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The Best Episodes of NYPD Blue Season 1

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

Binge this in 17h 50m•Peaking at 8.5/10

Police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwined several plots involving an ensemble cast.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    6.6/10(510 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Detective John Kelly has his hands full. On the work front, his partner's drinking problem and continual harassment of gangster Alfonse Giardella is about to get them both in over their heads with the mob. On the personal front, his wife wants a divorce.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 2 - 4B or Not 4B
    6.3/10(361 votes)

    #2 - 4B or Not 4B

    S1:E2

    Lieutenant Fancy and Detective Kelly are warned to stop pressuring the mob even as Andy Sipowicz lies in the hospital with numerous gunshot wounds. Back at Kelly's ex-wife's apartment building, an angry young man starts carrying a gun for protection.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 3 - Brown Appetit
    7.6/10(326 votes)

    #3 - Brown Appetit

    S1:E3

    After discovering the hotel where Giardella is being held, Sipowicz gets his revenge with the help of a pet bulldog and the hotel's thankful chef.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 4 - True Confessions
    7.6/10(331 votes)

    #4 - True Confessions

    S1:E4

    Kelly quits moonlighting as a bodyguard after discovering his millionaire employer is a wife beater. Later Kelly speaks at a tenant meeting explaining the dangers of carrying a gun for protection. Unfortunately, his talk has little impact on the tenant in 4B.

    Director:Charles Haid
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 5 - Emission Accomplished
    8.4/10(316 votes)

    #5 - Emission Accomplished

    S1:E5

    Martinez discovers the superintendent of his brother's apartment building is a cop who beats and robs tenants who fall behind on their rent.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:Ted Mann

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  6. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 6 - Personal Foul
    8.2/10(305 votes)

    #6 - Personal Foul

    S1:E6

    Kelly is forced to arrest a close friend after a fight on the basketball court leaves another friend dead.

    Director:Brad Silberling
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 7 - NYPD Lou
    8.4/10(307 votes)

    #7 - NYPD Lou

    S1:E7

    When Sipowicz's estranged son, Andy Jr., shows up and announces his engagement, Andy Sr. decides to look into the bride-to-be's background.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Ted Mann

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  8. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 8 - Tempest in a C-Cup
    8.2/10(286 votes)

    #8 - Tempest in a C-Cup

    S1:E8

    Lieutenant Fancy hires Donna Abandando, a well-endowed civilian employee, to work in the precinct's "safe street" program.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writer:Gardner Stern

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  9. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 9 - Ice Follies
    7.8/10(267 votes)

    #9 - Ice Follies

    S1:E9

    When Martinez's brother dies from a drug overdose, their father sets out to kill the drug dealer responsible.

    Director:Dennis Dugan
    Writer:W.K. Scott Meyer

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  10. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 10 - Oscar, Meyer, Weiner
    8.2/10(277 votes)

    #10 - Oscar, Meyer, Weiner

    S1:E10

    Ignoring Kelly's advice, Licalsi reveals that she's being blackmailed by the mob. Kelly and Sipowicz investigate the brutal robbery-murder of a wealthy family and work with a pawn dealer in hopes of retrieving a stolen Oscar statuette.

    Director:Brad Silberling
    Writers:Gardner Stern, Ted Mann

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  11. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 11 - From Hare to Eternity
    8.2/10(276 votes)

    #11 - From Hare to Eternity

    S1:E11

    As the holiday's approach, Kelly and Sipowicz get a early gift in the form of a hot tip while investigating the kidnapping of a young girl.

    Director:Eric Laneuville
    Writers:Burton Armus, David Milch

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  12. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 12 - Up on the Roof
    8.2/10(252 votes)

    #12 - Up on the Roof

    S1:E12

    While Martinez investigates a series of robberies involving a fake ATM machine, Kelly's current case yields evidence that links Licalsi to the mob. Meanwhile, Lt. Fancy tries to extend his custody of a young boy whose mother is in a drug rehabilitation program.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:George Putnam

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  13. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 13 - Abandando Abandoned
    8.2/10(264 votes)

    #13 - Abandando Abandoned

    S1:E13

    Donna's joy over Medavoy leaving his wife is short-lived when he has a change of heart.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 14 - Jumpin' Jack Fleishman
    8.5/10(258 votes)

    #14 - Jumpin' Jack Fleishman

    S1:E14

    When a woman who was raped refuses to press charges for fear her husband will say she brought it upon herself, Licalsi acts as a decoy in an attempt to trap the prime suspect.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 15 - Steroid Roy
    8.2/10(269 votes)

    #15 - Steroid Roy

    S1:E15

    When Kelly and Sipowicz respond to a suicide call they find the body of a police informant who had come to the precinct earlier that day shouting that she was sleeping with her police contact. Licalsi suspects that her partner is taking drugs.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Ann Biderman

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  16. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 16 - A Sudden Fish
    8.3/10(255 votes)

    #16 - A Sudden Fish

    S1:E16

    Sipowicz has to diffuse an explosive situation when a disabled Vietnam vet who was mugged decides to take matters into his own hands.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 17 - Black Men Can Jump
    7.7/10(251 votes)

    #17 - Black Men Can Jump

    S1:E17

    Sipowicz is furious when he suspects a private investigator is giving false hope to a man whose daughter has been missing for 2 and a half years.

    Director:Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 18 - Zeppo Marks Brothers
    7.7/10(248 votes)

    #18 - Zeppo Marks Brothers

    S1:E18

    When a material witness to a drug hit turns up dead, Sipowicz and Kelly's investigation leads them to two brothers who have also planned a hit on Kelly's ex-wife, Laura. Sipowicz must perform uniform-detail in a dress uniform way too small.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 19 - Serge the Concierge
    7.8/10(248 votes)

    #19 - Serge the Concierge

    S1:E19

    Detectives searching a landfill for the body of a dead girl find the body of a millionaire instead. While Kelly interviews the wife of the deceased, Sipowicz does some investigating of his own after Andy Jr. is arrested for selling cocaine.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 20 - Good Time Charlie
    7.0/10(247 votes)

    #20 - Good Time Charlie

    S1:E20

    Kelly and Sipowicz investigate the death of a man's mistress, which they later find out is one of many lovers the man currently has. Meanwhile, Licalsi is promoted and Fancy breaks the news to her husband that she's pregnant.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 21 - Guns 'n Rosaries
    8.0/10(250 votes)

    #21 - Guns 'n Rosaries

    S1:E21

    Even as Licalsi confesses to shooting Angelo Marino and his driver, Martinez is forced to shoot an irate man who points a gun at Medavoy while they're stuck in traffic.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. NYPD Blue Season 1 Episode 22 - Rockin' Robin
    7.8/10(279 votes)

    #22 - Rockin' Robin

    S1:E22

    Sipowicz and Kelly investigate the stabbing death of a priest whose body was found in a park frequented by male prostitutes.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "NYPD Blue" season 1. It scored 6.6/10 based on 510 votes. Directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/21/1993. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "4B or Not 4B".