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The Best Episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Every episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?!

Binge this in 1d 12h•Peaking at 8.9/10

This spooky anthology series for kids recounts ghost stories told by the young members of the Midnight Society as they gather around a campfire. Each episode opens with members of the Midnight Society at their

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 10 - The Tale of the Dream Girl
    8.9/10(1181 votes)

    #1 - The Tale of the Dream Girl

    S3:E10

    A teenager thinks he's just met the girl of his dreams when he puts on a mysterious ring that won't come off. Trouble begins when he learns that years ago she was killed in a car accident, and he realizes she wants to lure him to an early grave.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 5 Episode 1 - The Tale of the Dead Man's Float
    8.7/10(1133 votes)

    #2 - The Tale of the Dead Man's Float

    S5:E1

    Zeke is good at chemistry, but not at girls. When he befriends one, she teaches him how to swim at the school pool. However, the pool is haunted by the ghost of a body that was previously buried underneath the school.

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 2 Episode 2 - The Tale of the Midnight Madness
    8.5/10(1136 votes)

    #3 - The Tale of the Midnight Madness

    S2:E2

    An old movie theater has two weeks before they close down for good. Ever since the multiplex came into town, the older movie theater has made less than six dollars per day. All of a sudden, the mysterious Dr. Vink appears and offers them a horror movie he made decades ago. He promises the owner and his staff that his movie would save them from closing down and it works! Dr. Vink's horror movie, Nosferatu: The Demon Vampire, starts attracting more than fifty people a night. The staff wonders what attracts people to this film and unfortunately they find out. The terrifying vampire jumps out of the movie and into the real world where it can have all the victims it wants. Now the staff must pull the plug on the movie before it gets out of hand!

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  4. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 5 Episode 13 - The Tale of Badge
    8.5/10(1001 votes)

    #4 - The Tale of Badge

    S5:E13

    Gwen is constantly being upstaged by her brother- even on her birthday. Her grandmother Willy gives her a special necklace and a magical flute that holds the key to a family secret. When her brother accidentally releases an evil creature named Badge, it's up to Gwen to use her musical gift to save her family and herself.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 2 Episode 10 - The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle
    8.4/10(1050 votes)

    #5 - The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle

    S2:E10

    Years ago a boy named Ricky Hagerdy drowned. His close friend Mike Buckley tried to save him, but failed. Ever since that day he's felt guilty for what happened. Trouble begins when he starts seeing Ricky's ghost everywhere he looks.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Cassandra Schafhausen

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  6. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 2 - The Tale of Apartment 214
    8.4/10(935 votes)

    #6 - The Tale of Apartment 214

    S3:E2

    After moving into a new apartment complex with her mother, Stacy finds herself without any friends. She befriends an older woman named Madeline that lives nearby and they soon start to spend quite a bit of time together. But when Stacy breaks a promise to visit Madeline on one specific afternoon, Madeline is enraged and comes after Stacy.

    Director:Scott Peters
    Writer:Scott Peters

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?

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  7. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 2 - The Tale of Laughing in the Dark
    8.3/10(1507 votes)

    #7 - The Tale of Laughing in the Dark

    S1:E2

    A kid named Josh decides to prove that a fun house isn't haunted by stealing the nose of the clown who is supposed to haunt the place. He learns that the story isn't fiction when Zeebo pays him a little visit.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  8. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 11 - The Tale of the Dark Music
    8.2/10(1082 votes)

    #8 - The Tale of the Dark Music

    S1:E11

    Andy Carr moves in the new neighborhood where things don't start out well until he figures out that there's something hidden inside his basement.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  9. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 12 - The Tale of the Prom Queen
    8.2/10(1121 votes)

    #9 - The Tale of the Prom Queen

    S1:E12

    Two boys befriend a young woman where they encourage her to join them in search of a legend that comes every year.

    Director:Jean-Marie Comeau
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  10. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 13 - The Tale of the Dangerous Soup
    8.1/10(942 votes)

    #10 - The Tale of the Dangerous Soup

    S3:E13

    Dr. Vink is back and now running his own restaraunt, The Wild Boar. After staff members continually decide to just quit at the drop of a hat, two employees soon discover why. Dr. Vink makes his famous soup with a special ingredient that he gets from his employees- FEAR. However, the two accidentally release the creature that gathers the fear and give it the ability to prey upon anyone.

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  11. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 5 Episode 3 - The Tale of the Mystical Mirror
    8.1/10(964 votes)

    #11 - The Tale of the Mystical Mirror

    S5:E3

    Employees from a boutique are disappearing and no one knows why. Soon after getting a job there, Cindy discovers the truth. Mrs. Valenti, the owner, is really centuries old and using her youthful employees to stay young.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 6 - The Tale of the Super Specs
    8.0/10(1093 votes)

    #12 - The Tale of the Super Specs

    S1:E6

    Weeds, a prankster, buys his friend Marybeth a pair of super spec glasses as part of an April's Fool Day where once she places on the glasses, strange figures appear and can't be explained.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  13. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 2 Episode 13 - The Tale of Old Man Corcoran
    8.0/10(976 votes)

    #13 - The Tale of Old Man Corcoran

    S2:E13

    Two boys befriend a group of hide 'n' seekers who play their game in a graveyard that's rumored to be haunted by a caretakers's ghost. They soon find out that it might not be just a rumor.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Scott Peters

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  14. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 4 Episode 9 - The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner
    8.0/10(787 votes)

    #14 - The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner

    S4:E9

    Ethan wants to be a comic book artist, but his submissions are constantly rejected by companies. One day, he's invited to a comic shop, where he gets the only copy of the comic ""The Ghastly Grinner."" He accidentally brings the supervillain to life and it starts turning everyone into giggling mindless idiots.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 5 Episode 11 - The Tale of the Night Shift
    8.0/10(899 votes)

    #15 - The Tale of the Night Shift

    S5:E11

    A new girl starts volunteering during the nightshift at the local hospital. But the hospital seems to have more than just a new volunteer. Someone or something is feeding on the hospital's patients and employees, draining them of their blood and turning them into walking zombies.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 13 - The Tale of the Pinball Wizard
    7.9/10(1123 votes)

    #16 - The Tale of the Pinball Wizard

    S1:E13

    Ross, a mischievous kid, goes to the mall where his old habits sometimes get the best of him.

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 5 - The Tale of the Dollmaker
    7.9/10(952 votes)

    #17 - The Tale of the Dollmaker

    S3:E5

    A young girl goes to the countryside to spend a summer with her best friend but she discovers that her friend is missing. She soon discovers that a mysterious doll house in the attic is responsible for her friend's disappearance.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 6 - The Tale of the Bookish Babysitter
    7.9/10(930 votes)

    #18 - The Tale of the Bookish Babysitter

    S3:E6

    A young boy named Ricky, who is obsessed with TV, is put under the care of a babysitter named Belinda. Belinda has a reputation for making children interested in reading. That's because she makes the books come alive. Literally.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 3 Episode 11 - The Tale of the Quicksilver
    7.9/10(767 votes)

    #19 - The Tale of the Quicksilver

    S3:E11

    A long time ago a young girl named Laura was haunted by someone or something lurking in the walls of her house. She tried to get rid of the ghost but failed and died in the process. A year later, two new brothers move into the same house and discover that history repeats itself.

    Director:Michael Keusch
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 4 Episode 12 - The Tale of the Unfinished Painting
    7.9/10(900 votes)

    #20 - The Tale of the Unfinished Painting

    S4:E12

    A girl who loves to draw starts spending time at an art gallery, finishing up paintings that have never been completed. But she soon finds out that once you sign your name to a painting, you're trapped inside of it for life.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 3 - The Tale of the Lonely Ghost
    7.8/10(1260 votes)

    #21 - The Tale of the Lonely Ghost

    S1:E3

    A girl who desperately wants to be friends with her snotty cousin and her group of friends agrees to spend the night in the haunted house next door to become part of the group.

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Naomi Janzen

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  22. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 7 Episode 3 - The Tale of the Silver Sight (3)
    7.8/10(332 votes)

    #22 - The Tale of the Silver Sight (3)

    S7:E3

    The Midnight Society continues to go in search of the original members who each hold a clue to the mystery. The final episode focuses on Vange and Andy's search for 'The Riddle Man'.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 1 Episode 8 - The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors
    7.7/10(1104 votes)

    #23 - The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors

    S1:E8

    Some new neighbors move into a neighborhood. They are originally from Eastern Europe, wear black, collect blood, and only are active at night.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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  24. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 2 Episode 5 - The Tale of the Dream Machine
    7.7/10(943 votes)

    #24 - The Tale of the Dream Machine

    S2:E5

    Sean Hackett finds a strange old typewriter in his house that once belonged to a writer who mysteriously vanished. He loves to write short stories, but soon finds that whatever he types comes to life as it's read. Things seem harmless enough until he writes a story for English class in which his best friend dies.

    Director:David Winning
    Writer:Darren Kotania

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  25. Are You Afraid of the Dark? Season 2 Episode 12 - The Tale of the Hatching
    7.7/10(949 votes)

    #25 - The Tale of the Hatching

    S2:E12

    Two siblings, Jazz and Augie, are sent to boarding school while their parents are away. They immediately notice that the school is quite different and has some rather strange rules. For example, only calm, soothing tones are allowed inside the school and the students are only given the option to eat something called 'sponge' for meals daily. Jazz and Augie soon learn why the owners are so strange and have these odd rules in place.

    Director:D.J. MacHale
    Writer:Chloe Brown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Tale of the Dream Girl" is the best rated episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?". It scored 8.9/10 based on 1181 votes. Directed by David Winning and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/26/1994. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Tale of the Dead Man's Float".