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The Best Episodes of Queer as Folk Season 1

Every episode of Queer as Folk Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Queer as Folk Season 1!

Binge this in 17h 56m•Peaking at 9.3/10

Brash humor and genuine emotion make up this original series revolving around the lives, loves, ambitions, careers and friendships of a group of gay men and women living on Liberty Avenue in contemporary Pittsburgh, PA.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 22 - Full Circle
    9.3/10(528 votes)

    S1:E22

    Brian turns 30; Michael and David prepare for their move to Portland; Ted faces the truth about Blake; Justin and Daphne attend their prom where a big surprise awaits; On his way to the airport, Michael receives a call from Brian.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman

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  2. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 11 - Surprise!
    8.8/10(344 votes)

    S1:E11

    Michael ends the relationship with Dr. David; Ted and Emmett get tested for AIDS; Brian throws Michael a surprise 30th birthday party and outs Michael to his co-worker; Emmett makes a pact with God.

    Director:Michael DeCarlo
    Writers:Jason Schafer, Jonathan Tolins

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  3. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 20 - The King of Babylon
    8.7/10(352 votes)

    S1:E20

    Who will be crowned King of Babylon? An innocent trip to the mall lands Vic in jail; Brian is beaten at his own game.

    Director:Russell Mulcahy
    Writers:Jason Schafer, Jonathan Tolins

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  4. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 7 - Smells Like Codependence
    8.6/10(360 votes)

    S1:E7

    Debbie meets Dr. David; Michael and Dr. David spend a weekend in the country; Justin's father learns the truth and decides to send Justin away to school; Brian's emotional hold on Michael and dislike for Dr. David intensifies.

    Director:David Wellington
    Writers:Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman

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  5. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 8 - Babylon Boomerang
    8.6/10(366 votes)

    S1:E8

    Justin's father attacks Brian outside Babylon; Michael gets a promotion at work; Justin moves in with Brian.

    Director:Steve DiMarco
    Writer:Richard Kramer

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  6. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 1 - Premiere
    8.5/10(667 votes)

    S1:E1

    After a night out at the club Babylon with Michael, Emmett and Ted; Brian picks up a cute guy named Justin for a night of fun, but afterwards coldly rebuffs Justin's attempts to see him again. Michael also gets lucky taking home a hunk only to be happily interrupted for a trip to the hospital after Brian learns that Lindsay and Melanie have had a baby boy, Gus.

    Director:Russell Mulcahy
    Writers:Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman

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  7. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 9 - Daddy Dearest (Sonny Boy)
    8.5/10(347 votes)

    S1:E9

    Michael decides to break up with Dr. David, who surprises Michael by asking him to move in with him; Lindsay and Melanie ask Brian to relinquish his parental rights to Gus; Emmett becomes addicted to cyber-sex.

    Director:John Greyson
    Writers:Jason Schafer, Jonathan Tolins

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  8. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 14 - A Change of Heart
    8.5/10(320 votes)

    S1:E14

    Brian is named in the sexual harassment suit and turns to Melanie for legal advice; Emmett starts dating a woman in his continuing attempt to go straight; Michael lies to David about seeing Brian.

    Director:Michael DeCarlo
    Writer:Doug Guinan

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  9. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 5 - Now Approaching... the Line
    8.4/10(374 votes)

    S1:E5

    Michael fends off the romantic interest of a female coworker who doesn't know he's gay and instead dates a handsome chiropractor, while Brian is propositioned by a potentially lucrative client of his firm. Meanwhile, Justin struggles to repair his fractured relationship with his mother Jennifer.

    Director:Kari Skogland
    Writer:Jason Schafer

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  10. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 6 - The Art of Desperation
    8.4/10(355 votes)

    S1:E6

    Michael's new chiropractor boyfriend gets into a tug of war with Brian over Michael, as Ted recovers from his O.D. by dating Roger, a stable but overweight chorus director. Also, Justin meets Lindsay, who is impressed with his artwork.

    Director:Kari Skogland
    Writer:Jonathan Tolins

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  11. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 10 - Queens of the Road
    8.4/10(340 votes)

    S1:E10

    Dr. David pressures Michael to move in with him; Brian's loft is burglarized; Justin runs away to New York City; Lindsay and Melanie begin to drift apart.

    Director:John L'Ecuyer
    Writer:Doug Guinan

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  12. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 15 - The Ties That Bind
    8.4/10(310 votes)

    S1:E15

    Lindsay leaves Gus in Brian's care on the weekend of the Leather Ball. Michael is nervous about meeting David's son. Ted takes a walk on the wild side. Brian comes out to his father after he learns that Jack has cancer.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writer:Garth Wingfield

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  13. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 18 - Surprise Kill
    8.4/10(293 votes)

    S1:E18

    Brian discovers David at the baths; Justin finds out his parents are getting a divorce; Ted reconnects with Blake; a hunk from Babylon hits on Michael.

    Director:Russell Mulcahy
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 19 - Good Grief!
    8.4/10(310 votes)

    S1:E19

    In the throes of a hot session Brian gets upsetting news; Daphne asks Justin to be her first time; Ted wants Blake, despite his crystal meth addiction.

    Director:David Wellington
    Writer:Garth Wingfield

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  15. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 21 - Running to Stand Still
    8.4/10(303 votes)

    S1:E21

    Brian is chosen 'Ad person of the Year' and encouraged to take his talent to the Big Apple; Vic appears in court to plead his case; Blake gets a job; David's ex-wife's divorce takes him to Portland.

    Director:Michael DeCarlo
    Writer:Garth Wingfield

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  16. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 3 - No Bris, No Shirt, No Service
    8.3/10(410 votes)

    S1:E3

    Lindsay and Melanie have a bris for their new baby Gus, which Brian decides to miss until Michael convinces him otherwise. Brian decides to crash the party and put his parental foot down. Justin seeking to regain the attention of Brian decides to make himself noticed at Babylon. Meanwhile, Brian's involvement as the father of Gus causes some relationship strain between Lindsay and Melanie. Michael attempting to continue his straight act, runs into a co-worker in front of the gay bars. Also, Ted finally gets lucky with a guy who he's been denying the advances of all night, but ends up with devastating results.

    Director:Russell Mulcahy
    Writers:Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman

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  17. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 4 - Ted's Not Dead
    8.3/10(376 votes)

    S1:E4

    While Ted lies in a drug-induced coma, Brian learns he's named the executor of his friend's living will. Also, Justin's mother suspects the truth about her son's sexuality and Michael and Emmett try to remove incriminating evidence from Ted's apartment but discover Ted's longtime crush on Michael.

    Director:Kevin Inch
    Writer:Richard Kramer

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  18. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 12 - Move It or Lose It
    8.3/10(323 votes)

    S1:E12

    Michael and Dr. David enjoy their new-found domestic bliss; Emmett joins a "conversion therapy" group; Lindsay and Melanie continue to fight about Brian, finances and their future; Ted becomes very sexually active.

    Director:John Greyson
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 16 - French Fried
    8.3/10(304 votes)

    S1:E16

    Michael and Dr. David disagree about finances; a strange Frenchman moves in with Lindsay and Gus causing a stir; Justin is suspended from school.

    Director:Jeremy Podeswa
    Writer:Jason Schafer

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  20. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 17 - Solution (How TLFKAM Got Her Name Back)
    8.3/10(311 votes)

    S1:E17

    David and Michael host a high-society fundraiser, but Michael excludes the gang; Lindsay and Guillaume prepare for the big day; Justin continues to be harassed at school.

    Director:Michael DeCarlo
    Writer:Jonathan Tolins

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  21. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 2 - Queer, There and Everywhere
    8.2/10(276 votes)

    S1:E2

    Michael stays in the closet at work, which causes some problems with an interested co-worker while at the same time he struggles with feelings of jealousy over Brian's relationship with Justin.

    Director:Russell Mulcahy
    Writers:Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman

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  22. Queer as Folk Season 1 Episode 13 - Very Stupid People
    8.2/10(314 votes)

    S1:E13

    Brian sleeps with a co-worker who then files a complaint against him; Emmett continues to try to go straight; Melanie finds solace from Lindsay in the arms of another woman.

    Director:Ron Oliver
    Writer:Drew Z. Greenberg

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Full Circle" is the best rated episode of "Queer as Folk" season 1. It scored 9.3/10 based on 528 votes. Directed by Alex Chapple and written by Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman, it aired on 6/24/2001. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Surprise!".