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The Best Episodes of The Pretender

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

Binge this in 2d 13h•Peaking at 8.9/10

Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Pretender Season 3 Episode 22 - Donoterase (2)
    8.9/10(123 votes)

    #1 - Donoterase (2)

    S3:E22

    Conclusion from part 1. Jarod and his father plan a rescue the clone created by the Centre's, while Miss Parker must face new truths from inside the Centre and more about her mother's murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  2. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 22 - Bloodlines (2)
    8.7/10(136 votes)

    #2 - Bloodlines (2)

    S2:E22

    BLUE COVE, DELAWARE - Jarod, along with Angelo (Timmy), try to find a way to rescue the kidnapped child. Miss Parker confronts her father about her discovery that she has a twin. Sydney plots to finally have his revenge against Mr. Raines, but his plan backfires...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  3. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 19 - The Inner Sense (1)
    8.7/10(118 votes)

    #3 - The Inner Sense (1)

    S4:E19

    Jarod finally locates his sister Emily, just in time to see her nearly assassinated by The Centre. Meanwhile, Miss Parker's search of the secrets behind her mother's death lead her and Jarod to the same place -- and a mysterious young man named Ethan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  4. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 19 - Red Rock Jarod
    8.6/10(129 votes)

    #4 - Red Rock Jarod

    S2:E19

    DRY RIVER, ARIZONA - Responding to an email he believes was sent to him by Sydney, Jarod finds himself in the hands of someone he once thought dead. Jarod also meets a boy who is in need of a heart transplant. Meanwhile, Miss Parker closes in on Jarod. But she's in for a surprise when she meets his captor.

    Director:Scott Lautanen
    Writer:Juan Carlos Coto

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  5. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 21 - Donoterase (1)
    8.6/10(117 votes)

    #5 - Donoterase (1)

    S3:E21

    Jarod's reunion with his father is marred by news of the Centre's latest project -- a teenaged clone of Jarod himself. However, assassins from the Centre are hot on their trail.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  6. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 5 - Road Trip
    8.6/10(137 votes)

    #6 - Road Trip

    S4:E5

    Jarod finds himself on a road trip to help a mysterious young woman, whom he falls for. Meanwhile, he tells Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots to 'follow the yellow brick road'.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Daniel Truly

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Pretender

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  7. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 9 - 'Til Death Do Us Part
    8.6/10(120 votes)

    #7 - 'Til Death Do Us Part

    S4:E9

    On the anniversary of Thomas' death, Jarod challenges a haunted Miss Parker to resume her hunt for his killer. But the search leads back to her father and Brigitte, who is close to giving birth.

    Director:Craig W. Van Sickle
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  8. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 20 - Bank
    8.5/10(124 votes)

    #8 - Bank

    S2:E20

    DOVER, DELAWARE - Jarod tricks Miss Parker to meet him at a bank, where they come face to face with the mysterious Mr. Fenigor. But this arrangement gets complicated when there's a robbery the same day. When The Centre gets news that Jarod is trapped in this hostage situation, they close in and make sure he'll not slip through their fingers this time.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 5 - Betrayal
    8.5/10(110 votes)

    #9 - Betrayal

    S3:E5

    Jarod teams up with Broots to find the culprit in a shootout at the Centre's Data Annex, a former operative named Damon.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 18 - Stolen
    8.4/10(112 votes)

    #10 - Stolen

    S2:E18

    SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA - After taking down a corrupt doctor, Jarod unexpectedly gets involved in a kidnapping when the father of the kidnapped ends up in the hospital. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker sides with Mr. Raines on the fact that Sydney is becoming too attached to Jarod. To the point, even, that it's complicating the search for him.

    Director:Scott Lautanen
    Writer:Tommy Thompson

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  11. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 21 - Bloodlines (1)
    8.4/10(132 votes)

    #11 - Bloodlines (1)

    S2:E21

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Jarod recieves a letter from an anonymous source and believes The Centre is going to kidnap another boy-genius. Sydney creates a serum that allows Angelo to become a normal person again, provided he takes all the doses at the right time.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  12. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 3 - Once in a Blue Moon
    8.4/10(108 votes)

    #12 - Once in a Blue Moon

    S3:E3

    To save a teen-age victim, Jarod learns the skills of criminal behaviorists and comes face-to-face with the Blue Moon Killer.

    Director:Chuck Bowman
    Writer:Daniel Truly

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  13. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 18 - Wake Up
    8.4/10(105 votes)

    #13 - Wake Up

    S3:E18

    Thomas is brutally murdered in Miss Parker's home by an unknown assailant; Jarod finds clues leading to a drug addict who later dies of an overdose.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Tommy Thompson

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  14. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 1 - The World's Changing
    8.4/10(117 votes)

    #14 - The World's Changing

    S4:E1

    Once again a prisoner of the Centre, Jarod discovers a plot to murder a team of nuclear researchers, giving him even more motivation to escape. Meanwhile, Sydney and Broots try to find Miss Parker and Miss Parker tries to find her father -- and figure out who to trust.

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  15. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 22 - The Dragon House (2)
    8.3/10(150 votes)

    #15 - The Dragon House (2)

    S1:E22

    UPSTATE NEW YORK - Jarod discovers more about his family through Harriet, and decides that he must return to The Centre to free his brother Kyle. Meanwhile, Miss Parker convinces Broots and Sydney in helping her find the answers to her mother's death and believes Kyle may be the key. Finally, Jarod gets the opportunity to reunite with his family, including his sister. But The Centre becomes aware of the rendezvous and intends to stop it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  16. The Pretender Season 2 Episode 14 - Unforgotten
    8.3/10(123 votes)

    #16 - Unforgotten

    S2:E14

    LOCATION UNKNOWN - During the intervention of his current pretend, Jarod is caught off guard and beaten, resulting in the loss of his memory. Jarod is then rescued by Argyle, a smooth-talking con-artist. But his savior soon starts to wonder how this situation could benefit him. Meanwhile, back at The Centre; Miss Parker, Sydney, & Broots are put before a T-Board. There, they are interrogated to see just how dedicated they are in their search for Jarod.

    Director:Steven Long Mitchell
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  17. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 1 - Crazy
    8.3/10(118 votes)

    #17 - Crazy

    S3:E1

    PLEASENT WOOD INSTITUTE, MARYLAND - Jarod becomes a mental patient to uncover the truth behind the mysterious murder of another patient. Miss Parker researches the identity of her twin.

    Director:Steven Long Mitchell
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  18. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 8 - Flesh and Blood
    8.3/10(104 votes)

    #18 - Flesh and Blood

    S3:E8

    Jarod takes on the role of a tracking expert to help find four teachers, including Sydney's son, Nicholas, who are taken hostage in the Appalachian hills.

    Director:Rodney Charters
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 10 - Spin Doctor (I)
    8.3/10(109 votes)

    #19 - Spin Doctor (I)

    S4:E10

    Jarod tries to track down the killer of a man who helped him escape from The Centre. Meanwhile, Miss Parker tries to help Sydney deal with his past. The crossover continues on Profiler S04E10 Clean Sweep (II).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Juan Carlos Coto

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  20. The Pretender Season 4 Episode 15 - Junk
    8.3/10(101 votes)

    #20 - Junk

    S4:E15

    Jarod goes undercover as a junkie in a rehab clinic to help a woman regain custody of her son. Meanwhile, Miss Parker and company find Jarod's connection to the woman through her father and the Centre.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Pretender Season 1 Episode 21 - The Dragon House (1)
    8.2/10(155 votes)

    #21 - The Dragon House (1)

    S1:E21

    FORT REXFORD, NEW YORK - Jarod becomes aware that Kyle, another pretender from The Centre, is on the run from the law. Eager to find him, he becomes an F.B.I. agent to aid the investigation. But he discovers that Kyle may have something to do with his mother. Meanwhile, Miss Parker and Sydney recruit Angelo to go through all of Jarod's red notebooks. They figure he can become Jarod and thus aiding in his capture.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Craig W. Van Sickle

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  22. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 6 - Parole
    8.2/10(98 votes)

    #22 - Parole

    S3:E6

    Jarod portrays a paroled convict to aid a widow; Sydney learns startling news while consoling an old lover whose husband is dying. Andrea Parker is credited but does not appear in this episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Tommy Thompson

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  23. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 9 - Murder 101
    8.2/10(129 votes)

    #23 - Murder 101

    S3:E9

    Jarod takes over a criminal psychology class and teaches a lesson in committing a flawless murder before tracking down three suspected killers.

    Director:Scott Lautanen
    Writer:Daniel Truly

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  24. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 17 - Ties That Bind
    8.2/10(100 votes)

    #24 - Ties That Bind

    S3:E17

    Jarod goes under cover to investigate a law firm that has a suspicious history of silencing witnesses; Miss Parker declares she is leaving the Centre.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Pretender Season 3 Episode 19 - End Game (I)
    8.2/10(115 votes)

    #25 - End Game (I)

    S3:E19

    The kidnapping of a young chess prodigy brings Jarod a little too close to his own demons -- and to the attention of an FBI criminal profiler. Meanwhile, Miss Parker gets unsettling news from Brigitte, and about Brigitte. The crossover continues on Profiler S03E19 Grand Master (II).

    Director:James Whitmore Jr.
    Writer:Juan Carlos Coto

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Best Episodes Summary

"Donoterase (2)" is the best rated episode of "The Pretender". It scored 8.9/10 based on 123 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Craig W. Van Sickle, it aired on 5/22/1999. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Bloodlines (2)".