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The Best Episodes of Spenser: For Hire Season 3

Every episode of Spenser: For Hire Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Spenser: For Hire Season 3!

Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each...
Genres:DramaCrimeMystery
Network:ABC
Episodes
21
Avg. Rating
7.6
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
7.8
7.9
8.2

Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Homecoming" is the best rated episode of "Spenser: For Hire" season 3. It scored 7.8/10 based on 47 votes. Directed by Winrich Kolbe and written by N/A, it aired on 9/27/1987. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "My Enemy, My Friend".

  • Homecoming
    7.8/10(47)

    #1 - Homecoming

    Season 3 Episode 1

    Aired 9/27/1987

    A cop who helped send a gangster's son to prison years ago has been hiding, cause the gangster wants to get him. But now he wants to come home, so he and his father, asks Spenser to act as intermediary. While the gangster is unwilling to settle for nothing less than seeing him dead. Spenser tries to see what he can do. At the same time Spenser has to deal with Susan, who came back to town, and would like to see if they have a future, but this case is taking up all of his time.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • My Enemy, My Friend
    7.9/10(49)

    #2 - My Enemy, My Friend

    Season 3 Episode 2

    Aired 10/4/1987

    A streetwise young kid gets involved over his head in the underworld. Spenser and Hawk try to protect him from would-be killers.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon

  • The Heart of the Matter
    8.2/10(40)

    #3 - The Heart of the Matter

    Season 3 Episode 3

    Aired 10/11/1987

    Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. Spenser and Hawk protect him from revenge-minded villains as he recovers.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: Norma Safford Vela

  • On the Night he Was Betrayed
    7.7/10(54)

    #4 - On the Night he Was Betrayed

    Season 3 Episode 4

    Aired 11/1/1987

    Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Sleepless Dreams
    7.7/10(35)

    #5 - Sleepless Dreams

    Season 3 Episode 5

    Aired 11/8/1987

    Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Consilum Abditum
    8.1/10(38)

    #6 - Consilum Abditum

    Season 3 Episode 6

    Aired 11/15/1987

    Susan is in trouble when her claims of sexual harassment lead her college counselor to retaliate by hiring a hit man to keep her quiet. Spenser gets arrested for getting involved in a fight.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • Thanksgiving
    7.3/10(35)

    #7 - Thanksgiving

    Season 3 Episode 7

    Aired 11/29/1987

    Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. Spenser does everything in his power to exonerate said friend when he's accused of a brutal slaying. As he uncovers more and more, Spenser begins to think it might be hard to clear the name of a guilty man.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gone Fishin'
    7.7/10(38)

    #8 - Gone Fishin'

    Season 3 Episode 8

    Aired 12/6/1987

    Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves.

    Director: Bruce Bilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Child's Play
    7.8/10(36)

    #9 - Child's Play

    Season 3 Episode 9

    Aired 12/20/1987

    A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. Spenser sets out to determine why such a tragedy happened and track down the shooter.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Skeletons in the Closet
    7.8/10(37)

    #10 - Skeletons in the Closet

    Season 3 Episode 10

    Aired 1/3/1988

    Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. Spenser is hired to retrieve a stolen journal containing information damaging to a judge's career. Hawk is hired by the thief to extort money from the judge.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Siege
    7.1/10(39)

    #11 - The Siege

    Season 3 Episode 11

    Aired 1/10/1988

    Hawk and Susan along with other people are held captive in a post office. Richard Brooks later seen on Law and Order during Season's 1 & 2 plays one of the hostage takers.

    Director: Bill Duke

    Writer: N/A

  • Arthur's Wake
    7.6/10(34)

    #12 - Arthur's Wake

    Season 3 Episode 12

    Aired 1/16/1988

    Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. In the course of his investigation, Spenser comes across disturbing information connecting Arthur with racketeering.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • To the End of the Line
    7.3/10(37)

    #13 - To the End of the Line

    Season 3 Episode 13

    Aired 1/23/1988

    When Frank's niece dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • Play it Again, Sammy
    5.9/10(43)

    #14 - Play it Again, Sammy

    Season 3 Episode 14

    Aired 1/30/1988

    Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Big Fight
    6.5/10(35)

    #15 - The Big Fight

    Season 3 Episode 15

    Aired 2/6/1988

    One of Spenser's old trainers lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. Spenser survives, then turns around and protects his trainer from the goons now after him.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • Substantial Justice
    7.6/10(35)

    #16 - Substantial Justice

    Season 3 Episode 16

    Aired 3/5/1988

    Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Company Man
    7.5/10(188)

    #17 - Company Man

    Season 3 Episode 17

    Aired 3/12/1988

    Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Watercolors
    7.8/10(34)

    #18 - Watercolors

    Season 3 Episode 18

    Aired 3/19/1988

    Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • Hawk's Eyes
    7.8/10(38)

    #19 - Hawk's Eyes

    Season 3 Episode 19

    Aired 3/26/1988

    Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremicists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • McAllister
    7.4/10(46)

    #20 - McAllister

    Season 3 Episode 20

    Aired 4/30/1988

    Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. The only witness is a missing Polish sailor.

    Director: Harvey Hart

    Writer: N/A

  • Haunting
    8.4/10(40)

    #21 - Haunting

    Season 3 Episode 21

    Aired 5/7/1988

    Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A