9.2/1065 votesLoading...#1 - Ella Mae
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/2003
After beloved Ella Farmer dies unexpectedly, all the members of the police district pay a tribute to her, remembering all the hard work and effort she put in her job. They pray together and miss her, knowing she'll be forever in their heart, and that no one can ever replace her as Mannion's right arm.
Director: Oz Scott
Writer: N/A
9.0/1067 votesLoading...#2 - The D.C. Strangler
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2001
Temple leads an investigation to catch a serial killer who is murdering prostitutes, but after viewing the women's mutilated bodies he doesn't know if he's strong enough to see the job through; Mannion comes under pressure to hire a politically correct candidate for a district-commander post.
Director: Kevin Dowling
Writer: Hans Beimler
- 8.9/10745 votesLoading...
#3 - The Kindness of Strangers
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2003
Chief Mannion and his men investigate the disappearance of teenage girls who all point to a virtual suspect: a guy named Icarus who uses the internet to lure his victims and eventually murders them. The case takes a personal turn when Noland's niece becomes the next target and Joe puts all his efforts into catching the guy. Meanwhile, Temple suffers with pranks and rash commentaries from his co-workers about the death of Lester Richards, while Sherry tries to adjust to her new job.
Director: N/A
Writer: Bruce Zimmerman
- 8.8/1041 votesLoading...
#4 - Into the Sunset
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 5/17/2003
Without a job and his best friend, Jack takes off to Arizona to play some golf, but not even without his badge he can stop solving crimes. He gets himself involved in a scheme of dirty cops with Mexican dealers and crosses the border to catch the dealer – which he does. Meanwhile, back in D.C., Cavanaugh and Sherry team up to trace Jack and Cavanaugh discovers something that might save Jack's job. Nancy does some investigation on her own and discovers that the guy that died on Brander's hand was injured prior to their encounter, which could clear Brander. Temple and Debreno set up a scheme with Cashmere Brown to bust Lester Richards, who ends up shot to death by Temple.
Director: Craig T. Nelson
Writer: N/A
- 8.8/10647 votesLoading...
#5 - The Devil You Know...
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2003
After Chief Strickland causes the death of an innocent old lady due to having inaccurate information on the whereabouts of a dangerous drug lord, Mannion decides to catch the guy himself. He uses the help of his best men, who put their jobs at steak and work parallel to Strickland's orders. Mannion's house is burnt down after he keeps stopping kids from selling drugs. When Mannion finally catches the guy, Mayor Douglas won't give his job back, so Jack is forced to reveal that he knows the phone wire was illegal, which ultimately forces Douglas to give him his job back. Meanwhile, Temple investigates two cops whom he thinks are abusing their authority and beating the people they arrest, while Debreno sleeps with Maria Rodriguez, which causes some conflict on his friendship with Temple.
Director: James Keach
Writer: Patricia Green
- 8.6/1024 votesLoading...
#6 - Jack's Back
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2003
Back from his Arizona vacation and determined to get his job back, Jack starts campaigning for being Chief of police, even though it's not an elected position. He chooses not to use the illegal taping card that might get him back in the office in no time for a future use and moves into a poor neighborhood. Meanwhile, Brander decides to go back to the force and teams up with Nancy to investigate Lester Richard's death, for which Temple got arrested. They discover that Maria ""Cashmere Brown"" Rodriguez was lying, which frees Temple – but doesn't exactly prove he didn't kill Lester vindictively.
Director: Oz Scott
Writer: Pam Veasey
8.5/1032 votesLoading...#7 - Resurrection (1)
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2002
The third-season opener picks up where the sophomore year ended, with Mannion struggling for his life after being shot on his boat and falling overboard into the Potomac River. As he tries to pull himself ashore, his would-be assassin — the daughter of a Russian mobster — flees the scene and is hit by a car. While the accident brings to light the fact that Mannion is missing, the chief keeps his survival a secret so he can figure out who's behind the shooting. Deputy chief Noland is immediately pressured to solve the case by an aggressive U.S. attorney general, while a new press secretary tries to keep matters from spinning out of control.
Director: Oz Scott
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1023 votesLoading...
#8 - The Voice Inside
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 12/20/2003
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/1034 votesLoading...#9 - A Southern Town
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/2001
Mannion goes to New York to attend his ex-wife's wedding — and perhaps stop it; an ex-cop accuses Noland of covering up a case 30 years ago that involved a politician's son.
Director: Rick Rosenthal
Writer: Pam Veasey
8.4/1040 votesLoading...#10 - Thursday
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/2001
When police officer Robert Turner woke up one Thursday morning, he thought it was going to be just a normal day on the force. However, when a car plunged off a bridge into a river, Turner lost his life while rescuing the family inside. Now, Mannion and his team reflect on the life and death of one of their own. (from CBS)
Director: Jim Charleston
Writer: Linda Gase
8.3/1034 votesLoading...#11 - The Real Terrorist
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2000
The threat of biological terrorism strikes Washington and Chief Mannion has to arrange almost all his force to search for a potential terrorist. An escapee from juvenile detention murders a taxi driver and a few drug dealers and becomes a big threat once he hides in a public schools, putting in danger hundreds of lives. Temple disguises as a student to catch the killer, in an operation that almost cost Ella the guard of her nephew, if it wasn't for Mannion's interference to the judge.
Director: Michael W. Watkins
Writer: N/A
8.3/1035 votesLoading...#12 - Fools Russian (2)
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/19/2001
Mannion receives Monya's hand by the mail, an indication that someone is plotting against him. Temple hasn't recovered from his fiancée's death, but Mannion accepts him back on the force. With Mannion under heavy investigation, the mayor has no options but suspend him. Noland steps in as police chief. Noland assigns McGregor and Temple to work directly for Mannion and he decides to run a investigation of his own. Temple, McGregor and Mannion go to a contruction to investigate the Russian mob, since a scheme for money laudry in the value of over 1 billion is discovered. The FBI tapes two unidentified Russians talking about Mannion's murder, and the voices are identified to be Boris' (Mannion's informer) and Putin's (the man the FBI is after). McGregor and Temple see four suspects enter Boris's bar and call Mannion. Temple decides to take action and walks into the bar, despite Jack's order to wait for him. Temple starts a fight with the men, resulting in him being taken hostage by one of
Director: Rick Rosenthal
Writer: Hans Beimler
8.3/1021 votesLoading...#13 - On Guard
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 2/21/2004
Mannion wants to believe that it was self-defense when his attractive fencing teacher's husband is killed at her studio. Meanwhile, Debreno recognizes a suspect in a drug case as his childhood friend who convinced Debreno to go into the Police Academy.
Director: N/A
Writer: David Fallon
- 8.3/1024 votesLoading...
#14 - Passing Time
Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 4/17/2004
Mannion investigates the death of terminal patient afer her daughter shoots the doctor at point blank range, who she believes is responsible for her mother's death. Meanwhile Nancy must confront her own future when her father's Huntington's Disease worsens.
Director: Oz Scott
Writer: Bruce Zimmerman
8.2/1030 votesLoading...#15 - Rage Against the Machine
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2001
Mannion attempts to reunite a troubled boy living in foster care with his mother, who is in jail on a drug charge; McGregor tries to prevent a stalker from harming a woman; a female reporter shadows Mannion to write a profile of him; and Temple raises doubts about his upcoming wedding.
Director: Damon Santostefano
Writer: Linda Gase
8.2/1024 votesLoading...#16 - New World
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/10/2001
A respected Vietnamese colonel, who is now a successful local businessman, is suspected of running a sex-slave operation using kidnapped Asian girls, one of whom is murdered. Also, Ricky refuses to go to school and he won't tell Ella why; and McGregor's reluctance to publicly acknowledge his relationship with Nancy leads to a confrontation.
Director: Jerry Levine
Writer: N/A
8.2/1027 votesLoading...#17 - Night Shift (a.k.a. Back Fire)
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/2001
Temple and Debreno are working on a carjacking followed by murder case. Parras is suspicious when the victim's fiancé cries but no tears come from her eyes. The case is only solved with the help of a schizophrenic homeless man with multiple identities, who saw the suspect with another man just before the shooting. Temple and Debreno are not getting along, and Mannion has to interfere before Temple (who's much more religious since his fiancee's death, which annoys Debreno) tries to quit. Ella has to handle a strike/budget crisis. Parras is back on the streets and her partner takes it hard when another black man insults him. A snake is left loose around the office.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/1031 votesLoading...#18 - Payback
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/2002
The gangster wars have crossed the limits, leaving a blood trail and innumerous victims. Mannion has Temple working undercovered trying to reach the big boss on the drug dealing schemes. But it's not such an easy road and Temple is forced to try some crack in order to prove he's not a cop. That brings back ghosts from his druggie past, which Temple may no be strong enough to fight again. Meanwhile, Mannion himself interferes with the gangsters, interrogating young 12 year-old Junior about homicides. Later, Parras and Brander are victims of an ambush and are kidnapped by the gangsters. Luckily the police force rescues them before anything happens. Mannion sees no way out but turning to Richard Gray for help. With him, he gets the gang leaders to settle a non-aggression deal. When everything seems to be going back to its places, Temple looks for drug dealers to buy some crack. Ella turns down Clive's proposal to move to Seattle with him, and he decides to stay and marry her. And Mannion
Director: Jim Charleston
Writer: Linda Gase
8.2/1026 votesLoading...#19 - Oil and Water (2)
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/2002
Mannion, who is presumed to be dead, pops up in Paris to follow the Government official he believes is behind the attempt on his life. Back in Washington, D.C., Temple is stopped for speeding and an officer finds cocaine in the car, but Temple claims the drugs are evidence he obtained at a crime scene and forgot to turn in.
Director: Jim Charleston
Writer: N/A
8.2/1026 votesLoading...#20 - Old Wounds
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2002
After a man crashes and dies and the police finds thousands of dollars with him, Mannion and his men start an investigation to prevent the dead guy's old girlfriend from being killed. Turns out an old shooter that killed one of Mannion's friend back in New York years ago is the hired killer they're looking for, and the woman they were protecting was behind the plan to kill her current husband and keep the money. It's Jack's second and final chance to catch the guy. Mannion hires a personal wedding dress designer for Ella, who has second thoughts about her marriage. Nancy is diagnosed with Huntington's disease after falling from a fire escape and suffering a concussion while chasing a criminal.
Director: David Jackson
Writer: N/A
8.2/1020 votesLoading...#21 - The Second Man
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/9/2002
During a struggle, deputy chief Noland shoots a college student he believes is about to rob a convenience store with a gun, but the ensuing investigation doesn't turn up a weapon. Soon, Internal Affairs demands that Noland be suspended, but Mannion refuses to take his badge. Also, the student's wealthy parents threaten to bring charges against Noland.
Director: Jerry Levine
Writer: Alan Ormsby
8.2/1035 votesLoading...#22 - Small Packages
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/14/2002
On Christmas Eve, Temple and Debreno hunt for three dwarfs disguised as elves who robbed a mission truck and were responsible for other thefts in the area, a billy goat who was part of a real-life nativity scene goes missing, Mannion is determined to fulfill ""Santa's"" promise to an 8 year old boy; Parras becomes attached to an abandoned newborn, and Ella has a gift-giving mix-up.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/1023 votesLoading...#23 - Goodbye, Jenny
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2003
Mannion tells Jenny McLure how his men arrested her brother while she is waiting for her final day. Jenny is dying from AIDS and Mannion makes sure her last days are filled with company and happiness. The cocaine found at Lester's apartment is missing, and Parras becomes of the main targets on the investigation on who switched the coke with sugar. Without the evidence they can't put Lester away, while matches from his pistol are coming from numerous murder scenes. Finally Chief Mannion finds the mole and sends Lester to jail, but unfortunately Jenny doesn't last to see the next morning: she passes away the day before Mannion's event to raise people's awareness on the danger and prevention of AIDS.
Director: N/A
Writer: Pam Veasey
8.2/1025 votesLoading...#24 - Back in the Saddle
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/15/2003
Debreno is assigned to protect a country singer, scheduled to sing at the Kennedy Center Honors, who's receiving death threats; Elsewhere, in an effort to lead by example, Mannion hits the streets as a uniformed cop to make quality-of-life arrests on charges such as disorderly conduct, gambling and prostitution. But one of his arrests sparks a chain of events that leads to the reopening of a cold-case murder.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/1023 votesLoading...#25 - Where There's Smoke
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 3/15/2003
After a shrinking budget forces Mannion to lay off officers, he takes on a powerful city commissioner he believes is partly responsible for the cutbacks. But the move upsets the mayor, who then looks for an excuse to fire the chief. Also: a congressional witness in a fraud trial claims key case documents were stolen from his hotel room; and Nancy and Brander are injured in an accident while pursuing a suspect.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of The District
Every episode of The District ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The District!
The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and...
Genre:Drama
Network:CBS
Best Episodes Summary
"Ella Mae" is the best rated episode of "The District". It scored 9.2/10 based on 65 votes. Directed by Oz Scott and written by N/A, it aired on 5/10/2003. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The D.C. Strangler".