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The Best Episodes of Perfect Strangers

Every episode of Perfect Strangers ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Perfect Strangers!

Binge this in 2d 10h•Peaking at 8.7/10

The chronicles of the rocky coexistence of midwestern American Larry Appleton and his distant cousin from eastern Mediterranean Europe, Balki Bartokomous.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 17 - Pipe Dreams
    8.7/10(107 votes)

    #1 - Pipe Dreams

    S3:E17

    Jennifer asks Larry if he can call a plumber for her to fix her shower head while she's away. Larry decides that to impress her he'll fix it himself and as Larry and Balki try and put everything together, things go extremely wrong and they end up flooding Jennifer and Mary Anne's bathroom.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 2 - Hunks Like Us
    8.6/10(141 votes)

    #2 - Hunks Like Us

    S2:E2

    Larry decides to join a health club after having the hots for a member named Jennifer. But he thinks she's only interested in jocks and pretends to be one. Balki goes with him and picks up a woman right away who happens to be Jennifer's best friend Mary Anne.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 15 - The Pen Pal
    8.6/10(98 votes)

    #3 - The Pen Pal

    S3:E15

    Vince Lucas the racketeer that Larry and Balki testified against has been paroled and Balki invites him into their apartment after writing to him ever since he went to prison. Even though he threatened them, Balki trusts him but Larry's too scared.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Perfect Strangers Season 4 Episode 9 - The Gift of the Mypiot
    8.5/10(87 votes)

    #4 - The Gift of the Mypiot

    S4:E9

    On Christmas Eve, Larry and Balki throw a Christmas party at their apartment for all their friends. But when Balki realizes that Mr. Gorpley is lonely, he invites him who causes a lot of trouble with snide attitude and everyone wants to throw him out. But Balki insists on spreading a little Christmas cheer his way too.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Perfect Strangers Season 4 Episode 20 - Seven Card Studs
    8.5/10(73 votes)

    #5 - Seven Card Studs

    S4:E20

    Balki loses $100 at Mr. Gorpley's poker game so Larry insists on playing at his next game to win back Balki's money and then some. Larry tells Balki that he is a great poker player but he loses every hand to Mr. Gorpley.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Perfect Strangers Season 6 Episode 17 - Speak Memory
    8.5/10(71 votes)

    #6 - Speak Memory

    S6:E17

    Jennifer's mother comes to town and wants to meet Larry, and Jennifer doesn't think that her mother will approve of her marrying him. Later on, Larry falls down the stairs at the Chronicle and gets amnesia which lasts through the dinner where Larry meets Mrs. Lyons.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Perfect Strangers

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  7. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 11 - A Christmas Story
    8.4/10(142 votes)

    #7 - A Christmas Story

    S2:E11

    Larry and Balki are snowed in Chicago on Christmas Eve which means they can't go to Madison to see Larry's family. So Larry is miserable until Balki spreads some Christmas cheer his way.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 8 - Karate Kids
    8.4/10(91 votes)

    #8 - Karate Kids

    S3:E8

    While at a happy hour restaurant, Larry and Balki get beaten up at a bar by a bully who hit on Jennifer. So they decide to take karate and after several weeks of fine training, Larry insists on returning to the bar to pick a fight with the bully.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 21 - My Brother, Myself
    8.4/10(83 votes)

    #9 - My Brother, Myself

    S3:E21

    Larry's successful brother Billy (Ted McGinley) comes down for a visit, and Larry is upset because he brags about his success. So he tricks Balki into lying to Billy to make him think Larry is more successful.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Perfect Strangers Season 4 Episode 16 - The 'King' and I
    8.4/10(89 votes)

    #10 - The 'King' and I

    S4:E16

    Larry and Balki throw a '50s party and invite their friends. Lydia brings her date Lamont, a hypnotist. After demonstrating hypnosis, he accidentally hypnotizes Balki into thinking he's Elvis which carries on through their tax audit the next day.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Perfect Strangers Season 5 Episode 24 - Digging Up the News
    8.4/10(68 votes)

    #11 - Digging Up the News

    S5:E24

    Larry is assigned to interview Uncle Shaggy, a kid's show host and when he gets Balki to take a picture of him without his costume, the get Uncle Shaggy fired after someone discovered that he has a criminal record for something he did along time ago. But Larry swears he will make it up to him.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Barry O'Brien

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  12. Perfect Strangers Season 1 Episode 6 - Happy Birthday, Baby
    8.3/10(126 votes)

    #12 - Happy Birthday, Baby

    S1:E6

    Larry is miserable on his 24th birthday after he blew a photo opportunity. So Balki tries to throw him a last minute surprise birthday party for him to cheer him up.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 16 - Tux for Two
    8.3/10(99 votes)

    #13 - Tux for Two

    S2:E16

    Larry has been invited to a formal party for a photographer he idolizes but Balki's honest opinions embarrass Larry.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 5 - Better Shop Around
    8.3/10(84 votes)

    #14 - Better Shop Around

    S3:E5

    While grocery shopping, Balki wins a shopping spree to happen the next day and he thinks it would be fun. But Lary makes a plan to get certain things to sell for an air conditioner which takes all the fun out of it.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Bob Keyes

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  15. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 7 - The Horn Blows at Midnight
    8.3/10(94 votes)

    #15 - The Horn Blows at Midnight

    S3:E7

    When a famous psychic visits the Chronicle, She goes into a trance and predicts that a bog storm will come and Larry will die at midnight after sitting on a sheep and eating a golden ring. Larry thinks that it is just superstition until a storm comes out of nowhere.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 11 - Couch Potato
    8.3/10(84 votes)

    #16 - Couch Potato

    S3:E11

    When Larry and Balki get cable TV, Balki becomes glued to the TV and won't stop watching it to the point where he forgets about his job, sleep, and never goes out anymore. So Larry must make an important decision of getting rid of the cable.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 14 - My Lips Are Sealed
    8.3/10(80 votes)

    #17 - My Lips Are Sealed

    S3:E14

    After Mr. Gorpley gets information out of Balki about what's in the mail, Larry tells him that it's against the rules for him to give away what's in the mail. But in order to buy his dream car, he needs to know about his raise that was processed in the mail.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Perfect Strangers Season 3 Episode 16 - Just Desserts
    8.3/10(94 votes)

    #18 - Just Desserts

    S3:E16

    After Balki serves Larry, Jennifer, and Mary Anne some "Bibbi Babkas" (Myposian cream puffs), Larry suggests selling them but baking them cannot be rushed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Perfect Strangers Season 4 Episode 15 - Blind Alley
    8.3/10(76 votes)

    #19 - Blind Alley

    S4:E15

    Larry's bowling team is one game away from winning the trophy that Mr. Gorpley has been waving in Larry's face for the last year. But Calvin, the star player has been sent out of town by his boss - Mr. Gorpley of course. Balki tries bowling for the first time and had an excellent score so he becomes the substitute, but his trip to the ophthalmologist before the tournament may make playing difficult.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Perfect Strangers Season 1 Episode 4 - Baby, You Can Drive My Car
    8.2/10(130 votes)

    #20 - Baby, You Can Drive My Car

    S1:E4

    Balki wants to get his driver's license but Mr. Twinkacetti doesn't think he can do it. But Larry is so confident that he can, that he bets $50 and offers Balki his car.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 6 - Babes in Babylon
    8.2/10(111 votes)

    #21 - Babes in Babylon

    S2:E6

    Larry and Balki win a trip to Las Vegas. When they get there, Larry plans out what to do for their entire trip to prevent Balki from going to the casinos and becoming a compulsive gambler. Balki eventually talks him into it and after Balki has a string of good luck playing roulette, Larry starts playing and won't stop.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 12 - Dog Gone Blues
    8.2/10(98 votes)

    #22 - Dog Gone Blues

    S2:E12

    Balki got a dog and wants to keep it even though it is against the lease. So Larry and Balki do their best to hide it from Twinkacetti.

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 18 - Snow Way to Treat a Lady (1)
    8.2/10(105 votes)

    #23 - Snow Way to Treat a Lady (1)

    S2:E18

    Jennifer and Mary Anne are going skiing and invite Larry and Balki. Larry thinks he can impress Jennifer by being an expert skier without much luck. So he decides to fake an injury to get sympathy from Jennifer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 19 - Snow Way to Treat a Lady (2)
    8.2/10(104 votes)

    #24 - Snow Way to Treat a Lady (2)

    S2:E19

    The quartet are trapped in a cabin buried alive by an avalanche and they try to dig a tunnel to the outside world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 20 - Up on a Roof
    8.2/10(96 votes)

    #25 - Up on a Roof

    S2:E20

    Larry enters a photo contest and has the idea of a perfect picture. But to take it, he and Balki have to go up on a roof and shoot it before a storm comes in.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Pipe Dreams" is the best rated episode of "Perfect Strangers". It scored 8.7/10 based on 107 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/10/1988. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hunks Like Us".