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The Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1

Every episode of Crime Story Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1!

The hard-boiled saga of hair-trigger cop Lieutenant Mike Torello and his obsessive pursuit of ruthless gangster Ray Luca.

Genres:CrimeDramaAction & AdventureMystery
Network:NBC

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Crime Story" season 1 is "Pilot (1)", rated 7.8/10 from 844 user votes. It was directed by Abel Ferrara and written by Gustave Reininger, Chuck Adamson, David J. Burke. "Pilot (1)" aired on 9/19/1986 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Pilot (2)".

  • Pilot (1)
    7.8/10 844 votes

    #1 - Pilot (1)

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1986

    Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.

    Director: Abel Ferrara

    Writer: Gustave Reininger, Chuck Adamson, David J. Burke

  • Pilot (2)
    7.8/10 126 votes

    #2 - Pilot (2)

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/1986

    Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with Abrams to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.

    Director: Abel Ferrara

    Writer: N/A

  • Final Transmission
    8.4/10 99 votes

    #3 - Final Transmission

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/1986

    With Torello's MCU hunting a psychopath, Luca plots jewel heists and the takeover of a sports-gambling operation.

    Director: Leon Ichaso

    Writer: Richard Christian Danus

  • Shadow Dancer
    8.3/10 93 votes

    #4 - Shadow Dancer

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/27/1986

    Torello gains a major advantage when one of Luca's burglars is connected to a robbery-homicide of a coin collector's wife. Torello finds out Julie is pregnant.

    Director: Leon Ichaso

    Writer: N/A

  • The Saint Louis Book of Blues
    8.5/10 88 votes

    #5 - The Saint Louis Book of Blues

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/30/1986

    Mobsters support Luca's nationwide gambling scheme. A publicity-seeking sheriff hampers Torello's arrest of one of Luca's men.

    Director: Leon Ichaso

    Writer: N/A

  • The War
    8.3/10 96 votes

    #6 - The War

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/7/1986

    A book intercepted by Torello jeopardizes Luca's nationwide gambling operation. The Torellos meet with tragedy.

    Director: Leon Ichaso

    Writer: N/A

  • Abrams for the Defense
    7.6/10 90 votes

    #7 - Abrams for the Defense

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/14/1986

    Attorney Abrams falls for a reporter helping him defend a tenant accused of assaulting a slum landlord.

    Director: Aaron Lipstadt, Michael Mann

    Writer: N/A

  • Pursuit of a Wanted Felon
    8.0/10 87 votes

    #8 - Pursuit of a Wanted Felon

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/28/1986

    Conflict ruins the Torello's weekend trip. Luca situates in Las Vegas. Bigots target Abrams's relationship with Susan.

    Director: Aaron Lipstadt

    Writer: N/A

  • Old Friends, Dead Ends
    8.2/10 83 votes

    #9 - Old Friends, Dead Ends

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/4/1986

    Torello confronts his new friend, now laundering money for the Mob. Federal investigators indict Luca and Bartoli.

    Director: Bobby Roth

    Writer: N/A

  • Justice Hits the Skids
    8.1/10 79 votes

    #10 - Justice Hits the Skids

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/11/1986

    Devastated by Kehoe's death, Torello stonewalls Breitel's federal investigation. Abrams joins the MCU on the street.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • For Love or Money
    6.9/10 85 votes

    #11 - For Love or Money

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/5/1986

    Divorced Torello finds comfort with Inger. The Crime Unit nabs Luca's jewelry-heist team. Torello's best friend supplies the Mob with capital.

    Director: Bobby Roth

    Writer: N/A

  • Hide and Go Thief
    7.7/10 78 votes

    #12 - Hide and Go Thief

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/1986

    Indelli and Krychek must deal with a tense hostage situation. Torello travels to Indiana to make his move on Frank Holman.

    Director: Francis Delia

    Writer: N/A

  • Strange Bedfellows
    7.7/10 64 votes

    #13 - Strange Bedfellows

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/26/1986

    Holman ideintifies Torello as a dirty cop to Breitel. After an attempt on his life, Luca takes refuge in Florida.

    Director: Francis Delia

    Writer: N/A

  • Fatal Crossroads
    8.5/10 82 votes

    #14 - Fatal Crossroads

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/9/1987

    Torello is subpoenaed to testify for Luca. An enraged Abrams jumps to Torello's defense. Luca orders Torello and Abrams killed.

    Director: Gary Sinise

    Writer: N/A

  • Torello on Trial
    8.3/10 92 votes

    #15 - Torello on Trial

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/16/1987

    Breitel brutally cross-examines Torello. Acquitted Luca moves to Las Vegas. Torello gets a new assignment.

    Director: Gary Sinise

    Writer: N/A

  • The Kingdom of Money
    8.2/10 67 votes

    #16 - The Kingdom of Money

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/30/1987

    Torello and Krychek join the Federal Task Force planning to raid Luca's new gambling business in Las Vegas.

    Director: Michael Mann, James A. Contner

    Writer: David J. Burke

  • The Battle of Las Vegas
    8.3/10 68 votes

    #17 - The Battle of Las Vegas

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/6/1987

    To take over Las Vegas casinos, Luca murders the head of a resort-workers union to put his own man in the position.

    Director: Aaron Lipstadt

    Writer: N/A

  • The Survivor
    8.2/10 89 votes

    #18 - The Survivor

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/1987

    Torello falls in love with a Justice Attorney's former wife, only to find out that the attorney has been molesting his adopted daughter. Molestation charges jeopardizes the Unit's investigation of Luca.

    Director: Alan Myerson

    Writer: N/A

  • The Pinnacle
    8.3/10 67 votes

    #19 - The Pinnacle

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/27/1987

    Luca's greedy ploy to take over another casino puts his entire gambling empire in jeopardy.

    Director: John Nicolella

    Writer: N/A

  • Top of the World
    8.5/10 95 votes

    #20 - Top of the World

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/6/1987

    Luca's jubilation over his growing business turns to fear that his associates are setting him up. Luca's insatiable lust for violence proves his undoing when he rapes Pauli's girlfriend. Pauli testifies for the prosecution in Luca's trial.

    Director: Michael Mann

    Writer: N/A

  • Ground Zero
    8.2/10 79 votes

    #21 - Ground Zero

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/13/1987

    After his murder mistrial, Luca clashes with a crime kingpin over plans to split up control of the sinking Luca gambling empire. Pauli changes his mind and rescues Luca from Torello as they hide in a house in the desert, a target site for nuclear testing.

    Director: Peter Medak

    Writer: N/A