The Best Episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
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   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #1 - The Offering

   S2:E131/8/1994

   Mike and Sully work to treat a typhus epidemic at Black Kettle's camp, which begins after Mike and Sully unwittingly convince Black Kettle to accept government blankets infected with the virus. Mike is heartbroken and guilt-ridden as she battles the tribe's typhus epidemic. When Matthew comes down with typhus, the town panics and locks the children in the clinic alone with Horace. Colleen treats Matthew and Horace contrives to send the kids out to the reservation to be with Mike. Meanwhile, the town prepares for the Fourth of July, ironically missing the point entirely that the first Americans, the Indians, are being systematically wiped out and further, that the newest Americans, the Immigrants, have just had their camp destroyed by the typhus-fearing townsfolk

   Director:James Keach

   Writer:Toni Perling

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   Director:James Keach

   Writer:Toni Perling
2. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #2 - The Library

   S3:E510/22/1994

   Mike tangles with the usually benevolent Reverend when she donates books to the town and he tries to ban them, ultimately burning some of them until Mike brings him to his senses. Also, Brian, influenced by Twain's ""The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calveras County,"" stages a frog-jumping contest with disappointing results.

   Director:Victor Lobl

   Writer:Andrew Lipsitz

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   Director:Victor Lobl

   Writer:Andrew Lipsitz
3. 

   10.0/10(1 votes)

   #3 - Season of Miracles

   S5:E1312/21/1996

   As Christmas approaches, Brian questions his faith when he learns that Dr. Mike cannot save the sight of the Reverend.

   Director:Carl Binder

   Writer:Carl Binder

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   Director:Carl Binder

   Writer:Carl Binder
4. 

   10.0/10(2 votes)

   #4 - Reason to Believe

   S6:E14/12/1997

   Sgt. O'Connor was found dead in the river. Sully is nowhere to be found. Michaela believes that he survived and goes looking for him. Daniel comes to offer his help. Dorothy and Cloud Dancing share their first kiss.

   Director:Terrence O'Hara

   Writers:Beth Sullivan, Philip Gerson

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   Director:Terrence O'Hara

   Writers:Beth Sullivan, Philip Gerson
5. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #5 - Where the Heart Is (1)

   S2:E611/20/1993

   Mike receives an emergency telegram from her sister Rebecca -- her mother is gravely ill. Mike rushes to Boston to her mother's side, the Cooper kids in tow, where Dr. Mike and her ""roughhewn"" children are met with raised eyebrows by Dr. Quinn's own family. While consulting with Elizabeth Quinn's attending physician, Dr. Mike meets a handsome and progressive Doctor, Dr. William Burke. Dr. Mike's prognosis of her mother (hepatitis) differs with Mrs. Quinn's doctor, Dr. Hanson, who diagnoses cancer. Dr. Burke, however, believes Dr. Mike may be onto something. They have a lot in common and develop a strong mutual admiration for each other. They work together to cure Mrs. Quinn and some of Dr. Burke's other patients. Meanwhile, Matthew chafes at being stuck in Boston away from Ingrid, while Colleen appreciates the learned and cultured atmosphere and Brian adores the candy stores. Just when everyone has settled comfortably into the Boston routine, Sully shows up, unannounced and in buckskin

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan
6. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #6 - Where the Heart Is (2)

   S2:E711/20/1993

   Sully arrives in Boston and discovers that he's facing worthy competition for Mike's affection in the form of Dr. William Burke. Sully at first settles uncomfortably into Mike's Boston surroundings, but later, with prodding from the kids, submits to a grand makeover. Later, Sully romances Mike with dining and dancing, even attending an opera together. At an all-male medical society, Dr. Burke steps aside so that Mike can present a paper on Indian medicine, while Sully looks on. Afterward, Sully overhears Dr. Burke proposing marriage to Mike and heads back to Colorado, but not before confessing his love to Mike. In the end, Mike declines Dr. Burke's marriage proposal and Mike and the kids return to Colorado, where Dr. Mike returns Sully's declaration of love with a vow in kind.

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan
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7. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #7 - Sully's Choice

   S2:E1012/11/1993

   Mike is called away to Soda Springs to help with an outbreak of influenza and Sully promises to stay with the children. Sully plays ""Mr. Mom"" but the kids grow restless. While out exploring caves with Brian, Sully is shot trying to intervene between the Indians and the cavalry. When the smoke clears, Brian can't locate Sully and goes to town for help. The Reverend helps the kids hide Sully, who now has a bounty on his head. They take Sully to the cave for safety. Colleen enlists the Reverend's help to bring supplies from the clinic, but he is spotted by Hank and Jake, who are out for the bounty. They knock Hank out and tie him up, but when Colleen is forced to remove the bullet, she must employ Jake's assistance to save Sully's life. When finally they ride back into town, the Cavalry tries to arrest Sully for blowing up the railroad, but the townsfolk provide Sully with an alibi preventing his arrest.

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writers:Toni Graphia, Josef Anderson, Toni Perling, Sara Davidson

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writers:Toni Graphia, Josef Anderson, Toni Perling, Sara Davidson
8. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #8 - Life and Death

   S2:E193/12/1994

   Tom Jennings, Dorothy's son, shows up in Loren's store one day when Mike and the kids are there shopping. He's a Civil War Veteran with an old war injury -- his leg was almost blown off. Dorothy asks Mike to treat him when he complains of pain in his seemingly healed leg. She gives him a syringe of morphine for the pain, not noticing his blissful expression. Mike invites he, Dorothy and Loren to dinner. During dinner, Colleen develops a crush on him. Sully's suspicion is piqued when Tom leaves and he forgets to use his cane. The next day, Tom returns to Mike, telling her his leg hurts. She treats him, but denies him her last vial of morphine, which she's saving for an emergency. Later that day, Loren catches Tom slipping a vial of patent medicine from the store under his coat. When Dorothy confronts Tom, he replies that the pain just got to him, and complains that Mike won't give him any morphine. Later that night, he goes out and tries to mooch free drinks at the saloon. Later still,

   Director:Harry Harris

   Writer:Toni Perling

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   Director:Harry Harris

   Writer:Toni Perling
9. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #9 - The First Circle

   S2:E203/26/1994

   Robert E buys a house in town. When the auctioneer, Jedediah Bancroft, sees that he's sold the house to a black man, he tries to renege, but Mike intercedes. Later, Mike is surprised to learn that Jake, Loren, Hank and Dorothy are displeased to have Robert E and Grace living in their midst. That night, at the homestead, Matthew tells Mike he's been invited to join a new men's club -- the Ku Klux Klan, which he knows nothing about but is heading out the door to investigate. At the meeting, Jedediah, the leader of the group, promises only ""a big surprise"" for the following night, then adjourns the meeting. The next night, townsfolk don white gowns, recite the KKK oath, and ride out to harass and beat Robert E. After treating Robert E, Mike storms into the barbershop, where she confronts Jedediah, Jake, Loren and Hank about the events of the night before. Jedediah tries to make offers to get Robert E and Grace out of town, even threatening Mike with the mortgage on her clinic if Robert E

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Toni Graphia

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Toni Graphia
10. 

    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Just One Lullaby

    S2:E214/9/1994

    Rev. Johnson's in love with the town's new schoolteacher (Sherry Hursey), while Mike's concerned about the woman's wanton use of corporal punishment in the classroom.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Nancy Bond

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Nancy Bond
11. 

    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Ladies' Night (1)

    S3:E1111/26/1994

    Mike discovers a lump in Dorothy's breast and performs a mastectomy on her. Meanwhile, Colleen must deal with the unwanted attention of a new boy at school who fixates on her impressive bust. Finally, Jake, dressed in drag for Ladies Night at Hank's saloon, gets kidnapped and held hostage by an amorous outlaw, but escapes.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia
12. 

    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Ladies' Night (2)

    S3:E1212/3/1994

    Dorothy insists the decision to have surgery is hers, not Mike's; Colleen finds the harassment unbearable.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia
13. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Pilot

    S1:E11/1/1993

    Michaela "Mike" Quinn, of Boston, followed in her father's footsteps by becoming a doctor. Dr. Mike worked side by side her father. But his sudden death caused her the loss of, not only her best friend, but the loss of their medical practice. The lack of job opportunities for women doctors lead Michaela to answer an ad for a doctor in Colorado territory. Michaela left her fancy home in the city of Boston for the western town, Colorado Springs. When she arrives in town she is met with mockery, for they expected a man doctor. She is befriended by Charlotte Cooper (Diane Ladd) and becomes good friends with her. Charlotte and Dr. Quinn become close friends and when Charlotte is bitten by a rattle snake, she leaves her three children Matthew (Chad Allen), Colleen (Erika Flores, later Jessica Bowman) and Brian (Shawn Toovey) for Dr. Mike to look after. As the town continues to mock Michaela for expecting to be the town doctor, she meets Sully, a white man ""turned"" Native American who lets he

    Director:Jeremy Kagan

    Writer:Beth Sullivan

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    Director:Jeremy Kagan

    Writer:Beth Sullivan
14. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Happy Birthday

    S1:E123/27/1993

    After a patient of Dr. Mike's dies of blood poisoning, she accuses Jake, the barber, of infecting the man with his dirty razor. Her accusation throws Jake into an alcoholic binge. Dr. Mike tries in vain to pull him out of it, but finally realizes he must be the one to want to stop drinking. She gives him something to live for by pointing out his many friends in town, including her. Meanwhile, Mike's children try to help her deal with her loneliness on her 35th birthday by conspiring to find her a proper suitor before her surprise party

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Perling

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Perling
15. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Giving Thanks

    S2:E811/27/1993

    Mike and Sully have trouble adjusting to the new status of their relationship, ""courtin'"". Sully introduces Mike to his world, taking her into the woods, showing her how to track and hunt. Mike pressures Sully into coming to a town meeting, where tempers flare over the scarcity of water. Later, Sully takes Mike to his home, a simple lean-to, and she wonders how they can make a life together when they're so different. Horace's attempts to divine for water fail, and Hank decides its time to pull up stakes and take Myra with him. Robert E and Grace also consider leaving. Mike and Sully persuade Cloud Dancing to share his methods for water conservation and farming with the town, only to be rebuffed by Loren and Jake. Loren and Jake take water from an Indian pond which Cloud Dancing warns is poisonous, but they sell the water to the townsfolk anyway. Everyone gets sick from the contaminated water and Dr. Mike must treat them. Afterward, the town pulls together to create a Thanksgiving feast

    Director:Michele Lee

    Writer:Toni Perling

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    Director:Michele Lee

    Writer:Toni Perling
16. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Best Friends

    S2:E912/4/1993

    Colleen and Becky become best friends when, at Bray's store, Alice, another friend, insists on taking Colleen's favorite fabric to make a dress for the Sweethearts' dance. Dorothy fears she may be pregnant when she faints in the general store. Mike assures her she is not, but she is beginning the ""change of life"". Later, Mike is frustrated when she tries to teach Sully to dance the Sweethearts' reel. Mike confides to Dorothy her fears about a physical relationship and Dorothy guesses Mike is a virgin. Meanwhile, Becky asks her new best friend, Colleen to ask Richard, a boy she likes, if he likes Becky. He asks Colleen if ""the girl,"" (he thinks it's Colleen) will meet him at the kissing tree. Colleen misunderstands, thinks he knows it's Becky. She tells Becky where to meet him, but Becky chickens out and Colleen goes in her place, to explain. Richard, assuming Colleen is there to meet him, kisses her. Becky finds out and is heartbroken. Becky and Alice team up against Colleen and spread

    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Sara Davidson
17. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Crossing the Line

    S2:E121/1/1994

    Miners gather in front of Loren Bray's store to protest Loren's not extending credit to striking miners, and for doing business with the mine owners. A budding union leader, Conrad, is there trying to organize the workers. At the same time, Travis Stone, the mining boss, rides up, hands out flyers advertising for scabs. An angry miner throws a stick of dynamite onto Loren's porch, which Sully, who gets knocked out in the subsequent fray, comes to just soon enough to put out. Matthew takes a flyer -- decides he'll take the job to augment building costs on his homestead. By doing this, he's at cross-purposes with Sully and Mike, who try to talk him out of it. Grace tells Loren she won't be buying anything from him until the strike's over, due to his unfair trade practices with the striking miners. Matthew finds, to his dismay, that Loren charges 10 cents on every dollar of ""scrip"" (miner's credit) for ""bookkeeping"" costs. Later, as Mike administers some bicarbonate of soda (Brian's got a

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Josef Anderson
18. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Another Woman

    S2:E151/22/1994

    Catherine, a beautiful blond woman captured by and raised with renegade Indians, is brought to Colorado Springs by soldiers when her tribe, which includes her husband, is wiped out, leaving her the sole survivor. She initially earns the townsfolks' sympathy, then their contempt when she rejects their gestures of kindness, doesn't know the language, and falls down into an epileptic fit. Indeed, her Indian name was ""Shivering Deer"" thanks to her grand mal epileptic seizures. Mike takes her in, but the only members of the family she trusts and feels comfortable with, especially with her faltering English, are Sully, then Brian. Brian, however, becomes decidedly less enamored of her when he accidentally glimpses Catherine kissing Sully. Later, when Brian confronts Sully, he doesn't understand Sully's distinction between ""being kissed"" and ""kissing someone,"" and troubled, tells Mike about it. Meanwhile, Jake, in a conversation with Loren and Dorothy about what marauding Indians do to white

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Graphia
19. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Buffalo Soldiers

    S2:E172/5/1994

    A troop of black cavalry soldiers ride into town intending to cover themselves in glory by eradicating hostile Dog Soldiers who've been attacking the railroad. Mike commits an act of civil disobedience by tipping off the Indians, which results in carnage on both sides and the defeat of the Buffalo soldiers. She's accused of treason, and jailed, but the arrogant black cavalry leader, Sergeant Zachary Carver, manages to exonerate her when he's made to realize, through the combined efforts of Sully and Mike, that his beloved troops are nothing more than pawns in the U.S. Army's policy of genocide against the Indians. Returning the favor, Mike manages to medically fake the Sargeant's death, and he escapes court martial. Meanwhile, Colleen cheats on a test and by doing so manages to win a school trip to Washington. Mike must then explain the concept of ""good lying;"" that is, civil disobedience for a principle, and ""bad lying,"" that is, Colleen's self-serving actions regarding the test. In t

    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Kevin Arkadie

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    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Kevin Arkadie
20. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Luck of the Draw

    S2:E183/5/1994

    When Julius Hoffman rides into town and engages Matthew in a poker game, Matthew thinks he's found a great way to earn money to finish he and Ingrid's homestead, although Mike and Sully disapprove. At first, Matthew wins steadily, though he and Ingrid get into a terrible fight when, after missing an elaborate dinner she cooked for him (he was in a game), he confesses he used her hard-earned laundry money, which she gave him for building supplies, as a stake. Though Ingrid and Mike disapprove heartily, Matthew continues playing the game, even after he gets beaten up and robbed of his earnings. Eventually, townsfolk become so confident in Matthew's abilities that everyone but Mike, Sully and the Reverend back Matthew in the big poker game. The Reverend pulls Mike aside and confesses that he was once a gambler, knew Julius, and suspects that the town's been set up. As Matthew makes his way to the big game, Ingrid breaks up with him over his poker playing. In the process, she returns the e

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Kathryn Ford

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Kathryn Ford
21. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - The Abduction (1)

    S2:E224/30/1994

    Mike and Sully get caught in the crossfire when, while visiting the Indian reservation, they see renegade Dog Soldiers shoot some Cavalry men. Mike is kidnapped in retaliation when the Indians discover she told Custer what happened; Sully vows to find her. Meanwhile, Brian falls in love with a horse Hank wins in a poker game.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson
22. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - The Abduction (2)

    S2:E234/30/1994

    Sully sets out to rescue Mike. Meanwhile, Custer takes the Indian reservation hostage, threatening to hang everyone unless Mike is returned. Brian works off the cost of the little horse; but Hank reneges on the deal, inciting Loren's wrath. Mike and Sully return to town just in time to keep the Indians from getting hanged. Hank, not anxious to pay double for all his goods at the General Store, delivers Taffy to Brian on his birthday, declaring that, ""Sometimes it's just good business for a man to keep his word.""

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson
23. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - The Campaign

    S2:E245/7/1994

    Mike and Jake go head-to-head when both campaign for the Mayorship of Colorado Springs. At issue: whether drinking and prostitution should be outlawed. Myra finally breaks loose from Hank.

    Director:Victor Lobl

    Writer:Joanne Parrant

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    Director:Victor Lobl

    Writer:Joanne Parrant
24. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - The Man in the Moon

    S2:E255/14/1994

    Only the town's love for the infinitely unlovable Hank can pull him from the brink of a deadly coma. Meanwhile, Colleen and Brian tangle when Grandma Quinn sends Brian but not Colleen a present.

    Director:Rachel Feldman

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Rachel Feldman

    Writer:Toni Graphia
25. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Return Engagement (1)

    S2:E265/14/1994

    When ""Andrew Strauss""—really David Lewis—the fiancé whom Mike had presumed was killed in the Civil War, visits Colorado Springs. Mike is forced to choose between him and Sully. Also, Horace and Myra experience pre-nuptial tension when townsfolk start taking over the planning of their wedding for them. Andrew Strauss/David Lewis: Maxwell Caulfield.

    Director:Gwen Arner

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Gwen Arner

    Writer:Sara Davidson