The WORST episodes of Bringing Up Bates
Every episode of Bringing Up Bates ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Bringing Up Bates!
Twenty-seven years ago Gil and Kelly Jo Bates tied the knot with no plans to have kids. Fast forward 19 kids later and this tight-knit family, seemingly too good to be true, has a tremendous bond but are far from perfect. As you will see, when you have a house full of 19 children, from ages two to 25, daily chaos is multiplied exponentially, but so are the joyful and poignant moments that life can bring.
#1 - ‘Tis the Season to Get Married
Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/16/2023
Wedding Bells are ringing for Katie and Travis, but will the ceremony prove too emotional for Addee?
#2 - A Promise & Dress Drama!
Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/16/2023
Kelly Jo tries a new look with Josie; Addee & Ellie get promise rings; Katie has her final fitting.
#3 - A “Rome-Antic” Surprise!
Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/16/2023
Katie hits a snag with her wedding dress; Lawson invites his love on a romantic Italian adventure!
#4 - A Bridal Bash and a Baby Bump
Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/16/2023
Chad and Erin meet with an ultrasound tech while Katie readies herself for a big move to New Jersey.
#5 - A Diamond Ring and Bridal Bling
Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/16/2023
Lawson goes shopping for an engagement ring while Zach and Whitney work on their new property.
#6 - Wedding Wishin’ and Gone Fishin’
Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/16/2023
Katie goes deep into wedding planning mode while Lawson invites his girlfriend's parents over.
#7 - Training Wheels and Trick Saddles
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/18/2016
Judson turns five and gets a brand new bike for his birthday; Erin heads to Nashville to record a Christmas album; Lawson, Nathan, and Trace get a visit from a couple of The Dixie Stampede trick riders and learn some tricks of their own.
#8 - Two By Two, I Love You
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/3/2021
Let the "I Love You Day" Festivities begin! Bates Sisters' Boutique holds their first photo shoot in their newly renovated space, and two of the models might become sister-in-laws one day! Later, things are heating up in the kitchen as Nathan's love, Esther, is prepping the entire meal for the couples' dinner. Finally, the family gathers two by two for their most beloved holiday!
#9 - Due Dates & An Engagement Getaway!
Season 10 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/24/2021
With Whitney and Josie's due dates quickly approaching, the expecting moms meet up to dish about motherhood and work on a project for their nurseries. Nathan confides in Lawson that he's hoping to propose to Esther very soon! But, with Nathan leaving the bachelor squad, will Lawson be on the fast track to settle down? Meanwhile, Travis is hoping to surprise Katie with a destination engagement.
#10 - Never Before Seen on TV! - Summertime Special
Season 10 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/17/2021
A collection of never before seen on TV moments, along with some summertime classics.
#11 - Bobby's Movin' In
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/15/2017
Bobby and Tori are making plans for the future! After he graduates from college, Bobby is hoping to move from Florida to Tennessee to be closer to Tori. Before he makes a final decision, he heads to Knoxville to interview for jobs and look for a place to live. And in an effort to add a little structure to Jud and Jeb’s roughhousing, Kelly Jo takes the boys to a martial arts class. Later, Bobby and Tori discuss their future timeline with Gil and Kelly Jo over dinner. Is an engagement on the horizon?
Watch Now:Apple TV#12 - Love is in the Heir
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/31/2016
Whitney and Zach have their first ultrasound; Gil and Kelly celebrate their wedding anniversary with a romantic dinner; Nathan calls a family meeting to share some exciting news.
#13 - Hello Dollywood!
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/3/2015
Lawson gets the opportunity of a lifetime – to perform at the world famous ‘Dollywood,’ in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While he does his sound check on stage, the rest of the family enjoys the theme park and keeps an eye out for Dolly herself!
#15 - Movin' in with Meema
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/25/2015
Gil and Kelly Jo take Trace and Josie to the orthodontist to get braces, and Gil reveals how he can afford orthodontia for so many kids. Later, Kelly Jo’s mother Meema announces that she wants to live closer to the kids. So Kelly Jo takes her house hunting, but the task proves tougher than anyone could have imagined.
#16 - The Big Apple of Nathan's Eye
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/7/2016
A few of the Bates head to visit their friends, Ashley and Anastasia at the Big Apple; exploring Time Square and the Brooklyn Bridge.
#18 - Time to Renobate!
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/17/2016
With the three eldest sisters out of the house, the remaining girls decide it’s time to redecorate their bedroom. And Zach and Whitney are doing a little redecorating of their own as they head out to shop for a new couch to spruce up their home. Later the girls test out a new recipe for dinner.
#19 - 15 Kids and an Empty Nest
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/2016
With the big wedding just days away the family is busier than ever. Gil and Kelly take the kids to the park for some rollerblading and playground exploring. Erin hosts a laughter filled candle making party for Michaella and her bridesmaids. Nathan, Lawson, and Trace take Brandon on an outing to the skating rink, but an accident on the ice could put the wedding in jeopardy.
#20 - Bringing Up Bradley
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/24/2016
Time is flying and the Bates’ first grandbaby, Bradley, is turning one! Kelly Jo and the girls look for gifts, but their outing goes overboard and quickly turns into a shopping spree. Lawson puts his best face forward at a photoshoot for his new album. Later, the family gathers for Bradley’s birthday party and Whitney shares a big announcement.
#21 - Welcome Grandbaby Bates
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/12/2015
Zach and Whitney's baby is due in less than 2 weeks, but the nursery is nowhere near ready! Lucky for them, there are plenty of Bates to lend a hand. As Whitney's due-date nears (and passes!) the whole family gets anxious to meet the newest addition to the ever-growing clan. Later, Erin shares surprising news with her parents.
Watch Now:Apple TV#22 - A LOVEly Day
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/16/2016
#24 - Taking Care of Business & Florida Fun
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/7/2020
Given Gil's recent rotator cuff surgery, the older Bates boys help their father on a tree job; Erin and Chad discuss their living arrangements; Gil and Kelly Jo head to Florida to spend some quality time with Alyssa, John and their children.
#25 - The Webster's New Home and Nathan's Next Move
Season 10 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/10/2021
Now that Tori and Whitney are neighbors and both expecting another baby, they meet up to swap baby clothes, while their hubbies are in charge of cooking dinner! Alyssa and John have their hands full moving out of their old house and renovating their new home just weeks after the birth of their fourth daughter. Nathan returns to the jewelry store to purchase his girlfriend's dream engagement ring.