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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!

Binge this in 7h 7m•Peaking at 8.6/10

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 deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny,

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Channel 4
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Black Books Season 1 Episode 3 - Grapes of Wrath
    8.6/10(1226 votes)

    S1:E3

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

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  2. Black Books Season 3 Episode 2 - Elephants and Hens
    8.3/10(794 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  3. Black Books Season 1 Episode 5 - The Big Lock-Out
    8.2/10(991 votes)

    S1:E5

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

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  4. Black Books Season 2 Episode 1 - The Entertainer
    8.2/10(891 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  5. Black Books Season 3 Episode 1 - Manny Come Home
    8.2/10(807 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  6. Black Books Season 3 Episode 6 - Party
    8.2/10(717 votes)

    S3:E6

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

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Black Books

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  7. Black Books Season 1 Episode 2 - Manny's First Day
    8.1/10(1071 votes)

    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.

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  8. Black Books Season 1 Episode 1 - Cooking the Books
    8.0/10(1285 votes)

    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.

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  9. Black Books Season 1 Episode 4 - The Blackout
    8.0/10(977 votes)

    S1:E4

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

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  10. Black Books Season 2 Episode 2 - Fever
    7.9/10(826 votes)

    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".

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  11. Black Books Season 2 Episode 3 - The Fixer
    7.8/10(795 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Arthur Mathews

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  12. Black Books Season 2 Episode 5 - Hello Sun
    7.8/10(745 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  13. Black Books Season 2 Episode 6 - A Nice Change
    7.8/10(746 votes)

    S2:E6

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

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  14. Black Books Season 1 Episode 6 - He's Leaving Home
    7.7/10(894 votes)

    S1:E6

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

    Directors:Graham Linehan, Nick Wood
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

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  15. Black Books Season 2 Episode 4 - Blood
    7.7/10(766 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  16. Black Books Season 3 Episode 3 - Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa
    7.7/10(713 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  17. Black Books Season 3 Episode 4 - A Little Flutter
    7.7/10(681 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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  18. Black Books Season 3 Episode 5 - Travel Writer
    7.4/10(671 votes)

    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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

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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 1226 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".