The Monkees backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Best Episodes of The Monkees

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

Binge this in 1d 0h•Peaking at 8.6/10

Micky, Mike, Peter, and Davy are four young men in mid-1960s LA, members of a struggling country-folk-rock band looking for their big break amid madcap encounters with a variety of people straight out of TV

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons2

All12

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    The Monkees Season 2 Episode 20 - The Devil and Peter Tork
    8.6/10(191 votes)

    #1 - The Devil and Peter Tork

    S2:E20

    At an eerie pawn shop, Peter unwittingly sells his soul to devilish character Mr. Zero (Monte Landis) in order to purchase a golden harp! Can Peter's musical talent save him from Mr. Zero's evil clutches forever ?

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Robert Kaufman, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 18 - I Was a Teenage Monster
    8.2/10(165 votes)

    #2 - I Was a Teenage Monster

    S1:E18

    A mad scientist (John Hoyt) hires the Monkees to teach his monster (Richard Kiel) music—and then transplants their musical talent into the monster. Can the Monkees get their talent back? Byron Foulger appears as Groot, Dr. Mendoza's assistant.

    Director:Sidney Miller
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 31 - Monkees at the Movies
    8.2/10(168 votes)

    #3 - Monkees at the Movies

    S1:E31

    The Monkees have a run-in with a snobbish movie idol (Bobby Sherman) on the set as extras in a beach movie.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 29 - Monkees Get Out More Dirt
    8.1/10(168 votes)

    #4 - Monkees Get Out More Dirt

    S1:E29

    The Monkees' friendship is threatened when they all fall for the same girl, luscious local laundromat proprietress April Conquest (Julie Newmar).

    Director:Gerald Shepard
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 32 - Monkees on Tour
    8.1/10(157 votes)

    #5 - Monkees on Tour

    S1:E32

    A mini-documentary chronicling a live Monkees concert gig on location in Phoenix, Arizona during their first public appearance tour.

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writer:Bob Rafelson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 3 - Monkee vs. Machine
    8.0/10(222 votes)

    #6 - Monkee vs. Machine

    S1:E3

    In a computerized toy factory, the Monkees foil an efficiency expert (Stan Freberg) who wants to replace an old toymaker (Walter Janovitz) with automation.

    Director:Bob Rafelson
    Writer:David Panich

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Monkees

    READ
  7. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 23 - Captain Crocodile
    8.0/10(156 votes)

    #7 - Captain Crocodile

    S1:E23

    The Monkees' appearance on popular children's show The Captain Crocodile Show is sabotaged by its host (Joey Forman), who fears that his guest's popularity is diminishing his own.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Gerald Gardner, Robert Schlitt, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 1 - It's a Nice Place to Visit
    8.0/10(135 votes)

    #8 - It's a Nice Place to Visit

    S2:E1

    In El Monotono, Mexico, Davy is captured by a bandito (Peter Whitney) and his minions for being "captivated" with El Diablo's girlfriend (Cynthia Hull).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 2 - The Picture Frame
    8.0/10(136 votes)

    #9 - The Picture Frame

    S2:E2

    Peter must prove the Monkees' innocence when they unwittingly rob a bank in the pretext of making a movie for two con men (Cliff Norton, Kelton Garwood).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Jack Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 5 - Art, for Monkees' Sake
    8.0/10(135 votes)

    #10 - Art, for Monkees' Sake

    S2:E5

    At an art museum, Peter copies an old painting for two guards (Monte Landis, Vic Tayback) who are actually thieves bent on snatching the real painting.

    Director:Alexander Singer
    Writer:Coslough Johnson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 14 - Monkees on the Wheel
    8.0/10(143 votes)

    #11 - Monkees on the Wheel

    S2:E14

    In Las Vegas, the Monkees are mistaken for crooked gamblers by a roulette dealer (Rip Taylor) and policeman (Dort Clark) and try their luck at exposing the real gang (David Astor and Pepper Davis).

    Director:Gerald Shepard
    Writer:Coslough Johnson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 26 - Mijacogeo - The Frodis Caper
    8.0/10(175 votes)

    #12 - Mijacogeo - The Frodis Caper

    S2:E26

    The Monkees match wits with the insane Wizard Glick (Rip Taylor), who is out to control the minds of television viewers worldwide.

    Director:Micky Dolenz
    Writers:Dave Evans, Micky Dolenz, Jon C. Andersen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 4 - Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers
    7.9/10(193 votes)

    #13 - Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers

    S1:E4

    A shady PR man (Andre Philippe) kidnaps the Monkees to prevent them from winning a talent contest in order for his clients (rival band the Four Swines) to win.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Dave Evans

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 7 - Monkees in a Ghost Town
    7.9/10(197 votes)

    #14 - Monkees in a Ghost Town

    S1:E7

    Stranded in a ghost town after their car runs out of gas, the Monkees are held prisoner by bank robbers (Len Lesser, Lon Chaney Jr.) and their boss, "The Big Man" (Rose Marie).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Peter Meyerson, Robert Schlitt

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 12 - I've Got a Little Song Here
    7.9/10(177 votes)

    #15 - I've Got a Little Song Here

    S1:E12

    Mike is fleeced by a fraudulent music publisher (Phil Leeds), but Micky dons the guise of a flashy Hollywood producer to get Mike's money back.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writer:Treva Silverman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 13 - One Man Shy (Peter and the Debutante)
    7.9/10(157 votes)

    #16 - One Man Shy (Peter and the Debutante)

    S1:E13

    Bashful Peter tries to win the heart of lovely debutante Valerie Cartwright (Lisa James) while dealing with her haughty boyfriend Ronnie Farnsworth (George Furth).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Treva Silverman, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 19 - The Audition (Find the Monkees)
    7.9/10(155 votes)

    #17 - The Audition (Find the Monkees)

    S1:E19

    When television producer Hubbell Bensen (Carl Ballantine) hears a tape of the Monkees, he frantically stages auditions in the hope of finding them for his new television show, unaware they are desperately trying to audition for him.

    Director:Richard Nunis
    Writer:Dave Evans

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 30 - Monkees in Manhattan
    7.9/10(139 votes)

    #18 - Monkees in Manhattan

    S1:E30

    In New York City, the Monkees fend off an irate hotel manager (Philip Ober) as they help a producer (Richard Anders) get backing for a Broadway musical.

    Director:Russ Mayberry
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 8 - Monkees Marooned
    7.9/10(122 votes)

    #19 - Monkees Marooned

    S2:E8

    Peter trades his guitar for a con man’s treasure map. On a deserted island, the Monkees go hunting for treasure—and are hunted by a mad Australian (Monte Landis) and his man Thursday (Rupert Crosse).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Stanley Ralph Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 16 - Fairy Tale
    7.9/10(159 votes)

    #20 - Fairy Tale

    S2:E16

    A Monkee pantomime romp through Fairy Tale Land, introduced by a "Town Crier" (Rege Cordic), sees Peter rescuing a haughty princess (Michael) from death by her fiendish fiancee (Murray Roman).

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Peter Meyerson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 9 - The Chaperone
    7.8/10(169 votes)

    #21 - The Chaperone

    S1:E9

    Davy's feelings for retired General Harley Vandenberg's (Arch Johnson) daughter Leslie (Sherry Alberoni) leads Micky to pose as a female chaperone at a party after the real chaperone (Diana Chesney) gets drunk.

    Director:Bruce Kessler
    Writers:Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 14 - Dance, Monkee, Dance
    7.8/10(155 votes)

    #22 - Dance, Monkee, Dance

    S1:E14

    The Monkees sign up for lessons at Renaldo's Dance Au Go Go (Hal March), and then find out that their contracts are for life.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Bernie Orenstein

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Monkees Season 1 Episode 15 - Too Many Girls (Davy and Fern)
    7.8/10(141 votes)

    #23 - Too Many Girls (Davy and Fern)

    S1:E15

    A domineering stage mother tries to use Davy to further her daughter Fern's career.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Dave Evans, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 4 - Monkee Mayor
    7.8/10(136 votes)

    #24 - Monkee Mayor

    S2:E4

    Mike casts his wool hat into the ring to stop a crooked construction tycoon (Monte Landis) from turning the city into parking lots.

    Director:Alexander Singer
    Writer:Jack Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Monkees Season 2 Episode 13 - Monkees in Texas
    7.8/10(138 votes)

    #25 - Monkees in Texas

    S2:E13

    In the Lone Star State, the Monkees outwit Black Bart (Barton MacLane), his cohort Red (Len Lesser) and the gang to save Mike's Aunt Kate's (Jacqueline deWit) ranch.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:Jack Winter

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"The Devil and Peter Tork" is the best rated episode of "The Monkees". It scored 8.6/10 based on 191 votes. Directed by James Frawley and written by Robert Kaufman, Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso, it aired on 2/5/1968. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "I Was a Teenage Monster".