The BEST episodes of In the Heat of the Night season 4

Every episode of In the Heat of the Night season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of In the Heat of the Night season 4!

Based on the critically acclaimed novel and film of the same name, this series provides a hopeful, yet honest look at life in the new South. Set in the fictional Sparta, Mississippi, the show is a blend of heartfelt drama and folksy humor, portraying both the professional and personal pursuits of Sparta P.D's officers. Series star Carroll O'Connor, in a role far removed from Archie Bunker, served as executive producer. Using the pen name Matt Harris, O'Connor was also the story editor and wrote many of the episodes.

Last Updated: 9/11/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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star
7.36
11 votes

#1 - Perversions of Justice

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/2/1990

A mild mannered school teacher is accused of child molestation.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.22
9 votes

#2 - A Final Arrangement

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/27/1990

Sweet is heartbroken when an elderly woman who befriended him is murdered in her bookstore.

Directors: Leo Penn
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.22
9 votes

#3 - Child of Promise

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/5/1991

A story of two brothers one an honor student that Althea has great plans for, the other a dangerous drug dealer as they struggle to influence a younger sibling.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.10
10 votes

#4 - Heart of Gold

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1990

Bubba is reunited with his high school sweetheart, but his happiness is short lived after she resorts to murder to silence an attorney who was threatening to stop her from inheriting her late husband's estate.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.09
11 votes

#5 - Lessons Learned

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/25/1990

Gillespie sends Parker to confirm suspicions that a local truck stop is really a front for a prostitution business.When a young prostitute is found dead Gillespie is shocked at her fathers reaction.Parker is dismayed when he recognizes one of the ladies.

Directors: Mario Azzopardi
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
10 votes

#6 - Brotherly Love (2)

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/18/1990

Virgil is framed for murder and Gillespie travels to Philly to help him clear his name.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.91
11 votes

#7 - Homecoming

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1990

A lawyer has personal reasons for trying to gain early release for a man who was sent to prison after an accident he caused while drinking and driving.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.90
10 votes

#8 - Quick Fix

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1990

The investigation into the death of an abandoned infant leads to a mentally handicapped teenager.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.88
8 votes

#9 - A Problem Too Personal

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/1990

Harriet and Eugene are devastated after Gene's father is arrested for murder.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.82
11 votes

#10 - And Justice For Some

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1990

Gillespie and his officers are outraged when a drug courier who ran down the son of Virgil's next door neighbor makes a deal with the F.B.I. to avoid prosecution.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.78
9 votes

#11 - Bounty Hunter

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/11/1990

Gillespie receives word that a former Spartan is wanted for the murder of a socialite in Houston.But a ruthless bounty hunter, sent by the victim's jealous husband is already in Sparta and sees the man's sister as a means to locate his quarry.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.75
8 votes

#12 - Laid to Waste

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/26/1991

Parker protects a blind woman who heard her neighbors murder.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.70
10 votes

#13 - Brotherly Love (1)

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/1990

Virgil goes to Philadelphia to investigate a friends death.And Bubba (reluctantly) fills in as Althea's Lamaze coach.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.70
10 votes

#14 - First Deadly Sin

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1991

A serial rapist stalks Sparta.

Directors: Peter Salim
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#15 - Paper Castles

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/1991

Virgil soon regrets telling an old friend that his new business partners are being investigated by the police.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#16 - Just A Country Boy

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/19/1991

Bubba travels to Los Angeles to arrest an arsonist.When the man is murdered to keep him from talking Bubba teams up with a pretty insurance investigator to solve the crime.

Directors: Carroll O'Connor
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#17 - No Other Road

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/26/1991

Harriet tries to keep Eugene from giving up when his father faces the death penalty.And the police search for three suspects in connection to a robbery/murder.

Directors: Paul Chavez
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.50
6 votes

#18 - Shine on Sparta Moon

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/8/1991

A bottle of spiked moonshine leads to an accident that claims the life of one teen and blinds another.

Directors: Leo Penn
star
6.50
12 votes

#19 - An Execution of Trust

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/15/1991

A psychiatrist tells Gillespie that one of her patients has confessed to a crime that another man is about to be executed for, but she refuses to divulge his identity.

Directors: Leo Penn
star
6.43
7 votes

#20 - Family Matters

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/4/1990

Virgil's dream of a better relationship with his Aunt Ruda and her son is shattered when his cousin takes part in a string of burglaries that result in murder.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Apple TV
star
6.43
7 votes

#21 - Blessings

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/18/1990

In this Christmas episode the officers share memories with a reporter from the Sparta Herald.

star
6.43
7 votes

#22 - A Turning

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/30/1991

Althea thinks Virgil needs a new line of work after seeing the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a roadhouse.Virgil finds himself in danger when they arrest the man who committed the crime.

Directors: Paul Chavez