The BEST episodes of In the Heat of the Night season 5

Every episode of In the Heat of the Night season 5, 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 5!

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
7.50
8 votes

#1 - Sweet, Sweet Blues

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/1991

The lyrics to a blues song recall a murder that happened 50 years earlier.The victim - Sweet's grandfather.And the only people left with the answers are the bluesman who wrote the song and a retired sheriff.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.33
9 votes

#2 - An Eye for an Eye

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/1991

The father of a man Gerard prosecuted kidnaps the DA's daughter.

Directors: Leo Penn
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.27
11 votes

#3 - Ruda's Awakening

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/1991

Virgil's Aunt Ruda is the only witness to a struggle between Bubba and a young robbery suspect that ends in the young mans death.But her prejudice against the police -- and Virgil clouds her memory of the incident.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.18
11 votes

#4 - The Littlest Victim

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1991

Lonnie makes a heartbreaking discovery about a woman he dated in high school.

Directors: Paul Chavez
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.11
9 votes

#5 - Obsession

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/1991

A flirtatious schoolteacher is stalked by a madman.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.11
9 votes

#6 - Liar's Poker

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/1991

A game of high stakes poker ends in murder.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
7 votes

#7 - The More Things Change

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/1991

A man murders his business partner and frames the man's illegitimate daughter for the crime in an attempt to gain the man's business and his wife.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.88
8 votes

#8 - The Landlord

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/7/1992

A drug dealing slumlord is murdered by his accomplices.

Directors: Larry Hagman
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.86
7 votes

#9 - Odessa

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/11/1992

Racists target a ceremony honoring a civil rights pioneer.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.78
9 votes

#10 - Fool for Love

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/14/1992

A doctor plots to eliminate his wife -- and his mistress.

Directors: Vincent McEveety
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.71
7 votes

#11 - Love, Honor and Obey

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/4/1992

Parkers investigation into a purse snatching reveals an abused woman.

Directors: Reza Badiyi
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#12 - Baby for Sale

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/1991

After Bubba's cousin adopts a baby her husband is blackmailed by the child's real parents - they want him to help them steal the payroll where he works.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#13 - Trundel's Will Be Done

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/3/1992

V.J. Trundel's widow takes Harriet to court to gain custody of Eric.But Harriet is determined that her nephew will not be raised in the home of the man who ordered the murder of her sister.

Directors: Harry Harris
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.57
7 votes

#14 - A Time to Trust

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/18/1992

Althea fears for one of her students after her mother's boyfriend is linked to a criminal operation that has resulted in the deaths of several truckers.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Writer: Patt Shea
star
6.57
7 votes

#15 - Moseley's Lot

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/31/1992

Gillespie learns that the son of an old friend is a compulsive gambler.The young man wants his father to pay off his losses.But when two gangsters show up from New Orleans to collect, his jealous sibling sees the perfect opportunity to get rid of his troubled brother.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
Writer: Joe Gannon
star
6.55
11 votes

#16 - By Means Most Foul

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/25/1992

A restaurateur and her mechanic boyfriend plot to eliminate her husband, but their scheme backfires.Gillespie takes heat over a string of mailbox bashings.And Virgil soon regrets ignoring Parker's theory regarding where the vandals would strike next.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
Writer: Joe Gannon
star
6.50
6 votes

#17 - A Woman Much Admired

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/1991

Gillespie's old flame returns to Sparta to settle some business matters and see Bill. When she is murdered he travels to Gulfport and meets his daughter Lana for the first time.

Directors: Harry Harris
Writer: Harry Harris
star
6.50
8 votes

#18 - Family Reunion

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/7/1992

An ex-convict attempts to retrieve his loot from his wife and her new husband in this tongue-in-cheek episode.

Directors: Harry Harris
star
6.50
6 votes

#19 - The Law on Trial

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/1992

Gillespie,Tibbs and Father DiMarco must stand trial for harbouring a fugitive and obstructing justice.

Directors: Russ Mayberry
star
6.43
7 votes

#20 - Unfinished Business

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/1991

Bubba returns to Los Angeles to testify at a murder trial and is reunited with Pat Day as they try to protect Mike from killers sent to prevent him from testifying.

Directors: Leo Penn
Writer: Joe Gannon
star
6.43
7 votes

#21 - Sparta Gold

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/1991

A deputy provides protection for a cotton grower who is running a pot growing operation.But the deputy makes a big mistake when he wounds Bubba's girlfriend.

Directors: Winrich Kolbe
star
6.33
6 votes

#22 - Sanctuary

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/12/1992

A political prisoner who entered the country illegally,seeks sanctuary in a monastary.Gillespie and Tibbs find themselves at odds with Sheriff McComb when they try to help the man.

Directors: Mario Azzopardi