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The Best Episodes of Black Books

Every episode of Black Books ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Black Books!

The Best Episodes of Black Books

Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism...

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  1. 8.6/10(1.2k votes)

    #1 - Grapes of Wrath

    S1:E3

    Bernard and Manny accept a house-sitting job to get away from their new cleaner. They also drink some wine.

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  2. 8.3/10(751 votes)

    #2 - Elephants and Hens

    S3:E2

    When Bernard holds a children's themed book day in the shop, Fran bets Manni and Bernard they couldn't write a children's book over a weekend, while Bernard bets Fran back that she will have an awful time at her friend's hen party.

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  3. 8.2/10(932 votes)

    #3 - The Big Lock-Out

    S1:E5

    The shop gets a new security system that no-one can work.

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  4. 8.2/10(831 votes)

    #4 - The Entertainer

    S2:E1

    Fran decides to take up piano lessons with a very prominent teacher, however all doesn't go to plan and she ends up having to ask Manni for a favour. Meanwhile Bernard asks a girl out and once again Manni is called upon for a favour.

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    Director:Martin Dennis
  5. 8.2/10(750 votes)

    #5 - Manny Come Home

    S3:E1

    When Manny defects to Goliath Books after an "incident" with Bernard, his ex-employer's life spirals out of control. Meanwhile Fran returns from holiday only to be greeted by the squalor of Bernard's shop.

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  6. 8.1/10(991 votes)

    #6 - Manny's First Day

    S1:E2

    After Manny’s help with the tax return Bernard is persuaded to hire him in the shop. Unfortunately he actually sells some books, much to Bernard’s annoyance.

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Black Books

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  8. 8.1/10(681 votes)

    #7 - Party

    S3:E6

    Manny and Fran drag Bernard along with them to a party, but the drunken aftermath dredges up secrets and bitterness.

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  9. 8.0/10(1.2k votes)

    #8 - Cooking the Books

    S1:E1

    Bernard’s dodgy accountant has to go on the run, leaving him ill prepared to fill out his own tax return. In fact Bernard would rather do anything than fill it out.

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  10. 8.0/10(910 votes)

    #9 - The Blackout

    S1:E4

    A hyper, coffee fueled Manny is mistaken for a policeman.

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  11. 7.9/10(765 votes)

    #10 - Fever

    S2:E2

    On a scorching hot day, Manni tries to maintain his body temperature so it doesn't go over 88 degrees; Fran has problems with a new neighbour, and Bernard tries to find an appropriate "summer girl".

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  12. 7.8/10(737 votes)

    #11 - The Fixer

    S2:E3

    Bernard and Manni have to deal with a gangster turned writer who plans to hold a reading of his autobiography at the book shop, however he can't read. Meanwhile Fran gets an office job where she isn't quite sure what she is meant to be doing.

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  13. 7.8/10(692 votes)

    #12 - Hello Sun

    S2:E5

    Fran tries to cleanse her lifestyle by taking up yoga and going on a radical diet, while Bernard and Manni receive some books on Freud and their lives descend into his famous theories.

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    Director:Martin Dennis
  14. 7.8/10(690 votes)

    #13 - A Nice Change

    S2:E6

    When construction starts next door to the shop, Manni, Bernard and Fran try to decide what to do while it continues.

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    Director:Martin Dennis
  15. 7.7/10(821 votes)

    #14 - He's Leaving Home

    S1:E6

    Manny runs away from the bookshop into the arms of a beard loving photographer.

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  16. 7.7/10(706 votes)

    #15 - Blood

    S2:E4

    Manni and Bernard try to keep up with modern book shops and in doing so Manni helps Fran get over her boredom by encouraging her to look up her family tree.

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  17. 7.7/10(653 votes)

    #16 - Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa

    S3:E3

    Manny's parents visit the shop for the weekend, and the lies he's told them throw Fran and Bernard's lives into chaos.

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  18. 7.6/10(628 votes)

    #17 - A Little Flutter

    S3:E4

    Bernard becomes addicted to gambling and forces Manny and Fran to compete for one job at the shop in order to finance his bets.

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  19. 7.4/10(619 votes)

    #18 - Travel Writer

    S3:E5

    Fran & Manny become enamored with a dashing travel writer giving a talk at the shop, while Bernard contends with a most unorthodox new landlord.

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Best Episodes Summary

"Grapes of Wrath" is the best rated episode of "Black Books". It scored 8.6/10 based on 1155 votes. Directed by Graham Linehan, Nick Wood and written by Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan, it aired on 10/13/2000. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Elephants and Hens".