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The Best Episodes of In the Heat of the Night Season 1

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

Binge this in 8h 0mPeaking at 8.5/10

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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Seasons8

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot (1)
    8.5/10(246 votes)

    #1 - Pilot (1)

    S1:E1

    Virgil Tibbs returns to Sparta and joins the police force as chief of detectives.His arrival is met with resistance from police chief Bill Gillespie - who resents having an officer hired without his approval.Virgil has trouble adjusting to the small, antiquated police force.Tibbs' first case is a racially charged murder case that is soon complicated when the suspect is murdered in his cell.

    Writer:Unknown

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  2. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 2 - Pilot (2)
    8.4/10(176 votes)

    #2 - Pilot (2)

    S1:E2

    The investigation into the brutal murders of a young girl and the suspect in her death, leads Tibbs and Gillespie to the son of one of Sparta's wealthiest and most influential citizens.As they come closer to the truth things become dangerous for Virgil.

    Director:Leo Penn

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  3. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 3 - Road Kill
    8.1/10(145 votes)

    #3 - Road Kill

    S1:E3

    The affair between the husband of a wealthy woman and her distant cousin leads to her murder. Virgil immediately suspects the pair.But he has a difficult time persuading Gillespie, who is a long time friend of the man and Bubba, who has been seeing the cousin.Bubba and Virgil clash again and Virgil is frustrated when the Chief rejects his theory about the crime.

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  4. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 4 - Fate
    8.0/10(128 votes)

    #4 - Fate

    S1:E4

    Racial tensions run high when a married white woman has an affair with a black businessman from New York.Meanwhile Virgil is not happy when the Chief enlists his aid in tracking down Bubba's cousin, a suspected moonshiner.

    Director:Unknown

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  5. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 5 - Blind Spot (1)
    8.3/10(107 votes)

    #5 - Blind Spot (1)

    S1:E5

    Virgil refuses to let go of a grudge against a wealthy former classmate who cheated him out of a scholarship.The man has promised city leaders that he will move his business to Sparta,but not all of his business interests are legal.The nephew of an old friend of Gillespie's finds his life in danger after he steals drugs stored in the businessman's mansion.

    Writer:Unknown

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  6. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 6 - Blind Spot (2)
    8.5/10(90 votes)

    #6 - Blind Spot (2)

    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.

    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of In the Heat of the Night

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  8. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 7 - A Necessary Evil
    8.0/10(120 votes)

    #7 - A Necessary Evil

    S1:E7

    In this humorous episode Virgil and the Chief arrest a man for bigamy.It soon becomes a polygamy case after an endless parade of wives come to visit their husband.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. In the Heat of the Night Season 1 Episode 8 - ...And Then You Die
    8.4/10(115 votes)

    #8 - ...And Then You Die

    S1:E8

    The Sparta police search for a killer and his girlfriend.But the case becomes personal when they take Althea and the grandson of one of the victims hostage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot (1)" is the best rated episode of "In the Heat of the Night" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 246 votes. Directed by David Hemmings and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/6/1988. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Pilot (2)".