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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!

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...
Genre:Comedy
Network:Channel 4
Episodes
18
Avg. Rating
7.9
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.2
7.9
8.3
7.8
7.8
7.7

Best Episodes Summary

"Elephants and Hens" is the best rated episode of "Black Books". It scored 8.3/10 based on 740 votes. Directed by Martin Dennis and written by Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, it aired on 3/18/2004. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Manny's First Day".

  • Elephants and Hens
    8.3/10(740)
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    #1 - Elephants and Hens

    Season 3 Episode 2

    Aired 3/18/2004

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • Manny's First Day
    8.2/10(11)
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    #2 - Manny's First Day

    Season 1 Episode 2

    Aired 10/6/2000

    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.

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0
  • The Entertainer
    8.2/10(820)
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    #3 - The Entertainer

    Season 2 Episode 1

    Aired 3/1/2002

    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

    Comments

    0
  • Manny Come Home
    8.2/10(740)
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    #4 - Manny Come Home

    Season 3 Episode 1

    Aired 3/11/2004

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • The Big Lock-Out
    8.1/10(11)
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    #5 - The Big Lock-Out

    Season 1 Episode 5

    Aired 10/27/2000

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

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0
  • Party
    8.1/10(673)
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    #6 - Party

    Season 3 Episode 6

    Aired 4/15/2004

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

    Director: Martin Dennis

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Black Books

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  • Cooking the Books
    8.0/10(14)
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    #7 - Cooking the Books

    Season 1 Episode 1

    Aired 9/29/2000

    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.

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0
  • Fever
    7.9/10(754)
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    #8 - Fever

    Season 2 Episode 2

    Aired 3/8/2002

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • Grapes of Wrath
    7.8/10(14)
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    #9 - Grapes of Wrath

    Season 1 Episode 3

    Aired 10/13/2000

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

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0
  • The Fixer
    7.8/10(724)
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    #10 - The Fixer

    Season 2 Episode 3

    Aired 3/15/2002

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Arthur Mathews

    Comments

    0
  • Hello Sun
    7.8/10(681)
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    #11 - Hello Sun

    Season 2 Episode 5

    Aired 3/29/2002

    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

    Comments

    0
  • A Nice Change
    7.8/10(678)
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    #12 - A Nice Change

    Season 2 Episode 6

    Aired 4/5/2002

    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

    Comments

    0
  • Blood
    7.7/10(696)
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    #13 - Blood

    Season 2 Episode 4

    Aired 3/22/2002

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa
    7.7/10(643)
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    #14 - Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa

    Season 3 Episode 3

    Aired 3/25/2004

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • The Blackout
    7.6/10(10)
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    #15 - The Blackout

    Season 1 Episode 4

    Aired 10/20/2000

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

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0
  • A Little Flutter
    7.6/10(619)
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    #16 - A Little Flutter

    Season 3 Episode 4

    Aired 4/1/2004

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • Travel Writer
    7.4/10(612)
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    #17 - Travel Writer

    Season 3 Episode 5

    Aired 4/8/2004

    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

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley

    Comments

    0
  • He's Leaving Home
    7.3/10(11)
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    #18 - He's Leaving Home

    Season 1 Episode 6

    Aired 11/3/2000

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

    Director: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

    Writer: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Comments

    0