Episode Ratings Grid

Every episode at a glance, color-coded by rating. Rows are episode numbers within each season, columns are seasons.

M
S1
E1
7.5
E2
7.6
E3
8.0
E4
8.0
E5
8.0
E6
8.4
E7
8.5
E8
7.7
E9
7.8
E10
7.8
E11
8.3
E12
8.3
E13
8.5
Avg
8.0
Great
Good
SeriesScores.com

Episode Power Rankings

The best and worst episodes at a glance. Use this to find must-watch episodes or ones you might want to skip.

🏆 Top Episodes

#1 8.5

S1E7 The Power of Euphemism: How Torture Became a Matter of Debate in American Politics

Laurel comes under investigation about her potential involvement with the bug infestation. Also, Gustav and Rochelle discover a unique way to communicate with those infected by the bugs.

#2
S1E13 8.5

The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens When Democracies Fail: A Brief Synopsis

Laurel discovers the secret to driving the bugs out of a person's brain and tests the tactic on her father. Armed with new knowledge, Laurel and Gareth attempt to expel the Queen bug out of Red's head once and for all. Laurel and Gareth progress in their romantic relationship.

#3
S1E6 8.4

Notes Toward a Post-Reagan Theory of Party Alliance, Tribalist, and Loyalty: Past as Prologue

When Laurel is infected by the bugs, Gustav and Rochelle work quickly to figure out if there is any way to save her. When the Centers for Disease Control has its funding temporarily cut, Luke attempts to reach a compromise to have the money reinstated, but Red’s political machinations undermine him at every turn.

  1. 4. S1E11 "Six Points on the New Congressional Budget: The False Dichotomy of Austerity vs. Expansionary Policies" 8.3
  2. 5. S1E12 "Talking Points Toward a Wholistic View of Activism in Government: Can the Top Rebel?" 8.3
  3. 6. S1E3 "Goring Oxes: How You Can Survive the War on Government Through Five Easy Steps" 8.0
  4. 7. S1E4 "Wake Up Grassroots: The Nine Virtues of Participatory Democracy, and How We Can Keep America Great by Encouraging an Informed Electorate" 8.0
  5. 8. S1E5 "Back to Work: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Congress and How It Gets Things Done (and Often Doesn't)" 8.0
  6. 9. S1E9 "Taking on Water: How Leaks in D.C. Are Discovered and Patched" 7.8
  7. 10. S1E10 "The Path to War Part Two: The Impact of Propaganda on Congressional War Votes" 7.8

📉 Bottom Episodes

#13
S1E1 7.5

The Insanity Principle: How Extremism in Politics Is Threatening Democracy in the 21st Century

When Laurel Healy returns home to Washington, D.C. to work for her brother, Senator Luke Healy, on Capitol Hill, she is caught in the midst of two huge problems: the government has stopped working due to budgetary disagreements, and mysterious bugs are eating the brains of a growing number of Congress members and Hill staffers.

  1. 12. S1E2 "Playing Politics: Living Life in the Shadow of the Budget Showdown - A Critique" 7.6
  2. 11. S1E8 "The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm" 7.7
  3. 10. S1E10 "The Path to War Part Two: The Impact of Propaganda on Congressional War Votes" 7.8
  4. 9. S1E9 "Taking on Water: How Leaks in D.C. Are Discovered and Patched" 7.8
SeriesScores.com

The Quality Arc

Each point is an episode, plotted chronologically. The colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for upward or downward trends to see if quality improved or declined over time.

S1 77.47.88.28.69 Rating 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Episode 10 9 8 7 6 5
SeriesScores.com

Episode Engagement

Vote count shows how many people cared enough to rate. High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.

Rating threshold:
7 Standouts
0 Infamous
6 Hidden Gems
0 Forgettable
Standouts Infamous Hidden Gems Forgettable Global: 7.5 7.27.57.78.08.28.5 Rating 313 367 431 505 593 Votes (log scale)
Top Standout: S1E7 The Power of Euphemism: How Torture Became a Matter of Debate in American Politics
Best Hidden Gem: S1E13 The End of All We Hold Dear: What Happens When Democracies Fail: A Brief Synopsis

Episodes plotted by rating vs. vote count. The vertical line marks the rating threshold (7.5). More votes = more engagement. Toggle above to compare against global or show-specific median.

SeriesScores.com