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The Best Episodes Written By Ed Burns

Every TV Episode Written by Ed Burns Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 4 Episode 13 - Final Grades
    9.0/10(42 votes)

    #1 - Final Grades

    S4:E13

    "If animal trapped call 410-844-6286" - Baltimore, traditional Burrell tries to help Daniels. Bubbles' big plan backfires and leaves him in big trouble, Colvin tries to find a solution for Namond while Omar makes new plans. Mcnulty tries to pay back his debt.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  2. undefined Season 5 Episode 10 - -30-
    8.9/10(45 votes)

    #2 - -30-

    S5:E10

    "...the life of kings." - H.L. Mencken A damaging report by Pearlman and Daniels gets a reaction from Carcetti, while Haynes finds little support for his concerns about a reporters work from the bosses. Meanwhile, McNulty wants to put a homeless case to an end, Dukie searches for an old mentor and a fallen officer is given a wake.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  3. undefined Season 1 Episode 13 - Sentencing
    8.7/10(52 votes)

    #3 - Sentencing

    S1:E13

    "all in the game..." - Traditional West Baltimore. Every crew has weak links--including Avon Barksdale's. With the heat turned up in the high-rises, Daniels and McNulty turn to a higher authority in an effort to crack the case wide open. Season finale.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  4. undefined Season 1 Episode 11 - The Hunt
    8.6/10(50 votes)

    #4 - The Hunt

    S1:E11

    "Dope on the damn table." - Daniels. The police turn up the heat on tracking down Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Burrell orders Daniels to hit drug dealers for results that will impress the press. Barksdale sees his ranks thinning after the hit on Orlando. Bubbles tries to stay sober while scoping out the projects for McNulty; and Freamon determines there's a rat in the detail.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 12 - Port in a Storm
    8.6/10(47 votes)

    #5 - Port in a Storm

    S2:E12

    'Business. Always business.' -- The Greek The Detail has a setback, while Russell and Bunk revisit Philly to look for evidence. Brother Mouzone talks with Stringer Bell about their agreement, leaving Bell to contend with a dissatisfied Avon Barksdale. Bubbles and Johnny pull another caper and McNulty and Greggs return to the Westside, where they discover new connections.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  6. undefined Season 4 Episode 11 - A New Day
    8.5/10(37 votes)

    #6 - A New Day

    S4:E11

    "You play in dirt, you get dirty." - McNulty Randy has trouble with his friends at school, while Carcetti faces a huge dilemma. Meanwhile, Omar visits Proposition Joe, while Freamon reveals a secret.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  7. undefined Season 5 Episode 4 - Transitions
    8.5/10(35 votes)

    #7 - Transitions

    S5:E4

    "Buyer's market out there." - Templeton Omar plots his revenge for his former associates murder now that he's returned from exile. Gus stresses the need for a city-court reporter, after missing out on a grand jury probe. Carcetti finds there are strings attached in his desire to get rid of Burrell. While McNulty investigates the deaths of homeless men, Freamon needs the help of an old friend. Also, Marlo looks to the future in his dealings with the Greeks.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  8. undefined Season 4 Episode 12 - That's Got His Own
    8.4/10(39 votes)

    #8 - That's Got His Own

    S4:E12

    "That all there is to it?" - Bubbles While searching for the missing bodies, Freamon goes around the chain of command after being rebuked by Landsman. Carcetti finds that his promises of raises could be undermined by the school debt, forcing him to consider groveling before the Governor for money to pay it off. Colvin tries to keep his experimental class funded. Bubbles considers taking extreme measures to get rid of the man who continues to steal from him. Prez is concerned about Dukie's academic promotion. Omar orchestrates another big sting while Namond and Cutty get a first-hand taste of the "new" Michael. Carver's promise to look out for Randy ends up looking empty.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  9. undefined Season 1 Episode 10 - The Cost
    8.4/10(55 votes)

    #9 - The Cost

    S1:E10

    "And then he dropped the bracelets..." - Greggs. With Wallace in custody, McNulty and Daniels try to figure out what to do with him in the months before he testifies. Sydnor and Carver track down one of Barksdale's stash houses, and Prez shows off his 'gift for the paper trail.' McNulty's estranged wife Elena takes desperate measures after learning that he had their kids follow Stringer Bell.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  10. undefined Season 3 Episode 10 - Reformation
    8.4/10(43 votes)

    #10 - Reformation

    S3:E10

    "Call it a crisis of leadership." -- Proposition Joe Brother Mouzone returns to Baltimore on a mission of revenge and casts a wide net in his search for Omar, who has his own plan. Colvin manages, for now, to put off a 'Sun' reporter inquiring about Amsterdam. Carver learns how much he doesn't know about good policing, while Pearlman and Daniels plead their case for a new kind of wiretap to Judge Phelan.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  11. undefined Season 1 Episode 9 - Game Day
    8.4/10(54 votes)

    #11 - Game Day

    S1:E9

    "Maybe we won." - Herc. Barksdale plays an expensive game of one-upmanship with an east-side rival. Meanwhile, Herc and Carver take some cash off of Wee-Bey's hands, and Omar resurfaces with a bang.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  12. undefined Season 3 Episode 12 - Mission Accomplished
    8.4/10(44 votes)

    #12 - Mission Accomplished

    S3:E12

    "...we fight on the lie." -- Slim Charles In the Season Three finale, a reticent Avon readies his troops for a war against Marlo. Meanwhile, as the detail works towards the top rungs of the Barksdale organization, McNulty reassesses his pursuit of Stringer Bell and the path he's chosen for himself. While Royce continues to grapple with Amsterdam, Burrell offers a deal to minimize the fallout.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  13. undefined Season 1 Episode 12 - Cleaning Up
    8.4/10(52 votes)

    #13 - Cleaning Up

    S1:E12

    "This is me, yo, right here." - Wallace. The low-rise pay phones are out of service, so McNulty and Daniels try to keep pace by tapping Barksdale's office. Bodie gets new responsibilities from Stringer; Freamon gives Shardene a 'new look'; and D'Angelo goes to NYC on an errand for his uncle. With the detail's future hanging in the balance, Daniels faces off against Burrell and his political allies.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  14. undefined Season 2 Episode 10 - Storm Warnings
    8.4/10(46 votes)

    #14 - Storm Warnings

    S2:E10

    'It pays to go with the union card every time.' -- Ziggy The Detail uses satellite technology to its advantage. Bodie is unhappy that Proposition Joe's people are slinging on his turf, but business flows--until a new face arrives. Stringer Bell looks to an unlikely solution to the problem. Valcheck visits the FBI in an attempt to get real results on the docks. Ziggy's deal with Double-G goes bad in a big way.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  15. undefined Season 1 Episode 7 - One Arrest
    8.3/10(53 votes)

    #15 - One Arrest

    S1:E7

    "A man must have a code." - Bunk. Tipped off by the wire, Greggs, Herc, Carver and Freamon make a bust, but the incident makes Avon and Stringer suspicious, leading them to close shop in the Pit. Meanwhile, Bunk and McNulty look for another witness in the Gant slaying and hunt a suspect known as 'Mr. Bird.'

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  16. undefined Season 4 Episode 3 - Home Rooms
    8.3/10(38 votes)

    #16 - Home Rooms

    S4:E3

    "I love the first day, man. Everybody all friendly an' shit." - Namond Brice Prez is shocked by his students; Royce strikes back against Carcetti; Rawls begins to gut the major case unit from the inside; Colvin embarks on a new career.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  17. undefined Season 4 Episode 2 - Soft Eyes
    8.3/10(39 votes)

    #17 - Soft Eyes

    S4:E2

    "I still wake up white in a city that ain't." - Carcetti In the hopes of possibly saving her job, Pearlman and Freamon continue arguing over the subpoenas, as the election draws closer. Carcetti drops a bombshell on Royce during their televised debate, while Herc makes a shocking discovery about the Mayor himself. Marlo decides to help the young kids in their preparation for school. Namond gets some advice from his father. Bubbles decides to assist his business apprentice in getting an education, while Cutty continues his two jobs; landscaping and boxing mentor.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  18. undefined Season 4 Episode 6 - Margin of Error
    8.2/10(37 votes)

    #18 - Margin of Error

    S4:E6

    "Don't try this shit at home." - Norman Wilson Carcetti responds to a campaign smear. Randy is accused of a serious transgression. Colvin's special class gets its first enlistees.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  19. undefined Season 4 Episode 10 - Misgivings
    8.2/10(37 votes)

    #19 - Misgivings

    S4:E10

    "World goin' one way, people another." -Poot Walker catches Donut boosting cars and teaches him a lesson; Commissioner Burrell gets advice from Senator Davis; Little Kevin has a talk with Marlo and regrets it; Herc ignores Bubbles call and regrets it; the Area Superintendent questions the success of Colvin and Parenti's project class; Senator Davis attempts to con Carcetti; Carver arrests Namond but keeps him out of baby booking; Burrell has the police force juke the numbers with street sweeps; Marlo puts the word out that Randy is a snitch; Elena sees McNulty as a grown up; Chris Partlow and Snoop target Bug's father for Michael.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  20. undefined Season 1 Episode 6 - The Wire
    8.2/10(59 votes)

    #20 - The Wire

    S1:E6

    "..and all the pieces matter." - Freamon. When Rawls looks to make a premature arrest for three murders that are linked to D'Angelo and Avon Barksdale, McNulty and Greggs must argue for a delay in order to preserve the valuable wiretap gains they have made. Meanwhile, Wallace and D'Angelo struggle with their consciences after Avon pays them blood money.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  21. undefined Season 4 Episode 5 - Alliances
    8.1/10(39 votes)

    #21 - Alliances

    S4:E5

    "If you with us, you with us." - Chris Partlow Commissioner Burrell loses Royce's support; Chris Partlow tries to recruit Michael to become a soldier in Marlo's unit; Dukie shows Randy and the boys that the missing are really dead; Odell Watkins drops his support for Royce and considers an offer from Councilman Carcetti.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  22. undefined Season 1 Episode 7 - Bomb in the Garden
    8.1/10(18 votes)

    #22 - Bomb in the Garden

    S1:E7

    Having reached Baghdad, Bravo Team is shocked at the size of the city. While First Recon begin doing their daily patrols in Baghdad, they find out the obstacles that they and the Iraqis face is much greater than they could ever think of.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  23. undefined Season 4 Episode 8 - Corner Boys
    8.1/10(38 votes)

    #23 - Corner Boys

    S4:E8

    "We got our thing, but it's just part of the big thing." - Zenobia Prez wants to teach off curriculum. Carcetti visits the Homicide Department and goes on ride-a-longs for drug busts. Colvin and Dr. Parneti's class discuss the Corner Boy rules. Bunk convinces Holley to take another look at the Old Face Andre/Omar Little case. Herc and Dozerman begin shaking down Marlo and his crew as they try to have their surveillance camera returned. Chris Partlow and Snoop look to send the New York crew a message. Marlo asks Proposition Joe to look into Herc. Michael's father comes home, while Namond recruits a lieutenant.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  24. undefined Season 4 Episode 7 - Unto Others
    8.1/10(37 votes)

    #24 - Unto Others

    S4:E7

    "Aw yeah. That golden rule." - The Bunk Omar calls in a favor to the police; Carcetti gets advice from the ex-mayor and then Mayor Royce and his team; Cutty finds out why Spider has been avoiding him and explains to the rest of his boxers that it won't happen again; Prez makes a break through with his students; Herc loses his camera; Greggs solves the Braddock case with soft eyes; Bubbles gets robbed repeatedly and searches for Sherrod; Namond begins to work a package and finds it hard to get suspended from school; Daniels catches Carcetti's eye.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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  25. undefined Season 1 Episode 8 - Lessons
    8.0/10(55 votes)

    #25 - Lessons

    S1:E8

    "Come at the king, you best not miss." - Omar. An unlikely source gives McNulty the tag of a car driven by Stringer Bell. Meanwhile, Greggs and Carver bust a congressional aide carrying dirty cash, but are forced to let him go. Omar earns his 'loose cannon' moniker.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Ed Burns

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Ed Burns Ratings Summary

"Final Grades" is the best rated episode written by Ed Burns. It scored 9.024/10 based on 42 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 12/10/2006 and is rated 0.2 points higher than their second-best episode, "-30-".