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The Best Episodes of In the Heat of the Night

Every episode of In the Heat of the Night ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of In the Heat of the Night!

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In the Heat of the Night is an American television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name starring Carroll O'Connor as the white police chief William Gillespie, and Howard Rollins

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 1 - Rape
    9.1/10(187 votes)

    S3:E1

    After being released by his captors, the chief discovers that his abduction is part of a plot to assassinate a visiting civil rights leader.

    Directors:Paul Lynch, Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. In the Heat of the Night Season 2 Episode 11 - A Trip Upstate
    9.0/10(188 votes)

    S2:E11

    In this thought provoking episode.Gillespie is surprised when a man he arrested asks to see him on the eve of his execution.He must confront his feelings about the death penalty when the prisoner asks him to witness his death.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 4 - A Depraved Heart
    9.0/10(109 votes)

    S7:E4

    The daughter of an old friend asks Bubba to arrest the man who knowingly gave her AIDS.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 4 - Perversions of Justice
    8.9/10(115 votes)

    S4:E4

    A mild mannered school teacher is accused of child molestation.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Robert Bielak

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  5. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 5 - And Justice For Some
    8.9/10(123 votes)

    S4:E5

    Gillespie and his officers are outraged when a drug courier who ran down the son of Virgil's next door neighbor makes a deal with the F.B.I. to avoid prosecution.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 7 - The More Thing's Change
    8.9/10(101 votes)

    S5:E7

    A man murders his business partner and frames the man's illegitimate daughter for the crime in an attempt to gain the man's business and his wife.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of In the Heat of the Night

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  7. In the Heat of the Night Season 2 Episode 5 - Prisoners
    8.8/10(152 votes)

    S2:E5

    Sweet risks his life to prove that the Sheriff of a neighboring county is guilty of the racially motivated murder of a young man that Sweet was friends with in high school.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Lee Maddux

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  8. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 8 - Sweet, Sweet Blues
    8.8/10(140 votes)

    S5:E8

    The lyrics to a blues song recall a murder that happened 50 years earlier.The victim - Sweet's grandfather.And the only people left with the answers are the bluesman who wrote the song and a retired sheriff.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 14 - Love, Honor and Obey
    8.8/10(85 votes)

    S5:E14

    Parkers investigation into a purse snatching reveals an abused woman.

    Director:Reza Badiyi
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 1 - Brotherly Love (1)
    8.7/10(114 votes)

    S4:E1

    Virgil goes to Philadelphia to investigate a friends death.And Bubba (reluctantly) fills in as Althea's Lamaze coach.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 2 - Brotherly Love (2)
    8.7/10(107 votes)

    S4:E2

    Virgil is framed for murder and Gillespie travels to Philly to help him clear his name.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 22 - A Correct Settling
    8.7/10(71 votes)

    S6:E22

    Eugene hopes a well known minister can save his father from Death Row.But someone runs the Reverend off the road on his way into town and the Sparta police try to protect him and track down his assailent.Meanwhile Harriet struggles with what her part in her ex-husbands appeal should be and is even more unsettled when Eugene demands that she break up with Bill.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 3 - Hatton's Turn (2)
    8.7/10(87 votes)

    S7:E3

    Wade and Sarah try to keep young Henry from being punished for a crime he did not commit and Forbes and his officers search for the two men who are really responsible.

    Director:Carroll O'Connor
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 7 - Singin' the Blues
    8.7/10(93 votes)

    S7:E7

    Luann moonlights as a singer at a nightclub and finds romance with the clubs owner.Her happiness is shortlived when she realizes that the bartender is dealing drugs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. In the Heat of the Night Season 7 Episode 22 - Dangerous Engagement
    8.7/10(76 votes)

    S7:E22

    Bill and Harriet's wedding plans are interrupted by a sniper who mistakes Bill for Sheriff McComb.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 6 - Blind Spot (2)
    8.6/10(114 votes)

    S1:E6

    An angry Gillespie seeks answers when an old friend is shot.And Virgil narrowly escapes death after trying to ascertain the real reason behind an old adversary's return to Sparta.Nan finds herself in danger after she finds out the truth about her new love.

    Director:David Hemmings
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 5 - Crackdown
    8.6/10(167 votes)

    S3:E5

    Sparta P.D. gets it's first black policewoman.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 6 - Anniversary
    8.6/10(111 votes)

    S3:E6

    Someone is selling crack to teenagers and Sweet tries desperately to save a young addict.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Nancy Bond

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  19. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 21 - Citizen Trundel (1)
    8.6/10(108 votes)

    S3:E21

    Harriet's sister is murdered on the orders of the wealthy white man who fathered her child.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. In the Heat of the Night Season 3 Episode 22 - Citizen Trundel (2)
    8.6/10(119 votes)

    S3:E22

    Harriet's efforts to bring V.J. Trundel to trial are fruitless.The Chief does not believe they will ever get enough evidence to get an indictment,so he tries another method to bring Trundel to justice.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. In the Heat of the Night Season 4 Episode 10 - A Final Arrangement
    8.6/10(79 votes)

    S4:E10

    Sweet is heartbroken when an elderly woman who befriended him is murdered in her bookstore.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 1 - A Woman Much Admired
    8.6/10(124 votes)

    S5:E1

    Gillespie's old flame returns to Sparta to settle some business matters and see Bill. When she is murdered he travels to Gulfport and meets his daughter Lana for the first time.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 5 - Ruda's Awakening
    8.6/10(79 votes)

    S5:E5

    Virgil's Aunt Ruda is the only witness to a struggle between Bubba and a young robbery suspect that ends in the young mans death.But her prejudice against the police -- and Virgil clouds her memory of the incident.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 1 - A Small War (1)
    8.6/10(93 votes)

    S6:E1

    Big city crack dealers invade Sparta.Eugene witnesses the drive by shooting of a friend and his offer to help the police identify the shooters leaves Harriet frightened and angry at Bill.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  25. In the Heat of the Night Season 6 Episode 2 - A Small War (2)
    8.6/10(82 votes)

    S6:E2

    The police wage war against the big city drug dealers who have moved into Sparta.Eugene identifies the men who murdered his friend.And Bubba is teamed with and intrigued by a lady police lieutenant from Jackson.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Rape" is the best rated episode of "In the Heat of the Night". It scored 9.1/10 based on 187 votes. Directed by Paul Lynch, Harry Harris and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/24/1989. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Trip Upstate".