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The Best Episodes of JAG Season 1

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    JAG Season 1 Episode 15 - Hemlock
    8.3/10(274 votes)

    S1:E15

    Due to the transposition of two digits of a phone number, Lt. Austin receives a fax with the itinerary for a person with the codename 'Shepherd'. Later, a Commander from the Royal Navy shows up demanding that paper. After receiving it he shoots Meg, seriouly wounding her. Trying to find out who this 'Shepherd' is and why this document is so important, they end up chasing an assassin named 'Hemlock' apparently working for Russian hardliners and trying to kill the man behind 'Shepherd' - Boris Yeltsin who is due in the US for a secret treaty signing. Locations: Washington, D.C.; Bethesda; Leesburg, Va.

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writers:Jack Orman, Donald P. Bellisario

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  2. JAG Season 1 Episode 11 - Sightings
    8.1/10(281 votes)

    S1:E11

    While searching for a girl who disappeared near an abandoned Naval Air Station, Harm and Meg watch the same mysterious lights and hear the same painful sound which also took place during Kathy's disappearance. Though it looks like alien movement, neither Austin nor Rabb believe in UFOs. While looking for the young girl on the base, they nearly get caught but thanks to Kathy they manage to escape, but are trapped on the base. Locations: Del Rio, Texas

    Director:Thomas Del Ruth
    Writer:Evan Katz

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  3. JAG Season 1 Episode 14 - Smoked
    8.1/10(249 votes)

    S1:E14

    After a lightning strike, a damaged Tomcat flying over Cuba is forced to land by the Cuban air force. Harm and Meg, accompanied by Cdr. Krennick and undersecretary of state Bair go to Cuba to negotiate the return of the pilot and aircraft. The main goal is to prevent the download of the Tomcat's classified software. But the CIA's actual plans are totally different ... Locations: Washington,D.C.; Cuba

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  4. JAG Season 1 Episode 16 - High Ground
    8.1/10(271 votes)

    S1:E16

    GSgt. Crockett, instructor for snipers at the Boot Camp in Quantico, should be transferred to Bosnia. But there's a deal existing between him and his former commanding officers which says he won't be used in combat missions any longer. After shooting at the colonel 'to get his attention,' he is arrested. Since Crockett once saved Adm. Chegwidden's life, the Admiral orders an investigation to help him. But GSgt. Crockett escapes from the brig and hides in the mountains. Some marines, accompanied by Harm, go out to find Crockett, who's a well-trained and experienced sniper. Locations: Quantico, Va.; Washington D.C.

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writers:Greg Strangis, Robert McCullough

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  5. JAG Season 1 Episode 2 - A New Life (2)
    8.0/10(376 votes)

    S1:E2

    Harm & Kate continue to investigate the death of Lt. Angela Arutti, all the while the carrier remaining on combat status.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  6. JAG Season 1 Episode 6 - Pilot Error
    8.0/10(293 votes)

    S1:E6

    During a test flight Lt. Pendry has a deadly crash with his Tomcat. Harm and Meg are ordered to probe this case and the facts point to a pilot error, not at a system malfunction. Though Pendry was a risk-taking pilot, Harm doesn't think he has gone too far based on his knowledge from his flying days with Pendry. Locations: Miramar Naval Air Station; San Diego/area and off-coast

    Director:Les Landau
    Writers:Jack Orman, Robert Cochran

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  7. JAG Season 1 Episode 13 - Defensive Action
    8.0/10(255 votes)

    S1:E13

    Harmon Rabb is promoted and his first assignment as Lt. Commander is to defend Capt. 'CAG' Boone in a court-martial. During a mission over Bosnia, one aircraft goes down due to a system malfunction. A Serbian helicopter shoots at the parachuting crew and, to protect them, the CAG shoots down the helicopter. Is CAG, indeed, defending the crew from a hostile helicopter, or is he acting out of revenge, violating a cease-fire, and risking a war? Locations: Bosnia; Naples, Italy; USS Seahawk/Adriatic Sea; Washington D.C.

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writer:Terry Curtis Fox

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  8. JAG Season 1 Episode 21 - Ares
    8.0/10(236 votes)

    S1:E21

    A killed Navy officer working at a destroyer's new defensive system is investigated by Harm with help from Lt. Pike and Cdr. Brockman. Later, during the testing of this system, a malfunction occurs and the system takes over the ship. Without any chance to navigate it, the ship drifts directly to North Korea where the North Korean Navy is already awaiting them. Meg, who came in later, tries with other technicians to break the lockout to regain control over the sabotaged system. Locations: Okinawa, Japan; Japanese Sea

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  9. JAG Season 1 Episode 1 - A New Life (1)
    7.9/10(781 votes)

    S1:E1

    When a female F-14 Tomcat RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) goes missing from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Seahawk while stationed in the Adriatic Sea, the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral Al Brovo (Kevin Dunn), sends young Lieutenant Harmon Rabb with Lieutenant Junior Grade Caitlin Pike on Bastille Day 1995 out to the carrier where they must find out whether her death was accidental or intentional.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  10. JAG Season 1 Episode 10 - Boot
    7.9/10(282 votes)

    S1:E10

    Meg goes under cover as a Marine recruit in order to investigate the mysterious death of a female private in a boot camp. The facts point at the two drill instructors SSgt. Carrington and Sgt. Gonzales. But a newspaper clipping found by Lt. Austin changes the situation completely. Locations: Parris Island; Washington D.C.

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writer:Lucian Truscott IV

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  11. JAG Season 1 Episode 17 - Black Ops
    7.9/10(241 votes)

    S1:E17

    Harm is called in to probe the death of Navy pilot Lt. Marion, son of US Senator Grace Marion, while training with the Navy SEALS. As he was there only for two days, it seems that the death was due to gross negligence. With the reports given by his superior and comrades, combined with the results of how how he died, it seems that the actual incident is a cover-up. Analyzing his equipment and learning that it was a combat mission (and not a training mission as stated), the facts then point at murder. The key to all this could be General Behnke. Locations: Washington D.C.; NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Carribean Sea; Colombia

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writers:Greg Strangis, Robert McCullough

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  12. JAG Season 1 Episode 22 - Skeleton Crew
    7.9/10(283 votes)

    S1:E22

    A murdered female lieutenant turns out to be Lt. Schonke, a friend with whom Harm attended Academy, but neither Cdr. Krennick nor Agent Turque, an abrasive civilian investigator, buys Harm's claim that his relationship was strictly platonic. After the primary suspect of the murder is also found dead - a more than dubious suicide - Harm finds himself being the number one suspect for both murders ... Locations: US Naval Base Norfolk, Va.; Washington D.C.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  13. JAG Season 1 Episode 19 - Recovery
    7.7/10(225 votes)

    S1:E19

    An evacuation training for a Space Shuttle team ends with a dead pilot caused by a broken cable. Harm and Meg investigate and soon determine that the cable was sabotaged. Harm's first suspect is promoted pilot Lt.Cdr. Lowry. As this is an important mission (repairing a spy satellite monitoring Southwest Asia) it can't be canceled. And since there isn't another eligible pilot, Lowry cannot be removed from the team. A training flight with Lowry and Harm on board has a fatal system malfunction - again sabotage. Lowrey can now be crossed out but the person responsible for these incidents must be found as the scheduled mission must proceed as planned. It is highly possible that there will be another 'unpleasant surprise' to stop this mission. Locations: AFB Vandenberg; Space

    Director:Joe Napolitano
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  14. JAG Season 1 Episode 8 - Brig Break
    7.6/10(329 votes)

    S1:E8

    Harm and Meg investigate the theft of stolen missiles at the SEATAC Naval Base. While interrogating PO1 Quinn of the theft, a prison-break takes place and Lt. Austin is taken hostage. Contrary to the Major in charge, Lt. Rabb thinks that this is a well-planned breakout with a big goal. Locations: SEATAC Island Naval Base and surrounding areas

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writer:Robert Cochran

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  15. JAG Season 1 Episode 9 - Scimitar
    7.6/10(261 votes)

    S1:E9

    Cpls. Ednar and Anderson mistakenly cross the Iraqi border. Trying to escape an Iraqi patrol, Cpl. Ednar is killed and Cpl. Anderson is taken prisoner. The Iraqi government invite the United States to send advocates to defend the Marine who's facing the death penalty for espionage. Harm and Meg are assigned to travel to Iraq to act as his lawyers as well as attempt to free the Corporal with the help of an undercover agent called 'Scimitar'.

    Director:John McPherson
    Writer:Robert Cochran

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  16. JAG Season 1 Episode 20 - The Prisoner
    7.6/10(220 votes)

    S1:E20

    On a sailing trip near Hong Kong, Harm is captured by the Chinese military. They want him to reveal the United States' position in case the Chinese should take two islands (which are claimed by Taiwan) by force. To get this information, the Chinese employ various mind games including placing Harm's father in a adjacent cell. Cdr. Krennick and Lt. Austin are offered a deal which includes Harm's freedom and asylum for a Chinese military person. Locations: Hong Kong; Nantou, China

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Evan Katz

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  17. JAG Season 1 Episode 3 - Shadow
    7.5/10(371 votes)

    S1:E3

    A civilian tech rep aboard a submarine seizes control of an experimental torpedo after its launch during an exercise. The rep threatens to sink a cruise ship and demands a ransom. Harm and Ltjg. Meg Austin go to the sub and save the day.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  18. JAG Season 1 Episode 4 - Desert Son
    7.5/10(350 votes)

    S1:E4

    During a maneuver, transposed digits lead to a fatal bombing of a unit's own men. This causes several seriously wounded and eventually one dead soldier. Lt. Rabb and Lt. Austin are assigned to investigate this case because the responsible man is none other than Jay Williams, the son of Gen. Williams. But it seems the case is clear since Jay confesses that this mistake was his fault. Locations: MCB Twenty-Nine Palms

    Director:Joe Napolitano
    Writers:Evan Katz, Robert Crais

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  19. JAG Season 1 Episode 7 - War Cries
    7.5/10(293 votes)

    S1:E7

    Cpl. Parr shoots at an intruder, who he believes shot at him first, at the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru. The intruder, an unarmed 15-year-old teen, is killed. But he wasn't just any boy. He was the brother of Cpl. Parr's girlfriend who (according to her) is pregnant. Harm and Meg are tasked to determine if the teenager was, in fact, unarmed, or if this was an attempt to kill the ambassador. Locations: Lima, Peru

    Director:Duwayne Dunham
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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  20. JAG Season 1 Episode 12 - The Brotherhood
    7.5/10(248 votes)

    S1:E12

    During a simulated attack, a seriously wounded Marine is found on the beach. JAG is called in to investigate. Harm and Meg follow two ways: An executed Code Red or a brawl. Locations: Camp Pendleton and area; Los Angeles

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writers:R. Scott Gemmill, Donald P. Bellisario

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  21. JAG Season 1 Episode 5 - Deja Vu
    7.1/10(295 votes)

    S1:E5

    Harm and Meg are investigating the death of a Navy officer at the Arlington Cemetery, where during the months before, other Navy officers have been murdered, too. This murder happened after a reception at the French embassy and the trail leads to the Thai ambassador and his wife. Harm is attracted to her as she reminds him of a girlfriend back in Vietnam who was killed. Also, Colonel Patano (the ambassador's guard), is one of the suspects. Locations: Washington D.C.; McLean, Va.; Bethesda, Md.

    Director:Doug Lefler
    Writer:Evan Katz

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  22. JAG Season 1 Episode 18 - Survivors
    6.8/10(235 votes)

    S1:E18

    Harm represents the divorced Marine colonel Anderson who has overextended his custody agreement when attempting to spend time with his son before his mother moves him far away. But a warrant goes out to for Anderson, on whom the Vietnam war left its marks. After a local deputy attempts to arrest him without success, a strong police force goes after him. Harm learns what Anderson is really up to and helps him to reach a lodge, the place where he promised to bury an old pal who died back in Vietnam, but was left behind. Locations: Vietnam (1972); California (Tustin, Santa Ana,Big Pine, Bishop)

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Hemlock" is the best rated episode of JAG season 1. It scored 8.3/10 from 274 votes. Directed by Jim Johnston and written by Jack Orman, Donald P. Bellisario, it aired on March 27, 1996. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Sightings".