Brothers backdrop
Comedy

The Best Episodes of Brothers

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

Binge this in 2d 1h•Peaking at 9.6/10

Two conservative men support their younger brother when he comes out as gay, and help him navigate being openly homosexual in 1980s Philadelphia.

Airs on
Showtime
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

All12345

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Brothers Season 1 Episode 3 - Lizards ain't Snakes
    9.6/10(13 votes)

    S1:E3

    Joe is concerned that Cliff's new life as a gay man is preventing him from going back to his usual carefree activities, so Cliff decides to tag along with Donald to a neighborhood gay bar.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Brothers Season 1 Episode 2 - You Brought a New Kind of Love To Me
    9.5/10(16 votes)

    S1:E2

    Joe's high-school football buddies pay a visit, but it is underwhelming when they tease one friend, Bubba, who is coming out as gay. Joe tries to set the record straight and pretends to be gay himself to fool the two other friends.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Brothers Season 1 Episode 5 - Mindless Passion
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    S1:E5

    Joe finds out that the woman he is dating is married. Joe tries to break it off, but he and his girlfriend cannot control their lust for each other.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Brothers Season 1 Episode 7 - MONTE CARLO NIGHT
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    S1:E7

    Joe's financial troubles are preventing him to get Penny an expensive gift when she is close to graduating high school.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Brothers Season 2 Episode 19 - IT AIN'T OVER TIL IT'S OVER
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    S2:E19

    Joe and his ex-wife Janey begin spending time with each other again and Penny hopes for a reconciliation, but Janey's selfishness jeopardizes their chances.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Brothers Season 1 Episode 1 - The Wedding
    8.3/10(17 votes)

    S1:E1

    On the day of his wedding, Cliff decides to come out as gay, which does not sit well with his two older brothers, Joe and Lou.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:David Lloyd

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Brothers

    READ
  7. Brothers Season 1 Episode 6 - FEAR OF FLYING
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    S1:E6

    Joe, Cliff, Lou, and Donald notice a dead body in Joe's apartment. They decide it is best to bury the corpse and take an airplane out of town to figure out their next move.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Brothers Season 1 Episode 8 - AND BABY MAKES TWO
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    S1:E8

    The gang do not approve of Kelly's marriage to a tough guy and their plans on throwing a baby shower for Kelly ends in a free-for-all fistfight.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Brothers Season 1 Episode 10 - STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    S1:E10

    Should Joe pose nude for the Sports Men of Philadelphia calendar?

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Brothers Season 2 Episode 22 - GOBBA, GOBBA
    7.7/10(9 votes)

    S2:E22

    Donald is very secretive about the reason he doesn't want to spend Thanksgiving with the Waters brothers.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Brothers Season 1 Episode 12 - IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I'M GAY
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    S1:E12

    Cliff is beaten up because he is gay. His brothers want to avenge him and end up in jail. There they meet the thugs.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Brothers Season 1 Episode 13 - I REMEMBER PAPA
    7.2/10(9 votes)

    S1:E13

    A spat between Joe and Lou causes Cliff to reflect themselves back when Joe promised their father that he and Lou would look after Cliff when he is gone.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Brothers Season 1 Episode 11 - LIZA
    7.0/10(9 votes)

    S1:E11

    A street person sparks a bet between Joe and snobbish Marcus that Joe can transform her into a beautiful, cultured woman.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Brothers Season 1 Episode 9 - FOOLS RUSSIAN
    6.6/10(9 votes)

    S1:E9

    Cliff falls in love with a Russian wrestler. The wrestler is using him because he wants to stay in the United States.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Brothers Season 2 Episode 10 - A HOUSE DIVIDED
    6.6/10(9 votes)

    S2:E10

    Joe's plans to run as city councilman is dampened due to disagreements and tensions within the gang.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Brothers Season 1 Episode 14 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL (PART 1)
    6.3/10(10 votes)

    S1:E14

    Christmas activities are put on hold for the gang when a major snowstorm hits the city. At the same time, Joe befriends a fellow gay man.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Brothers Season 1 Episode 4 - He ain't Witty, He's my Brother
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E4

    Joe attempts to woo Cliff's new friend, Lisa, but feels out of place amongst her other "sophisticated" friends.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Brothers Season 1 Episode 15 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL (PART 2)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E15

    Christmas activities are put on hold for the gang when a major snowstorm hits the city. At the same time, Joe befriends a fellow gay man.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Brothers Season 2 Episode 1 - AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E1

    Joe and Kelly spend the night together after a night of heavy drinking. They don't remember what happened. Will this lead to a relationship?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Brothers Season 2 Episode 2 - YOUR BROTHER'S KEEPER
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E2

    Lou has an attack of pride when he gets fired from his job and his ensuing personal crisis drives Cliff and Joe crazy, especially he starts working at the restaurant. At a loss for how to help him, Joe decides to fire him to give his wounded pride a boost.

    Director:Tom Trbovich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Brothers Season 2 Episode 3 - THE FOURTH BALL (aka Lucky Charm)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E3

    During a blackout one night at the restaurant a mysterious stranger shows up out of nowhere eating food that the place doesn't serve and waving a trinket that promises magic that everyone is ready to fall for.

    Director:Tom Trbovich
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Brothers Season 2 Episode 4 - LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO BE DELICATE
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E4

    Cliff is confronted by his former fiancé.

    Director:Linda Day
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Brothers Season 2 Episode 5 - LET THE EAGLE FLY
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E5

    Lou is humiliated when he suddenly becomes impotent.

    Director:Greg Antonacci
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Brothers Season 2 Episode 6 - THE GIRL MOST LIKELY
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E6

    Joe offers to pose as Kelly's husband to impress her former classmates at her high school reunion.

    Director:Dick Martin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Brothers Season 2 Episode 7 - DONALD'S DAD
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E7

    Donald's estranged father arrives in Philadelphia to visit his son, but the reunion is cut short when he suffers a heart attack.

    Director:Jerry Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"Lizards ain't Snakes" is the best rated episode of "Brothers". It scored 9.6/10 based on 13 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/23/1984. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "You Brought a New Kind of Love To Me".