Longevity is an indicator of a television show’s popularity and ability to sustain quality programming for an extended period. But even the longest-running and most-honored series produce clunkers along the way.
To determine the most disappointing TV episodes of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for all television episodes since 1970. Television episodes were ranked based on the percentage decline in IMDb user rating for individual episodes from the overall average IMDb user rating for all episodes in the series. Only episodes with at least 150 individual reviews of shows with at least 20,000 series reviews and at least four seasons were considered. Talk shows, biography shows, documentaries, game shows, and news programs were not considered. Only one episode per television series was included.
All of the series on our list had an IMDb user-rating falloff for a single series episode of at least 29% from the full series rating. All shows on our list have run for at least four seasons and had at least 25 episodes. Thirty-two series enjoy an IMDb user rating for the full series of at least 8.0 out of 10. Two of them, “Game of Thrones” and “Rick and Morty,” hold ratings of more than 9.0. (Also See the Best HBO Series of All Time.)
Five of the longest-running series on our list with episode washouts ran for at least 20 seasons. The ones with the greatest longevity, “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons,” have been on for a combined 85 seasons, and are still on the air.
Eight of these episode misfires were for series-enders for the Emmy-honored “Game of Thrones,” “House of Cards,” “True Blood,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” Some of the lowest-rated episodes aired in the last season of a series.
Trekkies didn’t embrace all of the episodes from the various Star Trek series. Four of the lower-rated episodes on our list are from separate Star Trek enterprises. (Also See TV Shows That Were So Popular They Were Turned Into Movies.)
As a final note on “Saturday Night Live,” the lowest-rated episode out of the 954 shows in the 49-year history of the comedy-skit program featured Donald Trump and singer Sia. It aired on Nov. 7, 2015, almost five months after Trump announced he was running for president in 2016.
Scroll below to see the most disappointing TV episodes of all time.
To determine the most disappointing TV episodes of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for all television episodes since 1970. Television episodes were ranked based on the percentage decline in IMDb user rating for individual episodes from the overall average IMDb user rating for all episodes in the series. Only episodes with at least 150 individual reviews of shows with at least 20,000 series reviews and at least four seasons were considered. Talk shows, biography shows, documentaries, game shows, and news programs were not considered. Only one episode per television series was included.
50. Star Trek: Enterprise, “These Are the Voyages…”
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (57,295 votes)
- Original airdate: May 13, 2005
49. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Let He Who Is without Sin…”
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.6/10 (-30.9% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (68,398 votes)
- Original airdate: November 11, 1996
48. iCarly, “iMeet Fred”
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (-30.9% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 6.8/10 (43,142 votes)
- Original airdate: February 16, 2009
47. Supernatural, “Bloodlines”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-31.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (469,038 votes)
- Original airdate: April 29, 2014
46. Babylon 5, “TKO”
Source: Courtesy of Prime Time Entertainment Network
Source: Courtesy of Prime Time Entertainment Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-31.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (33,707 votes)
- Original airdate: May 25, 1994
45. Homeland, “Long Time Coming”
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.7/10 (-31.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (354,442 votes)
- Original airdate: December 21, 2014
44. The X-Files, “Teso dos Bichos”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.9/10 (-31.4% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.6/10 (240,465 votes)
- Original airdate: March 8, 1996
43. True Blood, “Thank You”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (-31.6% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.9/10 (255,358 votes)
- Original airdate: August 24, 2014
42. 13 Reasons Why, “Senior Camping Trip”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.1/10 (-32.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (308,561 votes)
- Original airdate: June 5, 2020
41. Pretty Little Liars, “Game Over, Charles”
Source: 2015 Getty Images / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Ben Gabbe / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-32.4% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.4/10 (174,992 votes)
- Original airdate: August 11, 2015
40. Younger, “It’s the End of the World, Worm Girl”
Source: Courtesy of Paramount+
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Paramount+
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-33.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.8/10 (24,706 votes)
- Original airdate: April 15, 2021
39. How I Met Your Mother, “Last Forever: Part Two”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.5/10 (-33.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (713,016 votes)
- Original airdate: March 31, 2014
38. The Goldbergs, “Eracism”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-33.8% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (39,935 votes)
- Original airdate: November 25, 2020
37. Power, “Exactly How We Planned”
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-34.6% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (50,680 votes)
- Original airdate: February 9, 2020
36. Little House on the Prairie, “The Halloween Dream”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.9/10 (-34.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (25,639 votes)
- Original airdate: October 29, 1979
35. The Good Doctor, “Irresponsible Salad Bar Practices”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-35.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (108,067 votes)
- Original airdate: February 15, 2021
34. Tales from the Crypt, “The Kidnapper”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-35.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (26,248 votes)
- Original airdate: June 7, 1996
33. Scrubs, “My Night to Remember”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
N/A
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (-35.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (265,620 votes)
- Original airdate: March 1, 2007
32. Star Trek: Voyager, “The Fight”
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-35.9% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.8/10 (74,814 votes)
- Original airdate: March 24, 1999
31. Rick and Morty, “Rickdependence Spray”
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-36.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 9.1/10 (571,318 votes)
- Original airdate: July 11, 2021
30. The 100, “Blood Giant”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.8/10 (-36.8% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (267,510 votes)
- Original airdate: September 9, 2020
29. Doctor Who, “The Twin Dilemma: Part One”
Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Source: Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-36.9% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (38,488 votes)
- Original airdate: March 22, 1984
28. The Blacklist, “Misère”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-37.5% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (272,312 votes)
- Original airdate: April 23, 2021
27. Miami Vice, “Missing Hours”
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.6/10 (-38.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (28,922 votes)
- Original airdate: November 13, 1987
26. Black Mirror, “Mazey Day”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-39.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (615,076 votes)
- Original airdate: June 15, 2023
25. Fear the Walking Dead, “Amina”
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-39.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 6.8/10 (138,790 votes)
- Original airdate: May 22, 2022
24. Man vs. Wild, “Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and Prime Minister Modi”
Source: Julian Finney / Getty Images
Source: Julian Finney / Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.9/10 (-40.2% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.2/10 (23,072 votes)
- Original airdate: August 12, 2019
23. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, “The Good Ones”
Source: Courtesy of Cozi TV
Source: Courtesy of Cozi TV
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-40.5% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (344,394 votes)
- Original airdate: August 12, 2021
22. Snowpiercer, “Ouroboros”
Source: Courtesy of TNT
Source: Courtesy of TNT
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-40.6% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 6.9/10 (59,775 votes)
- Original airdate: March 7, 2022
21. Grey’s Anatomy, “Leave a Light On”
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-42.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (330,268 votes)
- Original airdate: March 5, 2020
20. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, “Intimidation Game”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-45.7% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (118,057 votes)
- Original airdate: February 11, 2015
19. Dexter, “Remember the Monsters?”
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (-46.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (748,830 votes)
- Original airdate: September 22, 2013
18. Bewitched, “Samantha and the Loch Ness Monster”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-46.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (23,489 votes)
- Original airdate: September 29, 1971
17. The Rookie, “Double Trouble”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.3/10 (-46.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (58,266 votes)
- Original airdate: March 21, 2023
16. Two and a Half Men, “Of Course He’s Dead: Part 1 & 2”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.8/10 (-46.5% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.1/10 (274,590 votes)
- Original airdate: February 19, 2015
15. The League, “Adios y Bienvenidos”
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-47.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (51,221 votes)
- Original airdate: November 18, 2015
14. The Witcher, “Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.2/10 (-47.5% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (553,840 votes)
- Original airdate: July 27, 2023
13. The Flash, “The Good, the Bad and the Lucky”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.8/10 (-49.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (363,757 votes)
- Original airdate: March 15, 2023
12. The Walking Dead, “Diverged”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-49.4% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (1,050,088 votes)
- Original airdate: March 25, 2021
11. Riverdale, “Chapter Ninety-Four: Next to Normal”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.2/10 (-50.8% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 6.5/10 (152,242 votes)
- Original airdate: September 29, 2021
10. Doctor Who, “Orphan 55”
Source: Courtesy of BBC America
Source: Courtesy of BBC America
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.2/10 (-51.2% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.6/10 (235,731 votes)
- Original airdate: January 12, 2020
9. American Horror Story, “The Future Perfect”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.9/10 (-51.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (334,835 votes)
- Original airdate: October 20, 2021
8. The Simpsons, “Lisa Goes Gaga”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.0/10 (-54.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (425,664 votes)
- Original airdate: May 20, 2012
7. The Golden Girls, “Empty Nests”
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.6/10 (-56.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.2/10 (45,374 votes)
- Original airdate: May 16, 1987
6. Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.0/10 (-56.5% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 9.2/10 (2,213,032 votes)
- Original airdate: May 19, 2019
5. Killing Eve, “Hello, Losers”
Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.4/10 (-58.0% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (128,396 votes)
- Original airdate: April 10, 2022
4. Saturday Night Live, “Donald Trump/Sia”
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.1/10 (-61.3% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (51,210 votes)
- Original airdate: November 7, 2015
3. Roseanne, “Roseambo”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- Episode IMDb rating: 2.7/10 (-61.4% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 7.0/10 (45,317 votes)
- Original airdate: November 19, 1996
2. Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Shades of Gray”
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.3/10 (-62.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (131,080 votes)
- Original airdate: July 15, 1989
1. House of Cards, “Chapter 73”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 2.6/10 (-70.1% decline from show average)
- Full series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (521,731 votes)
- Original airdate: November 2, 2018