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The Worst Episodes of Spenser: For Hire

Every episode of Spenser: For Hire ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Spenser: For Hire!

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

Worst Episodes Summary

"Play it Again, Sammy" is the worst rated episode of "Spenser: For Hire". It scored 5.9/10 based on 43 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/30/1988. This episode scored 0.6 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Big Fight".

  • Play it Again, Sammy
    5.9/1043 votes
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    #1 - 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
    6.5/1035 votes
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    #2 - 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

  • Children of a Tempest Storm
    6.8/1070 votes
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    #3 - Children of a Tempest Storm

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1985

    Spenser kills a would-be thief in the course of thwarting a robbery. He and Susan take in the man's two children while investigating his past. Susan discovers she's pregnant.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • When Silence Speaks
    6.8/1045 votes
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    #4 - When Silence Speaks

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/1986

    A deaf woman hires Spenser to find a man she had been corresponding with who had gone missing. As Spenser investigates, he realizes that the missing man is somehow involved with a gang of thieves who are trying to kill Spenser in revenge for busting up their diamond heist.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Killer Within
    7.1/1055 votes
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    #5 - The Killer Within

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1985

    Spenser is hired to protect a woman's identical twin sister from assassins, only to discover his employer suffers from a split personality.

    Director: Don Chaffey

    Writer: N/A

  • Death By Design
    7.1/1043 votes
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    #6 - Death By Design

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/7/1986

    Spenser and Hawk blame themselves for failing to protect their respective clients from the clutches of the underworld, and vow to settle the score with a big-time racketeer and his henchmen.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Shadowsight
    7.1/1039 votes
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    #7 - Shadowsight

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 12/13/1986

    A girl who apparently has the unique ability to 'see' through both space and time, enlists Spenser's help to solve a rash of arsons.

    Director: Cliff Bole

    Writer: N/A

  • The Siege
    7.1/1039 votes
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    #8 - 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

  • Original Sin
    7.2/1069 votes
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    #9 - Original Sin

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1985

    Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a young nun, and stumbles onto a corrupt landlord.

    Director: Harvey Hart

    Writer: N/A

  • In a Safe Place
    7.2/1047 votes
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    #10 - In a Safe Place

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/14/1986

    Spenser searches for the father of an undocumented boy killed by an unhinged unemployed man. The trail leads Spenser into a conspiracy involving the exploitation of undocumented workers on the waterfront.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hopes and Fears
    7.2/1043 votes
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    #11 - The Hopes and Fears

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/1986

    With the help of Hawk, a disgusted Spenser is determined to get rid of thugs who are terrorizing his Boston neighborhood.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • Discord in A Minor
    7.3/1062 votes
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    #12 - Discord in A Minor

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/1985

    Spenser's been hired by a conductor to find his daughter who ran away with her boyfriend. When he finds them, she tells him that her father has been molesting her. Spenser then tells her father what she said which he denies. After Spenser leaves, he calls Hawk, who once did a job for him, to do something for him.

    Director: Harvey Hart, Don Chaffey

    Writer: N/A

  • Thanksgiving
    7.3/1035 votes
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    #13 - 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

  • To the End of the Line
    7.3/1037 votes
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    #14 - 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

  • A Day's Wages
    7.4/1045 votes
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    #15 - A Day's Wages

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/14/1986

    A young ex-con named Louis Harper steals from his boss, John Brady. Brady hires Spenser to prove it and Harper hires Hawk to protect him from leg-breakers. Spenser and Hawk team up to solve Louis' murder.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Brother to Dragons
    7.4/1044 votes
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    #16 - Brother to Dragons

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/1986

    Spenser is going skiing with Susan, but when he picks her up at Smithfield High School where she works, he finds out one of her students died of a heroin overdose. Spenser gets hired by the superintendent and goes undercover as a teacher at her school to find out where the drugs are coming from. He obviously gets into it with the dealers.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • An Eye for an Eye
    7.4/1044 votes
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    #17 - An Eye for an Eye

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/1986

    New District Attorney Rita Fiori tries to prosecute Spenser for blackmail.

    Director: William Wiard

    Writer: N/A

  • Rockabye Baby
    7.4/1049 votes
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    #18 - Rockabye Baby

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1986

    A mobster's pregnant teenage girlfriend tries to keep her unborn son from his father.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Long Hunt
    7.4/1038 votes
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    #19 - The Long Hunt

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/1986

    A young criminal's father attacks a bus transporting convicts to the state prison.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Murder and Acquisitions
    7.4/1034 votes
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    #20 - Murder and Acquisitions

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/1987

    Spenser investigates the apparent suicide of a philandering financier about to turn state's evidence to bring down insider trading. Rita has problems of her own when an old boyfriend shows up. Belson hires Spenser to find his missing wallet containing a winning lottery ticket.

    Director: Harry Harris

    Writer: N/A

  • Mary Hamilton
    7.4/1044 votes
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    #21 - Mary Hamilton

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/1987

    A girl comes to Boston looking for her estranged father. Spenser decides to help her.

    Director: Winrich Kolbe

    Writer: N/A

  • If You Knew Sammy
    7.4/1039 votes
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    #22 - If You Knew Sammy

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/4/1987

    NRA poster-boy Sammy Backlin breezes into town for a book signing, unwittingly involving Spenser in a shoot out. Spenser agrees to protect Sammy from gangland thugs.

    Director: Bruce Bilson

    Writer: N/A

  • McAllister
    7.4/1046 votes
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    #23 - 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

  • Internal Affairs
    7.5/1049 votes
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    #24 - Internal Affairs

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1985

    Marital infidelity and suspected involvement in a gambling ring lead to Lt. Quirk's suspension. Belson is shot during a raid. Spenser works to clear Quirk's name and catch Belson's would-be killer.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • At the River's Edge
    7.5/1046 votes
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    #25 - At the River's Edge

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/25/1986

    Spenser witnesses an ex convict murder a 19 year girl then kill himself. The girl's wealthy younger sister hires Spenser to find out why her sister was killed. Clues lead Spenser to a crusading preacher that had a secret relationship with the 19 year old.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A