The Pretender backdrop
Drama•Mystery•Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The Best Episodes of The Pretender

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

Binge this in 2d 13h•Peaking at 9.0/10

Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    The Pretender Season 2 Episode 22 - Bloodlines (2)
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #1 - Bloodlines (2)

    S2:E22

    BLUE COVE, DELAWARE - Jarod, along with Angelo (Timmy), try to find a way to rescue the kidnapped child. Miss Parker confronts her father about her discovery that she has a twin. Sydney plots to finally have his revenge against Mr. Raines, but his plan backfires...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 14 - At the Hour of Our Death
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #2 - At the Hour of Our Death

    S3:E14

    Jarod and Miss Parker recall a childhood incident where they and Angelo met a dying girl at the Centre.

    Director:Steven Long Mitchell
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 1 - The World's Changing
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #3 - The World's Changing

    S4:E1

    Once again a prisoner of the Centre, Jarod discovers a plot to murder a team of nuclear researchers, giving him even more motivation to escape. Meanwhile, Sydney and Broots try to find Miss Parker and Miss Parker tries to find her father -- and figure out who to trust.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 5 - Road Trip
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #4 - Road Trip

    S4:E5

    Jarod finds himself on a road trip to help a mysterious young woman, whom he falls for. Meanwhile, he tells Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots to 'follow the yellow brick road'.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Daniel Truly

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 7 - Wild Child
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #5 - Wild Child

    S4:E7

    Jarod Pretends to be a psychologist to help a young girl found living alone in the wilderness. Meanwhile. Miss Parker finds out a Centre contract has been taken out on her father's life, leading her to look more closely at Mr. Cox.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Joel Metzger

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 9 - 'Til Death Do Us Part
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #6 - 'Til Death Do Us Part

    S4:E9

    On the anniversary of Thomas' death, Jarod challenges a haunted Miss Parker to resume her hunt for his killer. But the search leads back to her father and Brigitte, who is close to giving birth.

    Director:Craig W. Van Sickle
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Pretender

    READ
  7. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 10 - Spin Doctor (I)
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #7 - Spin Doctor (I)

    S4:E10

    Jarod tries to track down the killer of a man who helped him escape from The Centre. Meanwhile, Miss Parker tries to help Sydney deal with his past. The crossover continues on Profiler S04E10 Clean Sweep (II).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Juan Carlos Coto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 19 - The Inner Sense (1)
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #8 - The Inner Sense (1)

    S4:E19

    Jarod finally locates his sister Emily, just in time to see her nearly assassinated by The Centre. Meanwhile, Miss Parker's search of the secrets behind her mother's death lead her and Jarod to the same place -- and a mysterious young man named Ethan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 20 - The Inner Sense (2)
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #9 - The Inner Sense (2)

    S4:E20

    Jarod finally locates his sister Emily, just in time to see her nearly assassinated by The Centre. Meanwhile, Miss Parker's search of the secrets behind her mother's death lead her and Jarod to the same place -- and a mysterious young man named Ethan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #10 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    New York, New York - Miss Parker and Sydney find they had just missed Jarod helping a tanker ship in Alaska. Jarod is now posing as a doctor to uncover the truth behind an operation that resulted in a boy becoming paraplegic. Jarod also befriends a sicilian woman who has trouble with (ahem) bowel movements.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 14 - Ranger Jarod
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #11 - Ranger Jarod

    S1:E14

    TOLUCA NATIONAL FOREST, OREGON - Jarod falls in love with his hiking partner while on a seach-and-rescue for a boy who disappeared in the mountains. Jarod also befriends a man named Big Bob who has many stooge-ish qualitites. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker reminisces about how she loved Jarod when they were children.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 20 - Baby Love
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #12 - Baby Love

    S1:E20

    WYOMING(?) - After a close call with getting caught by Miss Parker, Jarod stumbles upon a baby who was thrown into a dumpster. Jarod takes the child and nurses it until he can find his parents while avoiding sinister authorities. At the same time, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots all follow clues that Jarod has dug up in reference to the meaning of SL-27.

    Director:Joe Napolitano
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 22 - The Dragon House (2)
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #13 - The Dragon House (2)

    S1:E22

    UPSTATE NEW YORK - Jarod discovers more about his family through Harriet, and decides that he must return to The Centre to free his brother Kyle. Meanwhile, Miss Parker convinces Broots and Sydney in helping her find the answers to her mother's death and believes Kyle may be the key. Finally, Jarod gets the opportunity to reunite with his family, including his sister. But The Centre becomes aware of the rendezvous and intends to stop it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 2 - Scott Free
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Scott Free

    S2:E2

    MIDDLETOWN, DELAWARE - Jarod intercepts the role of a real safecracker to help a man who's being forced to participate in one more heist. Jarod also starts to feel the need of a father figure and turns to Sydney. Meanwhile, Brigitte tries to take control over Miss Parker's role in the capture of Jarod.

    Director:Joe Napolitano
    Writer:Tommy Thompson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 3 - Over The Edge
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Over The Edge

    S2:E3

    SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - Jarod becomes a member of the emergency search and rescue team, trying to figure out the true cause of another member's supposed suicide-attempt. Jarod also tries to reunite him with his estranged mother. Meanwhile, at The Centre, a criminal behaviorist is brought in to interrogate and find the person who shot Mr. Raines' oxygen tank. Finally, Jarod utilizes a sensory deprivation tank to simulate closeness to his mother.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writers:Tony Blake, Paul Jackson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 7 - Collateral Damage
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Collateral Damage

    S2:E7

    LOST HILLS, VIRGINIA - Jarod becomes a Special Forces soldier to help the daughter of a Vietnam veteran get her father's name added to the War Memorial. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker reluctantly babysits Debbie while Broots is in Florida on an assignment.

    Director:Vern Gillum
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 20 - Bank
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Bank

    S2:E20

    DOVER, DELAWARE - Jarod tricks Miss Parker to meet him at a bank, where they come face to face with the mysterious Mr. Fenigor. But this arrangement gets complicated when there's a robbery the same day. When The Centre gets news that Jarod is trapped in this hostage situation, they close in and make sure he'll not slip through their fingers this time.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 6 - Parole
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Parole

    S3:E6

    Jarod portrays a paroled convict to aid a widow; Sydney learns startling news while consoling an old lover whose husband is dying.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Tommy Thompson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 21 - Donoterase (1)
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Donoterase (1)

    S3:E21

    Jarod's reunion with his father is marred by news of the Centre's latest project -- a teenaged clone of Jarod himself. However, assassins from the Centre are hot on their trail.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 22 - Donoterase (2)
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Donoterase (2)

    S3:E22

    Conclusion from part 1. Jarod and his father plan a rescue the clone created by the Centre's, while Miss Parker must face new truths from inside the Centre and more about her mother's murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 4 - Risque Business
    8.3/10(2 votes)

    #21 - Risque Business

    S4:E4

    Jarod pretends to be a sex therapist to investigate a brutal assault on a doctor. Meanwhile, Broots tries to summon up the courage to reveal his feelings to Miss Parker.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Daniel Truly

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 6 - Extreme
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Extreme

    S4:E6

    Jarod Pretends to be an extreme sports enthusiast in order to learn what happened to a comatose young man. Meanwhile, Miss Parker, Sydney, and Broots follow Jarod's "game show" clues, and find themselves investigating Mr. Lyle.

    Director:Scott Lautanen
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 8 - Rules of Engagement
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #23 - Rules of Engagement

    S4:E8

    Jarod tries to stop a hostage situation in a hospital. Miss Parker is confused by an encounter with her father.

    Director:Rodney Charters
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 12 - Lifeline
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #24 - Lifeline

    S4:E12

    Jarod becomes a bodyguard to reunite an undercover ATF agent and her daughter. Meanwhile. Miss Parker sets out to prove Raines' religious 'conversion' is nothing of the kind.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Juan Carlos Coto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 17 - Meltdown
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #25 - Meltdown

    S4:E17

    Jarod infiltrates a gang of burglars to discover which of them killed a little girl. Meanwhile, an email that isn't there leads Miss Parker to someone who might have answers about her mother's death.

    Director:Krishna Rao
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"Bloodlines (2)" is the best rated episode of "The Pretender". It scored 9/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Craig W. Van Sickle, it aired on 5/16/1998. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "At the Hour of Our Death".