The Vow backdrop
Documentary•Crime•Drama

The Worst Episodes of The Vow

Every episode of The Vow ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Vow!

Binge this in 14h 35m•Peaking at 8.8/10

The docuseries follows people deeply involved in the group NXIVM — which is faced with various charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy — over the course of several years.

Airs on
HBO
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons2

All12

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    The Vow Season 1 Episode 9 - The Fall
    7.0/10(223 votes)

    S1:E9

    Keith hasn't been seen in Clifton Park for weeks, and the team gets a tip on where he might be. Catherine meets with India, who maintains her position. Mark and Bonnie return to Clifton Park for the first time since leaving NXIVM and confront their memories of Keith and the curriculum. Sarah, Bonnie, Mark, Nippy, and Catherine face a shocking development in the case.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Vow Season 1 Episode 4 - Building Character
    7.1/10(263 votes)

    S1:E4

    Mark, Bonnie, Sarah and Nippy strategize with Catherine Oxenberg about how to get her daughter, India, out of DOS, even though she wants to stay. "Jane," India's close friend, describes the appeal of the organization and why she left it all behind.

    Director:Omar Mullick
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Vow Season 1 Episode 6 - Honesty & Disclosure
    7.1/10(232 votes)

    S1:E6

    Sarah, Mark and Nippy contact additional news outlets to provoke outrage and pressure law enforcement to pay attention. Barbara Bouchey, a former board member and early defector, reflects on her time in Keith's inner circle.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Vow Season 1 Episode 7 - Blame & Responsibility
    7.1/10(217 votes)

    S1:E7

    After learning that the New York Attorney General's chief investigator is interested in building a criminal case against Keith, Catherine travels to Buffalo to meet with Frank Parlato, creator of the anti-NXIVM blog "The Frank Report," to build a dossier of evidence. Meanwhile, we're introduced to Toni Natalie, one of Keith's former girlfriends, who takes us back to the '90s to share her experiences and the challenges she faced with Keith during the days of his first company, Consumers' Buyline.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Vow Season 1 Episode 1 - The Science of Joy
    7.2/10(352 votes)

    S1:E1

    Mark Vicente and Sarah Edmondson, high-ranking former NXIVM leaders, describe the dream and mission of NXIVM to build a better world. Bonnie Piesse, Mark's wife, tells him she's worried about the organization and Keith Raniere, NXIVM's leader and Mark's mentor. Mark wonders how could tools to make a better, more ethical world be misused?

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Vow Season 1 Episode 5 - Class 1 Data
    7.2/10(238 votes)

    S1:E5

    Catherine believes her daughter is in danger and wants her to come home. When she and the former members are unable to get the attention of the authorities, they approach the New York Times. Meanwhile, Mark reflects on his time at NXIVM.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Vow

    READ
  7. The Vow Season 1 Episode 8 - The Wound
    7.2/10(224 votes)

    S1:E8

    As the group gathers evidence for their FBI testimonies, they express their beliefs about how the curriculums of SOP and JNESS, men's and women's groups within NXIVM, reshaped their ideas on gender roles in society and may have laid the foundation for DOS.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Vow Season 2 Episode 3 - Stimulus and Response
    7.5/10(122 votes)

    S2:E3

    Marc Agnifilo presents his case attesting to the good work of NXIVM; Marc Elliot remains loyal to Keith Raniere after he claims the symptoms of his Tourette’s syndrome were successfully reduced by Nancy Salzman. First-line DOS member and NXIVM leader, Lauren Salzman takes the stand… for the prosecution!

    Director:Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Vow Season 2 Episode 1 - Tests of Loyalty
    7.6/10(145 votes)

    S2:E1

    Prosecutor Moira Penza and defense attorney Marc Agnifilo prepare for trial after the arrest of Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, Clare Bronfman, Allison Mack and Lauren Salzman. DOS members Nicki Clyne and Michele Hatchette offer a different perspective into NXIVM, DOS, and Raniere, while Nancy Salzman, under house arrest, sits down to speak with the filmmakers.

    Director:Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Vow Season 1 Episode 2 - Viscera
    7.7/10(310 votes)

    S1:E2

    After seven years, Bonnie leaves NXIVM for Los Angeles and tries desperately to get through to Mark, who reassures her all is well. Mark remains loyal to Keith and NXIVM, but a series of phone calls begin to sow doubt within him.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Vow Season 2 Episode 2 - Rapport
    7.7/10(131 votes)

    S2:E2

    Nancy Salzman looks back at her professional and personal relationship with Keith Raniere and defends her intentions with the company: to help people achieve lasting, personal growth through Executive Success Programs. The first witnesses in the trial are called to the stand, including defector Mark Vicente and Raniere victim Sylvie.

    Director:Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Vow Season 1 Episode 3 - At Cause
    7.8/10(284 votes)

    S1:E3

    Sarah confides to Mark about DOS, a secret group involving "masters" and "slaves," and struggles in her relationships with NXIVM, her husband and her best friend. Sarah and Mark lament how many members they've recruited and question what to do next.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Vow Season 2 Episode 4 - The Breach
    8.0/10(122 votes)

    S2:E4

    Lauren Salzman testifies to decades of manipulation at the hands of Keith Raniere, a man she loved. Her loyalty and devotion eventually turned her into both a victim and victimizer of other women. NXIVM supporters are unconvinced by the evidence presented in court. Nancy Salzman grapples with learning the extent of Raniere’s sexual pursuit of both of her daughters.

    Director:Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Vow Season 2 Episode 5 - The Room
    8.1/10(113 votes)

    S2:E5

    A witness for the prosecution gives heart-wrenching testimony about how Keith Raniere groomed her from a very young age and describes the coercive abuse she suffered at his hands, including being isolated in a room for two years. We learn the witness’s younger sister was preyed upon by Raniere; this shocking and overwhelming evidence finally convinced Nancy Salzman to plead guilty and disavow Raniere. The trial concludes and all await the verdict.

    Director:Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Vow Season 2 Episode 6 - Crime and Punishment
    8.8/10(133 votes)

    S2:E6

    Keith Raniere is found guilty on all charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy, identity theft and production and possession of child pornography. Many survivors of his abuse come forward to deliver powerful victim impact statements and he is sentenced to 120 years. His supporters work to exonerate him, and he plans to appeal. Nancy Salzman comes to a painful reckoning; she is sentenced to 42 months in federal prison.

    Directors:Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Fall" is the worst rated episode of "The Vow". It scored 7/10 based on 223 votes. Directed by Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/18/2020. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Building Character".