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The Best Episodes of The Grinder Season 1

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

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Television lawyer Dean Sanderson moves back to his small home town after his hit series, "The Grinder," is canceled thinking his time on TV qualifies him to run his family's law firm.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Grinder Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.5/10(442 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    When his long-running hit series comes to an end, Dean finds himself at a crossroads in life and decides to move back to his small home town thinking he has the experience to take over his family’s law firm, where he butts heads with his brother, Stewart.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 2 - A Hero Has Fallen
    7.4/10(306 votes)

    #2 - A Hero Has Fallen

    S1:E2

    After the exciting and victorious Krantz case, Sanderson & Yao gets flooded with cases. Dean, in his usual fashion, wants them to pick the next big case. Stewart disagrees, but he realizes that telling Dean he can’t do something only will make him want to do it more. Soo Stewart decides to encourage Dean and the plan backfires. Meanwhile, Dean inspires Debbie to go for a promotion at work using a “big dog” approach, which puts her job in jeopardy

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 3 - The Curious Disappearance of Mr. Donovan
    7.4/10(250 votes)

    #3 - The Curious Disappearance of Mr. Donovan

    S1:E3

    Convinced that the only explanation for Claire’s non-interest in him is that she’s a mole, Dean tells Stewart that Claire is sharing secrets with a rival firm. Although Stewart dismisses the accusation, Dean is set on proving his brother wrong. Meanwhile, Deb and Claire strike up a friendship, the gossipy nature of which propels Stewart to question whether Claire can be trusted after all.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 4 - Little Mitchard No More
    7.5/10(232 votes)

    #4 - Little Mitchard No More

    S1:E4

    When a new couple, Lyle and Vanessa Gerhart, comes into their life, Stewart and Deb deal with "The Dean Effect" - people liking you only because you have a famous brother. Meanwhile, Dean finds himself in a similar situation with Claire, the first person he's ever met who isn't affected by his celebrity

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 5 - A Bittersweet Grind (Une Mouture Amer)
    7.6/10(219 votes)

    #5 - A Bittersweet Grind (Une Mouture Amer)

    S1:E5

    Just as Dean prepares to give up on what he thinks is a hopeless search for love, he is reunited with Gail, an old flame who restores his belief in romance. Meanwhile, Deb encourages Stewart to change his strict ways and let Lizzie have a supervised date with Joel Zadak.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 6 - Dedicating This One to the Crew
    7.7/10(213 votes)

    #6 - Dedicating This One to the Crew

    S1:E6

    When Ethan chooses to audition for the school play instead of following in his father's footsteps by joining the tech crew, it highlights the differences between those who seem destined for the spotlight and those who live their lives in the shadows. Meanwhile, Stewart confronts Dean Sr. about how he gave his two sons very different life advice.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 7 - Buckingham Malice
    7.6/10(203 votes)

    #7 - Buckingham Malice

    S1:E7

    Stewart convinces Dean he can’t keep using his celebrity if he really wants to be a “regular guy.” But when the brothers find themselves in serious trouble, Dean’s fame might be the only way to bail them out. Meanwhile, Debbie gets an assistant, and ends up being more of an assistant to her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 8 - Giving Thanks, Getting Justice
    7.9/10(223 votes)

    #8 - Giving Thanks, Getting Justice

    S1:E8

    After spending several holidays away from the family, Dean is thrilled to be reunited with them for his first real Thanksgiving celebration in a long time. But his overexcitement and meddling brings a major, unexpected family secret to light. Meanwhile, a series of flashbacks reveal the chain of events that led to Dean's departure from his hit TV drama.

    Director:Jamie Babbit
    Writer:Niki Schwartz-Wright

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  9. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 9 - Grinder Rests in Peace
    7.9/10(198 votes)

    #9 - Grinder Rests in Peace

    S1:E9

    “The Grinder: New Orleans” -- a spinoff of the original hit series, asks Dean to film a scene giving closure to his beloved character, Mitch Grinder. Not surprisingly, Dean struggles with being replaced by his TV brother, Rake. Meanwhile Stewart, who has also been feeling replaced by his brother in Ethan's eyes, jumps at the opportunity to get Dean back into acting and out of his hair.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 10 - The Olyphant in the Room
    7.3/10(189 votes)

    #10 - The Olyphant in the Room

    S1:E10

    After Dean catches Timothy Olyphant making out with Claire, he thinks he can "win her back" by taking the lead on a case - and using very questionable tactics - representing a friend of hers. Meanwhile, Stewart is excited that a reporter is writing a story on him, but becomes upset when Dean steals the spotlight.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 11 - Exodus (Part 1)
    7.5/10(176 votes)

    #11 - Exodus (Part 1)

    S1:E11

    Stewart and Deb tell Dean it's time for him to find his own place. Meanwhile, a rival law firm attempts to poach Dean from Sanderson & Yao. Also, Deb becomes reliant on Andre, Dean's former stand-in, who's crashing with the family

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 12 - Blood Is Thicker than Justice (Part 2)
    7.4/10(167 votes)

    #12 - Blood Is Thicker than Justice (Part 2)

    S1:E12

    After their fallout, Dean and Stewart find themselves on opposing sides during a divorce case. Meanwhile, back at home, Ethan and Lizzie are seeing the impact of life without Uncle Dean, and Stewart and Debbie quickly take notice.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 13 - Grinder v Grinder
    8.0/10(188 votes)

    #13 - Grinder v Grinder

    S1:E13

    Timothy Olyphant is back in Boise and the rivalry between Dean and him continues when Stewart invites Olyphant to spend more time around Sanderson & Yao. After getting into an argument about who is closer to being a real lawyer, the two "Grinders" decide to go head-to-head in a mock trial.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 14 - The Retooling of Dean Sanderson
    7.3/10(172 votes)

    #14 - The Retooling of Dean Sanderson

    S1:E14

    When Dean scares off a big prospective client by being too dramatic, Stewart tells him maybe it’s finally time to let go of his “Grinder” persona and come down to earth. He tries to convince Dean he should go to therapy. Dean reluctantly agrees, but in typical Dean fashion, he overcorrects and begins “therapizing” the whole family, including Debbie, who is now tempted to quit her grueling job.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 15 - The Ties That Grind
    7.3/10(158 votes)

    #15 - The Ties That Grind

    S1:E15

    Dean's therapist, Jillian, encourages him to, once and for all, shed his Grinder persona and find out who the real Dean is. Through his therapy exercises, he ends up making others around him evaluate their own issues, much to Stewart's frustration.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 16 - Delusions of Grinder
    7.0/10(162 votes)

    #16 - Delusions of Grinder

    S1:E16

    Stewart becomes certain there's a larger conspiracy against the firm. It’s the first time Sanderson & Yao has ever been involved in a truly dramatic situation, but Dean has shed his “Grinder” persona and refuses to listen to Stewart’s “paranoia.” Instead, Dean decides to focus on being the office intern, so Stew has to take matters into his own hands.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 17 - From the Ashes
    7.4/10(170 votes)

    #17 - From the Ashes

    S1:E17

    As the conspiracy surrounding Sanderson & Yao reaches a boiling point, the only man who can get to the bottom of it has abandoned the "grind" and enrolled in law school. Stewart, desperate for Dean's help, will go to any lengths to turn his brother back into "The Grinder".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 18 - Genesis
    7.6/10(154 votes)

    #18 - Genesis

    S1:E18

    Post-therapy, Dean finds that he has lost the ability to grind. To get it back, he decides to crack the case of the office being ransacked. Meanwhile, in flashback, we see a younger, struggling Dean Sanderson as he must decide whether to embrace a simple life, or pursue his destiny and become the Grinder he was always meant to be.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 19 - A System on Trial
    7.5/10(146 votes)

    #19 - A System on Trial

    S1:E19

    Stewart is concerned about Dean Sr.'s anger issues complicating their case, so Dean arranges some focus-group testing to see what the masses really think.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 20 - For the People
    7.9/10(171 votes)

    #20 - For the People

    S1:E20

    Dean and Stewart receive a surprise visit from their mother. Stewart attempts to get reservations to a hot restaurant for his and Deb's anniversary dinner.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 21 - Divergence
    7.4/10(136 votes)

    #21 - Divergence

    S1:E21

    When Stew learns that his father is guilty, he wants to settle, but Dean tries one of his old "Grinder" tricks to solve the case. Meanwhile, Stew is concerned that he is now "infected" by "The Grinder".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Grinder Season 1 Episode 22 - Full Circle
    8.0/10(136 votes)

    #22 - Full Circle

    S1:E22

    Stewart becomes sidelined at Dean Sr.'s malpractice trial, causing the rest of the Sanderson & Yao team to try and save the firm.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Grinder" season 1. It scored 7.5/10 based on 442 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/29/2015. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "A Hero Has Fallen".