients of Fisher & Diaz. Meanwhile, Nate looks to quell his inner demons through extreme remedies offered at a local bar--giving Claire way more baby-sitting action than she bargained for. Also, Ruth shakes up the family with some unexpected news.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Joey Soloway

  • The First Taste
    7.9/10 30 votes

    #8 - The First Taste

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/2008

    After Sookie gets saved by Bill she suffers a lot of injuries and Bill tries to save her "the Vampire way". The next day her brother is released from police custody and the bodies of Sookie's attackers are found. Later that day Bill goes to visit Sookie's family and gets a not so friendly welcome.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Strange Love
    7.3/10 29 votes

    #9 - Strange Love

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/2008

    Across the country, vampires have “come out of the coffin” following the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood. In Louisiana, Sookie Stack house, a waitress with telepathic abilities, falls under the spell of sexy, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton whose thoughts she can’t read. After saving Bill from the Rat trays, a pair of ruthless “vampire drainers”, Sookie tests the limits of Bill’ s gratitude when the two are left alone in the dark. Meanwhile, Sookie’ s best friend Tara goes to work for Sam merlette at his bar and grill, while Sookie’ s roguish brother Jason finds himself in hot water when a “fang-banger” with whom he’s been intimate meets a tragic end.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Eleven Eleven
    7.2/10 6 votes

    #10 - Eleven Eleven

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 2/11/2018

    As Audrey Bayer puts the finishing touches on her husband Greg’s 60th birthday party – a milestone Greg is loath to celebrate – cracks begin to emerge in their progressive, multiracial family. Ramon, the couple’s Colombian-born son, who’s just starting a relationship with Henry, a barista, is having unexplained, recurring encounters with the numbers “11:11.” Duc, adopted from Vietnam, enjoys the fruits of a lucrative career as a “motivational architect,” but his celibacy troubles Audrey. Liberian-born Ashley, a successful fashion-industry exec, is finding more and more reason to shake up her marriage with her husband, Malcolm. And 17-year-old Kristen, the couple’s youngest child, chafes at her banal life, especially compared to her more exotic siblings. After a troubling incident at the birthday party, Audrey and Greg take Ramon to a therapist, Dr. Farid Shokrani, who has an unlikely and unexplainable connection to the young man.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball