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The Best Episodes of Portlandia

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

Binge this in 1d 4h•Peaking at 10.0/10

Satirical sketch comedy set and filmed in Portland, Oregon that explores the eccentric misfits who embody the foibles of modern culture.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Portlandia Season 5 Episode 5 - 4th of July
    10.0/10(163 votes)

    #1 - 4th of July

    S5:E5

    Kath and Dave attempt the ultimate Independence Day BBQ. The Mayor and Sam search the deep web for truly spectacular fireworks.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  2. Portlandia Season 5 Episode 7 - Doug Becomes a Feminist
    9.5/10(164 votes)

    #2 - Doug Becomes a Feminist

    S5:E7

    Doug discovers that he is a male feminist. Sandra takes a rideshare for the first time.

    Director:Daniel Gray Longino
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  3. Portlandia Season 5 Episode 10 - Dead Pets
    9.0/10(142 votes)

    #3 - Dead Pets

    S5:E10

    Police begin profiling weirdos after arsonists burn down a taxidermy shop.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  4. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 1 - Winter in Portlandia
    8.8/10(267 votes)

    #4 - Winter in Portlandia

    S3:E1

    It's wintertime in Portlandia and Peter and Nance struggle to keep off winter weight by cutting pasta from their diets; Candace's son visits Women and Women First bookstore for the holidays; a couple tries to keep their food cart in business.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  5. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 2 - Take Back MTV
    8.8/10(234 votes)

    #5 - Take Back MTV

    S3:E2

    Spyke and Iris join forces with a gang of former MTV stars to take back MTV from the Tweens; a group of frustrated college grads stage a protest on the dance floor; Sandra has a crush on a mysterious man in her meditation class.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  6. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 5 - Squiggleman
    8.8/10(235 votes)

    #6 - Squiggleman

    S3:E5

    Concerned parents Brendan and Michelle start a band that makes kids music; The Portland Nerd Council issues a Public Service Announcement; Malcom and Kris have an uncomfortable lunch at a vegan restaurant. The Feminist Bookstore hosts a comedy night.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Portlandia

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  7. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 6 - Off the Grid
    8.7/10(204 votes)

    #7 - Off the Grid

    S3:E6

    Following an environmental scandal, The Mayor steps down from office and moves off the grid; a dolphin discovers that plastic bags have been banned in Portland; musicians compete in a Battle of the Gentle Bands.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  8. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 8 - Soft Opening
    8.7/10(200 votes)

    #8 - Soft Opening

    S3:E8

    Peter and Nance practice hosting friends at the soft opening of their bed and breakfast; a magazine features a local furniture maker in their Man Issue; steampunks attend a convention; Fred takes a love interest on a bold third date.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  9. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 10 - Brunch Village
    8.6/10(283 votes)

    #9 - Brunch Village

    S2:E10

    New brunch hotspot Fisherman’s Porch gets a write-up in the local paper, prompting Peter and Nance to give it a try – only to find hundreds of others had the same idea. Portland’s Mayor (Kyle MacLachlan) offers to take Fred and Carrie to brunch, but when the bridge is blocked he is forced to find alternate routes. Feminist bookstore owners Toni and Candace take physical measures to remove unwanted pedestrians in line for brunch in front of their store. Nance has Peter hold her spot while she gets her jacket, only to return to accusations that she is cutting the line. Two bouncers escort her to a crazed man (Tim Robbins) who metes out punishment for line cutters – and it is up to Peter to save her.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley, Karey Dornetto

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  10. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 2 - One Moore Episode
    8.5/10(425 votes)

    #10 - One Moore Episode

    S2:E2

    Doug and Claire become a bit obsessed with "Battlestar Galactica" and it begins to take over their lives.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  11. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 3 - Missionaries
    8.5/10(208 votes)

    #11 - Missionaries

    S3:E3

    The Mayor sends Fred and Carrie on a door-to-door mission in Seattle to recruit new citizens for Portland. A pedicab driver hustles for clients. Peter and Nance prepare for the opening of their Bed and Breakfast with a visit to The Doily Shoppe. Doug and Claire spoil television shows for friends at a dinner party. Toni and Candace investigate a bad Yelp review of "Women and Women First."

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  12. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 4 - Nina's Birthday
    8.5/10(234 votes)

    #12 - Nina's Birthday

    S3:E4

    The Mayor sends Fred and Carrie on a door-to-door mission to Seattle to recruit new citizens for Portland; pedicab driver hustles for clients; Peter and Nance prepare for the opening of their Bed and Breakfast with a visit to The Doily Shoppe.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  13. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 6 - Cat Nap
    8.4/10(287 votes)

    #13 - Cat Nap

    S2:E6

    In a boutique clothing store “Two Girls Two Shirts,” the owners (with Miranda July) are momentarily tempted by the idea of having customers; A struggling band finds itself with an all too enthusiastic fan (Kristin Wiig); Jayde from “jayde speaks Sevyn” and director Gahvin Quin make a video plea to help raise money in the name of art. When an innovative intern (Amber Tamblyn) suggests improvements at the feminist bookstore, shopkeepers Toni and Candace defend their way of doing business; Carrie’s sister begins making jewelry, prompting Fred to consider a new way to make a living; A houseowner’s move takes longer than she expects when she accidentally hires an eco-friendly moving crew.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  14. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 1 - Mixology
    8.3/10(336 votes)

    #14 - Mixology

    S2:E1

    Local artisan curators Lisa and Bryce realize that they can pickle everything; Fred helps Carrie chase a romantic mixologist (Andy Samberg) who forgets his roots when he moves from Portland to LA; Fred and Carrie stop to eat at a theme restaurant with a difficult waiter (Kumail Nanjiani); Kath and Dave's emergency signals are tested when they go river rafting; Feminist shopkeepers Toni and Candice teach an A/C repairman about the "phallus" and "opposite of a phallus" inside all of us.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  15. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 4 - Grover
    8.3/10(265 votes)

    #15 - Grover

    S2:E4

    Michelle and Brendan pull out all the stops to see that their son gains admittance to a prestigious preschool.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  16. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 7 - Motorcycle
    8.3/10(251 votes)

    #16 - Motorcycle

    S2:E7

    An idyllic music gathering becomes tense when they face the logistics of loading a harp into a sedan (with Joanna Newsom); A middle-aged couple attempts to reclaim the ideals of being young, rebellious and sexy by getting motorcycles; Second-hand clothing store workers scrutinize a woman’s fashion sense when she attempts to sell her used clothes; Nina attempts to convince her boyfriend Lance to join Facebook; Claire goes out for an evening and gets a sitter for her husband, Doug.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  17. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 9 - No Olympics
    8.3/10(256 votes)

    #17 - No Olympics

    S2:E9

    A crying infant’s father escalates his attempts to soothe his thrill-seeking baby; Fred and Carrie get the Mayor of Portland’s (Kyle MacLachlan) blessing to create a grassroots campaign to prevent the Olympics from ever coming to Portland; A creative canoe dancer turns what seems to be a mistake in his routine into a triumphal finish; A pair of bike valets have trouble finding a disgruntled customer’s (Johnny Marr) bike.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto

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  18. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 7 - The Temp
    8.3/10(195 votes)

    #18 - The Temp

    S3:E7

    A temp worker hopes to turn her stint as Interim Mayor of Portland into a full-time job with Fred and Carrie's help; a wedding is interrupted; local baristas draft a coffee shop manifesto; Kath and Dave struggle to find a table at a restaurant.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  19. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 5 - Spyke Drives
    8.3/10(170 votes)

    #19 - Spyke Drives

    S4:E5

    Nance is driven to the emergency room; Ghavin questions a singer; Fred and Carrie have a garage sale; dinner guests are held hostage.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  20. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 11 - Blackout
    8.2/10(211 votes)

    #20 - Blackout

    S3:E11

    Electricity is shut off for the entire City of Portland due to unpaid bills at the Mayor's Office. Peter and Nance have a mysterious guest at their bed and breakfast. Kath and Dave go into survival mode. Fred and Carrie team up to find Mr. Mayor and restore power to the city.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Bill Oakley

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  21. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 7 - Trail Blazers
    8.2/10(174 votes)

    #21 - Trail Blazers

    S4:E7

    Joaquin makes a smoothie. Kickstarter videos compete at the Cant’s Film. Sandra visits a tattoo removal parlor. Malcolm and Kris make their own clothing. Toni and Candace coach the Portland Trail Blazers’ dance team. Guest starring Gus Van Sant, Paul Allen and The Portland Trail Blazers.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  22. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 8 - Late in Life Drug Use
    8.2/10(170 votes)

    #22 - Late in Life Drug Use

    S4:E8

    Mr. Mayor plans a Pride Parade. Brendan and Michelle decide it’s finally time to try recreational drugs. The Punslingers name some new businesses. Carrie’s brother comes to visit with his new boyfriend. The cops visit Toni and Candace. Spyke and Iris have dinner at a suspiciously bad Thai restaurant. Guest starring Kyle MacLachlan, Dan Savage and Josh Homme.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  23. Portlandia Season 5 Episode 1 - The Story of Toni and Candace
    8.2/10(241 votes)

    #23 - The Story of Toni and Candace

    S5:E1

    In 1991, a merger between two corporate book retailers pits young, sexy, shoulder-pad wearing Toni and Candace against one another in fierce competition to oversee the Chick Lit Department.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  24. Portlandia Season 5 Episode 3 - Healthcare
    8.2/10(167 votes)

    #24 - Healthcare

    S5:E3

    A series of health ailments create a desperate search for medical solutions.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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  25. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 1 - Sharing Finances
    8.1/10(212 votes)

    #25 - Sharing Finances

    S4:E1

    A young woman is haunted by very smart ghosts; Doug and Claire make a big commitment to one another; Kath and Dave make the most of fifteen minutes; Sandra finally finds a soul mate; Fred is visited by a Date Fact Checker.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner

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Best Episodes Summary

"4th of July" is the best rated episode of "Portlandia". It scored 10/10 based on 163 votes. Directed by Jonathan Krisel and written by Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner, it aired on 2/5/2015. This episode scored 0.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "Doug Becomes a Feminist".