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The Best Episodes of This American Life Season 2

Every episode of This American Life Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of This American Life Season 2!

Binge this in 1h 58mPeaking at 8.4/10

The Peabody Award-winning public radio series that combines journalism with opinion, fiction and biography becomes this highly anticipated TV series hosted by Ira Glass.

Airs on

Seasons2

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    This American Life Season 2 Episode 1 - Escape
    8.2/10(43 votes)

    #1 - Escape

    S2:E1

    Two teenage boys in Philadelphia look for ways to impress girls; and a young man fights for his independence from his mother.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. This American Life Season 2 Episode 2 - Two Wars
    7.0/10(23 votes)

    #2 - Two Wars

    S2:E2

    An Iraqi comes to America after leaving his war-torn country and sets out on a trip across America and lets the U.S. citizens ask questions about any subject; a Bulgarian man decides that an argument with his wife, about lawn upkeep, goes back more than 20 years.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. This American Life Season 2 Episode 3 - Going Down in History
    7.0/10(21 votes)

    #3 - Going Down in History

    S2:E3

    Stories of people trying to make — and remake — history, while others go down in history in ways they never intended. Two Wisconsin convicts gain local fame for almost escaping prison using dental floss. High school students pose for smiley yearbook snapshots, which capture nothing of the dramas in their lives. And a man with a 30-year obsession with one particular bird unveils the grainy, Big Foot-style video evidence that he saw it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. This American Life Season 2 Episode 4 - Underdogs
    6.0/10(25 votes)

    #4 - Underdogs

    S2:E4

    A group of teenage boys, in New York City, learn how to fight back against bullies in an old fashioned way; two boxers from Tennessee who have known each other, since they were kids, must face each other in a fight that they can't lose.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. This American Life Season 2 Episode 5 - Every Marriage Is a Courtroom
    6.5/10(25 votes)

    #5 - Every Marriage Is a Courtroom

    S2:E5

    Cartoonist Chris Ware animates a true story that demonstrates that every marriage—even the happiest—is a courtroom. But most of the episode is devoted to the slow-motion disintegration of one couple's marriage. The husband's obsession with a legal battle forces the most basic marital questions into the open: what do I need? And what can I put up with?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. This American Life Season 2 Episode 6 - John Smith
    8.4/10(41 votes)

    #6 - John Smith

    S2:E6

    The story of one life, told through the lives of people from all over the country, all named John Smith. Baby John Smith is 11 weeks old, in South Carolina, and his parents are still reeling from the sonograms that all predicted he would be a girl. By the time he's 23, John Smith in Laramie, Wyoming, has made some mistakes and is appearing in front of a judge. At 46, he's in Texas, welcoming his oldest son back from Iraq. In-depth portraits of people growing up, growing old, and figuring out how to be fathers, husbands, and men in America today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. This American Life Season 2 Episode 7 - No Respect
    6.4/10(10 votes)

    #7 - No Respect

    S2:E7

    This episode examines comedians and their audiences. It includes segments about performing for a rowdy crowd, and a piece about Mike Birbiglia's worst gig ever.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 2 Ratings Summary

"Escape" is the best rated episode of "This American Life" season 2. It scored 8.2/10 based on 43 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/4/2008. This episode is rated 1.2 points higher than the second-best, "Two Wars".