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The Best Episodes of The Monkees Season 1

Every episode of The Monkees Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Monkees Season 1!

Binge this in 12h 30m•Peaking at 8.2/10

Micky, Mike, Peter, and Davy are four young men in mid-1960s LA, members of a struggling country-folk-rock band looking for their big break amid madcap encounters with a variety of people straight out of TV

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Seasons2

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Monkees Season 1 Episode 1 - The Royal Flush
    7.4/10(254 votes)

    #1 - The Royal Flush

    S1:E1

    The Monkees rescue Princess Bettina, Duchess of Harmonica (Katherine Walsh) from her evil uncle Archduke Otto (Theodore Marcuse).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Robert Schlitt

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  2. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 2 - Monkee See, Monkee Die
    7.7/10(219 votes)

    #2 - Monkee See, Monkee Die

    S1:E2

    The Monkees spend the night in a haunted house to collect an inheritance.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Treva Silverman

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  3. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 3 - Monkee vs. Machine
    8.1/10(217 votes)

    #3 - Monkee vs. Machine

    S1:E3

    In a computerized toy factory, the Monkees foil an efficiency expert (Stan Freberg) who wants to replace an old toymaker (Walter Janovitz) with automation.

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writer:David Panich

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  4. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 4 - Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers
    8.0/10(188 votes)

    #4 - Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers

    S1:E4

    A shady PR man (Andre Philippe) kidnaps the Monkees to prevent them from winning a talent contest in order for his clients (rival band the Four Swines) to win.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Dave Evans

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  5. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 5 - The Spy Who Came in From the Cool
    7.8/10(181 votes)

    #5 - The Spy Who Came in From the Cool

    S1:E5

    The Monkees get mixed up in a spy ring (Jacques Aubuchon, Arlene Martel) after Davy accidentally purchases a set of red maracas containing secret microfilm. Can the Monkees outwit two professional spies ?

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  6. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 6 - Success Story
    7.5/10(163 votes)

    #6 - Success Story

    S1:E6

    Davy's grandfather (Ben Wright) visits, and the Monkees try to convince him that his grandson is wealthy and successful.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Bernie Orenstein, Dee Caruso

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  7. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 7 - The Monkees in a Ghost Town
    8.0/10(192 votes)

    #7 - The Monkees in a Ghost Town

    S1:E7

    Stranded in a ghost town after their car runs out of gas, the Monkees are held prisoner by bank robbers (Len Lesser, Lon Chaney Jr.) and their boss, "The Big Man" (Rose Marie).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Robert Schlitt

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  8. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 8 - Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth (a.k.a. Gift Horse)
    7.1/10(152 votes)

    #8 - Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth (a.k.a. Gift Horse)

    S1:E8

    Davy is given a horse, which the Monkees have to hide from their landlord, Mr. Babbitt (Henry Corden). It is returned to a heart-broken child (Kerry MacLane) and father (Jim Boles) after Davy rides it to victory over the horse of the father's neighbor. Famed character actor, and frequent Bob Hope sideman, Jerry Colonna plays veterinarian Doctor Mann.

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writer:Dave Evans

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  9. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 9 - The Chaperone
    7.9/10(163 votes)

    #9 - The Chaperone

    S1:E9

    Davy's feelings for retired General Harley Vandenberg's (Arch Johnson) daughter Leslie (Sherry Alberoni) leads Micky to pose as a female chaperone at a party after the real chaperone (Diana Chesney) gets drunk.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  10. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 10 - Here Come the Monkees
    7.2/10(173 votes)

    #10 - Here Come the Monkees

    S1:E10

    The Monkees play a sweet sixteen party and help the birthday girl (Robyn Millan) with her studies after she falls for Davy.

    Director:Mike Elliot
    Writers:Larry Tucker, Paul Mazursky

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  11. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 11 - Monkees à la Carte
    7.5/10(145 votes)

    #11 - Monkees à la Carte

    S1:E11

    The Monkees pose as the Purple Flower Gang to save their favourite Italian restaurant from a gangster (Harvey Lembeck).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Bernie Orenstein, Dee Caruso

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  12. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 12 - I've Got a Little Song Here
    7.9/10(173 votes)

    #12 - I've Got a Little Song Here

    S1:E12

    Mike is fleeced by a fraudulent music publisher (Phil Leeds), but Micky dons the guise of a flashy Hollywood producer to get Mike's money back.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writer:Treva Silverman

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  13. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 13 - One Man Shy
    7.9/10(154 votes)

    #13 - One Man Shy

    S1:E13

    Bashful Peter tries to win the heart of lovely debutante Valerie Cartwright (Lisa James) while dealing with her haughty boyfriend Ronnie Farnsworth (George Furth).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Treva Silverman, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  14. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 14 - Dance, Monkee, Dance
    7.8/10(153 votes)

    #14 - Dance, Monkee, Dance

    S1:E14

    The Monkees sign up for lessons at Renaldo's Dance Au Go Go (Hal March), and then find out that their contracts are for life.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

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  15. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 15 - Too Many Girls (a.k.a. Davy and Fern)
    7.9/10(139 votes)

    #15 - Too Many Girls (a.k.a. Davy and Fern)

    S1:E15

    A domineering stage mother tries to use Davy to further her daughter Fern's career.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  16. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 16 - Son of a Gypsy
    7.2/10(139 votes)

    #16 - Son of a Gypsy

    S1:E16

    A band of gypsies, headed by the powerful Maria (Jeanne Arnold), force the Monkees to steal a priceless statuette called the "Maltese Vulture."

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Treva Silverman, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  17. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 17 - The Case of the Missing Monkee
    7.6/10(146 votes)

    #17 - The Case of the Missing Monkee

    S1:E17

    Peter becomes involved with the disappearance of the respected Professor Milo Schnitzler (Norbert Schiller) and then disappears himself.

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  18. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 18 - I Was a Teenage Monster
    8.2/10(163 votes)

    #18 - I Was a Teenage Monster

    S1:E18

    A mad scientist (John Hoyt) hires the Monkees to teach his monster (Richard Kiel) music—and then transplants their musical talent into the monster. Can the Monkees get their talent back? Byron Foulger appears as Groot, Dr. Mendoza's assistant.

    Director:Sidney Miller
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  19. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 19 - Find the Monkees
    7.9/10(153 votes)

    #19 - Find the Monkees

    S1:E19

    When television producer Hubbell Bensen (Carl Ballantine) hears a tape of the Monkees, he frantically stages auditions in the hope of finding them for his new television show, unaware they are desperately trying to audition for him.

    Director:Richard Nunis
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  20. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 20 - Monkees in the Ring
    7.3/10(138 votes)

    #20 - Monkees in the Ring

    S1:E20

    A crooked fight promoter (Ned Glass) prepares to cash in on a big bet by making Davy a stooge in a bout with the champ.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  21. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 21 - The Prince and the Paupers
    7.1/10(128 votes)

    #21 - The Prince and the Paupers

    S1:E21

    Davy doubles for a lookalike Peruvian prince in order to win the heart of Wendy Forsythe (Heather North) or forfeit his throne to evil Count Myron (Oscar Beregi Jr.).

    Director:James Komack
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  22. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 22 - Monkees at the Circus
    7.5/10(147 votes)

    #22 - Monkees at the Circus

    S1:E22

    To save a bankrupt circus, the Monkees pose as a troupe of dazzling, supreme high-wire artists from France known as the Mozzarelli Brothers, but get in trouble when their guise requires them to actually perform.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writer:David Panich

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  23. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 23 - Captain Crocodile
    8.0/10(153 votes)

    #23 - Captain Crocodile

    S1:E23

    The Monkees' appearance on popular children's show The Captain Crocodile Show is sabotaged by its host (Joey Forman), who fears that his guest's popularity is diminishing his own.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Gerald Gardner, Robert Schlitt, Dee Caruso

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  24. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 24 - Monkees à la Mode
    7.5/10(152 votes)

    #24 - Monkees à la Mode

    S1:E24

    The Monkees are chosen as "Typical Young Americans of the Year," by Chic magazine, a haughty publication that runs a bogus article on the group moulding them into a false image of clean cut young men.

    Director:Alexander Singer
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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  25. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 25 - Alias Micky Dolenz
    7.6/10(148 votes)

    #25 - Alias Micky Dolenz

    S1:E25

    The police cash in on Micky's striking resemblance to imprisoned crime kingpin Baby Face Morales in an attempt to locate robbery loot.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Royal Flush" is the best rated episode of "The Monkees" season 1. It scored 7.4/10 based on 254 votes. Directed by James Frawley and written by Peter Meyerson, Robert Schlitt, it aired on 9/12/1966. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Monkee See, Monkee Die".