The BEST episodes of Soul Food

Every episode of Soul Food ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Soul Food!

A talented, eclectic ensemble cast reunites the Joseph family in the hour-long family drama, Soul Food, an Edmonds Entertainment/State Street Pictures production in association with Paramount Network Television for Showtime . Soul Food was the first original Showtime series to receive a second season order from the network. Based on the critically acclaimed film from writer/director...

Last Updated: 11/15/2024Network: Paramount+ with ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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star
8.75
4 votes

#1 - Survival Techniques

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/7/2004

Bird is kidnapped and Lem has 48 hours to save her - without anyone's help; Maxine questions Amina's influence on Ahmad; Teri mistakes Charles's daughter for his girlfriend, leading to a number of embarrassing moments.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.67
3 votes

#2 - Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/31/2001

Teri goes to court for Global Airlines, Bird and Lem take baby steps toward reconciliation and Kenny hires an assistant.

Directors: Stephen Williams
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.67
3 votes

#3 - Attracting Opposites

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/21/2003

Lem clashes with Baron Marks' son. Meanwhile, Bird takes a surprising step with Eva when Teri catches Eva and Bird sharing a kiss. Also, Ahmad is having unwelcome dreams about Bird.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.40
5 votes

#4 - Don't Think This Hasn't Been Fabulous

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/26/2004

In the series finale, Damon makes one final effort to win the love of Teri, who makes a surprising career choice by accepting a job in Atlanta. After his store has been vandalized, a recovering Lem finds some respect and reconciles with Bird; Maxine enjoys a windfall while at a casino with Kenny.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.33
3 votes

#5 - Man Trouble

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/6/2000

While Ahmad is introduced to condoms, Maxine worries if her son is having sex. She advises Kenny to have "the talk" with him but it turns out that Kenny is the one who's being taught a lesson. Lem tries to notify Jack but he still remains missing. Smokey approaches Lem with a threat. While searching for Jack, the police have leads that Lem is involved with the disappearance of Jack. Meanwhile, Teri catches Brian having sex with a client at work which jeopardizes their relationship.

Directors: Oz Scott
Writer: Eric Haywood
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.33
3 votes

#6 - Help

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/23/2002

A sensual body massage results in an embarrassing rash for Bird and Lem. Kenny pitches for a bank loan in anticipation of a pending City Contract that could put the company on the map. Teri suffers a severe panic attack following a dispute with Ray Moore over the firing of a long time company employee. Damon's efforts to help Teri don't sit well with Christine.

Directors: Sean Ryerson
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.33
3 votes

#7 - Child Safety

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/7/2002

Ahmad witnesses a drug-related shooting, and the family fears for his life. Lem turns to Baron Marks to help protect Ahmad. Damon's client, Kevin, meets a woman like no other.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.25
4 votes

#8 - Little Girl Blue

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/2001

Musical guest: Molly Johnson Teri lands a big client for her law firm, but doesn't make partner. Kenny is worried about Ahmad being friends with a gay man. Damon may have been unfaithful to Teri.

Directors: Henry Chan
Writer: Salim Akil
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.20
10 votes

#9 - The More Things Stay the Same

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/5/2000

The girls take their father's business partner, Hardy Lester, to court. Lem takes dangerous measures to address his money problems and Teri blows it with Damon.

Directors: Oz Scott
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.20
5 votes

#10 - Ordinary Pain

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/3/2001

The Joseph sisters are shocked to discover that they have a half sister that they didn't know about. Meanwhile, Ahmad prepares for the P.S.A.T.

Directors: Helaine Head
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.09
11 votes

#11 - The Watermelon Theory

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/26/2000

Mama Joe's house is finally fixed up, but the sisters receive a "welcome-home" present. Teri's ethics are called into question when she takes on a client accused of racism. Jack asks Lem to hold a gun and a list of policemen names for him; which Lem doesn't want to be apart of. Ahmad accidentally sees his father masturbating in the shower. His friends tell him that his parents might be facing a break-up. Kenny and Maxine are having problems in the bedroom.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Writer: Salim Akil
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
4 votes

#12 - In Transition

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/6/2002

Teri takes control of her personal life, but her professional life is in shambles. Reggie orders up a stripper to help Ahmad get over his break up with Keisha. Kenny's employees demand wage increases. Damon struggles to separate business from his distaste for his new client.

Directors: Clark Johnson
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
3 votes

#13 - The New Math

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/23/2003

Benny's ex-girlfriend threatens to sue him for child support. Meanwhile, Teri tries to help a student. Also, Maxine and Kenny try to deal with Kelly's poor test scores.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
2 votes

#14 - Emotional Collateral

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/28/2002

Maxine works a little too closely with a troubled client at the shelter. Damon merges with a shady big deal agency and brings things with Teri to a head.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
1 votes

#15 - Empty Spaces

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/24/2002

Kenny and Lem lock horns over a new business venture. Teri and Damon have problems defining their relationship. Ahmad is enjoying seeing his parents getting along as Kenny and Maxine continue to date. Meanwhile, Maxine gets a job at Transition House.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
4 votes

#16 - Tonight at Noon

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/26/2002

Musical guest: Ludacris Teri returns to her old law firm after being offered a position as managing partner by Katherine Burke, the head of a big New York City law firm. Damon is haunted by the ghost of Christine. Meanwhile, Maxine and Kenny, who are struggling with their separation, receive a Best Teamwork Award from Ahmad's school. Also, Lem and Bird try to reunite Maxine and Kenny.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.80
5 votes

#17 - Samurai Secrets

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/30/2000

Musical guest: Gerald LevertJack causes more unwanted problems for Lem that are making Bird uneasy. After 15 years, Maxine finds out that Kenny took Teri to a Gerald Levert concert while they were still involved. But both Teri and Kenny remain to keep the secret that they both slept together after the concert.

Directors: LeVar Burton
Writer: Salim Akil
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.80
5 votes

#18 - Fear Eats the Soul

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/19/2004

Musical guest: Common Damon returns to Chicago to face Teri; Alliance makes Kenny an offer he can't refuse; Lem collapses and is hospitalized.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
12 votes

#19 - Claiming

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/2/2000

Lem helps Kenny face some aggressive competition for his tow truck business and Teri meets Damon's family. Meanwhile, Maxine makes a new friend.

Directors: Tim Hunter
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
4 votes

#20 - Take It to the Limit

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/5/2004

Musical guest: Talib Kweli Bird's sexual tryst with Malik is revealed to the entire family; Teri is uncomfortable with Charles' relationship with his ex-wife; Bird and Lem make an effort to work on their marriage.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
4 votes

#21 - Falling From Grace

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/11/2003

When Estella returns, wanting Mandel back, Teri begins to investigate her rights. Tobias is released from the hospital.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
4 votes

#22 - Out With the Old ...

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/17/2002

An old friend of Lem's wants to go legit and asks Lem to help him do it. Bird enters the Chicago Hair Show and Ahmad shoots a documentary of the event for his Film Study course. Maxine discovers that Damon's client is a philanderer. As Teri tries to keep Brian at the firm, Brian hints of his true feelings for her.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
8 votes

#23 - Bad Luck

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/16/2000

Everyone comes up with ideas to celebrate Ahmad's 12th birthday party. Maxine becomes upset because Ahmad all of a sudden wants to have his party at Teri's house. Bird volunteers to bake Ahmad's birthday cake, much to everyone's dismay. Ahmad worries if K.C. and Reggie will accept his new friends at Lakeside Prep. Kenny searches hard to find the video game that his son wants more than anything, but when he takes Lem's suggestion to go out and buy it "hot", it lands him in jail. While in jail, he's interrogated by a harsh detective. He also ends up being the cellmate of a psychopath. After almost getting killed by his cellmate, Kenny is finally released. Upset with both Jack and Lem, Kenny refuses to accept the gift that he originally was sent to get.

Directors: Helaine Head
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
12 votes

#24 - Heart of the Matter

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/12/2000

Teri struggles with her feelings about Damon and Miles, the girls meet Hardy Lester to avoid a trial and Lem's cousin, Jack, saves him from jail.

Directors: Kevin Hooks
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.75
4 votes

#25 - I'm Afraid of Americans

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/5/2001

The Joseph family deals with the impact of a violent race-related riot in their community. Lem tries to help a young drug dealer.

Directors: Jeffrey W. Byrd
Writer: Salim Akil
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV