The Good Life backdrop
Comedy

The Best Episodes of The Good Life

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

Binge this in 14h 0m•Peaking at 8.9/10

Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown

Airs on
BBC One
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    The Good Life Season 3 Episode 5 - The Wind-Break War
    8.9/10(143 votes)

    #1 - The Wind-Break War

    S3:E5

    The Goods are furious when they learn that Margo is planning to put up a large wind-break that will shade their new fruit patch. Mix-ups occur when they ask her to site it elsewhere. To repair their friendship, they have dinner accompanied by bottles of the Goods' Peapod Burgundy, causing them to regain their sense of humour.

    Director:John Howard Davies
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 2 - The Happy Event
    8.5/10(109 votes)

    #2 - The Happy Event

    S3:E2

    Perky gives birth to her litter, which includes a runt, in the middle of the night, observed by the Goods & Leadbetters. Sentimentality overcomes practicality, and they decide to try to help the runt survive. Jerry is stopped for speeding on the way to hospital to obtain some oxygen.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 7 - Anniversary
    8.4/10(101 votes)

    #3 - Anniversary

    S4:E7

    Although troubles beset them, the Goods are still glad that they've followed the path of self-sufficiency. Jerry thinks he's failed to succeed Andy as head of JJM. Margo installs a burglar alarm system, but the Goods think they've no need of one, as they've nothing left to steal.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Good Life Season 1 Episode 7 - Backs to the Wall
    8.3/10(121 votes)

    #4 - Backs to the Wall

    S1:E7

    While starting the harvest, Tom injures his back digging,and since Margo and Jerry are on holiday Barbara is left to look after the farm all on her own. A storm then adds to their problems by turning their garden into a mud bath.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 5 - Mutiny
    8.2/10(103 votes)

    #5 - Mutiny

    S2:E5

    Jerry refuses to put up a foreign businessman visiting the company, as it would interfere with Margo's performances as Maria in a local amateur production of The Sound of Music, and he is consequently sacked. The Goods try to get him reinstated.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 7 - Going to Pot?
    8.2/10(97 votes)

    #6 - Going to Pot?

    S2:E7

    Tom's inability to repair the roof decides the Goods on joining evening classes in practical subjects, Barbara taking pottery and Tom taking weaving. Both do badly and decide to swap subjects. Tom achieves outstanding results, resulting in the temptation to go commercial.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Good Life

    READ
  7. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 4 - I Talk to the Trees
    8.2/10(99 votes)

    #7 - I Talk to the Trees

    S3:E4

    A fellow allotment holder claims that talking and playing music to his plants gives better yields, so Tom decides to do a scientific experiment, enlisting Barbara's help. Unfortunately, playing music to the crops in the back garden threatens to sour their relationship with Margo, who is standing for election as president of the local amateur operatic society.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 7 - The Last Posh Frock
    8.2/10(100 votes)

    #8 - The Last Posh Frock

    S3:E7

    Various people mistake Barbara for a man, causing her to doubt her femininity, and when she accidentally tears her last good dress, she becomes distraught. Tom compounds things by fawning over an elegantly dressed dinner guest, but then tries to make up by buying her another dress.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 4 - The Weaver's Tale
    8.2/10(86 votes)

    #9 - The Weaver's Tale

    S4:E4

    When Margo buys a spinning wheel, Tom buys a loom so that the Goods can borrow the spinning wheel and make their own clothes. However, Barbara has just convinced Jerry to forbid Margo to spend any more money, and the spinning wheel purchase is canceled. It looks like the loom is a white elephant.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 4 - The Day Peace Broke Out
    8.1/10(105 votes)

    #10 - The Day Peace Broke Out

    S2:E4

    Leeks start to go missing from the front garden, and Tom initially suspects Margo. When he discovers the real culprit, he takes the law into his own hands, but ends up in deeper trouble than the thief.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 2 - The Green Door
    8.1/10(92 votes)

    #11 - The Green Door

    S4:E2

    The Goods need some fertiliser for their land in preparation for sowing the new season's crops. When they try getting it from the pony club that Margo belongs to, they find that although she pretends to, she hasn't been going recently. The Goods wonder where she's been going instead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 3 - Our Speaker Today
    8.1/10(94 votes)

    #12 - Our Speaker Today

    S4:E3

    When Margo's society's guest speaker pulls out at short notice, Barbara agrees to give a talk about self-sufficiency. She's so good that Lady Truscott asks her to do several other talks, but it interferes with maintaining the animals & crops.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 5 - Suit Yourself
    8.1/10(81 votes)

    #13 - Suit Yourself

    S4:E5

    The Goods obtain some sheep fleeces, make their own vegetable dyes, and start making their own clothes using their loom. Jerry's boss decides to retire, and invites three potential successors to dinner to choose who to appoint.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 1 - Just My Bill
    8.0/10(110 votes)

    #14 - Just My Bill

    S2:E1

    The Goods are faced with paying their rates bill (local property tax). They try to sell their harvest surplus to raise money, but it proves more difficult than Tom imagines.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 6 - Home Sweet Home
    8.0/10(106 votes)

    #15 - Home Sweet Home

    S2:E6

    A boar-walker visits the Goods' remaining pig, and recommends they move to a larger smallholding that he knows is for sale. Neither Tom nor Barbara can think of a good reason not to go, but neither really wants to.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 1 - The Early Birds
    8.0/10(102 votes)

    #16 - The Early Birds

    S3:E1

    The pressure of work sowing the new season's crops requires the Goods to make the most of the daylight hours. The disturbance of their early morning work sours their friendship with the Leadbetters, and their attempts to go to bed early meet with a variety of frustrations.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 3 - A Tug of the Forelock
    8.0/10(97 votes)

    #17 - A Tug of the Forelock

    S3:E3

    The need for some means of transport to replace the broken trolley causes Tom to modify the rotavator. To pay for its fuel, the Goods decide to take temporary work as domestic staff... with the Leadbetters.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Good Life Season 3 Episode 6 - Whose Fleas are These?
    8.0/10(99 votes)

    #18 - Whose Fleas are These?

    S3:E6

    The Goods find they have fleas, which they initially believe are from their animals. Then they remember that they have just been next door to the Leadbetters.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Good Life Season 1 Episode 4 - Pig's Lib
    7.9/10(127 votes)

    #19 - Pig's Lib

    S1:E4

    The Goods continue their bartering with local suppliers, but Barbara has a misunderstanding while negotiating with the window-cleaner. They then add a pair of pigs in a sty to their back garden, at which Margo is so appalled she brings in the chairman of the local residents' association to persuade them out of it, but is unsuccessful. However, when one escapes into the Leadbetter's garden, she can only be mollified by getting rid of it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 3 - Mr. Fix-It
    7.8/10(101 votes)

    #20 - Mr. Fix-It

    S2:E3

    A journalist writes a freelance article on the Goods and their way of life. Margo tries to muscle in to promote her forthcoming amateur dramatics production. Jerry obtains quantities of free merchandise for the Goods, on the grounds that the article is to appear in a national Sunday newspaper.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 1 - Away from It All
    7.8/10(85 votes)

    #21 - Away from It All

    S4:E1

    When the poor harvest and other tribulations of life get to the Goods, the Leadbetters suggest they go away on a short break, and volunteer to look after things while they're away. But can they be trusted?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Good Life Season 4 Episode 6 - Sweet and Sour Charity
    7.8/10(81 votes)

    #22 - Sweet and Sour Charity

    S4:E6

    Tom sets his eye on the contents of the other neighbors' heating oil tank when they move out. Barbara just manages to convince him that it would be stealing. Then they get permission to take it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Good Life Season 1 Episode 5 - The Thing in the Cellar
    7.7/10(118 votes)

    #23 - The Thing in the Cellar

    S1:E5

    Tom puts the finishing touches to their own electricity generator in the cellar, which runs on their animals' waste. He then goes fishing with Jerry, and decides to store the surplus in the freezer, until the generator plays up...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Good Life Season 1 Episode 6 - The Pagan Rite
    7.7/10(120 votes)

    #24 - The Pagan Rite

    S1:E6

    In order to pay for a treat for Barbara, Tom takes a short contract from his old firm, and tries to keep it a secret from her - but his plan is foiled when he fails to account for Margo's nosiness.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Good Life Season 2 Episode 2 - The Guru of Surbiton
    7.7/10(114 votes)

    #25 - The Guru of Surbiton

    S2:E2

    The Goods take in a student couple for a week, to help them with the work on the smallholding. The couple rapidly become infatuated with the Goods and their way of life. When they decide to buy the other house next door, to start a commune with similar aims, Margo becomes incensed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"The Wind-Break War" is the best rated episode of "The Good Life". It scored 8.9/10 based on 143 votes. Directed by John Howard Davies and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/8/1976. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Happy Event".