7.9/10141 votes#1 - The Southbound Bus
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1994
Tess guides Monica on her first assignment as a case worker after being promoted from search and rescue. On the southbound bus, she befriends David Morrow, a young boy who tells her that his mother and sister died in a car accident. After helping David fend off some bullies, Monica escorts him home. There she meets his father, Nick a police detective who is looking for a live-in nanny. Monica is hired on the spot, but soon has a chance encounter with Adam, the Angel of Death, who informs her that although David's sister, Katie died of crib death, his mother is very alive. Confronting the child with his untruth, Monica learns that his guilt-wracked mother left home afterwards and hasn't returned. She promises to bring his mother home and sets out to find her in Hewitt, leaving David is Tess's care. In a seedy cafe, Monica befriends two waitresses, and mistakes one of them as David's mother. She arranges a meeting between Ruth Ann and Nick, which backfires when the police office
Director: Jerry Jameson
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/10119 votes
#2 - Show Me the Way Home
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1994
Monica is assigned to Earl Rowley, a crusty baseball coach. Bitter because his Vietnam War injury prevented him from pursuing a major league career, he pushes his high school players hard, especially Peter Enloe, the star player whose own father died. Earl is less than thrilled to have a female assistant coach but is told that Monica was the only substitute teacher who had a strong credentials in both history and baseball. Tess, in the meantime, accepts a position working in a sports bar run by Peter's mother, Laura. A few days before a crucial game, Earl appoints the young man team captain and tells him a college scout will be watching the game tp see if Peter is worthy of a baseball scholarship. However, the coach also expects Peter to lead the team with his authoritarian leadership style. Prompted by Monica's history lesson that sometimes a person must stand up to a bully, the teamcaptain takes a stand against Earl, which results ini a fistfight and Peter's suspension from the
Director: N/A
Writer: Chris Ruppenthal
- 8.0/10104 votes
#3 - Tough Love
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/1994
Monica serves as the personal assistant to Elizabeth Jessup, a prominent journalist, and the angel soon learns that her new assignment has a serious drinking problem. At a birthday party for her granddaughter Beth, Liz has too much to drink, which prompts her own daughter Sydney to take her daughter home. Soo afterwards, the newswoman makes a spectacle of herself while giving a speech at the Mayor's Centennial kick-off. This incident causes Sydney to stage an intervention for her mother with the help of Anita, a counselor at the New Hope Center. But this action backfires and an enraged Liz orders her guests to leave. Thenext day, Monica returns to work and learns that Liz started drinking to fit in with her male counterparts. Monica convinces her employer to visit the New Hope Center. However, upon seeing Anita, Liz loses her temper and storms out out othe the building. Although Sydney refuses to let Beth have contact with her grandmother, the child sneaks out to see Liz anyway
Director: Tim Van Patten
Writer: Del Shores
- 8.0/10100 votes
#4 - Fallen Angela
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/1994
Monica learns to overcome her fear of water when she moves next door to Angela Evans, an avid boater with a secretive past. Years ago during college, she supportive as a call girl. Now that her husband Carter is running for the U.S. Senate, she is being blackmailed by Marshall, her former pimp. Monica convinces Angela to stand up to him, but learns that he had taken photos of her in compromising positions. Rather than tell Carter the truth, she attempt suicide by intentionally sinking her boat in the middle of the lake. Adam, cautions Monica not to violate Angela's free will by rescuing her. the resourceful angel shows the woman how her suicide would affect her loved ones, and she chooses to live. Revealing herself after the rescue, Monica admits overcoming her own fear of water when she saw Angela about to drown and encourages her to return home and confide in Carter. Together, the Evans decide to hold a press conference regarding Angela's past, freeing them from the threat of
Director: Tim Van Patten
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1094 votes
#5 - Cassie's Choice
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/1994
Cassie Peter's is pregnant and plans to give her baby up for adoption. Although neither Craig (the baby's father) nor Joanne (Cassie's mother) is present for the delivery, Monica is, posing as a nurse. After holding her daughter, Cassie changes her mind and runs away, much to the chagrin of the Feldman's, the adoptive parents. Monica and Tess are keeping watch over the mother and child when they learn from Adam, that the child is seriously ill. Monica gently prods Cassie to take the chihld to the hospital, where the teenager begins to realize she is not ready for the rigors of motherhood. Monica's revelation reinforces this fact, and Cassie returns home and gives the baby to the Feldman's. At the infant dedication, Mrs. Feldman announces that she and Ben have named their baby Faith. Cassie asks for a moment with her daughter and plays the flute for her legacy of music that runs in the family.
Director: Burt Brinckerhoff
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
- 7.8/1088 votes
#6 - The Heart of the Matter
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/1994
Monica serves as a legal assistant to a young lawyer, Charles Hibbard, he mistakenly gives an inheritance to an eccentric young woman, Robin and must convince her to give it back. Charles is a hypochondriac with an imagined heart condition. Monica help him to open his heart and he falls in love with Robin.
Director: Max Tash
Writer: Chris Ruppenthal
- 7.7/1089 votes
#7 - An Unexpected Snow
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/7/1994
Monica and Tess arrange an accident on a deserted road for Megan and Susana, two women involved with the same man. The angels create an estate where the women and eventually Susana's husband spend Thanksgiving together. The angels are assisted by Adam, who doesn't have the heart to kill the turkey for dinner. Monica convinces Megan that she must find someone else and Tess convinces Jack to return to his marriage.
Director: Timothy Bond
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1084 votes
#8 - Manny
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/1994
Monica and Tess are party coordinators for Harrison Trowbridge Archibald IV, a stuffy doctor whose wife, Barbara, and mother, Amelia, are planning a prestigious social event to commemorate a new hospital expansion named after their family. They are in the midst or preparation when Manny arrives at their doorstep, claiming to be the Archibald's sponsor through Child Watch. unable to have children of their own, Barbara welcomes him with open arms although her husband remains suspicious. Just as Harrison starts to bond with ""Manny,"". Monica learns the boy is not from Child Watch but is really Luis, a homeless child who lives under the hospital. The angel reveals herself and urges him to tell the Archibald's the truth. When he does, Harrison becomes irate and wants to throw Luis out of the house, but Barbara and Amelia convince the doctor to wait until after the party. Tess, in turn, prods Amelia to tell her son the truth about his heritage, not only are the Bowthorpes of Charleston
Director: Tim Van Patten
Writer: Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin
- 8.8/10146 votes
#9 - Fear Not!
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/25/1994
A small town church is putting on its Christmas pageant, and little Serena desperately wants to be the angel. Her slightly retarded friend Joey, must come to terms with the fact that Serena is dying of a heart condition. Joey is patholigically afraid of the dark, his parents went out into the night and never came back. Since then , his older brother wayne has been his caregiver, and resented it. Monica reveals herself to Wayne, but he holds God responsible for his lousy life. When Serena dies the night of the pageant. Joey is led to the church by a bright star. Monica takes Serena's place as the angel, but when the rope supporting her breaks, Monica rises with glory and power and the entire congregation is awed by her angelic revelation and message ""Fear Not.""
Director: Tim Van Patten
Writer: Ken LaZebnik
- 8.4/1097 votes
#10 - There, But For the Grace of God
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/25/1995
Monica is stripped of her angelic powers to help a proud, homeless man named Pete. She also befriends Sophie and Zack a Desert Storm vet. Monica realizes that she has stood judgement on homeless people and after a prayer she washes Pete's feet. Sophis is reunited with her family. Zack trades his Marine corp rine for Pete's wifes ashes and a quarter to call home. With God's help Pete is able to go to colorado to spread his wifes ashes.
Director: Bruce Bilson
Writer: Bob Colleary
- 7.9/1081 votes
#11 - The Hero
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/4/1995
Three years ago, James Mackey defused a tense hostage situation by shooting the gunman who had fatally wounded James's partner. Now Monica is a journalist writing a story about the small-town sheriff and local hero. Although a loving father, Mackey places intense pressure on his son, Matthew so he can gain admission to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Rather than risk not doing well, the boy cheats on a college entrance exam but gets caught. Afraid of how his father will react, Matt attempts suicide. While in a coma, Monica uses her angelic powers to talk to him and convince him to live. She later helps Sheriff Mackey resolve his own inner torment, his late partner, Nick Hansen, was the true hero. Mackey had frozen when they confronted the criminals, and Nick saved his life. Monica convinces Mackey that God loves him regardless and is able to reunite father and son.
Director: Max Tash
Writer: Marilyn Osborn
The Best Episodes of Touched by an Angel Season 1
Every episode of Touched by an Angel Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Touched by an Angel Season 1!
Monica, an angel, is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who are at a crossroads in their lives.
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyDramaFamily
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Southbound Bus" is the best rated episode of "Touched by an Angel" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 141 votes. Directed by Jerry Jameson and written by N/A, it aired on 9/21/1994. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Show Me the Way Home".