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The Best Episodes of Recess

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

Binge this in 23h 50m•Peaking at 8.4/10

Join a group of six fourth-grade best friends at Third Street Elementary School on their fun-filled adventures in their school playground. Through the ups-and-downs of adolescence, they must wrestle with authority, avoid the school snitch,

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Recess Season 2 Episode 15 - Operation Stuart
    8.4/10(172 votes)

    #1 - Operation Stuart

    S2:E15

    The kids take in a really ratty stray cat that they find near the dumpster, naming it Stuart.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Katy Ballard

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  2. Recess Season 3 Episode 3 - Dodgeball City
    8.3/10(162 votes)

    #2 - Dodgeball City

    S3:E3

    The main kids discover that Gus was once a notorious dodgeball player who went by the name of El Diablo.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writers:Mark Drop, Phil Walsh, Gil Evans

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  3. Recess Season 2 Episode 7 - Gus' Last Stand
    8.1/10(143 votes)

    #3 - Gus' Last Stand

    S2:E7

    Gus winds up the new target of the school bully's wrath.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Jonathan Rosenthal

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  4. Recess Season 2 Episode 20 - Omega Kids
    8.0/10(145 votes)

    #4 - Omega Kids

    S2:E20

    The main kids wish they could have the overcrowded school to themselves, then surprisingly get their wish.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Steve Bannos

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  5. Recess Season 4 Episode 14 - The Rules
    8.0/10(115 votes)

    #5 - The Rules

    S4:E14

    The original 1935 edition of The Rules of the Playground is discovered in the library.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writers:Etan Cohen, Bart Jennett

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  6. Recess Season 1 Episode 3 - The Experiment
    7.9/10(189 votes)

    #6 - The Experiment

    S1:E3

    The kids carry out a crucial experiment to see if it's really true that kissing each other is an inevitable part of their future.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Lesa Kite

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Recess

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  7. Recess Season 1 Episode 25 - Parents' Night
    7.9/10(164 votes)

    #7 - Parents' Night

    S1:E25

    Spinelli will do anything to keep her parents from attending parents' night and meeting the others.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Holly Huckins

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  8. Recess Season 2 Episode 1 - The Break-Up
    7.9/10(148 votes)

    #8 - The Break-Up

    S2:E1

    The gang breaks up when they are forced to choose a best friend to write about.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Michael L. Kramer

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  9. Recess Season 2 Episode 4 - Outcast Ashley
    7.9/10(139 votes)

    #9 - Outcast Ashley

    S2:E4

    Ashley A. hooks up with Gretchen when she sins against the clique so gravely as to get thrown out.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Doria Biddle

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  10. Recess Season 2 Episode 8 - Operation Field Trip
    7.9/10(143 votes)

    #10 - Operation Field Trip

    S2:E8

    All the kids go on a big field trip to MISOOE (The Museum of Industry, Science, Oceanography, Oddities and Energy). But Ol' Smokey, the beloved school bus, breaks down in the middle of nowhere.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Michael L. Kramer

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  11. Recess Season 6 Episode 5 - Lost Leader
    7.9/10(117 votes)

    #11 - Lost Leader

    S6:E5

    When one of T.J.s plans goes wrong and Gus breaks his leg he won't make another plan. It's up to the others to get T.J. back to his old self

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writers:Bart Jennett, Randy Fechtor

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  12. Recess Season 2 Episode 9 - The Challenge
    7.8/10(134 votes)

    #12 - The Challenge

    S2:E9

    A visit from Principal Prickly's brother Paul leads to a challenge between 3rd Street and 98th Street kickball teams.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Jonathan Greenberg

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  13. Recess Season 2 Episode 12 - Gretchen and the Secret of Yo
    7.8/10(137 votes)

    #13 - Gretchen and the Secret of Yo

    S2:E12

    Gretchen turns to former yo-yo champ Tommy Tate to learn how to master the yo-yo.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Doria Biddle

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  14. Recess Season 2 Episode 18 - Weekend at Muriel's
    7.8/10(142 votes)

    #14 - Weekend at Muriel's

    S2:E18

    Miss Finster agrees to babysit Spinelli for the weekend while her parents are away.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writers:Michael L. Kramer, Phil Walsh

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  15. Recess Season 3 Episode 10 - Lord of the Nerds
    7.8/10(126 votes)

    #15 - Lord of the Nerds

    S3:E10

    T.J. breaks his clavicle and now has to spend recess with the ""pale kids"" in Room 51.

    Directors:Chuck Sheetz, Howy Parkins
    Writer:Ford Riley

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  16. Recess Season 3 Episode 16 - The Ratings Game
    7.8/10(129 votes)

    #16 - The Ratings Game

    S3:E16

    Everyone is segregrated once the Ashley's start giving ratings to everyone on the playground.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writers:Holly Huckins, Ilana Wernick

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  17. Recess Season 4 Episode 1 - The First Picture Show
    7.8/10(112 votes)

    #17 - The First Picture Show

    S4:E1

    Señor Fusion: the Movie finally opens and T.J. vows to be there at its first screening.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Richard Whitley

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  18. Recess Season 4 Episode 2 - The Big Prank
    7.8/10(115 votes)

    #18 - The Big Prank

    S4:E2

    The kids rope T.J. into a challenge to play a prank on King Bob before the end of the school day.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Gregg Taylor

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  19. Recess Season 4 Episode 21 - Schoolworld
    7.8/10(113 votes)

    #19 - Schoolworld

    S4:E21

    The school gets a new technology system installed called the SAL 3000 which controls everything.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writer:Scott Shelley

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  20. Recess Season 4 Episode 23 - The Dude
    7.8/10(118 votes)

    #20 - The Dude

    S4:E23

    T.J. and the gang meet Mr. Dudicoff, a student teacher who was a legend at 3rd Street School back in the day.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writer:Richard Whitley

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  21. Recess Season 4 Episode 34 - Soccer Boy
    7.8/10(110 votes)

    #21 - Soccer Boy

    S4:E34

    Mikey makes the other kids regret not letting them play on their team for the playground's soccer tourney.

    Director:Howy Parkins
    Writers:Bart Jennett, Scott Redman

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  22. Recess Season 1 Episode 21 - Rainy Days
    7.7/10(180 votes)

    #22 - Rainy Days

    S1:E21

    The kids grow increasingly frustrated when rain keeps then indoors for recess days on end.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Lane Raichert

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  23. Recess Season 2 Episode 3 - Mama's Girl
    7.7/10(136 votes)

    #23 - Mama's Girl

    S2:E3

    Spinelli gets labelled a mama's girl when she inadvertantly calls Ms. Grotke ""Mama.""

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Mark Drop

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  24. Recess Season 2 Episode 5 - The Game
    7.7/10(128 votes)

    #24 - The Game

    S2:E5

    Gus finds a tile from the game Ajimbo and soon the entire student body gets caught in its evil grasp.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Peter Gaffney

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  25. Recess Season 2 Episode 17 - The Story of Whomps
    7.7/10(151 votes)

    #25 - The Story of Whomps

    S2:E17

    Principal Prickly and Miss Finster deem T.J.'s word "whomps" as a cuss and punish him for it, starting a scandal that leads all the way to the board of education.

    Director:Chuck Sheetz
    Writer:Mark Drop

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Best Episodes Summary

"Operation Stuart" is the best rated episode of "Recess". It scored 8.4/10 based on 172 votes. Directed by Chuck Sheetz and written by Katy Ballard, it aired on 11/14/1998. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Dodgeball City".