The BEST episodes of Cruel Summer season 1

Every episode of Cruel Summer season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Cruel Summer season 1!

An unconventional thriller that takes place over three summers — 1993-95 — in a small Texas town when a beautiful popular teen, Kate, is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette, goes from being a sweet, awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town and, by ’95, the most despised person in America.

Last Updated: 10/4/2024Network: FreeformStatus: Ended
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Hostile Witness
star
7.75
292 votes

#1 - Hostile Witness

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/15/2021

Kate and Jeanette's worlds collide as the court date arrives, finally forcing the two young women to answer the question on everyone's mind, but the answer comes with a price that not everyone can pay.

Directors: Bill Purple
Watch Now:Amazon
A Secret of My Own
star
7.69
286 votes

#2 - A Secret of My Own

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/8/2021

Kate's closely held secrets and fragmented memories of her time in Martin's captivity are brought to the surface.

Directors: Alexis Ostrander
Watch Now:Amazon
Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis
star
7.57
277 votes

#3 - Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/25/2021

Kate struggles with a family secret she's been holding on to. Joy tries to convince Kate to go on The Marsha Bailey Show. Mallory has a birthday surprise.

Directors: Alexis Ostrander
Watch Now:Amazon
Proof
star
7.47
266 votes

#4 - Proof

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/1/2021

On the first day of school, everyone learns that the drama of the summer is anything but over and that some people will pay more for the consequences of Jeanette and Kate's deception than others.

Directors: Daniel Willis
Watch Now:Amazon
You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat
star
7.46
304 votes

#5 - You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/4/2021

Kate, reeling from the lawsuit, prepares her defense and finds friendship in an unlikely source. The annual Wallis hunting trip becomes the setting for an important first meeting.

Directors: Laura Nisbet
Watch Now:Amazon
As The Carny Gods Intended
star
7.44
291 votes

#6 - As The Carny Gods Intended

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/11/2021

Jeanette and Kate cross paths at the Skylin High takeover of the County Fair, where one is desperate to prove herself, and the other to lose herself.

Directors: Daniel Willis
Watch Now:Amazon
A Smashing Good Time
star
7.42
379 votes

#7 - A Smashing Good Time

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/20/2021

It's time for the annual Skylin Garden Club Party! Year after year after year, the residents of Skylin struggle with the truth around what happened to Kate, keeping their secrets buried and maintaining appearances.

Directors: Bill Purple
Watch Now:Amazon
An Ocean in Me
star
7.41
282 votes

#8 - An Ocean in Me

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/18/2021

A new deposition threatens Jeanette's case. A discovery causes Cindy's suspicions about her own daughter to reach new heights as her relationship with Greg becomes further strained.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Writer: Brian Otaño
Watch Now:Amazon
Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner
star
7.36
458 votes

#9 - Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/20/2021

Taking place over 3 summers in the 90s when a popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America.

Directors: Max Winkler
Watch Now:Amazon
Off With a Bang
star
7.33
347 votes

#10 - Off With a Bang

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/27/2021

Victim or villain? Jeanette continues to add fuel to the fire as her reckless behavior causes her friends and family to question her even more.

Directors: Kellie Cyrus
Watch Now:Amazon