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The Best Episodes of The Love Boat

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

Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the "Love Boat",...
Genres:DramaComedy
Network:ABC

Best Episodes Summary

"Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?" is the best rated episode of "The Love Boat". It scored 8/10 based on 89 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 2/27/1987. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary".

  • Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?
    8.0/1089 votes
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    #1 - Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?

    Season 10 Episode 4 - Aired 2/27/1987

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary
    7.9/10142 votes
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    #2 - Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary

    Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/1985

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Caller/Marriage of Convenience/No Girls for Doc/Witness for the Prosecution
    7.8/1098 votes
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    #3 - The Caller/Marriage of Convenience/No Girls for Doc/Witness for the Prosecution

    Season 3 Episode 28 - Aired 5/3/1980

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Captain's Bird/That's My Dad/Captive Audience
    7.8/10115 votes
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    #4 - The Captain's Bird/That's My Dad/Captive Audience

    Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 12/20/1980

    Capt. Stubing decides to get Vicki a parrot for Christmas. Unfortunately, it hasn't been trained to talk, and Gopher and Isaac's efforts to train it prove disastrous. A stowaway convinces the crew that a playboy passenger is his father. A father and son, who haven't spoken for ten years since the younger man left their singing act to go solo, resist their wives' efforts to reunite them.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: N/A

  • The Mallory Quest/The Offer/Julie, the Vamp (1)
    7.7/10115 votes
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    #5 - The Mallory Quest/The Offer/Julie, the Vamp (1)

    Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/1980

    Famed author Brian Mallory gives three people free tickets to a Caribbean cruise. He then presents each of them--and Gopher--with gold coins. He explains that they are among the last people to have spent time with his nephew; and offers them $100,000 if they can track down the young man, who is believed to be on one of the islands the ship will be visiting. One of the passengers taking part in the quest is about to donate a kidney to his brother. A young woman follows him around and seems to take a special interest in everything he does. Mallory's wife finally grows tired of his aloof and cruel behavior toward her. She leaves him, and seeks comfort with Doc. An old friend asks Capt. Stubing to leave the ship to help him run his business. A jealous woman accuses Julie of trying to steal her fiancé, a man who was a casual acquaintance of Julie's in college.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Harvey Bullock

  • Tony and Julie / Separate Beds / America's Sweetheart
    7.6/1096 votes
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    #6 - Tony and Julie / Separate Beds / America's Sweetheart

    Season 4 Episode 28 - Aired 5/16/1981

    Julie (Lauren Tewes) has a run-in with a zoologist (Anthony Andrews), who turns out to be a passenger, and they butt heads. A young actress (Alison Arngrim) comes aboard and makes a fool out of Vicki (Jill Whelan). An estranged husband (William Christopher) and wife (Toni Tennille), one of whom is a neat-freak (Christopher) and the other a slob (Tennille), find themselves not only on the ship but in the same cabin

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Farnsworth's Fling/Three in a Bed/I Remember Helen/Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia (1)
    7.6/10111 votes
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    #7 - Farnsworth's Fling/Three in a Bed/I Remember Helen/Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia (1)

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/21/1981

    The crew is in Australia to work on one of the cruise line's ships based there. And a wealthy man named Farnsworth (Lloyd Bridges) has decided to invite his whole family for a reunion, but in actuality he wants to see who, among them he should keep in his will.

    Director: Richard Kinon

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Ray Jessel, Fred S. Fox

  • The Promoter/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win (1)
    7.5/10137 votes
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    #8 - The Promoter/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win (1)

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 11/1/1980

    A man organizes a ""marriage-a-thon"" cruise, with special prizes to be given to the couple found to be the most compatible. At the same time, he tries to save his own crumbling marriage. Doc tricks Gopher into taking his place as one of the judges, but comes to regret it when the two attractive female judges constantly try to make time with Gopher. The single parents of one of the engaged couples come aboard with the hopes of breaking up their kids, who they think are too young to be tying the knot. A couple tries to finally get married after ten years together--and nine broken engagements. A groom decides to dump his fiancée, but skips the cruise and leaves his best man to break the news to the bride. The best man is Marv, the young man who befriended Julie when he was best man for another wedding on the Alaska cruise. He cannot bring himself to tell the bride the truth, particularly because he also has feelings for her.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs

  • The Expedition/Julie's Wedding/The Mongala/Julie's Replacement/The Three R's/The Professor's Wife (2)
    7.5/10102 votes
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    #9 - The Expedition/Julie's Wedding/The Mongala/Julie's Replacement/The Three R's/The Professor's Wife (2)

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/1981

    Vicki models the bridesmaid's gown she plans to wear for Julie's wedding, while Isaac finds a flaw in the wedding gift that he bought on the crew's behalf.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Farnsworth's Fling/Three in a Bed/I Remember Helen/Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia (2)
    7.5/1093 votes
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    #10 - Farnsworth's Fling/Three in a Bed/I Remember Helen/Merrill, Melanie & Melanesia (2)

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/1981

    After having spent time with his family, William Farnsworth (Lloyd Bridges) has finally decided who will be kept in his will.

    Director: Richard Kinon

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Ray Jessel, Fred S. Fox

  • Love, Honor, and Obey/Gladys and Agnes/Radioactive Isaac
    7.5/1087 votes
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    #11 - Love, Honor, and Obey/Gladys and Agnes/Radioactive Isaac

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 11/28/1981

    Tony and Rose Vitelli plan to renew wedding vows. Sisters Agnes and Gladys travel together and Agnes bonds with passenger Henry. A tooth filling and rival passenger Brandon interfere with Isaac's romance with Patty.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Italian Cruise: Venetian Love Song/Arrangement/Arrividerci, Gopher/Gigolo (1)
    7.5/10110 votes
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    #12 - Italian Cruise: Venetian Love Song/Arrangement/Arrividerci, Gopher/Gigolo (1)

    Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/1982

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Dog Show: Putting on the Dog/Going to the Dogs/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway?
    7.5/1096 votes
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    #13 - The Dog Show: Putting on the Dog/Going to the Dogs/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway?

    Season 6 Episode 25 - Aired 3/26/1983

    No description available

    Director: Bob Sweeney

    Writer: N/A

  • Friend Of The Family/Affair on Demand/Just Another Pretty Face
    7.5/1092 votes
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    #14 - Friend Of The Family/Affair on Demand/Just Another Pretty Face

    Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1983

    No description available

    Director: Ted Lange

    Writer: N/A

  • Ace In the Hole/Uncle Joey's Song/Father in the Cradle
    7.5/1078 votes
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    #15 - Ace In the Hole/Uncle Joey's Song/Father in the Cradle

    Season 7 Episode 18 - Aired 1/28/1984

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Gopher's Opportunity/Home Sweet Home/The Switch
    7.4/10115 votes
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    #16 - Gopher's Opportunity/Home Sweet Home/The Switch

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 1/20/1979

    Gopher quits his job to manage a new hotel; a wealthy eccentric widow books a five-year passage and begins meddling in the crew members' lives; a magician tries to avoid his assistant by sending his brother to perform in his place.

    Director: Allen Baron, Roger Duchowny

    Writer: Lan O'Kun, Ray Jessel, Sue Masters, John Walsh, Natalie Schafer

  • Super Mom/I'll See You Again/April's Return
    7.4/10134 votes
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    #17 - Super Mom/I'll See You Again/April's Return

    Season 2 Episode 26 - Aired 5/5/1979

    One-time stowaway April Lopez returns to the ship as a popular singer. However, she grows tired of the hassles of fame and decides that she would like to become a cruise director. Julie tries to show her the ropes, but April ends up creating havoc wherever she goes. A couple brings its four rambunctious children along on its second honeymoon. The woman repeatedly ignores her husband to tend to the children's needs, and April inadvertently creates further problems with their marriage. A buddy of Capt. Stubing's from his military days comes aboard, and is shocked to see the former USO star with whom he once had a romance. Due to a misunderstanding, each believes the other is to blame for cutting off their affair.

    Director: George Tyne

    Writer: N/A

  • Never Say Goodbye/A New Woman/Trial Romance
    7.4/10110 votes
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    #18 - Never Say Goodbye/A New Woman/Trial Romance

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/3/1979

    Capt. Stubing receives a letter from his daughter, Vicki. When he tries to call her, he learns that she has run away from her aunt and uncle's home. She shows up on the ship and reveals that she has read her mother's diary, and now knows that the captain is her father. She wants to stay with him, but he feels that it is best that he return her. Vicki's aunt reveals that she is getting a divorce and wants to send her children away for a while so that they won't be affected by the proceedings. Capt. Stubing and Vicki are thrilled by the chance to live together on the ship. Julie plays matchmaker for two shy, old-fashioned people who are unaccustomed to the workings of modern romance. A man is annoyed by the presence of the woman who deadlocked the jury for the attempted murder trial on which they both served, leading to a mistrial. They constantly argue about the case.

    Director: Gordon Farr

    Writer: N/A

  • Not So Fast, Gopher/Haven't We Met Before?/Seoul Mates
    7.4/1099 votes
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    #19 - Not So Fast, Gopher/Haven't We Met Before?/Seoul Mates

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 2/9/1980

    Gopher invites his widowed mother onto the ship in the hopes of cheering her up, but is hurt by her seemingly cheerful attitude, which he interprets as an insult to his father. A group of buddies takes a cruise. One of the men meets a woman who is a regular customer at the restaurant where he works. He lies about his identity because he thinks she would be put off by the fact that he is a waiter. A comic's romance with the reporter who is writing a feature about him appears doomed after she takes offense to his act.

    Director: Gordon Farr

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs, Gordon Farr, Fred S. Fox

  • Celebration/Captain Papa/Honeymoon Pressure
    7.4/10100 votes
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    #20 - Celebration/Captain Papa/Honeymoon Pressure

    Season 3 Episode 25 - Aired 3/29/1980

    A man spends beyond his means while trying to lavish his recently hospitalized wife with gifts. Capt. Stubing and Vicki face an interview with a child services worker, who will decide whether the captain can have full custody of his daughter. A newlywed couple has trouble consummating its relationship because the presence of the bride's bodyguards (her family is ""connected"") makes the groom nervous.

    Director: Lee Aronsohn, Richard Kinon

    Writer: Harvey Bullock, Sylvia Necht

  • The Promoter/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win (2)
    7.4/10110 votes
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    #21 - The Promoter/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/May the Best Man Win (2)

    Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/1980

    Vicki tries to play matchmaker for Capt. Stubing and Emily, whose husband still plans on winning her back. Gopher lands in a Curacao jail after Doc sends him on a wild goose chase so that he can get cozy with the marriage-a-thon judges. Carl and Mary Ann decide that they were wrong to interfere with their kids' wedding plans; but their new romance drives a wedge between the couple. Mary considers calling it quits with Tom, who is physically unable to say the words ""I do"" because of his subconscious fears about marriage. Emily accuses Marv of treachery after her fiancé suddenly reappears in Curacao and denies that he planned to leave her.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs

  • Isaac's Teacher/Seal of Approval/The Successor
    7.4/10115 votes
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    #22 - Isaac's Teacher/Seal of Approval/The Successor

    Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 1/10/1981

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Expedition/Julie's Wedding/The Mongala/Julie's Replacement/The Three R's/The Professor's Wife (1)
    7.4/10112 votes
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    #23 - The Expedition/Julie's Wedding/The Mongala/Julie's Replacement/The Three R's/The Professor's Wife (1)

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 10/10/1981

    Julie prepares to marry Tony in Sydney and asks Merrill and crew to join her bridal party. Anthropologist Milo and wife Vivian are off to a South Pacific dig where his colleague Deke plans to unveil a find. Julie's successor Yvonne arrives.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Two Grapes on the Vine/Aunt Sylvia/Deductible Divorce
    7.4/1068 votes
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    #24 - Two Grapes on the Vine/Aunt Sylvia/Deductible Divorce

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/1981

    The Virgin Islands serve as a backdrop for the Grand Prix Wine-Tasting Competition, whose winner receives a $25,000 prize.

    Director: Roger Duchowny

    Writer: Christopher Vane, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Casey Keller, Tony Webster, Jill Baer, Donald Ross, Richard Albrecht

  • Chef's Special/Kleinschmidt/New Beginnings
    7.4/10102 votes
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    #25 - Chef's Special/Kleinschmidt/New Beginnings

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/1981

    Chef Claude is jealous of new rival Edie Franklin in the galley. Longtime friends Jennifer and Stan reunite. Bumbling PI Kleinschmidt is assigned to protect client Gertrude's jewels.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A