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The Best Episodes of Strangers

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

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Strangers is a 1978–82 ITV police procedural created and principally written by Murray Smith, based on characters created by Kenneth Royce in his novel series and subsequent 1977–78 television adaptation The XYY Man. Don Henderson

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Seasons5

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Strangers Season 5 Episode 4 - The Lost Chord
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #1 - The Lost Chord

    S5:E4

    A number of extremist politicians die in mysterious circumstances. The squad investigates the academic world of Cambridge and the upper reaches of the law.

    Director:Bill Gilmour
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  2. Strangers Season 1 Episode 3 - Silver Lining
    8.7/10(7 votes)

    #2 - Silver Lining

    S1:E3

    Assigned to investigate a betting racket, Bulman takes a job in a betting shop, while Doran finds employment as a professional gambler. It isn't long before the detectives discover a link to the horse-racing world.

    Director:Bill Gilmour
    Writer:Stephen Wakelam

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  3. Strangers Season 1 Episode 4 - Accidental Death
    8.6/10(9 votes)

    #3 - Accidental Death

    S1:E4

    As Doran goes undercover as a journalist, Willis helps out at a coroner's office. It's all part of an investigation to find out whether the death of a newsman was accident or murder.

    Director:Philip Draycott
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  4. Strangers Season 1 Episode 5 - Briscoe
    8.4/10(9 votes)

    #4 - Briscoe

    S1:E5

    Is a uniformed police sergeant, suspected of being crooked, really guilty? Bulman poses as a copper on the beat to find out what has led the sergeant to be suspected of being 'dirty' — but finds that an ordinary policeman's lot is not a happy one.

    Director:Brian Mills
    Writer:Leslie Duxbury

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  5. Strangers Season 1 Episode 7 - Paying Guests
    8.4/10(11 votes)

    #5 - Paying Guests

    S1:E7

    When a petty crook finds a hoard of hot money and begins receiving unwanted attention from the thieves, Bulman finds himself moving in with the man's family to protect him.

    Director:Quentin Lawrence
    Writer:Leslie Duxbury

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  6. Strangers Season 5 Episode 2 - A Swift and Evil Rozzer
    8.4/10(6 votes)

    #6 - A Swift and Evil Rozzer

    S5:E2

    When a group of prominent businessmen decide to choose crime as a short cut to riches, the Inner City Squad are on their trail when they kidnap a prominent politician.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Murray Smith

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Strangers

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  7. Strangers Season 5 Episode 1 - A Much Underestimated Man
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #7 - A Much Underestimated Man

    S5:E1

    Bulman and Willis are assigned to trail an experienced hitman and discover the identity of his next target. But if the man gives them the slip and manages to make his next hit, who will carry the can?

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  8. Strangers Season 1 Episode 2 - Duty Roster
    8.0/10(9 votes)

    #8 - Duty Roster

    S1:E2

    Bulman and Willis find themselves investigating the theft of a postman's mailbag. A straightforward case? Not when their enquiries point to something fishy afoot.

    Director:Oliver Horsbrugh
    Writer:Ivor Marshall

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  9. Strangers Season 1 Episode 6 - Right and Wrong
    8.0/10(7 votes)

    #9 - Right and Wrong

    S1:E6

    Convinced that a local politician is taking bribes, but frustrated that his enquires have brought no results. Singer assigns Willis and Doran to pose as newlyweds and move into the house opposite.

    Director:John Bruce
    Writer:C.P. Taylor

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  10. Strangers Season 5 Episode 3 - The Tender Trap
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    #10 - The Tender Trap

    S5:E3

    Bulman and Willis set out to investigate corruption in a local government but ultimately are caught breaking and entering. Meanwhile, Bennett meets a jazz musician whose twin brother is behind the corruption, and Willis falls for local policewoman Sgt Jill Tender.

    Director:Ben Bolt
    Writer:Bruce Crowther

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  11. Strangers Season 2 Episode 4 - Friends in High Places
    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #11 - Friends in High Places

    S2:E4

    When a successful businessman begins receiving blackmail threats, the squad expect a straightforward case. However, they discover far more than they bargained for and learn that people in high places prove to be bad losers.

    Director:Bill Gilmour
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  12. Strangers Season 1 Episode 1 - The Paradise Set
    7.6/10(9 votes)

    #12 - The Paradise Set

    S1:E1

    Day one: While Willis investigates a jewel robbery. Bulman and Doran track villains who are systematically beating up nightclub hostesses. The two enquiries lead in one direction and the team ultimately find themselves working together on the same problem.

    Director:Carol Wilks
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  13. Strangers Season 2 Episode 3 - Clever Dick
    7.5/10(7 votes)

    #13 - Clever Dick

    S2:E3

    When counterfeit Deutschmarks flood Germany and the officers try to establish a connection in England, they find themselves facing violent and ruthless opposition from a murderous gang.

    Director:Quentin Lawrence
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  14. Strangers Season 5 Episode 7 - With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)
    7.4/10(6 votes)

    #14 - With These Gloves You Can Pass Through Mirrors (Part 2)

    S5:E7

    Peter Mollett — aka the Sandman — acts as an agent smuggling stolen art treasures, often in coffins. A rival gang hope to cash in on his lucrative trade, but the squad are also interested.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  15. Strangers Season 2 Episode 2 - Call of the Wild
    7.2/10(6 votes)

    #15 - Call of the Wild

    S2:E2

    When Bulman successfully infiltrates a gang of villains, it isn't long before he finds himself on the run from the police — and desperately in need of the assistance of his undercover colleagues.

    Director:Baz Taylor
    Writer:Leslie Duxbury

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  16. Strangers Season 2 Episode 1 - The Wheeler Dealers
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - The Wheeler Dealers

    S2:E1

    Bulman, Willis and Doran are undercover at the docks trying to identify the ringleaders in a series of bicycle thefts. Back at the office, Rainbow is displeased with their methods. After an accident on the quay, Bulman starts to get romantic ideas about the lady doctor.

    Director:Carol Wilks
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  17. Strangers Season 2 Episode 5 - Marriages, Deaths and Births
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Marriages, Deaths and Births

    S2:E5

    Bulman's dedication to duty is so inense that he tries to arrest Carmos, a psychopathic killer, during his wedding, The squad must use all their ingenuity to extricate him from the villain's clutches — Bulman is wounded and in danger of dying.

    Director:Charles Sturridge
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  18. Strangers Season 3 Episode 1 - Retribution
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Retribution

    S3:E1

    Bulman and Willis join the new inter-city detective squad and are involved in tracking down a gang of sophisticated villains running an arms-for-sale racket out of London.

    Directors:Bill Gilmour, Carol Wilks
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  19. Strangers Season 3 Episode 2 - You Can't Win 'Em All
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - You Can't Win 'Em All

    S3:E2

    Bulman and Willis are assigned to a case involving the widespread fraud of major banks.

    Director:Bill Gilmour
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  20. Strangers Season 3 Episode 3 - Armed and Dangerous
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Armed and Dangerous

    S3:E3

    A routine escort job turns dangerous for Bulman and Willis when they're assigned to bring a villain to London for questioning, and two inter-city detectives are murdered.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  21. Strangers Season 3 Episode 4 - Racing Certainty
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Racing Certainty

    S3:E4

    Bulman and Willis find themselves going undercover to track down a gang hedging their bets by ensuring that the odds are in their favour during a racehorse meeting at Newmarket.

    Director:Ken Grieve
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  22. Strangers Season 3 Episode 5 - Clowns Don't Cry
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Clowns Don't Cry

    S3:E5

    One of Bulman's criminal contacts is beaten up for no apparent reason. The trail leads Bulman and Willis into the world of counter-espionage, and a circus that chooses the towns in which it plays.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  23. Strangers Season 3 Episode 6 - Tom Thumb and Other Stories
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Tom Thumb and Other Stories

    S3:E6

    Bulman disguises himself as a tramp hoping to catch the smugglers' 'Tom Thumb' who works Liverpool docklands. He soon discovers that with a fortune at stake the organisation behind the ring will stop at nothing to protect their interests.

    Director:Laurence Moody
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  24. Strangers Season 3 Episode 7 - No Orchids for Missing Blandisch
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - No Orchids for Missing Blandisch

    S3:E7

    Bulman gets a tip-off from an informer about a hired killer. With Willis and Bennett, he tries to find the connection between the killer and two arms dealers.

    Director:Bill Gilmour
    Writer:Murray Smith

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  25. Strangers Season 4 Episode 1 - The Moscow Subway Murders
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - The Moscow Subway Murders

    S4:E1

    Now promoted to Detective Chief Inspector, Bulman, frustrated with the office-bound nature of the job, is soon challenged by an intriguing murder case.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Murray Smith

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Lost Chord" is the best rated episode of "Strangers". It scored 9/10 based on 8 votes. Directed by Bill Gilmour and written by Murray Smith, it aired on 9/29/1982. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Silver Lining".