6.9/10117 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2010
Nick and Pete use whatever tactics necessary in order to defend a young man facing murder charges in a case unique to Vegas.
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Writer: Kevin Kennedy, Niels Mueller
- 7.2/1083 votes
#2 - Las Vegas v. Reid
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2010
Nick Morelli works the system to free a single mother accused of running down a jogger while chit chatting on her cell phone, meanwhile, Pete Kaczmarek does his best to help a man down on his luck.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Peter Noah
- 7.7/1082 votes
#3 - Nevada v. Carter
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2010
Nick defends a stripper accused of solicitation; Pete must take on an unwanted case after losing a hand of poker.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Peter Noah
- 6.8/1063 votes
#4 - Nevada v. Cerrato
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2010
Nick is ready to accept a simple arson case until he realizes that his client could be convicted of first-degree murder. Meanwhile, Pete helps a lottery winner take on a casino when he loses his fortune after a night of high rolling.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1081 votes
#5 - Nevada v. Senator Harper
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2010
In the middle of a divorce case, a client is charged with the kidnapping and burglary; Pete defends a cabana girl accused of assault and battery.
Director: N/A
Writer: Bruce Rasmussen, Jacqueline Hoyt
- 6.7/1062 votes
#6 - Nevada v. Rodgers
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/2010
Nick defends a man charged with attempted murder; a man is caught with stolen Elvis memorabilia.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/1082 votes
#7 - Las Vegas v. Black Betty
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2010
Nick reluctantly defends an entertainer's girlfriend when she is charged with murder; Lisa's newest client reveals potentially dangerous information.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1058 votes
#8 - Nevada v. Killa Diz
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/2010
Nick comes to the defense of a young rapper wanted on two counts of first-degree murder. Meanwhile, Pete takes the case of an Internet hacker facing RICO charges.
Director: Rod Holcomb
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1061 votes
#9 - Whitten v. Fenlee
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/2010
When a woman's husband dies from a fall on a construction site, Nick and Pete look to prove wrongful death against the company. Meanwhile, Pete tries to help an online blogger avoid jail after exposing an illusionist's magic trick.
Director: Christine Moore
Writer: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Noah
- 7.1/1069 votes
#10 - Nevada v. Dennis
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2010
When a young man is pulled over carrying guns with filed-off serial numbers, Nick and Pete try to get the charges thrown out. Meanwhile, Nick agrees to help the ADA's sister save a bear from being euthanized.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.7/1055 votes
#11 - Nevada v. Riley
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/2010
Nick and Pete come to the aid of a troubled ex-football player charged with battery. Meanwhile, Pete becomes exasperated when his father shows up in town.
Director: Richard J. Lewis
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1053 votes
#12 - Nevada v. Wayne
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/2011
Nick's personal ties to a young man charged with sexual assault prompt him to defend the accusations. Meanwhile, Pete is stunned when he has jury duty.
Director: Greg Beeman
Writer: Bruce Rasmussen
- 7.4/1059 votes
#13 - Nevada v. Donnie the Numbers Guy
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/4/2011
Seventeen years after disappearing on the eve of his wife's murder trial, a man from Nick's past returns to Vegas looking to prove his innocence by relying on new technological tools.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1060 votes
#14 - Nevada v. Doug the Mule
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2011
When a young man is pulled over carrying 30 bricks of cocaine, Nick and Pete look to prove their client was duped by a girl he met on spring break.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1059 votes
#15 - Nevada v. Hunter
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/2011
Facing thirty counts of possession of a controlled substance, an overconfident judge turns to Nick, who has no choice but to help acquit him of the charges.
Director: Brad Silberling
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1058 votes
#16 - Noland v. Galloway Pharmaceuticals
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/25/2011
Nick and Pete go after a pharmaceutical company for faulty packaging when two victims overdose on the same drug. Lisa is secretly seeing ADA Ward all the while considering a fascinating new job offer.
Director: Christine Moore
Writer: N/A
- 6.9/1054 votes
#17 - Nevada v. Greene
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/4/2011
Unable to recall any events from the previous night, the son of a hotel owner turns to Nick and Pete for help after he awakes to find a casino host strangled to death in a hot tub.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1062 votes
#18 - Morelli v. Kaczmarek
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/11/2011
The firm temporarily dissolves its partnership when they have to defend a husband and wife accused of murder.
Director: Paul McCrane
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of The Defenders Season 1
Every episode of The Defenders Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Defenders Season 1!
The Defenders is a drama about two colorful Las Vegas defense attorneys who go all-in when it comes to representing their clients. Nick and Pete...
Genres:ComedyDrama
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Defenders" season 1. It scored 6.9/10 based on 117 votes. Directed by Davis Guggenheim and written by Kevin Kennedy, Niels Mueller, it aired on 9/22/2010. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Las Vegas v. Reid".