Hill Street Blues backdrop
Drama•Crime

The Best Episodes of Hill Street Blues Season 1

Every episode of Hill Street Blues Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Hill Street Blues Season 1!

Binge this in 13h 54m•Peaking at 8.4/10

A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 15 - Rites of Spring (2)
    8.4/10(186 votes)

    S1:E15

    Furillo and Neal go out of their way to help clear an obnoxious, racist narcotics detective accused of shooting an unarmed black man; LaRue's drinking gets really out of hand; and Hill and Renko try to help a young black woman accused of neglecting her children.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 1 - Hill Street Station
    8.3/10(421 votes)

    S1:E1

    Precinct Captain Furillo tries to defuse a hostage situation despite the advice of his gung-ho Emergency Action Team leader and the temperament of a self-absorbed gang leader; public defender Joyce Davenport tries to find a client who has been lost in the bureaucratic maze; Detective LaRue gets a lapful of coffee; Sgt. Esterhaus confides to Fay about his teenage sweetheart; Officers Hill and Renko are shot in the line of duty.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 5 - Double Jeopardy
    8.1/10(211 votes)

    S1:E5

    Neal continues to investigate Macafee's life as a way of clearing LaRue; Belker and several others go undercover dressed as women to catch a rapist; Esterhaus broods over his two women; and Goldblume questions his ability after losing a jumper.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 14 - Rites of Spring (1)
    8.1/10(166 votes)

    S1:E14

    Furillo and Neal go out of their way to help clear an obnoxious, racist narcotics detective accused of shooting an unarmed black man; LaRue's drinking gets really out of hand; and Hill and Renko try to help a young black woman accused of neglecting her children.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 11 - Life, Death, Eternity
    8.0/10(175 votes)

    S1:E11

    Furillo's chances for promotion are threatened when a city councilman is implicated in the murder of the teenage prostitute; LaRue continues to look for money for his ""saloondramat""; Fay's obscene caller breaks into her home; and Belker confronts an anti-Semitic cop just transferred to the Hill.

    Director:Jack Starrett
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 4 - Can World War III Be an Attitude?
    7.9/10(220 votes)

    S1:E4

    Furillo backs LaRue in the bribery case brought by Macafee; Hill and Renko bust a car thief who's a mechanical whiz; and Esterhaus sees Grace in a new light when they share a crisis at the station house when the Presidential visit is cancelled and gang revenge is feared.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Hill Street Blues

    READ
  7. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 3 - Politics as Usual
    7.8/10(236 votes)

    S1:E3

    Hill and Renko decide to split up as a team; LaRue is offered a bribe by a drug dealer who turns out to be a cop; Furillo tries to negotiate with the gangs to ensure a peaceful Presidential tour; Belker agrees to a blind date; and Fay is arrested in a hot tub.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 6 - Film at Eleven
    7.8/10(205 votes)

    S1:E6

    A television reporter rides with Hill and Renko; Washington and LaRue find the gun that shot Hill and Renko; and Belker busts Kevin Herman Dracula for biting a prostitute.

    Director:Georg Stanford Brown
    Writer:Anthony Yerkovich

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 8 - Up in Arms
    7.8/10(206 votes)

    S1:E8

    Furillo gets orders to deal with a neighborhood merchants association; Esterhaus goes out to meet a criminal he helped put away; Harris and Santini get into trouble with the deadly black van; and Hoban's lie detector results are inconclusive.

    Director:Georg Stanford Brown
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 10 - Gatorbait
    7.8/10(182 votes)

    S1:E10

    Renko gets put out when a Division homicide detective ridicules his efforts to learn who killed a 15-year-old prostitute; Furillo learns that he may be in line for a promotion to commander; LaRue and Washington have a surprise for Hunter during his annual Alligator hunt in the city sewers; and Fay asks Furillo's help with an obscene phone caller.

    Director:Georg Stanford Brown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 12 - I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin
    7.8/10(171 votes)

    S1:E12

    Furillo pushes the investigation of Councilman McAuley; LaRue's business dream comes to a bitter end; Lt. Hunter gets his chance to test out an ""urban tank"" in sniper alley.

    Director:Robert C. Thompson
    Writer:Anthony Yerkovich

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 13 - Fecund Hand Rose
    7.8/10(182 votes)

    S1:E13

    Esterhaus faces immense pressure as his wedding day to Cindy dawns and Grace shows him what he's giving up; Furillo resents providing protection for Ralph Macafee, who's now a state witness; Belker busts an entertaining professional cat burglar; and everyone scrambles to get ready for the wedding ceremony.

    Director:Gregory Hoblit
    Writer:Alan Rachins

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 2 - Presidential Fever
    7.7/10(269 votes)

    S1:E2

    Hill and Renko meet again for the first time since their shooting; Esterhaus tries to avoid Grace Gardner, the new police decorator; two transfer officers get themselves into trouble; Belker pursues rapists in the park; and Furillo must deal with Fay's demands for more money and an impending Presidential visit.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 7 - Choice Cut
    7.7/10(203 votes)

    S1:E7

    Hector Ruiz takes hostages again, this time at a supermarket; LaRue and Washington try to connect the gun that shot Hill and Renko with addict Eddie Hoban; and Cynthia Chase uses the hostage scene to stir up the local merchants.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 9 - Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind
    7.7/10(194 votes)

    S1:E9

    The Dekker Avenue Merchants Association continues helping the police; Eddie Hoban finds himself out in the cold; Hill, Renko and Belker all have personal problems; Furillo tries to help a confused Santini decide what to do; and LaRue asks Cynthia Chase along on a dull stakeout that suddenly heats up.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 16 - Jungle Madness (1)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E16

    Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

    Director:Corey Allen
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episode 17 - Jungle Madness (2)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S1:E17

    Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

    Director:Corey Allen
    Writers:Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Rites of Spring (2)" is the best rated episode of "Hill Street Blues" season 1. It scored 8.4/10 based on 186 votes. Directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Anthony Yerkovich, Steven Bochco, it aired on 5/19/1981. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Hill Street Station".