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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!

The Best Episodes of Independent Lens

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...
  1. Background image for 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for 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.

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    Director:Alex Gibney
  3. Background image for 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for The Man Who Drove with Mandela
    1.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - The Man Who Drove with Mandela

    S1:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Wannabe: Life and Death in a Small Town Gang
    NaN/10(0 votes)

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

    S1:E1

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Independent Lens

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  8. Background image for Nothing but the Truth
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Nothing but the Truth

    S1:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Visas and Virtues; I Am Viet Hung
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Visas and Virtues; I Am Viet Hung

    S1:E3

    No description available

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  10. Background image for The Jew in the Lotus
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #9 - The Jew in the Lotus

    S1:E5

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Holy Tortilla/Lock and Key
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Holy Tortilla/Lock and Key

    S1:E6

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Secret People
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Secret People

    S1:E7

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for I Can't Believe I Married a Lesbian
    NaN/10(0 votes)

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

    S1:E8

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Now & Then: From Frosh to Seniors
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Now & Then: From Frosh to Seniors

    S2:E1

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for No Hair Day
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - No Hair Day

    S2:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Short Stories
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Short Stories

    S2:E3

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Born in the USA
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Born in the USA

    S2:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Girl Gone Bad
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Girl Gone Bad

    S2:E5

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Passing Through; Graham's Diner
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Passing Through; Graham's Diner

    S2:E6

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for The Return of Navajo Boy
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - The Return of Navajo Boy

    S2:E7

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Music in Their Bones
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Music in Their Bones

    S2:E8

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for In Harm's Way; Carved from the Heart
    NaN/10(0 votes)

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

    S2:E9

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for A Wok in Progress
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - A Wok in Progress

    S2:E10

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Confederacy Theory
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Confederacy Theory

    S3:E1

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Who Owns the Past?
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Who Owns the Past?

    S3:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Secrets of Silicon Valley
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Secrets of Silicon Valley

    S3:E3

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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".