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The Best Episodes of Hill Street Blues Season 1

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

The Best Episodes of Hill Street Blues Season 1

A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.

Seasons7

  1. Background image for Rites of Spring (2)
    8.3/10(194 votes)

    #1 - Rites of Spring (2)

    S1:E15

    Furillo and Neal go out of their way to help clear an obnoxious, racist narcotics detective accused of shooting an unarmed black man; LaRue's drinking gets really out of hand; and Hill and Renko try to help a young black woman accused of neglecting her children.

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  2. Background image for Hill Street Station
    8.2/10(380 votes)

    #2 - Hill Street Station

    S1:E1

    Precinct Captain Furillo tries to defuse a hostage situation despite the advice of his gung-ho Emergency Action Team leader and the temperament of a self-absorbed gang leader; public defender Joyce Davenport tries to find a client who has been lost in the bureaucratic maze; Detective LaRue gets a lapful of coffee; Sgt. Esterhaus confides to Fay about his teenage sweetheart; Officers Hill and Renko are shot in the line of duty.

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  3. Background image for Double Jeopardy
    8.1/10(190 votes)

    #3 - Double Jeopardy

    S1:E5

    Neal continues to investigate Macafee's life as a way of clearing LaRue; Belker and several others go undercover dressed as women to catch a rapist; Esterhaus broods over his two women; and Goldblume questions his ability after losing a jumper.

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  4. Background image for Rites of Spring (1)
    8.1/10(150 votes)

    #4 - Rites of Spring (1)

    S1:E14

    Furillo and Neal go out of their way to help clear an obnoxious, racist narcotics detective accused of shooting an unarmed black man; LaRue's drinking gets really out of hand; and Hill and Renko try to help a young black woman accused of neglecting her children.

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  5. Background image for Life, Death, Eternity
    8.0/10(159 votes)

    #5 - Life, Death, Eternity

    S1:E11

    Furillo's chances for promotion are threatened when a city councilman is implicated in the murder of the teenage prostitute; LaRue continues to look for money for his ""saloondramat""; Fay's obscene caller breaks into her home; and Belker confronts an anti-Semitic cop just transferred to the Hill.

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    Director:Jack Starrett
    Writer:N/A
  6. Background image for Can World War III Be An Attitude?
    7.9/10(198 votes)

    #6 - Can World War III Be An Attitude?

    S1:E4

    Furillo backs LaRue in the bribery case brought by Macafee; Hill and Renko bust a car thief who's a mechanical whiz; and Esterhaus sees Grace in a new light when they share a crisis at the station house when the Presidential visit is cancelled and gang revenge is feared.

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  8. Background image for I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin
    7.9/10(156 votes)

    #7 - I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin

    S1:E12

    Furillo pushes the investigation of Councilman McAuley; LaRue's business dream comes to a bitter end; Lt. Hunter gets his chance to test out an ""urban tank"" in sniper alley.

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  9. Background image for Politics as Usual
    7.8/10(213 votes)

    #8 - Politics as Usual

    S1:E3

    Hill and Renko decide to split up as a team; LaRue is offered a bribe by a drug dealer who turns out to be a cop; Furillo tries to negotiate with the gangs to ensure a peaceful Presidential tour; Belker agrees to a blind date; and Fay is arrested in a hot tub.

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  10. Background image for Film at Eleven
    7.8/10(184 votes)

    #9 - Film at Eleven

    S1:E6

    A television reporter rides with Hill and Renko; Washington and LaRue find the gun that shot Hill and Renko; and Belker busts Kevin Herman Dracula for biting a prostitute.

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  11. Background image for Up in Arms
    7.8/10(187 votes)

    #10 - Up in Arms

    S1:E8

    Furillo gets orders to deal with a neighborhood merchants association; Esterhaus goes out to meet a criminal he helped put away; Harris and Santini get into trouble with the deadly black van; and Hoban's lie detector results are inconclusive.

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  12. Background image for Gatorbait
    7.8/10(165 votes)

    #11 - Gatorbait

    S1:E10

    Renko gets put out when a Division homicide detective ridicules his efforts to learn who killed a 15-year-old prostitute; Furillo learns that he may be in line for a promotion to commander; LaRue and Washington have a surprise for Hunter during his annual Alligator hunt in the city sewers; and Fay asks Furillo's help with an obscene phone caller.

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    Writer:N/A
  13. Background image for Fecund Hand Rose
    7.8/10(166 votes)

    #12 - Fecund Hand Rose

    S1:E13

    Esterhaus faces immense pressure as his wedding day to Cindy dawns and Grace shows him what he's giving up; Furillo resents providing protection for Ralph Macafee, who's now a state witness; Belker busts an entertaining professional cat burglar; and everyone scrambles to get ready for the wedding ceremony.

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  14. Background image for Presidential Fever
    7.7/10(246 votes)

    #13 - Presidential Fever

    S1:E2

    Hill and Renko meet again for the first time since their shooting; Esterhaus tries to avoid Grace Gardner, the new police decorator; two transfer officers get themselves into trouble; Belker pursues rapists in the park; and Furillo must deal with Fay's demands for more money and an impending Presidential visit.

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  15. Background image for Choice Cut
    7.7/10(182 votes)

    #14 - Choice Cut

    S1:E7

    Hector Ruiz takes hostages again, this time at a supermarket; LaRue and Washington try to connect the gun that shot Hill and Renko with addict Eddie Hoban; and Cynthia Chase uses the hostage scene to stir up the local merchants.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  16. Background image for Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind
    7.7/10(175 votes)

    #15 - Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind

    S1:E9

    The Dekker Avenue Merchants Association continues helping the police; Eddie Hoban finds himself out in the cold; Hill, Renko and Belker all have personal problems; Furillo tries to help a confused Santini decide what to do; and LaRue asks Cynthia Chase along on a dull stakeout that suddenly heats up.

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    Director:N/A
  17. Background image for Jungle Madness (1)
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Jungle Madness (1)

    S1:E16

    Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

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  18. Background image for Jungle Madness (2)
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Jungle Madness (2)

    S1:E17

    Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Rites of Spring (2)" is the best rated episode of "Hill Street Blues" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 194 votes. Directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco, it aired on 5/19/1981. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Hill Street Station".