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The Best Episodes of Cagney & Lacey Season 1

Every episode of Cagney & Lacey Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Cagney & Lacey Season 1!

Binge this in 4h 30m•Peaking at 7.7/10

Mary Beth Lacey and Chris Cagney are teamed up as NYPD police detectives. Their opposing personalities (one is tough and the other sensitive) mesh to make this one of the great crime-fighting duos of all

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 1 - You Call This Plain Clothes? (aka Bang, Bang, You're Dead)
    7.0/10(149 votes)

    #1 - You Call This Plain Clothes? (aka Bang, Bang, You're Dead)

    S1:E1

    The detectives again go undercover as prostitutes

    Director:Georg Stanford Brown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 2 - Pop Used to Work Chinatown
    7.2/10(99 votes)

    #2 - Pop Used to Work Chinatown

    S1:E2

    The first appearance of Dick O'Neill as Charlie Cagney. The case occurs in Chinatown, where Charlie just happened to work, so he helps out. This is the episode where Lacey shoots and kills a fleeing perp.

    Director:Georg Stanford Brown
    Writer:Brian McKay

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  3. Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 3 - Beyond the Golden Door
    7.6/10(89 votes)

    #3 - Beyond the Golden Door

    S1:E3

    An illegal immigrant is murdered, and the trail leads to a large racket in modern-day slave trading.

    Director:Reza Badiyi
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 4 - Street Scene
    6.6/10(84 votes)

    #4 - Street Scene

    S1:E4

    Hispanic gang member is killed.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 5 - Suffer the Children
    7.7/10(81 votes)

    #5 - Suffer the Children

    S1:E5

    Cagney and Lacey become involved in an investigation of child abuse and possible murder when they rescue a child from a window ledge.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writer:Paul Laurence

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  6. Cagney & Lacey Season 1 Episode 6 - Better Than Equal
    7.6/10(84 votes)

    #6 - Better Than Equal

    S1:E6

    C&L are assigned to protect a feminist, only not a Gloria Steinem type, but a Phyllis Schlafy type. This episode was very controversial, and several stations refused to run it.

    Director:Ray Danton
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Cagney & Lacey

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"You Call This Plain Clothes? (aka Bang, Bang, You're Dead)" is the best rated episode of "Cagney & Lacey" season 1. It scored 7/10 based on 149 votes. Directed by Georg Stanford Brown and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/25/1982. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Pop Used to Work Chinatown".