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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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Vow Season 1 Episode 9 - The Fall
    7.0/10(215 votes)

    #1 - The Fall

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Vow Season 1 Episode 4 - Building Character
    7.1/10(253 votes)

    #2 - Building Character

    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

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  3. The Vow Season 1 Episode 6 - Honesty & Disclosure
    7.1/10(224 votes)

    #3 - Honesty & Disclosure

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Vow Season 1 Episode 7 - Blame & Responsibility
    7.1/10(209 votes)

    #4 - Blame & Responsibility

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Vow Season 1 Episode 5 - Class 1 Data
    7.2/10(230 votes)

    #5 - Class 1 Data

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Vow Season 1 Episode 1 - The Science of Joy
    7.3/10(341 votes)

    #6 - The Science of Joy

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Vow Season 1 Episode 8 - The Wound
    7.3/10(216 votes)

    #7 - The Wound

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Vow Season 2 Episode 3 - Stimulus and Response
    7.5/10(117 votes)

    #8 - Stimulus and Response

    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

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  9. The Vow Season 2 Episode 1 - Tests of Loyalty
    7.7/10(139 votes)

    #9 - Tests of Loyalty

    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

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  10. The Vow Season 2 Episode 2 - Rapport
    7.7/10(126 votes)

    #10 - Rapport

    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

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  11. The Vow Season 1 Episode 2 - Viscera
    7.8/10(301 votes)

    #11 - Viscera

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Vow Season 1 Episode 3 - At Cause
    7.8/10(275 votes)

    #12 - At Cause

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Vow Season 2 Episode 4 - The Breach
    8.0/10(116 votes)

    #13 - The Breach

    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

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  14. The Vow Season 2 Episode 5 - The Room
    8.1/10(107 votes)

    #14 - The Room

    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

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  15. The Vow Season 2 Episode 6 - Crime and Punishment
    8.8/10(126 votes)

    #15 - Crime and Punishment

    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:Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Fall" is the worst rated episode of "The Vow". It scored 7/10 based on 215 votes. Directed by Karim Amer, Jehane Noujaim and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/18/2020. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Building Character".