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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 25m•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(1217 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.

    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(788 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.

    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(978 votes)

    #3 - The Big Lock-Out

    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(869 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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  5. Black Books Season 3 Episode 1 - Manny Come Home
    8.2/10(788 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.

    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(712 votes)

    #6 - Party

    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(1045 votes)

    #7 - 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.

    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(1247 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.

    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(955 votes)

    #9 - The Blackout

    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(801 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".

    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(769 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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writers:Dylan Moran, Arthur Mathews

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  12. Black Books Season 2 Episode 5 - Hello Sun
    7.8/10(724 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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  13. Black Books Season 2 Episode 6 - A Nice Change
    7.8/10(724 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.

    Director:Martin Dennis
    Writer:Dylan Moran

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  14. Black Books Season 1 Episode 6 - He's Leaving Home
    7.7/10(868 votes)

    #14 - He's Leaving Home

    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(740 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.

    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(692 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.

    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(661 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.

    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(651 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.

    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 1217 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".