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The Worst Episodes of Top of the Lake

Every episode of Top of the Lake ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Top of the Lake!

Binge this in 10h 46m•Peaking at 7.8/10

A woman haunted by her past, Detective Robin Griffin, investigates complex and unsettling cases.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 1 - China Girl
    7.1/10(1334 votes)

    #1 - China Girl

    S2:E1

    Detective Robin Griffin is newly back in Sydney, haunted by the baby she had as a teenager and partnered with an eager new recruit, Miranda. When a body in a suitcase washes up on Bondi Beach, Robin is determined to take the case.

    Director:Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  2. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 1 - Paradise Sold
    7.2/10(1218 votes)

    #2 - Paradise Sold

    S1:E1

    In a breathtaking but remote mountain town in South Island, New Zealand, a twelve year-old girl named Tui is discovered to be pregnant. Local police enlist help from Detective Robin Griffin, a child protection specialist who has recently returned to the area to care for her mother.

    Director:Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  3. Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 6 - The Battle of the Mothers
    7.2/10(682 votes)

    #3 - The Battle of the Mothers

    S2:E6

    Robin and Pyke are desperate to find out if hostage Mary is alive, while Adrian struggles to make sense of the crime scene at Silk 41. As dawn breaks, the gunman is on the loose in Bondi and the beach is about to be flooded with people.

    Director:Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  4. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 2 - Searchers Search
    7.3/10(1027 votes)

    #4 - Searchers Search

    S1:E2

    As Tui's disappearance remains unsolved, fear for her survival increases, while her father solicits help, Robin has a run-in with the girl's half-brother and a perverted local.

    Directors:Garth Davis, Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  5. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 3 - The Edge of the Universe
    7.3/10(951 votes)

    #5 - The Edge of the Universe

    S1:E3

    Robin makes a breakthrough in her investigation, but Al warns that her own dark past is colouring her judgement.

    Director:Garth Davis
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  6. Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 5 - Who's Your Daddy?
    7.4/10(639 votes)

    #6 - Who's Your Daddy?

    S2:E5

    Robin finds a surprising love, but as Puss puts another arm of his audacious plan in place and suspicion grows around Silk 41, her fears for Mary escalate. Then Miranda drops a bombshell that brings her closer to the dead girl.

    Director:Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Top of the Lake

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  7. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 4 - A Rainbow Above Us
    7.5/10(918 votes)

    #7 - A Rainbow Above Us

    S1:E4

    A violent indiscretion sees Robin thrown off the case but she cannot let go. Her passionate affair with Johnno, Tui's half-brother, intensifies and complicates.

    Directors:Garth Davis, Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  8. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 5 - The Dark Creator
    7.5/10(887 votes)

    #8 - The Dark Creator

    S1:E5

    Robin is back on the case, whilst Matt gathers troops to hunt his daughter down. Tui's friends trek deep into the mountains to celebrate her birthday, with tragic consequences.

    Directors:Garth Davis, Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  9. Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 2 - The Loved One
    7.5/10(701 votes)

    #9 - The Loved One

    S2:E2

    Armed with the fact that China Girl was pregnant, Robin launches into the investigation, including inside Sydney's sex industry. The meeting with her daughter's parents veers off the rails and puts contacting Mary at risk.

    Director:Ariel Kleiman
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  10. Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 3 - Surrogate
    7.5/10(668 votes)

    #10 - Surrogate

    S2:E3

    Robin is galvanised by her theory that China Girl is a surrogate and ignores the threat of Al Parker’s imminent case against her. Mary accuses Robin of being manipulated by Pyke and Julia into believing Alexander is dangerous.

    Director:Ariel Kleiman
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  11. Top of the Lake Season 2 Episode 4 - Birthday
    7.5/10(650 votes)

    #11 - Birthday

    S2:E4

    There's a breakthrough in the case when Robin interviews Silk 41 regular Brett who suspects that China Girl is his ‘Girlfriend Experience’. Puss tests Mary’s love with a surprise for her 18th birthday celebration.

    Director:Ariel Kleiman
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  12. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 7 - Top of the Lake
    7.7/10(862 votes)

    #12 - Top of the Lake

    S1:E7

    Tui is about to give birth. Matt reveals a secret that almost destroys Robin. The investigation reaches its shocking conclusion.

    Director:Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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  13. Top of the Lake Season 1 Episode 6 - No Goodbyes Thanks
    7.8/10(915 votes)

    #13 - No Goodbyes Thanks

    S1:E6

    With fresh intelligence on where Tui’s hiding, Matt launches a full-scale search party. Before Robin can intervene, tragedy strikes.

    Directors:Garth Davis, Jane Campion
    Writers:Jane Campion, Gerard Lee

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Worst Episodes Summary

"China Girl" is the worst rated episode of "Top of the Lake". It scored 7.1/10 based on 1334 votes. Directed by Jane Campion and written by Jane Campion, Gerard Lee, it aired on 7/27/2017. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Paradise Sold".