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The Best Episodes of The A Word

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

The various generations of the Hughes family, who all love, work and fight like any other clan, find they must learn to communicate all over again when the youngest member is diagnosed with autism.

Genre:Drama
Network:BBC One

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The A Word" is "Episode 6", rated 8.2/10 from 53 user votes. It was directed by John Hardwick and written by Peter Bowker. "Episode 6" aired on 6/9/2020 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Home School".

  • Episode 6
    8.2/10 53 votes

    #1 - Episode 6

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 6/9/2020

    When Rebecca goes into labour, it falls to Joe to help his sister. Alison makes a decision about Ben, Paul makes Mark an offer, and Maurice has a big question for Louise.

    Director: John Hardwick

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Home School
    8.1/10 105 votes

    #2 - Home School

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 3/29/2016

    Following Joe’s diagnosis, Alison wants to protect her son and takes him out of school without telling Paul. He and Rebecca believe that Joe shouldn’t have to change to fit into the world.

    Director: Peter Cattaneo

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Therapy
    8.1/10 94 votes

    #3 - Therapy

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/5/2016

    Alison has to deal with a blast from her past after Maggie, a speech and language therapist, shows up to assess Joe.

    Director: Peter Cattaneo

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Get Away
    8.1/10 63 votes

    #4 - Get Away

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 11/14/2017

    Life for the Hughes family turns upside down as Joe starts at a specialist school in Manchester. Rebecca halts her plans with James, and Louise confides in a stunned Maurice.

    Director: Susan Tully

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Episode 5
    8.1/10 53 votes

    #5 - Episode 5

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 6/2/2020

    Louise and Maurice are shaken when an unwelcome visitor arrives on the eve of Ralph’s wedding. Mark and Joe test Paul and Sarah’s liberalism when they strike out on their own.

    Director: Sasha Ransome

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Lost
    8.0/10 93 votes

    #6 - Lost

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 4/26/2016

    Alison brokers a peace with Paul in time for the gastropub opening, but Joe goes missing.

    Director: Susan Tully

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Family Album
    8.0/10 66 votes

    #7 - Family Album

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 12/5/2017

    Nicola makes a 'film' of Joe's behaviors. Maurice makes a shocking proposal.

    Director: Luke Snellin

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Naming Day
    7.9/10 77 votes

    #8 - Naming Day

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 11/7/2017

    When Joe says the A word for the first time, Paul and Alison know they must talk to him about his autism. Maurice is catapulted back into the life of Louise, and Eddie and Nicola have a secret to keep.

    Director: Susan Tully

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Diagnosis
    7.8/10 128 votes

    #9 - Diagnosis

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 3/22/2016

    At Joe's birthday party, tensions rise when it's suggested he has communication problems.

    Director: Peter Cattaneo

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Goodbye
    7.8/10 88 votes

    #10 - Goodbye

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 4/19/2016

    Alison is hit hard when Joe's helper Maya looks set to be deported. As Paul and Eddie discover their wives both want different things, Maurice is left kicking himself for letting Louise go.

    Director: Dominic Leclerc

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Same Deep Water
    7.8/10 72 votes

    #11 - Same Deep Water

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 12/12/2017

    An "End of Year Show" at Joe's old school brings his family members together. Paul’s deepest feelings about his son’s autism emerge when Nicola makes a film of Joe’s behaviours. Eddie reaches D-Day with Holly, while Maurice makes a shocking proposal.

    Director: Luke Snellin

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Sleepover
    7.6/10 97 votes

    #12 - Sleepover

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 4/12/2016

    An impromptu attempt to win Joe some friends leads to a breakthrough moment for Alison, but how long can it last? Maurice and Louise come to blows over Joe, while Rebecca turns to Eddie for relationship advice.

    Director: Dominic Leclerc

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Are We Still Here?
    7.6/10 59 votes

    #13 - Are We Still Here?

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 11/21/2017

    Maurice and Louise clash. Paul makes an unexpected connection with Sophie. Eddie gears up for date night with his Manchester girlfriend, Holly.

    Director: Susan Tully

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Falling
    7.6/10 61 votes

    #14 - Falling

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 11/28/2017

    Paul and Alison reconnect. Maurice has an existential crisis. Eddie teaches Joe to ride bikes.

    Director: Luke Snellin

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Episode 3
    7.5/10 50 votes

    #15 - Episode 3

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 5/19/2020

    Maurice and Eddie lock horns on a kids camping trip. Paul tries to forge a connection with Joe. Rebecca interrupts Alison’s date with Ben to confront her about motherhood.

    Director: Fergus O'Brien

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Episode 1
    7.4/10 61 votes

    #16 - Episode 1

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 5/5/2020

    Unsettled by a change in his life, Joe rejects his headphones. Maurice tries to solve all his family’s problems, Alison clashes with a stranger, and Rebecca has some big news.

    Director: Fergus O'Brien

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Episode 2
    7.4/10 54 votes

    #17 - Episode 2

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 5/12/2020

    Joe causes concern at school as he becomes fixated on his teacher, Heather. Paul helps Mark in his bid to join the army, and Rebecca sets the family straight about her pregnancy.

    Director: Fergus O'Brien

    Writer: Peter Bowker

  • Episode 4
    7.3/10 46 votes

    #18 - Episode 4

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 5/26/2020

    Alison brings the family together when she organises a sponsored walk for Joe. Paul gets a surprise from Sarah, and Maurice feels rejected by Ralph.

    Director: John Hardwick

    Writer: Peter Bowker