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The Best Episodes of Elementary Season 1

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

A modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.

Genres:DramaMysteryCrime
Network:CBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Elementary" season 1 is "Pilot", rated 7.7/10 from 2442 user votes. It was directed by Michael Cuesta and written by Robert Doherty. "Pilot" aired on 9/27/2012 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "While You Were Sleeping".

  • Pilot
    7.7/10 2,442 votes

    #1 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2012

    Detective Sherlock Holmes, along with his sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson, uses his uncanny ability to read people and analyze crimes to assist the NYPD on some of their more difficult cases. In the season premiere, Holmes consults on a home invasion that resulted in murder.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: Robert Doherty

  • While You Were Sleeping
    7.6/10 1,833 votes

    #2 - While You Were Sleeping

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2012

    Sherlock uses his powers of deduction to consult on the murder of a young man who is shot upon entering his apartment. Meanwhile, Watson has dinner with her ex-boyfriend, Ty Morstan.

    Director: John David Coles

    Writer: Robert Doherty

  • Child Predator
    8.1/10 1,822 votes

    #3 - Child Predator

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2012

    Sherlock and Watson consult on a child abduction case involving a serial killer who is nicknamed "The Balloon Man," because he leaves a signature batch of balloons at each of his crime scenes.

    Director: Rod Holcomb

    Writer: Peter Blake

  • The Rat Race
    7.8/10 1,655 votes

    #4 - The Rat Race

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2012

    When Sherlock investigates what appears to be a series of murders at a top Wall Street firm, he may himself fall foul of a sociopathic slayer. Joan is set up on a blind date and shows investigative instincts.

    Director: Rosemary Rodriguez

    Writer: Craig Sweeny

  • Lesser Evils
    7.7/10 1,576 votes

    #5 - Lesser Evils

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2012

    Sherlock tries to determine who has been killing weak and terminal patients at a hospital, making it look like they died of natural causes. Meanwhile, Sherlock learns more about Joan’s decision to walk away from her surgical career.

    Director: Colin Bucksey

    Writer: Liz Friedman

  • Flight Risk
    7.7/10 1,533 votes

    #6 - Flight Risk

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2012

    Joan is invited to dinner with Sherlock's father. Meanwhile, Sherlock investigates the crash of a small jet, unraveling a mystery beyond a simple accident.

    Director: David Platt

    Writer: Corinne Brinkerhoff

  • One Way to Get Off
    7.8/10 1,500 votes

    #7 - One Way to Get Off

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2012

    Sherlock assists with a double homicide that has the same M.O. as a series of murders that took place 13 years ago. Meanwhile, after being frozen out by Sherlock, Watson visits his old rehab center in order to learn more about the mysterious man in her care.

    Director: Seith Mann

    Writer: Christopher Silber

  • The Long Fuse
    7.9/10 1,469 votes

    #8 - The Long Fuse

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/2012

    While investigating an explosion that kills two people, Sherlock discovers a crime that’s been lying dormant for years. Meanwhile, Watson encourages Sherlock to finally pick a sponsor.

    Director: Andrew Bernstein

    Writer: Jeffrey Paul King

  • You Do It to Yourself
    7.8/10 1,421 votes

    #9 - You Do It to Yourself

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/2012

    Sherlock uses his trademark deductive reasoning skills to find the killer of a college professor. Meanwhile, Watson gets a call from a former lover who needs her help in disproving hit-and-run charges.

    Director: Phil Abraham

    Writer: Peter Blake

  • The Leviathan
    7.8/10 1,428 votes

    #10 - The Leviathan

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/13/2012

    Sherlock is called in to investigate when a supposedly uncrackable bank vault called “The Leviathan” is breached. Meanwhile, Joan is pleasantly surprised when Sherlock meets her family and defends her choice to become a sober companion.

    Director: Peter Werner

    Writer: Corinne Brinkerhoff

  • Dirty Laundry
    7.5/10 1,427 votes

    #11 - Dirty Laundry

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2013

    Sherlock and Joan investigate the murder of the general manager of a high-end Manhattan hotel whose body is found inside an industrial laundry machine. Meanwhile, since Joan’s time with Sherlock is almost up, he offers her an apprenticeship.

    Director: John David Coles

    Writer: Liz Friedman, Christopher Silber

  • M.
    8.7/10 1,798 votes

    #12 - M.

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2013

    Sherlock is reunited with “M.” a British criminal who appears to have followed Sherlock to New York. Meanwhile, Joan has reservations about leaving Sherlock and taking on a new client.

    Director: John Polson

    Writer: Robert Doherty

  • The Red Team
    7.5/10 1,390 votes

    #13 - The Red Team

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/31/2013

    While on suspension from the NYPD, Sherlock investigates a suspicious hit-and-run accident involving a conspiracy theorist. Meanwhile, Watson tries to broker peace between Sherlock and Gregson.

    Director: Christine Moore

    Writer: N/A

  • The Deductionist
    8.0/10 1,432 votes

    #14 - The Deductionist

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/3/2013

    Sherlock pursues Martin Ennis, an unpredictable criminal, before he strikes again. During the investigation, Sherlock is forced to work alongside Kathryn Drummond, the FBI profiler who literally wrote the book on Ennis. Meanwhile, Watson faces eviction from her apartment.

    Director: John Polson

    Writer: Craig Sweeny, Robert Doherty

  • A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs
    7.9/10 1,360 votes

    #15 - A Giant Gun, Filled with Drugs

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/2013

    When Sherlock's ex-drug dealer, Rhys, comes around for help, Watson is concerned about Sherlock's sobriety after Rhys implies that Sherlock on drugs made a better detective.

    Director: Guy Ferland

    Writer: N/A

  • Details
    8.3/10 1,432 votes

    #16 - Details

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/2013

    Sherlock investigates what he believes will be an open-and-shut case after Detective Bell is attacked. However, the case takes an unexpected turn when the suspected assailant is found dead. Meanwhile, Sherlock encourages Joan to learn self-defense.

    Director: Sanaa Hamri

    Writer: N/A

  • Possibility Two
    7.7/10 1,311 votes

    #17 - Possibility Two

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/21/2013

    Sherlock investigates a case involving a wealthy philanthropist who believes his incurable illness was given to him on purpose. Meanwhile, Sherlock tries to teach Joan his deductive skills by sending her to a suspicious dry cleaning establishment.

    Director: Seith Mann

    Writer: Mark Goffman

  • Déjà Vu All Over Again
    8.1/10 1,368 votes

    #18 - Déjà Vu All Over Again

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/14/2013

    Joan investigates her first solo case when a wife disappears. The missing woman left behind a tear-filled video that mentions a murder on a subway platform. While Joan searches for the vanished lady, Sherlock probes the murder.

    Director: Jerry Levine

    Writer: Brian Rodenbeck

  • Snow Angels
    8.0/10 1,390 votes

    #19 - Snow Angels

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/4/2013

    Sherlock and Joan try to prevent the largest cash vault in the U.S. from being robbed during a deadly blizzard. Meanwhile, Holmes gives shelter to Ms. Hudson, a transgender woman who is recovering from her latest breakup.

    Director: Andrew Bernstein

    Writer: Jason Tracey

  • Dead Man's Switch
    7.7/10 1,253 votes

    #20 - Dead Man's Switch

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/25/2013

    Sherlock and Joan hunt for the accomplice of a murdered blackmailer who targeted families of rape victims. Meanwhile, Sherlock resists celebrating his first year of sobriety.

    Director: Larry Teng

    Writer: N/A

  • A Landmark Story
    8.4/10 1,355 votes

    #21 - A Landmark Story

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2013

    Sherlock resumes his hunt for Moriarty when Sebastian Moran reveals that a man who was thought to be dead from a heart attack was actually on the list of intended victims from Moriarty.

    Director: Peter Werner

    Writer: Corinne Brinkerhoff

  • Risk Management
    8.5/10 1,406 votes

    #22 - Risk Management

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/2013

    Sherlock agrees to take a case from a man claiming to be Moriarty, hoping it will bring him closer to finding his nemesis. Meanwhile, Gregson encourages Joan to give up the dangerous line of work she has chosen and go back to being a sober companion.

    Director: Adam Davidson

    Writer: N/A

  • The Woman (1)
    8.7/10 1,548 votes

    #23 - The Woman (1)

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2013

    As Sherlock reels at the reappearance of his former lover, Irene Adler, a series of flashbacks unravel the tumultuous events that led to his downfall into addiction. Meanwhile, he and Joan once again find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Moriarty.

    Director: Seith Mann

    Writer: Craig Sweeny, Robert Doherty

  • Heroine (2)
    8.8/10 1,788 votes

    #24 - Heroine (2)

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2013

    As Sherlock reels at the reappearance of his former lover, Irene Adler, a series of flashbacks unravel the tumultuous events that led to his downfall into addiction. Meanwhile, he and Joan once again find themselves in the crosshairs of the enigmatic Moriarty.

    Director: John Polson

    Writer: Craig Sweeny, Robert Doherty