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The Best Episodes of In the Heat of the Night Season 5

Every episode of In the Heat of the Night Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of In the Heat of the Night Season 5!

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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
    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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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 9 - Sparta Gold
    8.5/10(86 votes)

    S5:E9

    A deputy provides protection for a cotton grower who is running a pot growing operation.But the deputy makes a big mistake when he wounds Bubba's girlfriend.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 10 - An Eye for an Eye
    8.4/10(91 votes)

    S5:E10

    The father of a man Gerard prosecuted kidnaps the DA's daughter.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 17 - By Means Most Foul
    8.3/10(75 votes)

    S5:E17

    A restaurateur and her mechanic boyfriend plot to eliminate her husband, but their scheme backfires.Gillespie takes heat over a string of mailbox bashings.And Virgil soon regrets ignoring Parker's theory regarding where the vandals would strike next.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  9. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 18 - Trundel's Will Be Done
    8.3/10(89 votes)

    S5:E18

    V.J. Trundel's widow takes Harriet to court to gain custody of Eric.But Harriet is determined that her nephew will not be raised in the home of the man who ordered the murder of her sister.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 20 - Family Reunion
    8.3/10(97 votes)

    S5:E20

    An ex-convict attempts to retrieve his loot from his wife and her new husband in this tongue-in-cheek episode.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 21 - Sanctuary
    8.3/10(95 votes)

    S5:E21

    A political prisoner who entered the country illegally,seeks sanctuary in a monastary.Gillespie and Tibbs find themselves at odds with Sheriff McComb when they try to help the man.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 22 - The Law on Trial
    8.3/10(95 votes)

    S5:E22

    Gillespie,Tibbs and Father DiMarco must stand trial for harbouring a fugitive and obstructing justice.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 6 - Unfinished Business
    8.2/10(82 votes)

    S5:E6

    Bubba returns to Los Angeles to testify at a murder trial and is reunited with Pat Day as they try to protect Mike from killers sent to prevent him from testifying.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  14. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 11 - The Littlest Victim
    8.2/10(80 votes)

    S5:E11

    Lonnie makes a heartbreaking discovery about a woman he dated in high school.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 2 - Baby for Sale
    8.1/10(76 votes)

    S5:E2

    After Bubba's cousin adopts a baby her husband is blackmailed by the child's real parents - they want him to help them steal the payroll where he works.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 3 - Obsession
    8.1/10(83 votes)

    S5:E3

    A flirtatious schoolteacher is stalked by a madman.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 13 - Fool for Love
    8.1/10(83 votes)

    S5:E13

    A doctor plots to eliminate his wife -- and his mistress.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 15 - Odessa
    8.1/10(79 votes)

    S5:E15

    Racists target a ceremony honoring a civil rights pioneer.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 19 - Moseley's Lot
    8.1/10(74 votes)

    S5:E19

    Gillespie learns that the son of an old friend is a compulsive gambler.The young man wants his father to pay off his losses.But when two gangsters show up from New Orleans to collect, his jealous sibling sees the perfect opportunity to get rid of his troubled brother.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  20. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 4 - Liar's Poker
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    S5:E4

    A game of high stakes poker ends in murder.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 12 - The Landlord
    7.7/10(72 votes)

    S5:E12

    A drug dealing slumlord is murdered by his accomplices.

    Director:Larry Hagman
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. In the Heat of the Night Season 5 Episode 16 - A Time to Trust
    7.7/10(66 votes)

    S5:E16

    Althea fears for one of her students after her mother's boyfriend is linked to a criminal operation that has resulted in the deaths of several truckers.

    Director:Winrich Kolbe
    Writer:Patt Shea

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"The More Thing's Change" is the best rated episode of "In the Heat of the Night" season 5. It scored 8.9/10 based on 101 votes. Directed by Russ Mayberry and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/19/1991. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Sweet, Sweet Blues".