The Best Episodes of One Day at a Time
Every episode of One Day at a Time ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of One Day at a Time!
In a reimagining of the TV classic, a newly single Latina mother raises her teen daughter and tween son with the "help" of her old-school mom.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "One Day at a Time" is "Quinces", rated 9.1/10 from 655 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Quinces" aired on 1/6/2017 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Hello, Penelope".
9.1/10 655 votes#1 - Quinces
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/6/2017
Everyone pitches in to prepare for Elena's quinceañera. While rehearsing their father-daughter dance, Elena reveals a truth about herself to her dad.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
9.1/10 512 votes#2 - Hello, Penelope
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 1/26/2018
Feeling like she's finally got her life together, Penelope unwisely stops taking her antidepressants so she doesn't have to tell Max she's on them.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: Michelle Badillo, Caroline Levich
9.1/10 528 votes#3 - Not Yet
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2018
A medical emergency brings bedside visits, admissions of regret, moments of realization, declarations of love and and out-of-body experience.
Director: Pamela Fryman
Writer: Gloria Calderón Kellett, Mike Rowe
8.9/10 362 votes#4 - Drinking and Driving
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 2/8/2019
After putting Alex in a difficult position, Schneider gets tough love from Penelope. Dr. B consults Lydia's bouquet list for "non-iversary" gift ideas.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.8/10 534 votes#5 - Sex Talk
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/6/2017
When Penelope finds porn on Alex's laptop, she struggles to talk to him about sex, but their reluctant conversation leads to a surprising discovery.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.8/10 375 votes#6 - Ghosts
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2019
At her ex's wedding, Penelope experiences a surreal conversation. Elena finds she has more she needs to say to her father. Dr. B gives Lydia her gift.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.8/10 195 votes#7 - Boundaries
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 4/7/2020
After Alex catches Penelope in a compromising position, Penelope is motivated to talk to Alex about healthy human sexuality, while defending herself against Lydia's old-school judgments.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A
8.6/10 408 votes#8 - Locked Down
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 1/26/2018
Penelope's furtive date at home with Max is interrupted when a neighborhood lockdown brings the rest of the family back early.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit
8.6/10 505 votes#9 - The Funeral
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 2/8/2019
At a relative's funeral, Penelope urges Lydia to end a petty feud with her sister, and Elena wonders if her cousin Pilar is gay.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A
8.6/10 386 votes#10 - The First Time
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 2/8/2019
Penelope finds out Elena and Syd secretly got a hotel room. A grounded Alex enlists Lydia to stand in line to buy him the latest designer sneakers.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A
8.6/10 376 votes#11 - Anxiety
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 2/8/2019
When Penelope has anxiety attacks, her support group helps her figure out what's triggering her, how to cope and why she's not telling her kids.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.5/10 349 votes#12 - The Man
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 2/8/2019
Schneider makes a big decision in order to please his visiting father -- at the expense of Penelope's family. Lydia finds Alex's confiscated pot.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10 511 votes#13 - One Lie at a Time
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/6/2017
Penelope tells her family she has a date and Lydia says she's going to church, but each secretly goes elsewhere. Meanwhile, Elena tests an attraction.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A
8.4/10 472 votes#14 - Pride & Prejudice
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2017
Although she wants to be accepting and open-minded, Penelope feels weird about Elena's revelation. Seeking advice, she makes an unexpected connection.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10 457 votes#15 - The Turn
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 1/26/2018
Penelope worries about changes she sees in Alex, who gets into trouble at school. Elena wonders if others are misidentifying her based on her appearance.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10 410 votes#16 - What Happened
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 1/26/2018
Penelope recalls Elena's birth in 2001, and how an unexpected turn of events drastically changed the life plans she and her husband had made.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: Sebastian Jones, Andy Roth
8.4/10 353 votes#17 - Citizen Lydia
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/26/2018
Lydia and Schneider take their U.S. citizenship tests. Penelope wonders if she'd be willing to have another child to fulfill Max's wish to be a dad.
Director: Gloria Calderón Kellett
Writer: Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Dan Signer
8.4/10 143 votes#18 - Supermoon
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 4/28/2020
When a supermoon appears in the night sky, all the Alvarezes and their significant others discover an elaborate romantic setting fit for a marriage proposal.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 486 votes#19 - Strays
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 1/6/2017
Lydia grows suspicious of Elena and Carmen's intense relationship. Penelope later discovers that the inseparable friends are keeping a big secret.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 484 votes#20 - Viva Cuba
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1/6/2017
Elena gets a congratulatory letter that leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. For a school project, Alex interviews Lydia, who reveals a family secret.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 412 votes#21 - To Zir, With Love
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 1/26/2018
Lydia gives Elena advice on approaching her crush. After running into a hunky Army buddy who's also single, Penelope rethinks her dating rules.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: Sebastian Jones
8.3/10 356 votes#22 - Homecoming
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/26/2018
At the kids' school dance, Elena tries to appear popular in front of Syd, and chaperones Penelope and Max reach a milestone in their relationship.
Director: Pamela Fryman
Writer: Michelle Badillo, Debby Wolfe, Caroline Levich
8.3/10 429 votes#23 - Outside
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 2/8/2019
When Penelope discovers Alex's secret Instagram account, his crass posts spark an intense family discussion about consent and harassment.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 372 votes#24 - One Valentine's Day at a Time
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 2/8/2019
Rain ruins Valentine's Day plans, causing more than one couple to have their first fight. Schneider tries to hide his wealthy background from Avery.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit
8.3/10 329 votes#25 - A Penny and a Nicole
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 2/8/2019
When her ex-husband introduces the family to his new girlfriend, Penelope feels unexpectedly resentful and comes to a realization about Mateo.
Director: Phill Lewis
Writer: N/A