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The Best Episodes of Independent Lens

Every episode of Independent Lens ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Independent Lens!

Binge this in 22d 15h•Peaking at 9.0/10

This acclaimed Emmy Award-winning anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers and featuring unforgettable stories about a

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Independent Lens Season 16 Episode 17 - 1971
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - 1971

    S16:E17

    The story of the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, which broke into an FBI field office in Media, Pa., on the night of March 8, 1971, and stole hundreds of secret files that they then shared with members of Congress and the news media. Among the finds: evidence that the FBI spied on dissident political groups. The documentary includes remarks from members of the Citizens' Commission.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Independent Lens Season 8 Episode 22 - Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

    S8:E22

    Enron dives from the seventh largest US company to bankruptcy in less than a year in this tale told chronologically. The emphasis is on human drama, from suicide to 20,000 people sacked: the personalities of Ken Lay (with Falwellesque rectitude), Jeff Skilling (he of big ideas), Lou Pai (gone with $250 M), and Andy Fastow (the dark prince) dominate. Along the way, we watch Enron game California's deregulated electricity market, get a free pass from Arthur Andersen (which okays the dubious mark-to-market accounting), use greed to manipulate banks and brokerages (Merrill Lynch fires the analyst who questions Enron's rise), and hear from both Presidents Bush what great guys these are.

    Director:Alex Gibney
    Writer:Alex Gibney

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  3. Independent Lens Season 16 Episode 14 - The Great Invisible
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #3 - The Great Invisible

    S16:E14

    First hand accounts of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and its impact on the Gulf of Mexico.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 4 - The Man Who Drove with Mandela
    1.0/10(2 votes)

    #4 - The Man Who Drove with Mandela

    S1:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Independent Lens Season 17 Episode 5 - Chuck Norris vs. Communism
    1.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Chuck Norris vs. Communism

    S17:E5

    1980s Romania: thousands of American movies were smuggled through the Iron Curtain, opening a window into the free world. A black market racketeer and a courageous female translator brought the magic of film to the people, and helped spark a revolution.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 1 - Wannabe: Life and Death in a Small Town Gang
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Wannabe: Life and Death in a Small Town Gang

    S1:E1

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Independent Lens

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  7. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 2 - Nothing but the Truth
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Nothing but the Truth

    S1:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 3 - Visas and Virtues; I Am Viet Hung
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Visas and Virtues; I Am Viet Hung

    S1:E3

    No description available

    Director:Chris Tashima
    Writer:Chris Tashima

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  9. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 5 - The Jew in the Lotus
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - The Jew in the Lotus

    S1:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 6 - Holy Tortilla/Lock and Key
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Holy Tortilla/Lock and Key

    S1:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 7 - Secret People
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Secret People

    S1:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Independent Lens Season 1 Episode 8 - I Can't Believe I Married a Lesbian
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - I Can't Believe I Married a Lesbian

    S1:E8

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 1 - Now & Then: From Frosh to Seniors
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Now & Then: From Frosh to Seniors

    S2:E1

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 2 - No Hair Day
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - No Hair Day

    S2:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 3 - Short Stories
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Short Stories

    S2:E3

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 4 - Born in the USA
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Born in the USA

    S2:E4

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 5 - Girl Gone Bad
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Girl Gone Bad

    S2:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 6 - Passing Through; Graham's Diner
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Passing Through; Graham's Diner

    S2:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 7 - The Return of Navajo Boy
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - The Return of Navajo Boy

    S2:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 8 - Music in Their Bones
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Music in Their Bones

    S2:E8

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 9 - In Harm's Way; Carved from the Heart
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - In Harm's Way; Carved from the Heart

    S2:E9

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Independent Lens Season 2 Episode 10 - A Wok in Progress
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - A Wok in Progress

    S2:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Independent Lens Season 3 Episode 1 - Confederacy Theory
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Confederacy Theory

    S3:E1

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Independent Lens Season 3 Episode 2 - Who Owns the Past?
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Who Owns the Past?

    S3:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Independent Lens Season 3 Episode 3 - Secrets of Silicon Valley
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Secrets of Silicon Valley

    S3:E3

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"1971" is the best rated episode of "Independent Lens". It scored 9/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/18/2015. This episode scored 1.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room".