The WORST episodes of Knots Landing
Every episode of Knots Landing ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Knots Landing!
Hoping to ride the crest of its success with Dallas, CBS spun off this series featuring the black sheep of the Ewing Family, Gary Ewing. Gary was a weakened reformed alcoholic who had deserted his wife Valene Ewing, and then remarried her and moved to Southern California to escape the formidable nature of life with the Ewings in Dallas. All the equals in this series lived on the same cul-de-sac in the quiet little community of Knots Landing. In addition to being neighbors, their lives intertwined in other ways. Gary worked for Sid Fairgate, owner of Knots Landing Motors, the local classic car dealership. Sid and his wife Karen Fairgate had three teenage children: Eric Fairgate, Michael Fairgate, and Diana Fairgate. The other two couples on the cul-de-sac were young recording executive Kenny Ward and his attractive wife, Ginger, and Richard and Laura Avery.
#1 - Just Disappeared (1)
Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/1986
Karen's kidnapper, Phil Harbert, brings her to a guestroom in his home. He's laden it with food and new clothes for Karen, telling her he wants her to be comfortable. He tells Karen she hasn't been kidnapped, she's just disappeared. Greg uses the cleanup of Empire Valley as publicity for Peter. Greg tells him that he won't really clean it up until Lotus Point goes bankrupt. Peter tells Jill, who tells Gary.Val is overjoyed when Ben comes home. Later Ben receives a note from his old friend Jean Hackney to meet her. He goes to her boutique, which is a cover from underground activities. She asks him to spy on Greg, and kisses him. He tells her he no longer can do either activity. Flashback Scene: Young Mac, Greg and Phil go to the Matheson's, only to find out they've gone to their summer residence. Mac is upset because he didn't get to say goodbye to Anne.
#2 - Community Spirit
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/3/1980
J.R. Ewing is in town planning an offshore drilling project on the beach, which everyone is opposed to, except for Richard who asks Laura to get together with Chip Todson, J.R.'s PR man. He asks her to do this so he can get the account. J.R. has an afternoon rendezvous with Karen (big mistake!). Gary goes to J.R.'s office to steal an important file he can use against his brother. Along with the rest of the community, Gary protests by picketing on the beach.
#3 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/27/1979
Gary and Val move to their new home in Knots Landing that Miss Ellie Bought for them, and then get acquainted with their new neighbors. Sid's 18-year-old rebellious daughter, Annie from a previous marraige, is visiting the Fairgates and is causing havoc among the family. Val attempts to fix Annie's relationship with her father.
#4 - Remember the Good Times
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/4/1980
Gary meets Judy Trent who wants his help in getting her husband support from AA. Abby begins to show her manipulative nature (Already?) as she takes advantage of Eric and treis to seduce Kenny. Karen confronts her about this.
#5 - Hitchhike (1)
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/20/1980
Sid picks up a young hitchhiker who sets him up by asking him to give her money. When he refuses, she accuses him of rape. Diana has difficulty facing people. Sid's sister, Abby Cunningham, arrives in Knots Landing with her two children. Karen persuades Sid to find a new attorney instead of Richard.
#6 - Forsaking All Others
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/5/1984
Mac has Karen admitted to a hospital chemical dependency program. Karen denies she has a problem .Abby is angry at Greg for getting her involved with Mark St. Claire. Mark tells Abby that the Marcus's house has burned down, so Abby tells Laura to make them another offer. St. Claire tells Greg he has one more chance to drop Mac, or else he will give incriminating information to his opponent. Greg has a press conference and says that Mac abused his power and got a variance for Karen's property on Lotus Point, and so he's asked Mac to resign. Mac questions Karen about Lotus Point. She says she gets checks, but doesn't remember anything else. Gary barges into Abby's office and says he is going to have her books audited. Jane and Mary Francis apologize to the MacKenzies for Greg and go back to Sacramento. Jane berates Greg for making the election more important than friendship. Greg wins the primary race.
#7 - One of a Kind
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/17/1981
Karen's old boyfriend, Teddy Becker, comes to visit. Teddy is convinced that Diana is his daughter, but Karen assures him that she is Sid's. After hearing Teddy tell Diana that his sons asked to be adopted by their stepfather, Karen decided to let him think that Diana could be his. However, Karen shows Diana a photo of Sid's grandmother, who looks exactly like Diana. Richard gives Laura a new car for her Christmas gift, but then Scooter comes by with a brand new Mercedes for her. Val is upset by past Christmas memories of her when her father died and Lilimae abandoned her. Gary reminds Val that Lilimae was only 14 when she got married, so Val should give her a break. Lilimae gives Val a quilt and they make up.
#8 - The Three Sisters
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/21/1982
Laura takes the neighborhood women with her to check out an estate to sell. The estate is rumored to be haunted by the three sisters who lived there. The women must spend the night when Karen's car won't start. The ghosts of the sisters want Val to join them and be their mother, and try to get her to jump off the roof. On the roof, Lilimae is able to talk Val out of her trance, and she doesn't jump.
#9 - The Lie
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/17/1980
Laura is feeling unappreciated, so she goes to a cocktail lounge in the middle of the afternoon and meets an artist. The artist buys her a drink, then invites her to his studio to do a portrait of her as a ruse to rape her. She hides the truth from Richard by saying a serial rapist that is on the loose in Knots Landing just had raped her at home before Richard got home. Val knows that this is not the case, and as she goes down to the police station to identify her attacker; the police end up arresting the wrong man.
#10 - Scapegoats
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/15/1981
The Fairgates find out that Michael suffers from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). Sid hires Abby as the bookkeeper for Knots Landing Motors. Frank Kolbert and Roy Lance from "Orchid Cab Co" offer Gary a deal on cheap parts, but Sid declines, thinking it sounds illegal. Frank and Roy tell Gary they had a verbal agreement and threaten him, telling him he'd better have $50,000.00 for them by the end of the week. Abby overhears and suggests Gary ask J.R. for the money, as she read in the paper that J.R. will be in town soon.
#11 - Bottom of the Bottle (2)
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/27/1980
Gary and Richard get drunk. A drunken Gary takes an unconscious Richard home. Gary passes out and Laura offers Gary some coffee. Gary wants a drink and is very aggressive towards Laura. Laura calls Val as Gary tries to break into Laura's liquor cabinet. After Gary slaps Val in the face, she commits him to a detox ward. Kenny has an affair with Sylvie and his marriage with Ginger is strained. They make up at the Zoo as Kenny turns up in a gorilla suit. Gary escapes detox and goes to the bar for a drink. He is reminded of the doctor's trick when she made Gary choose between having a drink or Val. Gary decides to go to AA. (Way to go, Gary!)
#12 - Hitchhike (2)
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/27/1980
After Sid fires Richard as the attorney, Richard, in a drunken stupor, causes a scene in the cul-de-sac. Karen is angry when she discovers Richard tried to pay off the hitchhiker to drop the charges. Karen remembers a vital clue which results in getting Sid cleared. Abby decides to move to Knots Landing, and becomes a part of prime-time soap history.
#13 - Small Surprises
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/6/1980
When Karen learns that she's pregnant, she isn't sure she wants the baby, while Sid can't understand her mixed feelings regarding the pregnancy. When medical complications develop, Karen decides she wants to have the baby, but she miscarries. Eric takes a liking to Ginger's 14-year-old sister who is visiting from Knots Landing. However, when he takes her out on a date, he finds her too sophisticated for him. Ginger tells Kenny she is ready for them to start a family.
#14 - Chance of a Lifetime
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/11/1980
Gary makes a car deal with "Orchid Cab Co." againest Sid's better judgment. Gary also hires a female mechanic, Linda Stryker. Laura starts her real estate job. After her first sale, her boss, Scooter Warren, kisses her.Val starts college. Richard thinks a prestigious Chicago law firm will hire him, so he tells off his boss and quits his job. Then he finds out the Chicago firm's offer is for a salary several thousands less than he was already making. He cannot accept the job. He tells Laura he declined the job since she didn't want to move, but then starts crying.
#15 - Designs
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/1981
J.R. comes to town (again). He wants to form a corporation with Sid and patent the engine that Sid invented. Sid refuses. Abby steals the engine plans and gives them to J.R., and has him sign a contract to protect her interests. They sleep together. Karen tells Sid that Abby stole the plans, but he doesn't believe her. Karen and Val are suspicious when Jeff comes to pick up the kids, and packs all of their things into his van. Karen goes to J.R.'s hotel to tell Abby she thinks Jeff kidnapped the kids, but Abby doesn't believe her and says Jeff is just trying to scare her again.
#16 - Land of the Free
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/7/1980
A motorcycle gang causes trouble for the cul-de-sac. Diana gets kidnapped by the group.
#17 - A Family Matter
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/22/1981
J.R. is in town for an oil convention. When Gary refuses to ask him for the money, Abby goes to J.R. for it and sleeps with him. J.R. says he knows that Abby has designs on Gary and that he'll only give Gary the money if he asks for it himself, so Abby keeps trying to persuade Gary. Val asks Gary not to get in any deals with J.R., and she and J.R. have a nasty confrontation. Roy and Frank continue to pressure Gary, so he finally goes to J.R., who gives him the $50,000.00. Kenny breaks up with Sylvie and wants to get back with Ginger, but she says no.
#18 - Calculated Risks
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/1984
The doctor tells Karen that she'll die within the year unless she has a risky operation with only a 50% survival rate. Mac wants to get back together with her, but Karen lies and says she doesn't love him. Mac moves in with Ben. Diana moves to New York. Joshua Rush shows up at Val's. His mother was Lilimae's sister. She abandoned him and he wants to learn about her from Lilimae. She says her sister was a vicious, wicked tramp and he should be glad that she's dead. Val invites Joshua to stay with them. St. Claire threatens Greg and he comes to the yacht. Abby sees a gun in a drawer and gives it to Greg. Greg shoots Mark St. Claire.
#19 - The Surprise
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/10/1981
Richard's boss asks him to procure prostitutes for clients and he does. When Val receives a postcard from Olivia, a detective is able to find the kids. Abby goes there and Jeff tells her that the state won't honor California custody laws. Abby begins manipulating Jeff, but he tells her that he knows what she is doing. Abby perseveres, and soon has Jeff back in love with her. She agrees to remarry him and they all drive back to Knots Landing. On the day of the wedding, Jeff and his mother wait at the Court House for Abby to show up. Instead, a deputy shows up and serves Jeff a restraining order so he can't see his children or esle he will be arrested for kidnapping. Karen later tells Abby that she really hurt Jeff. Abby replies, "He hurt me. Nobody does that!"
#20 - Critical Condition
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/19/1981
Sid has a blood clot which will permanently paralyze him unless they operate, however, there's a 40% chance the operation could kill him. Karen doesn't want him to get the operation, but Sid insists and makes Karen sign his consent form. Sid tells his family how much he loves them, and after they leave he makes a private tape recording for Karen. The neighbors all keep vigil with the Fairgates during the operation, and Karen and Gary make up. In the operating room, something goes horribly wrong. The doctor finally comes out, and Karen can see by his face that Sid has died. Everyone is crying and in shock. Later, Karen listens to the tape Sid made for her, telling her how much he loves her.
#21 - Truth and Consequences
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/1984
Val asks Mac to be her birthing coach, and Gary tells her he wishes she would have asked him. Val and Gary try to get Karen and Mac back together, but Abby's worried that Val will tell Gary about the babies. Abby asks Scott Easton if the babies can be heirs and complains about them, but says there's nothing she can do about it. Easton replies, "You never know..." Abby hires Joshua to work at the cable station. Gary tries to use reverse psychology on Karen and tells her to divorce Mac, but to his surprise, Karen agrees and goes to see a divorce lawyer. Cathy has a romantic dinner with Joshua. Ben gives Mac a tape about Gary Loader, who was in prison with Tom Jessick. Greg wins his election to become Senator. He gives his acceptance speech. Afterwards, Jane tells him that she wants a divorce.
#22 - Civil Wives
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/14/1980
Sid's ex-wife, Susan, comes to the cul-de-sac where her motives are questioned by Sid and Karen.
#23 - Mistaken Motives
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/7/1982
Ginger and Kenny argue over whether they should let Erin cry or pick her up. Karen goes to a grief group, and makes friends with Bill Medford, whose wife committed suicide. Bill tries to kiss Karen, but she says she isn't ready. Diana misinterprets their friendship and is enraged that Karen is dating. Out of spite, Diana goes to a party with Roy, a biker who Karen hates. He drinks as he's taking Diana home. When a police car tries to pull them over, Roy tries to outrun them, and he and Diana are arrested. Later Karen and Diana have a terrible argument, but then begin to talk and make up.
#24 - Weak Moment
Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/1987
Greg hires Paige to buy him investment art. Charles tells Abby that marrying Judith is a mistake he's lived with for 20 years. She screams that she hates him, but he kisses her and they sleep together. Gary and Val make love. She feels guilty about Jill, and rejects Gary after he helps her and the twins decorate the tree. Val tells Gary it was a mistake and she doesn't want him coming over anymore. He storms out. Gary tells Jill that he doesn't love her, but wishes he did. Jill confronts Val, and tells her that she could give Abby lessons in manipulation. Jill moves out of Gary's but then returns. Greg drops Meg off at the MacKenzies, saying he has business in New York.
#25 - Missing Persons
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1987
After 5 weeks, no one can find Peter. Val grieves over Ben, and makes up with Laura. Abby's really worried about Olivia, who has been having nightmares, and has reverted to infantile behavior. Mack becomes friendly with a man from his messenger service, Al Baker. Paige goes to Greg, concerned about her paternity. He plants a passionate kiss on her to prove he's not her father. Then Mack and Paige discover that they are both allergic to cantaloupe, so he must be her father! The crack at the Lotus Point playground gets worse. Workmen say it's structural, and needs to come out. Abby just wants it patched, but Gary and Karen out vote her. The workmen remove the cement and find Peter's body.