8.5/10 619 votes#1 - A Secret of My Own
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/8/2021
Kate's closely held secrets and fragmented memories of her time in Martin's captivity are brought to the surface.
Director: Alexis Ostrander
Writer: Matt Antonelli
8.4/10 736 votes#2 - Hostile Witness
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/15/2021
Kate and Jeanette's worlds collide as the court date arrives, finally forcing the two young women to answer the question on everyone's mind, but the answer comes with a price that not everyone can pay.
Director: Bill Purple
Writer: Bert V. Royal
7.8/10 698 votes#3 - A Smashing Good Time
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/20/2021
It’s time for the annual Skylin Garden Club Party! Year after year after year, the residents of Skylin struggle with the truth around what happened to Kate, keeping their secrets buried and maintaining appearances.
Director: Bill Purple
Writer: Bert V. Royal
7.7/10 823 votes#4 - Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/20/2021
Taking place over 3 summers in the 90s when a popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America.
Director: Max Winkler
Writer: Bert V. Royal
7.7/10 243 votes#5 - Endgame
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 7/31/2023
As timelines collide, friendships implode, new evidence emerges, and the shocking truth is revealed...in more ways than one.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 509 votes#6 - Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/25/2021
Kate struggles with a family secret she’s been holding on to. Joy tries to convince Kate to go on “The Marsha Bailey Show.” Mallory has a birthday surprise.
Director: Alexis Ostrander
Writer: Savannah Ward
7.4/10 568 votes#7 - You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 5/4/2021
Kate, reeling from the lawsuit, prepares her defense and finds friendship in an unlikely source. The annual Wallis hunting trip becomes the setting for an important first meeting.
Director: Laura Nisbet Peters
Writer: Imogen Binnie
7.4/10 514 votes#8 - An Ocean in Me
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/18/2021
A new deposition threatens Jeanette’s case. A discovery causes Cindy’s suspicions about her own daughter to reach new heights as her relationship with Greg becomes further strained.
Director: Kellie Cyrus
Writer: Brian Otaño
7.3/10 527 votes#9 - As the Carny Gods Intended
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/11/2021
Jeannette and Kate cross paths at the Skylin High takeover of the County Fair, where one is desperate to prove herself and the other to lose herself.
Director: Daniel Willis
Writer: Tia Napolitano
7.3/10 499 votes#10 - Proof
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/1/2021
On the first day of school, everyone learns that the drama of the summer is anything but over and that some people will pay more for the consequences of Jeanette and Kate's deception than others.
Director: Daniel Willis
Writer: Addison McQuigg
7.2/10 622 votes#11 - Off with a Bang
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/27/2021
Victim or villain? Jeanette continues to add fuel to the fire as her reckless behavior causes her friends and family to question her even more.
Director: Kellie Cyrus
Writer: Bert V. Royal
7.2/10 167 votes#12 - The Miseducation of Luke Chambers
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 7/24/2023
Luke examines all his relationships and worries that the pressures of being a “Chambers man” have changed him.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 178 votes#13 - Confess Your Sins
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 7/17/2023
In summer 1999, new friendships are formed and secrets are kept as the crew approaches senior year at the annual school car wash. In winter 1999, Megan and Isabella push for answers. In summer 2000, Debbie wants to protect her daughter.
Director: N/A
Writer: Diana Glogau
7.0/10 172 votes#14 - It's the End of the World
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 7/10/2023
In winter 1999, tensions are high on Y2K. At the New Year's Eve party, a not-so-secret conversation changes the lives of the trio forever. In summer 2000, suspicion falls on Ned after some new evidence from summer 1999 comes to light.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 314 votes#15 - Welcome to Chatham
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 6/5/2023
In Summer 1999, small-town computer genius Megan resents the arrival of outgoing and mysterious foreign exchange student Isabella. Little does she know how her life will change by Summer 2000.
Director: Bill Purple
Writer: Tia Napolitano, Elle Triedman
6.9/10 239 votes#16 - Ride or Die
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 6/5/2023
In Summer 1999, Isabella grows closer to Luke while struggling to connect with Megan. In Winter 1999, Isabella searches for justice following the disastrous Christmas party.
Director: N/A
Writer: Matt Morgan
6.9/10 198 votes#17 - Bloody Knuckles
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 6/12/2023
In Summer 1999, Megan and Isabella bond during an overnight at the Chambers’ cabin. Luke tries to stand up to Brent, but ends up causing more problems for his dad. Suspicions are raised after fingerprints are found on the gun that shot Luke.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 194 votes#18 - Springing a Leak
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 6/19/2023
In Summer 1999, Megan wants to be adventurous and makes fake IDs for the gang. In Winter 1999, a burst pipe leads the Landrys and Isabella to a messy night at the Chambers house. Isabella wants to help but is met with resistance from Megan.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 183 votes#19 - All I Want for Christmas
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 6/26/2023
In Summer 1999, Isabella is rocked by a surprise visit from her past. In Winter 1999, Isabella’s concerns for Megan lead her to some surprising news. In Summer 2000, family loyalties are tested.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.8/10 179 votes#20 - The Plunge
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 7/3/2023
In summer 1999, sparks fly at Luke's birthday party. In winter 1999, relationships are tested as Megan becomes more distant from Luke. In summer 2000, Megan obsesses over an interesting letter she received.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Cruel Summer
Every episode of Cruel Summer ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Cruel Summer!
Taking place over three summers - 1993, 1994, 1995 - in a small Texas town, a beautiful popular teen, Kate, is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette, goes from being a sweet, awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town and, by ’95, the most despised person in America.
Genres:DramaMystery
Network:Freeform
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Cruel Summer" is "A Secret of My Own", rated 8.5/10 from 619 user votes. It was directed by Alexis Ostrander and written by Matt Antonelli. "A Secret of My Own" aired on 6/8/2021 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Hostile Witness".