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The Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1

Every episode of Crime Story Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Crime Story Season 1!

Binge this in 15h 24m•Peaking at 8.5/10

The hard-boiled saga of hair-trigger cop Lieutenant Mike Torello and his obsessive pursuit of ruthless gangster Ray Luca.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Crime Story Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot (1)
    7.8/10(898 votes)

    #1 - Pilot (1)

    S1:E1

    Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.

    Director:Abel Ferrara
    Writers:David J. Burke, Chuck Adamson, Gustave Reininger

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  2. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 2 - Pilot (2)
    7.6/10(152 votes)

    #2 - Pilot (2)

    S1:E2

    Here we meet the three major players of the series: Lt. Mike Torrello, head of Chicago's Major Crime Unit(MCU); Ray Luca, a young hood about to make his mark on the underworld; and David Abrams, an idealistic public defender trying to bury his Mob-connected roots. As the story unfolds Torrello is working with Abrams to bring down members of Chicago's underworld while Luca is taken under the wing of Manny Weisbord; one of Chicago's most powerful crime figures. As events proceed Torrello and Luca each become aware of the other's existence. Torello realizes that there is a new player that he must bring down.

    Director:Abel Ferrara
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 3 - Final Transmission
    8.1/10(125 votes)

    #3 - Final Transmission

    S1:E3

    With Torello's MCU hunting a psychopath, Luca plots jewel heists and the takeover of a sports-gambling operation.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Richard Christian Danus

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  4. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 4 - Shadow Dancer
    8.1/10(118 votes)

    #4 - Shadow Dancer

    S1:E4

    Torello gains a major advantage when one of Luca's burglars is connected to a robbery-homicide of a coin collector's wife. Torello finds out Julie is pregnant.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 5 - The Saint Louis Book of Blues
    8.5/10(112 votes)

    #5 - The Saint Louis Book of Blues

    S1:E5

    Mobsters support Luca's nationwide gambling scheme. A publicity-seeking sheriff hampers Torello's arrest of one of Luca's men.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 6 - The War
    8.1/10(121 votes)

    #6 - The War

    S1:E6

    A book intercepted by Torello jeopardizes Luca's nationwide gambling operation. The Torellos meet with tragedy.

    Director:Leon Ichaso
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 7 - Abrams for the Defense
    7.6/10(112 votes)

    #7 - Abrams for the Defense

    S1:E7

    Attorney Abrams falls for a reporter helping him defend a tenant accused of assaulting a slum landlord.

    Directors:Aaron Lipstadt, Michael Mann
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 8 - Pursuit of a Wanted Felon
    8.0/10(108 votes)

    #8 - Pursuit of a Wanted Felon

    S1:E8

    Conflict ruins the Torello's weekend trip. Luca situates in Las Vegas. Bigots target Abrams's relationship with Susan.

    Director:Aaron Lipstadt
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 9 - Old Friends, Dead Ends
    8.1/10(105 votes)

    #9 - Old Friends, Dead Ends

    S1:E9

    Torello confronts his new friend, now laundering money for the Mob. Federal investigators indict Luca and Bartoli.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 10 - Justice Hits the Skids
    8.1/10(102 votes)

    #10 - Justice Hits the Skids

    S1:E10

    Devastated by Kehoe's death, Torello stonewalls Breitel's federal investigation. Abrams joins the MCU on the street.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 11 - For Love or Money
    6.9/10(100 votes)

    #11 - For Love or Money

    S1:E11

    Divorced Torello finds comfort with Inger. The Crime Unit nabs Luca's jewelry-heist team. Torello's best friend supplies the Mob with capital.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 12 - Hide and Go Thief
    7.8/10(99 votes)

    #12 - Hide and Go Thief

    S1:E12

    Indelli and Krychek must deal with a tense hostage situation. Torello travels to Indiana to make his move on Frank Holman.

    Director:Francis Delia
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 13 - Strange Bedfellows
    7.8/10(83 votes)

    #13 - Strange Bedfellows

    S1:E13

    Holman ideintifies Torello as a dirty cop to Breitel. After an attempt on his life, Luca takes refuge in Florida.

    Director:Francis Delia
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 14 - Fatal Crossroads
    8.5/10(102 votes)

    #14 - Fatal Crossroads

    S1:E14

    Torello is subpoenaed to testify for Luca. An enraged Abrams jumps to Torello's defense. Luca orders Torello and Abrams killed.

    Director:Gary Sinise
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 15 - Torello on Trial
    8.4/10(109 votes)

    #15 - Torello on Trial

    S1:E15

    Breitel brutally cross-examines Torello. Acquitted Luca moves to Las Vegas. Torello gets a new assignment.

    Director:Gary Sinise
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 16 - The Kingdom of Money
    8.3/10(86 votes)

    #16 - The Kingdom of Money

    S1:E16

    Torello and Krychek join the Federal Task Force planning to raid Luca's new gambling business in Las Vegas.

    Directors:Michael Mann, James A. Contner
    Writer:David J. Burke

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  17. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 17 - The Battle of Las Vegas
    8.2/10(85 votes)

    #17 - The Battle of Las Vegas

    S1:E17

    To take over Las Vegas casinos, Luca murders the head of a resort-workers union to put his own man in the position.

    Director:Aaron Lipstadt
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 18 - The Survivor
    8.1/10(107 votes)

    #18 - The Survivor

    S1:E18

    Torello falls in love with a Justice Attorney's former wife, only to find out that the attorney has been molesting his adopted daughter. Molestation charges jeopardizes the Unit's investigation of Luca.

    Director:Alan Myerson
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 19 - The Pinnacle
    8.3/10(88 votes)

    #19 - The Pinnacle

    S1:E19

    Luca's greedy ploy to take over another casino puts his entire gambling empire in jeopardy.

    Director:John Nicolella
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 20 - Top of the World
    8.5/10(113 votes)

    #20 - Top of the World

    S1:E20

    Luca's jubilation over his growing business turns to fear that his associates are setting him up. Luca's insatiable lust for violence proves his undoing when he rapes Pauli's girlfriend. Pauli testifies for the prosecution in Luca's trial.

    Director:Michael Mann
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Crime Story Season 1 Episode 21 - Ground Zero
    8.3/10(104 votes)

    #21 - Ground Zero

    S1:E21

    After his murder mistrial, Luca clashes with a crime kingpin over plans to split up control of the sinking Luca gambling empire. Pauli changes his mind and rescues Luca from Torello as they hide in a house in the desert, a target site for nuclear testing.

    Director:Peter Medak
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot (1)" is the best rated episode of "Crime Story" season 1. It scored 7.8/10 based on 898 votes. Directed by Abel Ferrara and written by David J. Burke, Chuck Adamson, Gustave Reininger, it aired on 9/19/1986. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Pilot (2)".