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The Best Episodes Written By Alan Ball

Every TV Episode Written by Alan Ball Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Alan Ball Ratings Summary

"Everyone's Waiting" is the best rated episode written by Alan Ball. It scored 9/10 based on 26 votes. It was directed by Alan Ball. It aired on 8/21/2005 and is rated 0.1 points higher than their second-best episode, "Knock, Knock".

  • Everyone's Waiting
    9.0/1026 votes

    #1 - Everyone's Waiting

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 8/21/2005

    David finally embraces a demon; Keith gives 'tough love'; Nathaniel talks to his younger son; Brenda delivers and fights Nate's negativity; Claire gets an exciting call; Ted inspires sexy photos; Margaret is impressed to see Olivier's nurturing side; George's limitations eclipse his intentions; and Claire drives into her future.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Knock, Knock
    8.9/107 votes

    #2 - Knock, Knock

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 8/19/2001

    The Fisher family experiences the control-freak side of Tracy Montrose Blaire; Brenda visits a remorseful Billy; David faces problems at his church; Gabe reverts to some bad habits; and Rico finds reason to celebrate.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Pilot
    8.8/1012 votes

    #3 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/3/2001

    Nate Fisher returns home for the holidays to the shattering news of his father's death.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Someone Else's Eyes
    8.3/106 votes

    #4 - Someone Else's Eyes

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 4/28/2002

    Ruth continues to help an injured Nikolai recover, but her patience is tested when she discovers just how he broke his legs. Brenda's escapades help her to write, but her feelings about being engaged grow more muddled--especially after Billy's release from the hospital.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Evil Is Going On
    8.3/1014 votes

    #5 - Evil Is Going On

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 9/12/2010

    Eric plots his revenge against Russell; Sookie considers a new life without Bill; Tara discovers some surprising news about Sam; Jason finds a new calling; Lafayette turns to Jesus for help; Hoyt hopes for a future with Jessica.

    Director: Anthony Hemingway

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Save Yourself
    8.1/1014 votes

    #6 - Save Yourself

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 8/26/2012

    Eric tries to save Bill from losing his humanity.

    Director: Michael Lehmann

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Frenzy
    8.1/1018 votes

    #7 - Frenzy

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 8/30/2009

    With the crisis in Bon Temps careening out of control, Bill seeks out the advice of Sophie-Anne, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, but must exercise patience before she gives him critical information. Meanwhile, Sookie and Lafayette find that protecting Tara from herself is more difficult than they anticipated; a desperate Sam turns to an unlikely source for assistance; and Jessica tests Hoyt’s allegiance to Maxine.

    Director: Daniel Minahan

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Perfect Circles
    8.0/107 votes

    #8 - Perfect Circles

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 3/2/2003

    Fisher & Sons has become Fisher & Diaz, and Rico is doing all he can to make sure he's not a 'gofer' anymore. Meanwhile, David and Keith decide to give couple's therapy a try, Claire skips art class to get to know a crematory worker named Phil; and Ruth goes overboard in her obsession with her granddaughter Maya.

    Director: Rodrigo García

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Nobody Sleeps
    8.0/108 votes

    #9 - Nobody Sleeps

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 3/23/2003

    While the partner of a recently deceased gay man is orchestrating an operatic tribute at Fisher & Diaz, Lisa plans an unwanted birthday party for Ruth. Meanwhile, Claire has a night to remember with Russell and two outlaw art teachers.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • The First Taste
    7.9/1030 votes

    #10 - The First Taste

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/2008

    After Sookie gets saved by Bill she suffers a lot of injuries and Bill tries to save her "the Vampire way". The next day her brother is released from police custody and the bodies of Sookie's attackers are found. Later that day Bill goes to visit Sookie's family and gets a not so friendly welcome.

    Director: Scott Winant

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • An Open Book
    7.6/108 votes

    #11 - An Open Book

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 7/1/2001

    Ruth is stunned by the visitors at a porn star's wake; Nate has a strange first meeting with Brenda's brother Billy; and Keith takes issue with David's desire to replace his father as deacon at the family church.

    Director: Kathy Bates

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • In the Game
    7.6/107 votes

    #12 - In the Game

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 3/3/2002

    A young actress's death prompts her castmates from a slasher film to pitch in for a cheap funeral at Fisher & Sons. Meanwhile, Ruth arranges a dinner for Nate, David and Claire--and their significant others--after reading a book for parents of gay and lesbian children.

    Director: Rodrigo García

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Shake and Fingerpop
    7.5/1019 votes

    #13 - Shake and Fingerpop

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 7/12/2009

    Bill and Sookie travel to Dallas to carry out Eric's mission; Jason falls victim to a practical joke; Maryann throws a birthday party for Tara.

    Director: Michael Lehmann

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Spellbound
    7.5/1015 votes

    #14 - Spellbound

    Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 8/14/2011

    Bill and Marnie get ready for an open confrontation. The King secures the loyalty of Sookie and Eric. Jason is conflicted emotionally. A spirit manipulates Lafayette for its own purposes. Sam must deal with Marcus who just happens to be Luna's ex.

    Director: Daniel Minahan

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Turn! Turn! Turn!
    7.4/1017 votes

    #15 - Turn! Turn! Turn!

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 6/10/2012

    Sookie and Lafayette clean up the mess. Bill and Eric have a visit from the Vampire authority. Sam and Alcide come to terms with an angry pack.

    Director: Daniel Minahan

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Strange Love
    7.3/1030 votes

    #16 - Strange Love

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/2008

    Across the country, vampires have “come out of the coffin” following the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood. In Louisiana, Sookie Stack house, a waitress with telepathic abilities, falls under the spell of sexy, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton whose thoughts she can’t read. After saving Bill from the Rat trays, a pair of ruthless “vampire drainers”, Sookie tests the limits of Bill’ s gratitude when the two are left alone in the dark. Meanwhile, Sookie’ s best friend Tara goes to work for Sam merlette at his bar and grill, while Sookie’ s roguish brother Jason finds himself in hot water when a “fang-banger” with whom he’s been intimate meets a tragic end.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • I Got a Right to Sing the Blues
    7.3/1017 votes

    #17 - I Got a Right to Sing the Blues

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 7/25/2010

    Spurned by Eric, Sookie fears the worst for Bill, whose fate now lies in Lorena's hands. Fueled by a night of bloody passion, Tara executes a desperate plan to stave off Franklin's advances. In Bon Temps, Tommy finds it difficult to leave the family nest; Jessica gets her fix from a Merlotte's customer; and Jason's romance with Crystal hits a snag, as does Lafayette's with Jesus. After revealing his master plan to Eric, Russell pays a visit to Louisiana in order to start executing it.

    Director: Michael Lehmann

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Mine
    7.3/1026 votes

    #18 - Mine

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/21/2008

    Tara visits LaFayette seeking comfort from her woes, Sookie meets some of Bill's rowdy friends and saves them from harm from a human among them, and, Sookie and Hugo visit the Church of the Fellowship of the Sun.

    Director: John Dahl

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • I Wish I Was the Moon
    7.3/1016 votes

    #19 - I Wish I Was the Moon

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 7/31/2011

    Sookie searches for Jason under a full moon; Marnie connects with spirits of the past; Arlene and Terry cope with a suspicious inferno; Debbie urges Alcide to join a new werewolf community; Tommy trades places with Sam; Lafayette feels the spirit in Mexico; Eric surrenders to his King's will.

    Director: Jeremy Podeswa

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Can I Come Up Now?
    7.2/109 votes

    #20 - Can I Come Up Now?

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 7/11/2004

    David's ex-fiancee re-enters his life in search of answers to the question, 'Why me?' Meanwhile, Nate has a psychic rendezvous, Keith's new job sends him into the closet, Federico identifies with David's past, Claire decides not to let life pass her by, George dumps some surprise baggage on Ruth, and Margaret weighs in on daughter Brenda's new relationship.

    Director: Daniel Minahan

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Eleven Eleven
    7.2/106 votes

    #21 - Eleven Eleven

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 2/11/2018

    As Audrey Bayer puts the finishing touches on her husband Greg’s 60th birthday party – a milestone Greg is loath to celebrate – cracks begin to emerge in their progressive, multiracial family. Ramon, the couple’s Colombian-born son, who’s just starting a relationship with Henry, a barista, is having unexplained, recurring encounters with the numbers “11:11.” Duc, adopted from Vietnam, enjoys the fruits of a lucrative career as a “motivational architect,” but his celibacy troubles Audrey. Liberian-born Ashley, a successful fashion-industry exec, is finding more and more reason to shake up her marriage with her husband, Malcolm. And 17-year-old Kristen, the couple’s youngest child, chafes at her banal life, especially compared to her more exotic siblings. After a troubling incident at the birthday party, Audrey and Greg take Ramon to a therapist, Dr. Farid Shokrani, who has an unlikely and unexplainable connection to the young man.

    Director: Alan Ball

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • If You Love Me, Why am I Dyin'?
    7.2/1016 votes

    #22 - If You Love Me, Why am I Dyin'?

    Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 7/10/2011

    Sookie makes a deal with Eric and reconnects with Alcide; Bill punishes an errant vampire and counsels a guilt-ridden Jessica; Jason is cast as a reluctant savior; Tommy eyes a scam and alienates Sam; Marnie flexes her newfound powers; Pam delivers an ultimatum to Lafayette, Tara and Jesus; Eric spoils Sookie's faerie reunion.

    Director: David Petrarca

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • We'll Meet Again
    7.1/1013 votes

    #23 - We'll Meet Again

    Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 7/1/2012

    Eric and Bill fear for their lives; Lafayette puts Sookie’s life in danger; Roman and Salome root out a Council traitor.

    Director: Romeo Tirone

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • Hopeless
    7.1/1015 votes

    #24 - Hopeless

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 7/15/2012

    Bill and Eric must now face Russell again after Roman is killed by him; Sookie and Jason go to a faery club where their family's dark history and greatest secrets are revealed to them. Meanwhile, Sam volunteers to assist Andy with a case.

    Director: Daniel Attias

    Writer: Alan Ball

  • It's Coming
    6.3/107 votes

    #25 - It's Coming

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 2/18/2018

    Ramon and Shokrani explore the possible psychic connection between “11:11” and a photograph in the doctor’s office. Kristen and Ashley run into trouble. Duc gets good news about his self-help manuscript, but his mood is dampened by the publisher’s request. Audrey is enlisted to help break up a politically incorrect new society at school. Disturbed in part by a medical diagnosis, Greg loses his cool in the classroom. Ramon crashes a family meeting.

    Director: Uta Briesewitz

    Writer: Alan Ball