The Worst Episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   #1 - Epidemic

   S1:E21/2/1993

   Horror mounts when a flu epidemic attacks Colorado Springs. Dr. Mike must attend the sick townspeople and protect others from getting the deadly disease. But being a lady doctor has people questioning whether she can handle the fatal epidemic.

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Beth Sullivan
2. 

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   #2 - The Visitor

   S1:E31/9/1993

   Mike's estranged mother (Jane Wyman) visits, but she and Mike are still miles apart. Meanwhile, Robert E is injured in a fire.

   Director:Victoria Hochberg

   Writer:Cathleen Young

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   Director:Victoria Hochberg

   Writer:Cathleen Young
3. 

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   #3 - Law of the Land

   S1:E41/16/1993

   A gunslinger (Johnny Cash) arrives looking for a quiet town in which to hang 'em up, but Colorado Springs is itching to lynch an immigrant (Christopher Keene Kelly) for cattle rustling to feed his starving family.

   Director:James Keach

   Writer:Toni Perling

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   Director:James Keach

   Writer:Toni Perling
4. 

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   #4 - The Healing

   S1:E51/23/1993

   A bitter Loren, who blames Sully for his daughter's death, tries to repossess Dr. Mike's cabin when he learns he still owns the deed.

   Director:Gwen Arner

   Writers:Toni Perling, Sara Davidson

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   Director:Gwen Arner

   Writers:Toni Perling, Sara Davidson
5. 

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   #5 - Father's Day

   S1:E61/30/1993

   As Dr. Quinn is trying to persuade the townspeople that smallpox vaccinations are necessary, the father of Brain, Colleen, and Matthew arrives.

   Director:Jerry London

   Writer:Sara Davidson

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   Director:Jerry London

   Writer:Sara Davidson
6. 

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   #6 - Bad Water

   S1:E72/6/1993

   When several townspeople come down with mercury poisoning, Dr. Mike forces a reluctant Sully to guide her to the high mountain stream which may be the source of the problem. The trek is difficult for her, but she ultimately earns Sully's respect and gratitude after saving his life twice despite a broken wrist. Just as they confirm that the water is being polluted by a local mine owner whose mining process is dumping mercury into the stream, they are captured by his men. In the interim, worried townsfolk send out an inept posse to try to locate Sully and Dr. Mike. Olive backs Grace's new venture -- Grace's Cafe. In the end, Dr. Mike saves the day by curing the mine owner's son, who has fallen victim to the poisoned water, and convincing the owner to close the mine.

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Sara Davidson

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Sara Davidson
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   #7 - Great American Medicine Show

   S1:E82/13/1993

   Dr. Mike tries to heal the soul of Doc Eli, a Civil War surgeon turned patent medicine show huckster, who's come to like the taste of his own medicine, an all-curing elixir used by the fabled Kickapoo Indians. She doesn't trust the sales pitch of this exploitave medicine show man, especially when she's facing a real medical crisis involving Myra. She must help Doc Eli face his past demons, before he can help her remove an ovarian cyst from Myra, in a technique he pioneered. Meanwhile Sully's on a similar mission in trying to convince Franklin, a disillusioned Cheyenne, survivor of a massacre, to join his own people in their continuing fight for survival. Myra and Horace get engaged.

   Director:Richard T. Heffron

   Writer:Toni Perling

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   Director:Richard T. Heffron

   Writer:Toni Perling
8. 

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   #8 - Running Ghost

   S1:E102/27/1993

   Sully ends up badly beaten and partially paralyzed following a run in with buffalo hunters who were hired by the railroad to clear the buffalo and Indians out of the planned train path. As Dr. Mike, Cloud Dancing and the kids fight to help Sully regain the use of his legs, a con man who's passed himself off as an advance man for the railroad is in the process of swindling the townsfolk out of the deed to their property. Sully recovers and Dr. Mike unmasks the con man's plan thereby saving the townsfolk's property.

   Director:James Keach

   Writers:Ed Burnham, Elaine Newman

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   Director:James Keach

   Writers:Ed Burnham, Elaine Newman
9. 

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   #9 - The Prisoner

   S1:E113/13/1993

   After ambushing Black Kettle's camp, General Custer enters the town carrying wounded soldiers and Indian prisoners, including Cloud Dancing, whom Custer threatens to kill if Dr. Mike does not treat his men before the injured braves. Later, Dr. Mike treats Cloud Dancing's broken arm while he remains shackled in the livery after Custer's interrogation. When Custer jokingly hauls Cloud Dancing before a firing squad that fires blanks, Dr. Mike and Sully engineer Cloud Dancing's escape. Meanwhile, Olive opens a Hurdy Gurdy, recruiting girls from the immigrant camp and a reluctant Loren, Horace and Jake for the band. Matthew buys all of Ingrid's dance tickets then shyly confesses that he doesn't know how to dance. Robert E. and Grace exchange looks. Robert E. is still burned from The Visitor (#3).

   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Josef Anderson

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   Director:Chuck Bowman

   Writer:Josef Anderson
10. 

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    #10 - Rite of Passage

    S1:E134/10/1993

    Matthew's sudden announcement that he wants to marry Ingrid causes upheaval in his relationship with Dr. Mike, who feels he's too young. In an effort to prove he's man enough to make his own decisions, he convinces Sully and Cloud Dancing to allow him to partake in a four-day Cheyenne ritual. This is the final straw for Dr. Mike, and she confronts Sully before she storms off looking for Matthew. Meanwhile, Ingrid suffers asthma attacks, and her treatment is undermined by Dr. Mike's disapproval of their marriage plans. Dr. Mike comes upon Matthew going through the rite of passage and seeming at peace with himself, so she lets him finish uninterrupted. Later, Dr. Mike and Matthew resolve their differences, with him deciding to delay the wedding and her giving Matthew her engagement ring for Ingrid.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson
11. 

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    #11 - Heroes

    S1:E145/1/1993

    Colleen develops a teenage crush on Sully after he pulls her out of the path of a runaway wagon. Imagining herself as a damsel in distress and Sully as her knight in shining armor, she purposely sets out to get lost in the woods hoping Sully will rescue her. A freak cold snap blows up and she almost freezes to death before Sully and Dr. Mike find her. Dr. Mike works hard to save Colleen's badly frostbitten hands, and Sully ultimately has a heart-to- heart talk with Colleen. Meanwhile, racial tensions in town reach a boiling point when Hank accuses Grace of food poisoning which is later proved false when Dr. Mike discovers Hank has been eating meat infected with trichinosis.

    Director:Reza Badiyi

    Writer:Toni Perling

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    Director:Reza Badiyi

    Writer:Toni Perling
12. 

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    #12 - The Operation

    S1:E155/8/1993

    While Brian and Sully are out hiking, Brian climbs a tree and jumps out before Sully can stop him. Brian lands hard, hitting his head. Mike, angry with Sully for not watching Brian more carefully, is relieved to find no signs of injury. Later, the townsfolk argue over who will build the new schoolhouse, Matthew wants Robert E included, but, in the end Jake and Loren are tapped for the job. Brian begins to exhibit symptoms of compression, which escalate to blindness and later, coma. A specialist can't be found and Mike must perform a dangerous brain operation while Jake and Grace assist. Meanwhile, the town, including Robert E, pulls together to build the schoolhouse. Brian awakens and wanders out to the new school where Mike and the family find him, overjoyed that he can see again.

    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Beth Sullivan

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    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Beth Sullivan
13. 

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    #13 - The Secret

    S1:E165/15/1993

    When Mike and Sully stop to check on old Mrs. Johnson, they discover her dead and a young boy, Zack, hidden in the closet. Mike takes the child in and confronts the townsfolk, who reluctantly admit to knowing the boy's mother was one of Hank's whores. When she died they sent Zack to Mrs. Johnson because he was ""simple."" Mike is frustrated in her attempts to find a medical diagnosis and cure for Zack's condition. Mike's further detective work reveals that Hank is Zack's father, and she helps Hank own up to his responsibility. Meanwhile, Brian seems to be the only one to get the boy to exhibit his artistic abilities, and he is mistakenly given credit for a drawing that Zack has done. Later, when Zack's artistic talent is discovered, Hank agrees to send him to an art school in Denver. The show has a cute opening scene of Mike and Sully with him criticizing her driving.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Toni Graphia
14. 

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    #14 - Portraits

    S1:E175/22/1993

    David Watkins, a civil war photographer arrives in Colorado Springs. Dr. Mike diagnoses David's diabetes and is frustrated that he refuses treatment and will ultimately go blind. David suggests taking a portrait of the town and an argument ensues over who will be in it. When the camera equipment is destroyed, the whole town must pull together to create a camera and take the photo before David's eyesight fails. At the same time, Mrs. Bing, Horace's mother, is brought to town, seriously ill. Mrs. Bing disapproves of Myra until she learns how much they love each other, and on her deathbed bestows her blessing on their marriage.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Josef Anderson
15. 

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    #15 - The Race

    S2:E19/25/1993

    After Snowbird gives Mike an Indian pony, Flash, in thanks for her work at the reservation Mike tries to enter the Territory Stakes Race, but race officials, Loren and Jake, won't allow a woman to ride. Dr. Cassidy arrives from Denver with his champion horse and spurns Mike attempts to speak to him colleague to colleague. Dr. Cassidy's rider, Drew, is injured and Mike diagnoses cranial compression, yet Dr. Cassidy refuses Mike's assistance. Drew dies and an angry Mike is determined to enter the race, disguised as a man. Meanwhile, with encouragement from Grace, Brian enters a pie-baking contest and is met with skepticism from Colleen and Loren. To everyone's surprise, Brian is declared the winner. Mike rides the race of her life and wins, but is disqualified when her disguise is revealed and Hank, riding Dr. Cassidy's horse, is declared the winner.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson
16. 

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    #16 - Sanctuary

    S2:E210/2/1993

    Dorothy, Loren's sister-in-law and old flame, is introduced as an abused wife who defends herself against her husband's assault, then seeks shelter with Loren. Marcus Jennings, Dorothy's husband, persuades Dorothy to return home with him, which she does. Later, they have another fight and Dorothy returns. Unfortunately, after the couple's last fight, Marcus is found dead, and Dorothy is the prime suspect. Mike defends her at the trial, but in the end Dorothy is found guilty. At the eleventh hour, Mike performs an autopsy on Dorothy's husband and proves Dorothy's innocence; Marcus was suffering from acute cirrhosis of the liver. Dorothy remains in town and Loren gives her a room at the General Store and helps her get started on her own newspaper, ""The Gazette."" Meanwhile, Snowbird, Cloud Dancing's wife, leaves Cloud Dancing's teepee when tradition dictates he take in a widow as his second wife.

    Director:Dan Attias

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Dan Attias

    Writer:Josef Anderson
17. 

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    #17 - Halloween

    S2:E310/30/1993

    Halloween is trick-or-treat for the residents of Colorado Springs when Sully's dead wife, Abigail, haunts Dr. Mike, after Sully suggests fixing up the homestead for her. Eventually, Mike is able to lay Abigail's ghost to rest. Meanwhile, Brian becomes terrified after his investigations lead him to believe Dorothy is a witch. But, later she helps him deal with his sadness about the fading memory of his mother. Jake and Loren's prank on the town backfires when Jake pronounces a man dead and his ""corpse"" walks away -- Mike later diagnoses the man as a catalepsy sufferer.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Graphia

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Toni Graphia
18. 

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    #18 - The Incident

    S2:E411/6/1993

    Jake, Loren and Horace are out hunting when Jake, mistaking an Indian for a deer, accidentally shoots and kills him. During the melee, Horace is wounded by an arrow, which Mike treats. Loren and Jake, frightened and guilty, try to cover up Jake's blunder by declaring that the Indians attacked. They persuade Horace to participate in this lie. Sully and Mike are caught in the subsequent hostilities between the Indians and townsfolk. The incident threatens to provoke an all-out Indian war, as well as a rift between Sully and Mike and between Sully and Cloud Dancing, until Mike elicits a confession from Horace and Sully intervenes to bring peace. Eventually, the Indian tribal council declares that Jake must make financial reparations to the dead Indian's family, including his horse, watch and ring.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson
19. 

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    #19 - Saving Souls

    S2:E511/13/1993

    Love finds visiting faith healer Sister Ruth, in the form of Kid Cole, who's revisiting the town in order to jail a desperado he's apprehended. The desperado's two brothers have followed him to town and stalk him. Kid Cole, strangely fatalistic, seems to have lost the will to live. Things come to a head when Mike and Sister Ruth must unite their mutual strengths; medicine and faith, to save Kid Cole's life. Mike performs an emergency procedure to evacuate the tubercular Kid Cole's lungs; Sister Ruth helps him find the will to live. Sully forces Kid Cole to reveal that Kid Cole feels terribly guilty for having gunned down the desperado's brother, who was unarmed. Sully helps the Kid resolve this crisis of conscience and in a climactic showdown, the town helps the Kid avert a gun battle with the desperados. Meanwhile, the Reverend refuses to allow Robert E and Grace to marry in the town church, but eventually capitulates to their demands, with some help from Mike and Sister Ruth.

    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Toni Perling

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    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Toni Perling
20. 

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    #20 - A Washington Affair (1)

    S3:E711/5/1994

    Mike, Sully, and Cloud Dancing head to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of the Indians.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson
21. 

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    #21 - A Washington Affair (2)

    S3:E811/5/1994

    Sully is imprisoned when he accompanies Dr. Mike and Cloud Dancing to Washington to lobby on behalf of the Cheyenne.

    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson

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    Director:Jerry London

    Writer:Josef Anderson
22. 

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    #22 - Pike's Peace

    S3:E161/28/1995

    Mike learns some patients are beyond help when she climbs Pike's Peak to follow a woman who's chosen to die in its rarified air rather than continue to battle leukemia; Grace deals with her jealousy of Myra's pregnancy. Colleen delivers Myra's baby in Mike's absence, ushering in a new life for the one lost. Sam Lindsay: Eve Brenner

    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Kathryn Ford

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    Director:James Keach

    Writer:Kathryn Ford
23. 

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    #23 - Cooper vs. Quinn (1)

    S3:E172/4/1995

    Mike loses custody of Brian and Colleen when their father, Ethan Cooper, arrives with new bride Lillian and reclaims them in a messy courtroom battle. Also, Myra and Horace are almost driven out of their minds by new baby Samantha's incessant crying.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson
24. 

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    #24 - Cooper vs. Quinn (2)

    S3:E182/4/1995

    Brian and Colleen run away from Ethan and Lillian, and Colleen contracts potentially lethal pneumonia, which, upon the kids apprehension, Mike treats. Also, surprisingly, Hank's the only person who can quiet Samantha, Myra and Horace's eternally crying baby.

    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson

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    Director:Chuck Bowman

    Writer:Sara Davidson
25. 

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    #25 - What is Love?

    S3:E192/11/1995

    Brian's homework assignment, an essay entitled, ""What Is Love?"" to be written in honor of Valentine's day, coincides with Dorothy and the town's production of ""Romeo and Juliet."" Also, Becky and Colleen compete to play Juliet, Dorothy and Jake split up, and Sully gives Mike an engagement ring.

    Director:Dan Attias

    Writer:Carl Binder

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    Director:Dan Attias

    Writer:Carl Binder