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The Best Episodes of Once and Again Season 1

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

Binge this in 22h 0m•Peaking at 9.3/10

The series depicts the family of a single mother and her romance with a single father.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Once and Again Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    9.0/10(55 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Lily Manning, separated from her husband, and Rick Sammler, divorced for 3 years, meet by chance when her daughter, Grace, injures her ankle in a soccer game. They go out on a date, and are instantly attracted to each other.

    Director:Edward Zwick
    Writers:Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

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  2. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 2 - Let's Spend The Night Together
    8.7/10(37 votes)

    #2 - Let's Spend The Night Together

    S1:E2

    Rick and Lily ponder taking their relationship to the next level.

    Director:Marshall Herskovitz
    Writers:Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

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  3. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 3 - The Scarlet Letter Jacket
    8.5/10(37 votes)

    #3 - The Scarlet Letter Jacket

    S1:E3

    Rick and Lily's families gather at the school carnival. Lily and Karen, who don't know of each other at this point, are paired to work together in a booth there.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Marshall Herskovitz

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  4. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 4 - Liars and Other Strangers
    8.9/10(35 votes)

    #4 - Liars and Other Strangers

    S1:E4

    After meeting Rick, Judy expresses to Lily her misgivings about Lily's blossoming relationship with him.

    Director:Ron Lagomarsino
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 5 - There Be Dragons
    8.4/10(33 votes)

    #5 - There Be Dragons

    S1:E5

    Rick introduces Lily to his kids under awkward circumstances.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 6 - A Dream Deferred
    8.0/10(28 votes)

    #6 - A Dream Deferred

    S1:E6

    Lily faces the reality of being on her own and Judy begins to pull away from her Lily. This happens after Rick offers to remodel the bookstore and Judy feels like the ""odd man out"" because Lily and Rick's relationship, she feels, leaves her little time to spend with Lily.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 7 - The Ex-Files
    9.3/10(64 votes)

    #7 - The Ex-Files

    S1:E7

    Being divorced means Karen and Rick must both go to Eli's weekend basketball tournament, creating some awkward moments for them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 8 - The Past is Prologue
    8.1/10(28 votes)

    #8 - The Past is Prologue

    S1:E8

    Lily and Rick deal with the ghosts of their failed marriages. Rick's becoming consumed with a project at work triggers Lily's memories of Jake doing the same thing in their marriage, causing its downfall. Meanwhile, Eli's frustration with his schoolwork reaches new depths.

    Director:Patrick R. Norris
    Writers:Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

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  9. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 9 - Outside Hearts
    8.8/10(31 votes)

    #9 - Outside Hearts

    S1:E9

    While Lily is at a convention, Judy allows Grace (and Rick and Karen allow Eli), to go to a party that ends up with bad consequences.

    Director:Todd Field
    Writer:Alexa Junge

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  10. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 10 - Thanksgiving
    8.6/10(27 votes)

    #10 - Thanksgiving

    S1:E10

    Lily's father decides to invite Jake to Thanksgiving at Lily's house against her wishes. Her father has difficulty in deciding whose side of the divorce to support.

    Director:Claudia Weill
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 11 - Where There's Smoke
    8.1/10(27 votes)

    #11 - Where There's Smoke

    S1:E11

    Jake gets into trouble with his business. A small fire at Lily's house causes a lot of worry. Karen struggles with Eli's moving into the basement.

    Director:Edward Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 12 - The Gingerbread House
    8.6/10(32 votes)

    #12 - The Gingerbread House

    S1:E12

    Lily tells Jake she wants a divorce, and tells Rick about her one-night stand with Jake. Rick can't forgive her, putting their future in jeopardy.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 13 - Mediation
    8.2/10(27 votes)

    #13 - Mediation

    S1:E13

    Jake and Lily begin mediating their divorce, and the future of the house hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Rick struggles with a demanding client, complicating his partnership with David. At Jennifer's insistence, Grace fills in as an English tutor for Eli, and the two discuss Lily and Rick's recent breakup. Rick arrives at a decision regarding his future with Lily.

    Director:Peter Horton
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 14 - Sneaky Feelings
    8.4/10(35 votes)

    #14 - Sneaky Feelings

    S1:E14

    Eli feels tempted to cheat on Jennifer. Karen feels attracted to a younger co-worker.

    Director:Claudia Weill
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 15 - The Mystery Dance
    8.8/10(30 votes)

    #15 - The Mystery Dance

    S1:E15

    Rick and Lily begin to mend their relationship. Judy meets a man who might fulfill her dreams.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 16 - Daddy's Girl
    8.2/10(27 votes)

    #16 - Daddy's Girl

    S1:E16

    Lily hires a divorce attorney. The last straw is after Jake reneges on his promise not to max out their credit card. She finds this out after it's rejected at a store. Grace meets a boy who seems to think like her.

    Director:Barnet Kellman
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 17 - Unfinished Business
    8.2/10(26 votes)

    #17 - Unfinished Business

    S1:E17

    Lily and her family cope with a life-altering accident.

    Director:Edward Zwick
    Writers:Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

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  18. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 18 - Strangers and Brothers
    8.6/10(27 votes)

    #18 - Strangers and Brothers

    S1:E18

    Aaron proves to be a source of comfort and renewal for the Manning family; Lily gains ground in the divorce proceedings.

    Director:Marshall Herskovitz
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 19 - Cat-In-Hat
    8.8/10(32 votes)

    #19 - Cat-In-Hat

    S1:E19

    Karen pushes herself far beyond her comfort zone when her involvement with Leo becomes more serious. Eli plays his parents against each other in order to get into a bar to see his friends' band play. He gets in trouble when he sees his mother, and she sees him, there. Rick finds out that Karen said no and Eli didn't tell him that, getting Eli in trouble with Rick as well.

    Director:Claudia Weill
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 20 - My Brilliant Career
    8.1/10(27 votes)

    #20 - My Brilliant Career

    S1:E20

    Lily's new job helps her put her priorities in order. While talking to Grace, Tiffany lets it slip that her relationship with Jake started BEFORE Lily and Jake split up, possibly altering her relationship with her father forever.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 21 - Letting Go
    8.4/10(29 votes)

    #21 - Letting Go

    S1:E21

    When Judy's continuing affair with Sam is discovered, she takes steps to prevent any more pain from entering her life. Lily realizes just how much she's taken Rick for granted when he's sick in the hospital. Grace continues to have difficulty with accepting her father's past infidelity.

    Director:Peter Horton
    Writer:Alexa Junge

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  22. Once and Again Season 1 Episode 22 - A Door, About to Open
    9.0/10(32 votes)

    #22 - A Door, About to Open

    S1:E22

    Lily says that the kids in the two families should meet. So they schedule a night for that. Zoe is concerned about the environment. Grace again has conflicting feelings about Eli. Jennifer reveals to Grace that Cassidy is cheating on Eli. Grace is hesitant about telling Eli this information. Two of Cassidy's friends, Rachel and Lisa, warn Grace not to tell Eli what's going on (or else!). Naomi starts a book group and invites Karen, instead of Lily to be in the group because she feels that she and Lily have been drifting apart. Miles lets it be known to Rick that he doesn't want David involved on his project. Work pressures threaten to unravel Lily's plans for the meeting and they leave Rick on edge. Judy and Karen have a heart-to-heart in the bookstore about their two families. Eli finds out for himself that Cassidy's been cheating on him. Pressure from Miles forces Rick to cancel the dinner. A passage from the book the group is reading makes everything clear to Lily and Rick and Karen

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Once and Again" season 1. It scored 9/10 based on 55 votes. Directed by Edward Zwick and written by Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, it aired on 9/21/1999. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Let's Spend The Night Together".