The BEST Episodes of Horace and Pete
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Mar 1, 2020
Network: Hulu
The series is set in a run-down family-owned bar called Horace and Pete's in Brooklyn, New York. The bar has been owned by the family since 1916 and has been passed down through several generations, always with a Horace and a Pete in charge. The current owners are the 49-year-old Horace Wittel VIII, who inherited the bar when his father Horace Wittel VII died one year earlier, and his 52-year-old cousin Pete.
#1 - Episode 10
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired Apr 2, 2016
The first half of the episode is set in 1976. Horace senior (Louis C.K.) is abusive and controlling towards his wife Marianne (Edie Falco) and children; he forbids his wife from seeing her sister Abbie (Deborah Offner). In the bar, a broke customer (David Blaine) attempts to scam free drinks with a magic trick. Jimmy (Colin Quinn) and other customers argue about the presidential candidacy of Jimmy Carter. Uncle Pete (Steve Buscemi) humiliates his nephew Horace in front of the customers. Marianne finally walks out on her husband after years of abuse taking Sylvia (Sofia Hublitz) and Horace (Jack Gore), but leaving Pete (Nolan Lyons). The second half of the episode is set in the present. Kurt and other customers discuss Donald Trump. Ricardo visits the bar and tells Horace and Sylvia that Pete is almost certainly dead, and they will have to call the search off. Sylvia tells Horace that she intends to leave the bar and live with Harold. An eccentric and extraverted woman named Mara (Amy Sedaris) lifts Horace's mood when she interviews for the job. Horace tells Sylvia he knows what he wants to do with his life now. Pete returns to the bar and picks up a knife. Sylvia screams as Pete kills Horace. As Sylvia prepares to leave with Harold, Horace's son, Horace IX (Angus T. Jones) comes in the bar and asks about his father. Sylvia says there was nothing particularly distinctive about Horace, then breaks down in tears.
8.89 
#2 - Episode 7
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired Mar 12, 2016
Kurt tells the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in his own crude fashion, to the general amusement of the bar. Without warning, Sylvia kicks him out for saying the word "cunt". A customer named Rick (Rick Shapiro) is interested in Sylvia and tries to talk to her, but she shows no interest. Pete has a discussion with Ricardo (Craig muMs Grant), a childhood friend who is now a NYPD officer detailed to guard the mayor. Pete wants help to make the bar a landmark, so that Sylvia has more difficulty selling it. Horace's daughter Alice visits the bar with her boyfriend Eric (Conner O'Malley); awkward conversation ensues. Horace meets a woman named Rhonda (Karen Pittman) at the bar. She spends the night with him. The next morning, Rhonda suggests (but never confirms) that she might be a trans woman. Horace isn't sure if she is joking, but is forced to consider his own attitudes towards transgender people. During the conversation Horace tells Rhonda that his two children were born at about the same time, one to his wife Sarah and the other to her younger sister Rosemary. Sylvia gets good news regarding test results related to her cancer treatment.
8.58 
#3 - Episode 9
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired Mar 26, 2016
Sylvia interviews Jerold (John Sharian) for a job at the bar, but rejects him because of an old manslaughter conviction. A couple (Haynes Thigpen and Ann Carr) who made contact online meet at the bar, with disastrous results. Kurt advises the woman that online dating doesn't work, because people bond based on a rare "chemistry" between them rather than on common interests. Tom talks about his failure as an actor and his inability to find love, leading to his alcoholism. Leon asks about Pete, and Horace says that he has been missing for a week. It is revealed that Leon is sober and drinks only apple juice, but he enjoys sitting at the bar. Horace visits Tricia in the hospital; she has been severely beaten by Pete, who has no previous history of violence. She had attempted to wean him off his medication, naively believing that their mutual love would see them through. Kurt, Sylvia and others argue over Hulk Hogan's large damages award for breach of privacy. Horace is very upset about Pete's disappearance; when Kurt attempts to joke about it Horace physically attacks him. Mayor Bill de Blasio (played by himself) pays an unexpected visit to the bar. Horace retires to Pete's room and weeps. An imaginary conversation in the bar between Pete and Uncle Pete is presented. The episode closes with a quote from the recently deceased Garry Shandling.
8.56 
#4 - Episode 3
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Feb 13, 2016
Horace's ex-wife Sarah, who is eleven years his senior, visits the bar.
8.40 
#5 - Episode 6
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Mar 5, 2016
Pete goes on a date with Jenny (Hannah Dunne), a woman he met online. Pete, who was honest in his profile and was looking for a woman close to his own age, is somewhat disconcerted when she turns out to be much younger than she claimed in her profile. She is a sweet, somewhat conservative and old-fashioned small town girl from Michigan who says grace before meals and prefers older men because they have better manners. The date starts awkwardly, but they warm to each other and begin a romantic relationship. Jenny comes to have dinner at the apartment and meets Horace and Sylvia. Sylvia and Horace cruelly sabotage their relationship by barraging Jenny with Pete's flaws, including his mental illness. Jenny berates Sylvia and Horace and walks out.
8.36 
#6 - Episode 8
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired Mar 19, 2016
Sylvia, Horace and their overnight guests (Harold (Reg E. Cathey) and Rhonda, respectively) are awkwardly introduced to each other in the morning. Horace and Pete visit Pete's doctor (Colman Domingo) who tells them that Pete's medication is being discontinued and he will have to be readmitted to the hospital in a month. Pete is devastated. At the bar Kurt explains why he takes LSD and how he believes computers will eventually take over the world. Nick has an unpleasant conversation with Lucy (Lucy Taylor) who is drunk and to whom he hasn't spoken since they slept together. Later, she becomes increasingly drunk and abusive until Sylvia and Horace make her leave. Pete explains to Horace how terrible his life is when he is off his medication and hallucinating. Tricia comes to visit Pete and offers him support when he talks about his fears of going off the medicine, returning to the hospital, and his thoughts of committing suicide.
8.27 
#7 - Episode 4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Feb 20, 2016
Carl, an African American customer, ribs Uncle Pete about his angry reaction to a basketball game, and about his racism. Some of the regulars discuss abortion, and the old Catholic doctrine of Limbo. Nobody is interested in hearing a woman's perspective from Melissa. Horace is depressed and taciturn; Uncle Pete suggests he needs some casual sex. Horace makes a booty call to Maggie, a former sexual partner who used to work at the bar.
8.24 
#8 - Episode 5
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired Feb 27, 2016
The family hold a wake in the bar for Uncle Pete, who has recently committed suicide. Marsha talks about her early life; she has been a heavy drinker since the age of 13, and was eventually "adopted" by Horace senior. The family are no longer prepared to support her and she leaves the bar. Sylvia's illness has resulted in tensions between her and her daughter Brenda. At the bar, Kurt again expounds on his nihilistic political views. An obnoxious customer (Michael Cyril Creighton) annoys Tom, one of the regulars, and a fight almost breaks out. Pete begs Horace and Sylvia not to sell the bar, saying this is the only life he knows, but Sylvia can't afford her cancer treatment. Horace suggests as a compromise that Sylvia become involved in managing the bar as a co-owner. Kurt is irritated by people who complain about their lives, saying if it's so bad why don't they just kill themselves? Pete replies, "because maybe things will get better".
8.17 
#9 - Episode 2
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired Feb 6, 2016
The episode opens with Horace being woken by Marsha, who flirts with him. Marsha brings Dennis the tire store entrepreneur, into the bar on a date. Horace goes to lunch with his daughter Alice; she is a law student, and has accommodation problems after being ripped off by her roommate. Pete is visited by Tricia, a woman with Tourette syndrome he met while he was in a psychiatric hospital.
8.08 
#10 - Episode 1
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired Jan 30, 2016
Horace's sister Sylvia arrives with her lawyer and gives notice that she intends to sue the bar for her share of the inheritance and to sell it, as the bar is unprofitable due to years of mismanagement.
8.08