The BEST episodes of Growing Pains

Every episode of Growing Pains ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Growing Pains!

It's hard enough to raise a kid nowadays but when you have to cope with THESE kids, things tend to get out of hand! Dr Seaver, a psychologist, and his wife Maggie Seaver, a journalist, try to do their best raising their family, and although their kids, Mike, Ben, Carol and Chrissy, cause them endless problems, they manage to keep the family close together. As long as they got each other, nothing else matters...

Last Updated: 2/15/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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In Vino Veritas
star
8.10
10 votes

#1 - In Vino Veritas

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1991

Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; then Jason's wine cellar goes missing.

Directors: Jack Shea
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Last Picture Show (2)
star
8.09
11 votes

#2 - The Last Picture Show (2)

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/25/1992

The Seavers move to Washington, D.C., but share a final meal and memories in the empty house.

Directors: Jonathan Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ménage à Luke
star
8.00
6 votes

#3 - Ménage à Luke

Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/8/1992

A love triangle involves Ben, Luke and a classmate.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Writer: Todd Thicke
Watch Now:Apple TV
Ben's Movie
star
8.00
7 votes

#4 - Ben's Movie

Season 5 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/25/1990

Ben casts a girl he likes as the lead in his home movie.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Some Enchanted Evening
star
7.92
12 votes

#5 - Some Enchanted Evening

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/27/1987

The winter formal causes opposite problems for Carol and Mike.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Confidentially Yours
star
7.89
9 votes

#6 - Confidentially Yours

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/1987

Jason knows the editor offering Maggie a dream job is a notorious womanizer.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Tom Walla
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Last Picture Show (1)
star
7.88
8 votes

#7 - The Last Picture Show (1)

Season 7 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/25/1992

Maggie is offered a plum job in Washington, D.C.

Directors: Jonathan Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Roommates
star
7.86
7 votes

#8 - Roommates

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/1990

Mike becomes roommates with sister Carol, now a Columbia University student.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Graduation Day
star
7.83
6 votes

#9 - Graduation Day

Season 3 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/4/1988

At Mike's high-school graduation, family members recall moments when it seemed like his graduation would never take place.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Five Grand
star
7.83
6 votes

#10 - Five Grand

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1989

Their grandparents give Mike, Carol and Ben $5,000 each.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Carol's Carnival
star
7.83
6 votes

#11 - Carol's Carnival

Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/27/1991

On a blind date shaping up as a disaster, Carol goes to the carnival, and finds unexpected fun and excitement.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Truck Stops Here
star
7.83
6 votes

#12 - The Truck Stops Here

Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/21/1992

Luke's father George visits the Seavers hoping that Luke has mellowed a little and would like to spend some time with him but Luke doesn't. He was about to leave when he collapses outside the door. He says that can't move, so they take him in. Jason and Ben offer to deliver his load, and they experience all sorts of chaos on the way. Mike thinks that George is faking his injury so that he could stay and Luke would have to talk to him. But the doctor tells Maggie who tells Mike that unless George stops driving trucks, he could become paralyzed. Mike talks to George and tells him to tell Luke but doesn't want Luke to pity him and doesn't anything else to do but be a trucker. Mike suggests that maybe he could open a truck stop. Luke finds George struggling to get up and they finally talk. The next day after Jason and Ben return, George tells them that he is giving up trucking and will open a truck stop and Luke's going with him. Luke says goodbye to the Seavers.

Directors: Joanna Kerns
Writer: Jerry Colker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mike's Choice
star
7.82
11 votes

#13 - Mike's Choice

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1990

When Mike lands a role in an off-Broadway play, he leaves college to pursue acting full-time in New York City.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure
star
7.75
8 votes

#14 - Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1989

Mike takes Ben girl chasing.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Rob Bragin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Standardized Test
star
7.71
14 votes

#15 - Standardized Test

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/5/1985

Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.

Directors: Nick Havinga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's Not Easy Being Green
star
7.71
7 votes

#16 - It's Not Easy Being Green

Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/21/1991

Christmas brings anger and angst to the Seavers.

Directors: Renny Temple
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Day Cafe
star
7.71
7 votes

#17 - Bad Day Cafe

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/23/1991

While Jason and Maggie are away, the principal informs Mike that Luke's birth father is back in town -- and wants him back.

Directors: Renny Temple
Writer: Bud Wiser
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Carol in Jail
star
7.71
7 votes

#18 - Carol in Jail

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/1990

Carol lands in jail after a minor traffic violation.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mike the Teacher
star
7.71
7 votes

#19 - Mike the Teacher

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/7/1990

Mike goes to work as a substitute teacher.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fool for Love
star
7.69
13 votes

#20 - Fool for Love

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/19/1988

Ben gets spooked at the prospect of asking a girl to a Halloween party; Jason becomes a disruptive force at Lamaze class.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Maggie's Brilliant Career
star
7.67
6 votes

#21 - Maggie's Brilliant Career

Season 7 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/4/1992

Maggie wants to fulfill a dream by climbing a mountain.

Directors: Gerren Keith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Vicious Cycle
star
7.67
6 votes

#22 - Vicious Cycle

Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/1/1992

Maggie and Jason put Mike on the spot for Luke's curfew problems.

Writer: Cathy Jung
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
How Could I Leave Her Behind?
star
7.67
6 votes

#23 - How Could I Leave Her Behind?

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/2/1991

Mike's friend Eddie shows up for a double date with Mike's ex-girlfriend.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Daddy Mike
star
7.67
6 votes

#24 - Daddy Mike

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1990

Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Weekend at Mike's
star
7.67
6 votes

#25 - Weekend at Mike's

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/4/1990

With Jason's wallet missing, the Seavers must rely on others to provide them with room and board while their house is being fumigated.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV