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The Best Episodes of Portlandia Season 2

Every episode of Portlandia Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Portlandia Season 2!

Binge this in 4h 11m•Peaking at 8.5/10

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
    Portlandia Season 2 Episode 1 - Mixology
    7.5/10(340 votes)

    #1 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  2. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 2 - One Moore Episode
    8.5/10(431 votes)

    #2 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  3. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 3 - Cool Wedding
    7.5/10(283 votes)

    #3 - Cool Wedding

    S2:E3

    Militant bike messenger Spyke and his fiancée Iris strive for non-conformity in their upcoming nuptials; Carrie drops her beloved iPhone, and her life flashes before her eyes; Two overly-polite drivers come to a standstill at an intersection when neither wants to be the first to go; A grocery shopper (Jack McBrayer) finds scorn when he forgets his reusable shopping bag; A bestselling author (Shoreh Agadashloo) visits the feminist bookstore to do a book-reading.

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

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  4. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 4 - Grover
    7.3/10(268 votes)

    #4 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  5. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 5 - Cops Redesign
    7.5/10(272 votes)

    #5 - Cops Redesign

    S2:E5

    Nostalgia-loving Jason returns to LA from Portland and informs Melanie of another Portland throwback trend; the Mayor of Portland tasks Fred and Carrie with redesigning the Portland Police Department's uniforms and image; an excited donor donates his old music LPs to an elite preschool, but protective parents Brendan and Michelle question his sonic sensibilities; a team of salespeople at Bad Art Good Walls specialize in supplying new coffee shops with horrible art.

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

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  6. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 6 - Cat Nap
    7.7/10(289 votes)

    #6 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  7. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 7 - Motorcycle
    7.4/10(253 votes)

    #7 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  8. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 8 - Feminist Bookstore 10th Anniversary
    7.3/10(244 votes)

    #8 - Feminist Bookstore 10th Anniversary

    S2:E8

    "Sanitation Twins" Marcus and Madeline Harris take separating trash to a whole new level; Portland's feminist bookstore "Women & Women First" commemorates its 10th anniversary, but the celebrations are cut short (with Penny Marshall and LaMarcus Aldridge); Uptight couple, Kath and Dave decide to go for a hike but get sidetracked as they prepare for every possible scenario; Peter and Nance go to their first Portland Timbers game and design a sign to root for the team; A risk-averse dance instructor ensures there is no chance of him being sued.

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

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  9. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 9 - No Olympics
    7.3/10(259 votes)

    #9 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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  10. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 10 - Brunch Village
    7.9/10(289 votes)

    #10 - 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:Carrie Brownstein, Bill Oakley, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto

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Season 2 Ratings Summary

"Mixology" is the best rated episode of "Portlandia" season 2. It scored 7.5/10 based on 340 votes. Directed by Jonathan Krisel and written by Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto, it aired on 1/6/2012. This episode is rated 1.0 points higher than the second-best, "One Moore Episode".