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
The best episode written by Alan Ball is "Best episode of all time", rated 9/10 from 26 user votes. It was "directed by Alan Ball". "Best episode of all time" aired on 8/21/2005 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than their second highest rated, "Knock, Knock".
9.0/10 26 votes#1 - Best episode of all time
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
8.9/10 7 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
8.3/10 6 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
8.3/10 14 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
8.1/10 14 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
8.1/10 18 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
8.0/10 7 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
8.0/10 8 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
7.9/10 30 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
7.6/10 8 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
7.6/10 7 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
7.5/10 19 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
7.4/10 17 votes#14 - 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
7.4/10 14 votes#15 - 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
7.3/10 29 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
7.3/10 26 votes
7.2/10 9 votes#18 - 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
7.2/10 17 votes#19 - 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
7.2/10 6 votes#20 - 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
7.1/10 15 votes#21 - 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
7.1/10 15 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
7.1/10 15 votes#23 - 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
7.1/10 13 votes#24 - 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
6.3/10 7 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
