The BEST episodes of Oz season 4

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

Oz is set deep inside the Oswald Maximum Security Prison, in an experimental unit known as Emerald City. Em City focuses on prisoner rehabilitation over public retribution. There's one set of rules from the outside looking in, and another once you're inside. Every group - Muslims, Latinos, Italians, Aryans - stick close to their mutual friends and terrorizes their mutual enemies.

Last Updated: 12/11/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
Famous Last Words
star
7.82
480 votes

#1 - Famous Last Words

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/25/2001

Hill gets caught in a deliberate attempt to frame him for drug possession. To fight back, he gets some medical info that leads to Supreme's demise. Redding thanks Hill and offers to bring him back to the crew in return. Hill thanks Redding but refuses. The Colonel's attempt to kill Morales backfires. The tides turn on Cloutier who is first stripped of his position in his church and then endures his followers turning against him. After Hughes takes over the solitary ward, Glynn goes in to try and calm him down. Hughes tries to kill Glynn but gets killed himself. Frustrated, hurt and helpless, Glynn transcribes his letter of resignation to his secretary. Murphy offers to be McManus' teammate in the final basketball game. McManus appears on the tv game show and loses in the first round. White gets returned to solitary for starting a fight with other inmates. When McManus confronts him about it, White goes into a rage and stomps McManus. The news of Beecher's parole enrages Schillinger who immediately order's Beecher's murder. Later, Schillinger and Robson try to ambush Beecher in the library only they are shanked by an enraged Said. After talking with his mother, O'Reily decides to change up. He goes to Glynn to warn him of the bomb Connolly plans to detonate. The common room is cleared only for Connolly who holds the bomb as it's timer counts down. The bomb doesn't go off and Connolly's taken by the SORT team. Meanwhile, a guard lights a cigarette in the kitchen causing a major explosion.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
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Cuts Like a Knife
star
7.77
485 votes

#2 - Cuts Like a Knife

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/28/2001

Despised by both the Latinos and the gangsters, Alvarez snaps and kills another Latino inmate. He's then returned to solitary. McManus continues to argue the problems of the drug experiment. Cyril sudden physical aging scares Ryan. Inmate Wick, one of the bikers who's taken the drug dies suddenly while talking to Hoyt. After officially joining the Muslims, Tidd attempts to kill Said, but decides not to after his conscious gets to him. Still out of control and unpredictable, White stabs McManus in an effort to gain the respect of the other inmates. Johhny Basil gets visited by his former partner who's still angry at him. Supreme Allah returns to Oz and immediately draws Redding's ire. Redding then tells Hill that Allah tipped the cops off, causing Hill's arrest. Hill then confronts Allah about this and Allah beats Hill. Father Ray and Rev. Cloutier finally meet. Schillinger finds out about Hank's death and immediately swears revenge. Keller tells Schillinger that he had Hank killed so Vern won't go after Beecher's family. Keller then gets transferred out of Oz to stand trial in Massachusetts.

Directors: Steve Buscemi
Writer: Tom Fontana
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You Bet Your Life
star
7.76
619 votes

#3 - You Bet Your Life

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/30/2000

After the press conference shooting incident, Glynn pulls out of the race. When a corpse is found in the laundry room, Querns demands Adebisi find out who did the deed. Soon Browne's corpse is also discovered and Querns gets worried. Querns's investigative efforts point to Supreme Allah as the culprit only Supreme's really being framed for the two killings by O'Reily and Keller. Hill pays big when he tells Mobay he knows he's undercover and Mobay comes clean about his involvement in Oz's recent crimes. Considering the words of Cyril, Sister Pete decides to remain in the Order. On death row, Deyell delivers some payback after Miles goes on another racist tirade. Vern finds out he's going to be a grandfather. Said moves in with Adebisi in order to get some proof of Adebisi's rowdy behavior. Simon finds out and delivers a tape of one of Adebisi's "parties" to Said hoping to "gain his trust" as a "brother" Said turns the evidence over to McManus. The result? Querns gets fired, McManus is reinstated and Adebisi and his cronies get moved to Unit B. Enraged about these new developments, Adebisi and Said struggle in the pod and one of them becomes Oz's latest murder victim.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tom Fontana
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A Cock and Balls Story
star
7.71
656 votes

#4 - A Cock and Balls Story

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/12/2000

The lockdown ends. After Hamid Khan's body is taken off life support, the Muslim's choose Arif to lead them. Meanwhile, Cyril's having nightmares about delivering the fatal blow to Khan in the boxing match. Ryan asks Sister Pete to intervene. Murphy makes a suggestion to help ease some of the strain in solitary after another inmate commits suicide. Father Mukada plants an inventive idea in Beecher's head on how to deal with Schillinger. Shirley Bellinger returns awaiting her date with the noose. New inmate Mobay, arrives to Oz and his cellmate Hill is immediately suspicious. Gov. Devlin invites Glynn to be his running mate in the Gov's re-election bid. McManus gets an update on Wittlesey, who hasn't returned from vacation and a shootout in Oz results in four deaths.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Gray Matter
star
7.69
586 votes

#5 - Gray Matter

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/9/2000

Things get a bit lively on death row after Shirley Bellinger's execution-- Miles begins painting a self-portrait, Ginzburg's health deteriorates from AIDS and Deyell severely injures himself. Mobay's ordered to kill someone as a final test of his loyalty and a new prisoner, whom Mobay's familiar with, makes the perfect victim. A call stirs McManus' emotions again. New inmate Supreme Allah arrives creating tension and uneasiness for Arif. On his way to his son's funeral, Beecher asks Keller an intimate question. A changed Rebadow asks for permission from Morales to kill again. After a fight with the gangsters, Cyril's put on heavier sedatives. For Ryan O'Reilly, he gets the cell phone after ratting to Hoyt and he also meets Dr. Nathan's attacker.

Directors: Brian Cox
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Orpheus Descending
star
7.66
436 votes

#6 - Orpheus Descending

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2001

McManus returns from the hospital with an ultimatum for Redding and Morales. Redding tells Hill that he's finished with him after Hill tipped a guard off. Supreme meets with Pancamo and offers to set Hill up to kill Redding. Redding and his new cellmate "The Colonel" develop an delicate alliance. McManus still commits to helping White change, even after White stabbed him. Clayton Hughes, on an emotional rampage, kills Basil. Glynn's secretary discovers him drinking heavily and she decides to drive him home. Sister Pete arranges a phone call between Beecher and Keller after she sees Beecher saddened by Keller's absence. Schillinger meets his new granddaughter but then runs into a new inmate who makes Schillinger question whether or not the baby is really his granddaughter. Said goes to Cloutier and asks him to coerce a confession from Jenkins about Robson's part in the plan to have Tidd murdered. Although it works, Cloutier gets visited by Schillinger and the Aryans and told to stay out of their business.

Directors: Gloria Muzio
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A Town Without Pity
star
7.64
551 votes

#7 - A Town Without Pity

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/23/2000

Ryan and Howell get frisky. After leaving the hole and apologizing to Busmalis for the stabbing Rebadow suffers an attack due to a brain tumor. Busmalis reacts by doing what he does best--start another tunnel. Unbeknownst to the doctors and everyone else, Cyril's recovering psychologically more than he can actually show. Arif confesses to Said about his own demons and asks for forgiveness and help. Said plots with McManus to end Querns' and Adebisi's control. Hank Schillinger beats the kidnapping rap and once Beecher finds out, he plots with Pancamo for revenge. After Keller reveals his plot to kill him, Eli Zabitz asks Schillinger for protection. Schillinger agrees but sends Robson to eliminate Zabitz instead. Hughes, now raging beyond sensibility, makes an attempt on Devlin's life at a press conference. Keller and Father Ray have an intense discussion about Beecher.

Directors: J. Miller Tobin
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Medium Rare
star
7.61
480 votes

#8 - Medium Rare

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/7/2001

Adebisi's death still looms large over Oz. Against Glynn's better judgement and with special permission from the Gov., a TV news crew comes to Oz to film. Ryan O' Reily recognizes the star reporter as a past enemy and he immediately embarks on revenge. After interviewing inmates -- including Poet who strongly suggests the cover up can be exposed through Adebisi's video tapes-- the show's producer gets busy digging for answers. McManus discovers this and immediately tells Glynn to destroy Adebisi's tapes or face Oz possilby being shut down. The star reporter moves into a pod with Cyril for the evening to catch a "verite" view of Oz. The stunt backfires as Cyril (with prompting from O'Reilly) brutally beats the reporter.

Directors: Alex Zakrzewski
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A Word to the Wise
star
7.49
598 votes

#9 - A Word to the Wise

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/16/2000

An investigation into Goergen's death starts and Mobay's anxious when the investigator targets him first. Tensions begin to rise as Querns turns a seemingly deaf ear and blind eye to the blatant violations committed by black inmates. An inmate transfer works in Adebisi's favor. Arif challenges Querns's authority. Ginzburg's poor health forces him to request an early execution and Sister Pete convinces Glynn to make it happen. Glynn's press conference announcement forces his daughter to make a major decision. Beecher's daughter arrives alive and Keller confesses to Mukada.

Directors: Keith Samples
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Obituaries
star
7.49
526 votes

#10 - Obituaries

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/19/2000

Mobay has his first meeting with Adebisi. Glynn fires McManus after Tim makes a foolish outburst during the slain CO's memorial service. Sister Pete still wrestles with ending her service as a nun. Beecher's dad pays a visit and gives an update. Schillinger is visited by his other son, Hank. Said's decision to help Cramer secure a new trial is met with strong opposition by the Muslims. Poet grieves and ponders his next move now that Wangler and Pierce are dead. O'Reily's plan to get the cell phone backfires and results in another inmate's death. Bellinger returns to Oz to await her impending execution.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Even the Score
star
7.48
457 votes

#11 - Even the Score

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/2001

Guerra rats to McManus about White still using drugs so McManus orders a shakedown. McManus confronts White and gives him an ultimatum. White goes to counseling but causes a fight and gets thrown in to the hole again. McManus gets a basketball scout to come and watch Brass play, but when Vahue loses to them, a plots unveiled to exact revenge. Sister Pete opposes Gov. Devlin's solution to Giles' request to be stoned to death. New inmate and Irish refugee Connolly arrives and forms a dangerous alliance with O'Reily. Said continues to grapple with his conscious about Adebisi's death.

Directors: J. Miller Tobin
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Works of Mercy
star
7.48
544 votes

#12 - Works of Mercy

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/2/2000

The kidnapping of Beecher's children has everyone upset and Beecher inconsolable. Schillinger gets questioned and of course, claims to know nothing about the deed. Beecher decides to initiate his own investigation. Soon after, a package with horrendous contents arrives for Beecher. Meanwhile, Oz prepares for Shirley Bellinger's hanging as the death penalty protests continue. A visit from the Cardinal creates mixed feelings for Sister Pete and Father Ray. Said announces good and bad news in the state's decision for the inmates. Another Rebadow prediction comes chillingly true. O'Reily's still searching for that elusive cell phone and Dr. Nathan asks Glynn for permission to return to work earlier than expected.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Blizzard of '01
star
7.43
496 votes

#13 - Blizzard of '01

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/4/2001

Wick's family sues Oz for his death which was caused by the experimental drugs he took. This also means, Dr. Nathan's under investigation and could lose her job. Ryan gets a surprise visit... from his real mother. Howell tells Ryan their trysts are over and she threatens to move on to Cyril. Busmalis confesses to Rebadow that he's a virgin. Schillinger tells Carrie about Hank's death and she immediately goes into labor, delivering the baby in Oz's hospital. Beecher meets a lawyer who tells him his parole chances are decent as long as he stays out of trouble. So what does Beecher do'? He gets thrown in the hole for fighting with his new podmate. After a session with Sister Pete, Vahue decides he doesn't need her help, even though he really does. Hill questions Redding's decision to start eliminating prisoners and takes action. Deyell decides to donate his organs after he's executed. Tidd pays a heavy price for his new allegiance to Said.

Directors: Leslie Libman
Writer: Tom Fontana
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The Bill of Wrongs
star
7.40
574 votes

#14 - The Bill of Wrongs

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/26/2000

All is crazy after Busmalis and Alvarez flee from Oz via one of Busmalis' tunnels. Hernandez discloses details about the shooting to Glynn and mentions Tarrant getting the gun from Adebisi, who got the gun originally from Clayton Hughes. Glynn confronts Hughes, Hughes confesses immediately and is quickly arrested. New inmate Morales is offered Hernandez's end of the "tit" trade only if he kills Hernandez. Morales asks Rebadow to do the deed in exchange for anything Rebadow wants and Rebadow accepts. Escapee Busmalis is caught and returned to Oz where he is rebuked by Rebadow. A "fresh from the hole" Adebisi begins implementing his plan to get a new Em City administrator. A cell phone appears and Ryan schemes to get his hands on it. Like most O'Reily schemes, someone ends up dead and this case is no different as Hoyt's recruited to do the "honors". Said scores a victory for Jason Cramer and Shirley Bellinger gets a visitor.

Directors: Goran Gajic
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Conversions
star
7.40
533 votes

#15 - Conversions

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/14/2001

New inmate Burr Redding arrives and stands ready to assume control of the drug business. Dr. Nathan returns. Tidd approaches Schillinger with a plan to kill Said. Several Asian refugees are housed in Em City while the government decides their fate and they unwillingly get caught in a power struggle between Morales and Redding. Glynn hires an energetic new assistant who piques everyone's interest.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Tom Fontana
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Revenge is Sweet
star
7.22
566 votes

#16 - Revenge is Sweet

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/21/2001

Robson and Hoyt tell Rev. Cloutier to back off of Schillinger. Schillinger and Beecher have their first counseling interaction session. Tidd continues to get close to Said by defending Arif in a fight. Arif goes to Said and pleads Tidd's case to accept him into their Muslim group. Busmalis requests that he and his girlfriend be married. Glynn hosts the Warden's conference and is given an update on Hughes by Querns. Glynn soon has Hughes transferred to Oz's cops unit so he can protect him. This unit is also where Johnny Basil (Mobay) is locked up. Keller's old buddy Ronnie gets close to Beecher causing Keller to get jealous. Ronnie's offered a sentence reduction in exchange for corroborating evidence of Keller's involvement in some past murders. Beecher finds this out and warns Keller, who doesn't believe him. Keller question's Ronnie about the matter and then, comes up with his own solution. Em City inmates are selected for drug testing experiment that promises to age the person quickly therefore reducing their actual time spent in prison.

Directors: Goran Gajic
Writer: Tom Fontana
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