The best episodes of Oz Season 1

Season 1 only — ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it. Fewer than 10 rated episodes — treat this ranking as provisional.

1. 01

   S01E08 · August 25, 1997 · 1h

   A Game of Checkers9.0

   A riot breaks out and frustration, sexuality, hate, revenge and racism all rear their ugly heads, causing the violence to escalate.

   0 0
2. 02

   S01E01 · July 12, 1997 · 1h

   The Routine8.9

   In the 'Emerald City' experimental unit of Oswald State Penitentiary, we meet some of the diverse inmates who exist in a pecking order of Gangbangers, Latinos, Muslims, Westies, Aryans and Wiseguys.

   0 0
3. 03

   S01E02 · July 14, 1997 · 1h

   Visits, Conjugal and Otherwise8.9

   With Schibetta and the prison brass in a race to uncover Ortolani's killer (for very different reasons), we see how inmates react to visits both from their wives and (in one case) family members who are also in prison.

   0 0
4. 04

   S01E04 · July 28, 1997 · 1h

   Capital P8.8

   Governor Devlin has reinstated capital punishment in the state--and the first Oz prisoner scheduled to die is Jefferson Keane, who killed a Latino in their skirmish. Before he's executed, Keane donates a kidney to his ailing sister.

   0 0
5. 05

   S01E07 · August 18, 1997 · 1h

   Plan B8.8

   A recovered Said ostracizes Huseni Mershah for turning his back on him when he was dying--and orders all the Muslims to cast him out. Impressed by Said's power, Groves decides to kill Glynn in his honor, but ends up stabbing an officer by mistake.

   0 0
6. 06

   S01E05 · August 4, 1997 · 1h

   Straight Life8.7

   The infiltration of drugs into Oz has reached scary levels, and the efforts of McManus and Glynn to find out who's smuggling backfire in a deadly way. Despite a lockdown, drugs continue to trickle in--and the blame shifts to corrupt officials.

   0 0
7. 07

   S01E06 · August 11, 1997 · 1h

   To Your Health8.7

   The prison's health service is kept busy by a variety of prisoner complaints: Beecher flips out and sends Schillinger to the hospital; mob boss Schibetta develops stomach problems thanks to some ground glass; and Said has a heart attack.

   0 0
8. 08

   S01E03 · July 21, 1997 · 1h

   God's Chillin'7.8

   Friction is growing in the wake of two deaths so Said, Wiseguy leader Schibetta and Gangbanger Jefferson Keane are brought together by Warden Glynn, who tells them to keep their boys quiet or else he'll lock the prison down.

   0 0