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The Best Episodes of Bleak House

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

Binge this in 7h 44m•Peaking at 8.5/10

The generous John Jarndyce, struggling with his own past, and his two young wards Richard and Ada, are all caught up, like Lady Dedlock, in the infamous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce, which will make

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Bleak House Season 1 Episode 8 - Episode 8
    8.5/10(250 votes)

    #1 - Episode 8

    S1:E8

    Tulkinghorn is now close to piecing together Lady Dedlock's secret. Esther struggles to come to terms with the terrible blow she has been dealt. Jarndyce agonises over whether to keep his own feelings for Esther concealed. Lady Dedlock tells Esther something that will change her life for ever.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  2. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 14 - Episode 14
    8.5/10(246 votes)

    #2 - Episode 14

    S1:E14

    As Bucket wraps up his investigation, there's yet more trouble for Lady Dedlock in the shape of the evil moneylender Smallweed, who has evidence of her secret past and intends to use it. Cornered and desperate, Lady Dedlock makes a terrible decision.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  3. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 15 - Episode 15
    8.5/10(231 votes)

    #3 - Episode 15

    S1:E15

    Richard's obsession with Chancery has left him desperately ill. Ada is pregnant but worries Richard will not live to see the child. When Woodcourt proposes marriage, Esther is torn between her love for him and her commitment to Jarndyce. The impossible finally happens - a result in Chancery - but it's one that will astound everybody.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  4. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 11 - Episode 11
    8.4/10(244 votes)

    #4 - Episode 11

    S1:E11

    Richard is in dire straits but Ada and Esther may be too late to help him. An unexpected meeting with Woodcourt raises uncomfortable questions for Esther. Jo the crossing sweeper is critically ill, and despite Woodcourt's best attempts it is a matter of life and death. Tulkinghorn discovers Lady Dedlock's defiance with disastrous consequences.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  5. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 13 - Episode 13
    8.4/10(237 votes)

    #5 - Episode 13

    S1:E13

    Richard and Ada's news causes great concern for Esther and Jarndyce. Inspector Bucket's investigation gathers steam when he tracks down the mysterious letter writer. As evidence mounts against Lady Dedlock, Bucket sets a trap for the killer - with astonishing results.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  6. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 9 - Episode 9
    8.3/10(242 votes)

    #6 - Episode 9

    S1:E9

    Esther is shattered by Lady Dedlock's revelation. Richard's obsession with the Jarndyce case has grown to worrying proportions. Guppy puts himself at risk when he gets in the way of Tulkinghorn's enquiries. And Tulkinghorn at last has cast iron proof of Lady Dedlock's guilt, and issues her with a terrible ultimatum.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Bleak House

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  7. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 10 - Episode 10
    8.3/10(243 votes)

    #7 - Episode 10

    S1:E10

    Tulkinghorn believes Lady Dedlock is in his power, but she continues to defy him. George's anger knows no bounds when Tulkinghorn breaks his promise and leaves him in financial ruin. And a marriage proposal surprises Esther - but is it from the right man?

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  8. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 6 - Episode 6
    8.2/10(251 votes)

    #8 - Episode 6

    S1:E6

    George's future is put at risk as Tulkinghorn uses the evil moneylender Smallweed to pile on the pressure. Guppy makes a discovery about Esther which shocks Lady Dedlock to the core. Esther and Jarndyce take in Jo the crossing sweeper, who is seriously ill and on the run from Tulkinghorn's men. But their kindness produces an unexpected result.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  9. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    8.2/10(244 votes)

    #9 - Episode 7

    S1:E7

    George has to make an impossible decision when Tulkinghorn and Smallweed turn up the heat on his debts. Guppy's quest for information takes him back to Krook's shop, with explosive results. Jarndyce is beside himself when tragedy strikes Bleak House.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  10. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 12 - Episode 12
    8.1/10(231 votes)

    #10 - Episode 12

    S1:E12

    Esther's feelings for Woodcourt grow stronger despite her best intentions. Inspector Bucket begins his murder investigation with no shortage of suspects. An early arrest appears to wrap the case up quickly, but a spate of poison pen letters suggests that all is not as it seems.

    Director:Susanna White
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  11. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    8.0/10(259 votes)

    #11 - Episode 5

    S1:E5

    Richard's inability to settle causes a rift with John Jarndyce, much to Ada's dismay. Tulkinghorn finally unearths the possible identity of the mysterious Nemo. Nemo's old friend Sergeant George has the evidence he needs to prove it and Tulkinghorn will stop at nothing to force George to hand it over. But George has even more problems when Gridley turns up on his doorstep, on the run from the law and infected with the fever.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  12. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    7.9/10(284 votes)

    #12 - Episode 2

    S1:E2

    Despite his grim discovery, Tulkinghorn remains undeterred from his ruthless inquiry into Lady Dedlock's past. A young crossing sweeper, Jo, may hold a key to the mystery. Krook discovers evidence in Nemo's room which could provide a crucial clue. Richard and Ada plan their engagement, but receive an unexpected setback. And as Richard begins a career in medicine, Esther meets an attractive young doctor called Allan Woodcourt.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  13. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 3 - Episode 3
    7.9/10(273 votes)

    #13 - Episode 3

    S1:E3

    As Tulkinghorn edges closer to the truth, Lady Dedlock puts her reputation at risk when she pays an undercover visit to Nemo's former haunts. John Jarndyce finds himself increasingly attracted to Esther, but Richard makes an announcement which causes him dismay. And Woodcourt has news that comes as a terrible blow to Esther.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  14. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 1 - Episode 1
    7.8/10(332 votes)

    #14 - Episode 1

    S1:E1

    Young orphan Esther Summerson is brought to the High Court of Chancery, where she is thrown together with two wards of the court, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare. Both are caught up in the infamous suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which brings nothing but ruin and despair to all it touches. Esther, Richard and Ada are sent to live at Bleak House, where they receive a friendly welcome from their rich guardian John Jarndyce.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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  15. Bleak House Season 1 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    7.8/10(259 votes)

    #15 - Episode 4

    S1:E4

    A chance encounter in the country raises intriguing questions for Esther and Lady Dedlock. Legal clerk Guppy, still besotted with Esther, discovers surprising new information about her past and decides to dig deeper still. And Lady Dedlock's secret is far from safe, as Tulkinghorn stumbles across a lead which could destroy her reputation forever.

    Director:Justin Chadwick
    Writer:Andrew Davies

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Best Episodes Summary

"Episode 8" is the best rated episode of "Bleak House". It scored 8.5/10 based on 250 votes. Directed by Susanna White and written by Andrew Davies, it aired on 11/24/2005. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 14".