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The Best Episodes of JAG

Every episode of JAG ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of JAG!

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Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. is a former pilot turned lawyer working for the military's JAG (Judge Advocate General) division, the elite legal wing of officers that prosecutes and defends those accused of military-related crimes. He

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    JAG Season 1 Episode 2 - A New Life (2)
    8.2/10(363 votes)

    #1 - A New Life (2)

    S1:E2

    Harm & Kate continue to investigate the death of Lt. Angela Arutti, all the while the carrier remaining on combat status.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  2. JAG Season 1 Episode 7 - War Cries
    8.0/10(280 votes)

    #2 - War Cries

    S1:E7

    Cpl. Parr shoots at an intruder, who he believes shot at him first, at the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru. The intruder, an unarmed 15-year-old teen, is killed. But he wasn't just any boy. He was the brother of Cpl. Parr's girlfriend who (according to her) is pregnant. Harm and Meg are tasked to determine if the teenager was, in fact, unarmed, or if this was an attempt to kill the ambassador. Locations: Lima, Peru

    Director:Duwayne Dunham
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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  3. JAG Season 6 Episode 19 - Salvation
    8.0/10(153 votes)

    #3 - Salvation

    S6:E19

    A Marine sergeant in prison needs Harm's help again when his prints are found on a murder weapon.

    Director:Bradford May
    Writer:Ed Zuckerman

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  4. JAG Season 7 Episode 14 - Odd Man Out
    8.0/10(140 votes)

    #4 - Odd Man Out

    S7:E14

    Harm faces Mac in court when he defends a Navy medical corpsman accused of murdering a Marine sergeant during a training exercise. When he finds himself serving on the jury, Bud, feeling like an expert, uses his knowledge of the law during deliberations to help the jurors question the facts of the case, but then discovers the hard way that sometimes things in the courtroom are not what they seem. Cmdr. Turner goes to New London to assist in the deployment of the submarine USS San Antonio. Once there, he helps a young sailor keep his marriage together when his wife intends to file for divorce due to the deployment. When its learned that Harm has two tickets to the Super Bowl, everyone in the JAG office jockey for position in an attempt to be selected to go with Harm to the game. However, it turns out the ""tickets"" to the game are not necessarily the best seats for ""watching"" the game.

    Director:Michael Switzer
    Writer:David Ehrman

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  5. JAG Season 9 Episode 14 - People v. SecNav
    8.0/10(142 votes)

    #5 - People v. SecNav

    S9:E14

    When civilians are killed in a bombing raid, an International Criminal Court charges the United States with war crimes and the SecNav is the one on trial representing the USA. The SecNav is defended by Harm, Mac & Bud who find they must also defend the United States decision for waging the war. At the end, the court finds the USA on the following charges: Crimes against humanity - Not Guilty War Crimes - Not Guilty Intentionally targeting non-combatants - Not Guilty Willful destruction of civilian property - Guilty. The court orders the USA to provide reparations to the town of Tikifa in the amount of $20 million US dollars. The prosecutor mentions to the SecNav that he doesn't agree with the verdicts, but pleased the SecNav won't have to go to prison. In response, the SecNav states that the two countries have been friends for too long and they both go off to get a drink together.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:Larry Moskowitz

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  6. JAG Season 10 Episode 10 - The Four Percent Solution
    8.0/10(158 votes)

    #6 - The Four Percent Solution

    S10:E10

    It's Christmas Eve. Col. MacKenzie crashes her car on the way home, and while unconscious through a series of episode flashbacks and discussions with a base therapist deals with many of her issues including infertility, insomnia, loneliness, Webb, and Harm.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Dana Coen

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of JAG

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  7. JAG Season 10 Episode 22 - Fair Winds and Following Seas
    8.0/10(310 votes)

    #7 - Fair Winds and Following Seas

    S10:E22

    General Cresswell informs Harm and Mac that they are being reassigned. Harm to London and Mac to San Diego. With their deadline quickly approaching. Harm and Mac must sort out their lives and resolve their feelings for each other.

    Director:Bradford May
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. JAG Season 1 Episode 1 - A New Life
    7.8/10(758 votes)

    #8 - A New Life

    S1:E1

    When a female F-14 Tomcat RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) goes missing from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Seahawk while stationed in the Adriatic Sea, the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral Al Brovo (Kevin Dunn), sends young Lieutenant Harmon Rabb with Lieutenant Junior Grade Caitlin Pike on Bastille Day 1995 out to the carrier where they must find out whether her death was accidental or intentional.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  9. JAG Season 1 Episode 6 - Pilot Error
    7.8/10(280 votes)

    #9 - Pilot Error

    S1:E6

    During a test flight Lt. Pendry has a deadly crash with his Tomcat. Harm and Meg are ordered to probe this case and the facts point to a pilot error, not at a system malfunction. Though Pendry was a risk-taking pilot, Harm doesn't think he has gone too far based on his knowledge from his flying days with Pendry. Locations: Miramar Naval Air Station; San Diego/area and off-coast

    Director:Les Landau
    Writers:Jack Orman, Robert Cochran

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  10. JAG Season 1 Episode 10 - Boot
    7.5/10(272 votes)

    #10 - Boot

    S1:E10

    Meg goes under cover as a Marine recruit in order to investigate the mysterious death of a female private in a boot camp. The facts point at the two drill instructors SSgt. Carrington and Sgt. Gonzales. But a newspaper clipping found by Lt. Austin changes the situation completely. Locations: Parris Island; Washington D.C.

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writer:Lucian Truscott IV

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  11. JAG Season 1 Episode 11 - Sightings
    7.5/10(271 votes)

    #11 - Sightings

    S1:E11

    While searching for a girl who disappeared near an abandoned Naval Air Station, Harm and Meg watch the same mysterious lights and hear the same painful sound which also took place during Kathy's disappearance. Though it looks like alien movement, neither Austin nor Rabb believe in UFOs. While looking for the young girl on the base, they nearly get caught but thanks to Kathy they manage to escape, but are trapped on the base. Locations: Del Rio, Texas

    Director:Thomas Del Ruth
    Writer:Evan Katz

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  12. JAG Season 1 Episode 15 - Hemlock
    7.5/10(264 votes)

    #12 - Hemlock

    S1:E15

    Due to the transposition of two digits of a phone number, Lt. Austin receives a fax with the itinerary for a person with the codename 'Shepherd'. Later, a Commander from the Royal Navy shows up demanding that paper. After receiving it he shoots Meg, seriouly wounding her. Trying to find out who this 'Shepherd' is and why this document is so important, they end up chasing an assassin named 'Hemlock' apparently working for Russian hardliners and trying to kill the man behind 'Shepherd' - Boris Yeltsin who is due in the US for a secret treaty signing. Locations: Washington, D.C.; Bethesda; Leesburg, Va.

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writers:Donald P. Bellisario, Jack Orman

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  13. JAG Season 9 Episode 20 - Fighting Words
    7.5/10(145 votes)

    #13 - Fighting Words

    S9:E20

    Cmdr. Turner defends himself against the complaint filed against him for displaying anti-Korean attitudes when assigned to deal with the SARS outbreak earlier. Harm & Mac go up against one another in the case of a Marine General making public speeches stating Islam goes hand-in-hand with evil & terrorism.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Matt Witten

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  14. JAG Season 1 Episode 9 - Scimitar
    7.3/10(252 votes)

    #14 - Scimitar

    S1:E9

    Cpls. Ednar and Anderson mistakenly cross the Iraqi border. Trying to escape an Iraqi patrol, Cpl. Ednar is killed and Cpl. Anderson is taken prisoner. The Iraqi government invite the United States to send advocates to defend the Marine who's facing the death penalty for espionage. Harm and Meg are assigned to travel to Iraq to act as his lawyers as well as attempt to free the Corporal with the help of an undercover agent called 'Scimitar'.

    Director:John McPherson
    Writer:Robert Cochran

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  15. JAG Season 1 Episode 12 - The Brotherhood
    7.3/10(239 votes)

    #15 - The Brotherhood

    S1:E12

    During a simulated attack, a seriously wounded Marine is found on the beach. JAG is called in to investigate. Harm and Meg follow two ways: An executed Code Red or a brawl. Locations: Camp Pendleton and area; Los Angeles

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writers:Donald P. Bellisario, R. Scott Gemmill

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  16. JAG Season 1 Episode 13 - Defensive Action
    7.3/10(246 votes)

    #16 - Defensive Action

    S1:E13

    Harmon Rabb is promoted and his first assignment as Lt. Commander is to defend Capt. 'CAG' Boone in a court-martial. During a mission over Bosnia, one aircraft goes down due to a system malfunction. A Serbian helicopter shoots at the parachuting crew and, to protect them, the CAG shoots down the helicopter. Is CAG, indeed, defending the crew from a hostile helicopter, or is he acting out of revenge, violating a cease-fire, and risking a war? Locations: Bosnia; Naples, Italy; USS Seahawk/Adriatic Sea; Washington D.C.

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writer:Terry Curtis Fox

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  17. JAG Season 1 Episode 3 - Shadow
    7.2/10(358 votes)

    #17 - Shadow

    S1:E3

    A civilian tech rep aboard a submarine seizes control of an experimental torpedo after its launch during an exercise. The rep threatens to sink a cruise ship and demands a ransom. Harm and Ltjg. Meg Austin go to the sub and save the day.

    Director:Donald P. Bellisario
    Writer:Donald P. Bellisario

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  18. JAG Season 1 Episode 5 - Deja Vu
    7.0/10(280 votes)

    #18 - Deja Vu

    S1:E5

    Harm and Meg are investigating the death of a Navy officer at the Arlington Cemetery, where during the months before, other Navy officers have been murdered, too. This murder happened after a reception at the French embassy and the trail leads to the Thai ambassador and his wife. Harm is attracted to her as she reminds him of a girlfriend back in Vietnam who was killed. Also, Colonel Patano (the ambassador's guard), is one of the suspects. Locations: Washington D.C.; McLean, Va.; Bethesda, Md.

    Director:Doug Lefler
    Writer:Evan Katz

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  19. JAG Season 1 Episode 8 - Brig Break
    7.0/10(318 votes)

    #19 - Brig Break

    S1:E8

    Harm and Meg investigate the theft of stolen missiles at the SEATAC Naval Base. While interrogating PO1 Quinn of the theft, a prison-break takes place and Lt. Austin is taken hostage. Contrary to the Major in charge, Lt. Rabb thinks that this is a well-planned breakout with a big goal. Locations: SEATAC Island Naval Base and surrounding areas

    Director:Jim Johnston
    Writer:Robert Cochran

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  20. JAG Season 1 Episode 16 - High Ground
    7.0/10(260 votes)

    #20 - High Ground

    S1:E16

    GSgt. Crockett, instructor for snipers at the Boot Camp in Quantico, should be transferred to Bosnia. But there's a deal existing between him and his former commanding officers which says he won't be used in combat missions any longer. After shooting at the colonel 'to get his attention,' he is arrested. Since Crockett once saved Adm. Chegwidden's life, the Admiral orders an investigation to help him. But GSgt. Crockett escapes from the brig and hides in the mountains. Some marines, accompanied by Harm, go out to find Crockett, who's a well-trained and experienced sniper. Locations: Quantico, Va.; Washington D.C.

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writers:Robert McCullough, Greg Strangis

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  21. JAG Season 1 Episode 17 - Black Ops
    7.0/10(233 votes)

    #21 - Black Ops

    S1:E17

    Harm is called in to probe the death of Navy pilot Lt. Marion, son of US Senator Grace Marion, while training with the Navy SEALS. As he was there only for two days, it seems that the death was due to gross negligence. With the reports given by his superior and comrades, combined with the results of how how he died, it seems that the actual incident is a cover-up. Analyzing his equipment and learning that it was a combat mission (and not a training mission as stated), the facts then point at murder. The key to all this could be General Behnke. Locations: Washington D.C.; NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Carribean Sea; Colombia

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writers:Robert McCullough, Greg Strangis

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  22. JAG Season 1 Episode 21 - Ares
    7.0/10(228 votes)

    #22 - Ares

    S1:E21

    A killed Navy officer working at a destroyer's new defensive system is investigated by Harm with help from Lt. Pike and Cdr. Brockman. Later, during the testing of this system, a malfunction occurs and the system takes over the ship. Without any chance to navigate it, the ship drifts directly to North Korea where the North Korean Navy is already awaiting them. Meg, who came in later, tries with other technicians to break the lockout to regain control over the sabotaged system. Locations: Okinawa, Japan; Japanese Sea

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  23. JAG Season 2 Episode 2 - Secrets
    7.0/10(231 votes)

    #23 - Secrets

    S2:E2

    The convicted spy Jason Magida successfully escapes from Groton brig and his way leads him straight to Adm. Chegwidden, who was involved in his court-martial back then. Magida takes Chegwidden, Mac and Bud hostage. Claiming he was framed, he insists the three officers retry him. Harm, in between trying from outside to solve this situation with Webb's help, calls in a SWAT team and then has his hands full of keeping the team from killing Magida. Locations: Groton, Conn.; Falls Church

    Director:Ray Austin
    Writer:Tom Towler

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  24. JAG Season 2 Episode 3 - Jinx
    7.0/10(214 votes)

    #24 - Jinx

    S2:E3

    Harm risks his life to prove that an F-14 squadron is not jinxed after there have been six fatal mid-air accidents, including one that killed his best friend. During Mac and Harm's investigation into the ""curse"" of the squadron, they learn that the rumor of a jinx stems from an accidental bombing of an Iraqi mosque during Desert Storm. Now only one of the fliers involved in the bombing is left, and Harm has no choice but to fly with him in order to restore the squadron's confidence. However, when a mid-air refueling goes awry and Harm is seriously injured, it seems that the squadron may be jinxed after all.

    Director:Jerry Jameson
    Writer:Jack Orman

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  25. JAG Season 3 Episode 6 - Vanished
    7.0/10(880 votes)

    #25 - Vanished

    S3:E6

    When a fully armed and piloted Navy F-14 disappears during a storm, the JAG team is called in to investigate all possible scenarios, from pilot suicide and terrorism to the curse of the Bermuda Triangle and UFO interference. When the plane's co-pilot surfaces, bloodied and disoriented, Harm and Mac get some new information that steers them away from Twilight Zone explanations and instead points them in the direction of kidnapping, terrorism and a hard-core militia group's plot to assassinate a PLO delegation heading for Washington by using the pilot -- and his plane -- to do the dirty work.

    Director:Alan J. Levi
    Writer:R. Scott Gemmill

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Best Episodes Summary

"A New Life (2)" is the best rated episode of "JAG". It scored 8.2/10 based on 363 votes. Directed by Donald P. Bellisario and written by Donald P. Bellisario, it aired on 9/23/1995. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "War Cries".