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The Worst Episodes of Portlandia

Every episode of Portlandia ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Portlandia!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Portlandia Season 1 Episode 5 - Blunderbuss
    6.7/10(357 votes)

    S1:E5

    All of Portlandia is swept up in the excitement of a new music and film festival.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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  2. Portlandia Season 1 Episode 6 - Baseball
    7.0/10(327 votes)

    S1:E6

    The Mayor turns to Fred and Carrie to help him put together a big league baseball team.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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  3. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 10 - No-Fo-O-Fo-Bridge
    7.2/10(187 votes)

    S3:E10

    The Rats decide to move out of their newly-gentrified neighborhood; first-time parents read various child-rearing books; Gahvin and his girlfriend go to the movies; Carrie and Alexandra have dinner at a communal table.

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

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  4. Portlandia Season 1 Episode 2 - A Song for Portland
    7.3/10(468 votes)

    S1:E2

    Fred and Carrie meet the Mayor of Portland who gives them a special assignment.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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  5. Portlandia Season 1 Episode 3 - Aimee
    7.3/10(421 votes)

    S1:E3

    Fred and Carrie discover that their maid is none other than their favorite singer-songwriter Aimee Mann. They also find that their new gardner is none other than singer songwriter Sara McLaughlin.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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

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

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

    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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  9. Portlandia Season 6 Episode 9 - Lance Is Smart
    7.3/10(134 votes)

    S6:E9

    Lance gets glasses and joins an intellectual crowd. Nina hires a tutor to help her win over Lance's new friends.

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

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

    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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  11. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 6 - Bahama Knights
    7.4/10(188 votes)

    S4:E6

    Fred has an idea for a music documentary. Peter is reunited with his old band, The Bahama Knights, and his ex-wife is lead singer. Trudy and Craig produce a song. Carrie and Fred go home after a concert. Guest starring Maya Rudolph, Tuck & Patti and Jeff Tweedy.

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

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  12. Portlandia Season 5 Episode 2 - The Fiancée
    7.4/10(191 votes)

    S5:E2

    A visit from Lance’s Mom and her new boyfriend puts pressure on Lance and Nina’s relationship.

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

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  13. Portlandia Season 6 Episode 2 - Going Gray
    7.4/10(152 votes)

    S6:E2

    Fred wakes up with gray hair and sets out on a journey to figure out how old he is; the Mayor reminds Carrie about an arrangement they made.

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

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  14. Portlandia Season 6 Episode 10 - Noodle Monster
    7.4/10(128 votes)

    S6:E10

    A tsukemen ramen monster is on the loose in Portland. The mayor tries to impress a major brand visiting Portland and enlists Fred and Carrie to help.

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

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  15. Portlandia Season 7 Episode 10 - Misunderstood Miracles
    7.4/10(104 votes)

    S7:E10

    Sandra teaches a pit bull self-control. Fred and Carrie attempt protesting for cyclist rights. Lisa and Bryce sell instant garbage. A couple explains alcohol to their adult son. Fred discovers models.

    Director:Fred Armisen
    Writers:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Graham Wagner, Karen Kilgariff

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  16. Portlandia Season 8 Episode 1 - Riot Spray
    7.4/10(145 votes)

    S8:E1

    Spyke gets his old band back together. Podcasters investigate a police station. Candace brings Toni to her childhood summer home.

    Director:Carrie Brownstein
    Writers:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner, Megan Neuringer, Phoebe Robinson

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  17. Portlandia Season 8 Episode 4 - Abracadabra
    7.4/10(101 votes)

    S8:E4

    Nina & Lance tell the story of how they met. A couple uses distraction cancelling glasses. Peter & Nance look forward to breakfast.

    Director:Lance Bangs
    Writers:Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, Karey Dornetto, Graham Wagner, Megan Neuringer, Phoebe Robinson

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  18. Portlandia Season 1 Episode 1 - Farm
    7.5/10(654 votes)

    S1:E1

    A bohemian couple goes to great lengths to make sure that their restaurant order is ethical and humane.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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  19. Portlandia Season 1 Episode 4 - Mayor Is Missing
    7.5/10(378 votes)

    S1:E4

    When the Mayor goes missing, Fred and Carrie begin a frantic search for him.

    Director:Jonathan Krisel
    Writers:Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen

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  20. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 1 - Mixology
    7.5/10(341 votes)

    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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  21. Portlandia Season 2 Episode 3 - Cool Wedding
    7.5/10(285 votes)

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

    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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  23. Portlandia Season 3 Episode 7 - The Temp
    7.5/10(197 votes)

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

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  24. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 7 - Trail Blazers
    7.5/10(182 votes)

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

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  25. Portlandia Season 4 Episode 9 - 3D Printer
    7.5/10(165 votes)

    S4:E9

    A minister reminds us that church is an option. Art students makes anti-corporate paintings. Mr. Mayor unveils Portland’s official 3D printer. Santa is concerned about the future of Christmas. A TV commercial director struggles with his own creativity. Lance and Nina’s lizard dies. Guest starring Ed Begley Jr.

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

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Blunderbuss" is the worst rated episode of "Portlandia". It scored 6.7/10 based on 357 votes. Directed by Jonathan Krisel and written by Allison Silverman, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Fred Armisen, it aired on 2/18/2011. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Baseball".