The WORST episodes of Soul Food

Every episode of Soul Food ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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: 8/20/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
Share:
star
5.83
6 votes

#1 - Welcome Home

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/4/2001

Musical guest: Kina Kenny finally comes home from the hospital, but a little grumpy and frustrated. When Teri pitches in to look after the kids and Kenny, Kenny tells her that he doesn't need a babysitter. Maxine, covering for Kenny, believes that Lila, Kenny's assistant, has everything under control. When Teri offers to hire a nanny to watch the kids, she and Maxine have a falling out. Bird's bladder returns to normal, but she feels rejected by Lem. Ahmad shares his first kiss with his girlfriend Keisha and with his friend Callie. Damon continues to blame himself for the accident which jeopardizes his relationship with Teri.

Directors: Ken Girotti
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.20
5 votes

#2 - Games People Play

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/8/2001

Teri's budding romance with a high profile lawyer is tested when she finds herself opposing him in a heated court case. Kenny's addiction to painkillers sends his life into a tailspin. Lila reveals that she is in love with Kenny.

Directors: Jeffrey W. Byrd
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.25
4 votes

#3 - Big Dreams in Small Spaces

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/21/2002

Bird wants to renovate Mama Joe's house but her plans don't sit too well with Teri and Maxine. Meanwhile, Ahmad and Reggie want to sign up for high school football but they have a hard time trying to persuade their parents. Damon, Lem and Kenny share a discussion about the Joseph sisters.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
6.25
4 votes

#4 - The Language of Life

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/13/2000

Musical guest: Kelly Price Teri asks Damon to be a translator for one of her meetings. He agrees and is offered a job being an International translator. But he backs out on the opportunity due to Teri only wanting him to take the job because he looks good in a suit. Bird learns that Lem hasn't been working at the docks as he made everyone believe. Hurt by the fact that Lem lied to her, she asks Lem to leave. He reluctantly leaves. After realizing that he wants to be with his wife and son, he returns to Bird. Still feeling the need to be alone, Bird demands that Lem leave and never return.

Directors: Clement Virgo
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.33
3 votes

#5 - Decisions and Choices

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/24/2004

Brian comes to Teri's rescue in more ways than one; Chadway Towing becomes the location for an adult movie; Ahmad questions whether or not he's "color struck."

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.33
3 votes

#6 - We Plan

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/17/2004

Teri is surprised and not at all pleased when Damon's mother arrives to take back her engagement ring; Maxine is offered a full-time position at work - but her handsome new boss and new career put a strain on her relationship with Kenny.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.50
2 votes

#7 - The Root

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/22/2001

Lem's management style sets off a family inquisition. Teri and Damon come face-to-face at a company function. Ahmad worries about Teri's health. Bird suspects her male hair stylist, William, is sleeping with customers.

Directors: Steve Surjik
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
6.60
5 votes

#8 - Nobody's Child

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/4/2003

The Joseph sisters do their best to help Mandel when his mother leaves him at Maxine's. When Cameron turns to Lem for help, Lem realizes Baron isn't perfect. The size of Ahmad's family jewels is a topic of discussion when two teenage girls think they've caught a glimpse on the soccer field.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.60
5 votes

#9 - Life Lessons

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/15/2001

Musical guest: Blu Cantrell In her determination to win a case over her former employer, Teri is duped by a devious client, Darrell Hart. Damon resists his father's offer to invest in his sports management company. Ahmad resorts to bad grades in order to spend time with a beautiful young tutor.

Directors: Oz Scott
Writer: Eric Haywood
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.67
3 votes

#10 - In the Garden

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/12/2004

Musical guest: Yolanda Adams When Uncle Pete dies, Aunt Ruthie decides to move in with Teri; Bird is forced to tell her sisters and aunt about the kidnapping; Ahmad and Amina's relationship is strained when her mom comes home from prison.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.67
3 votes

#11 - The Aftermath

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/27/2001

Musical guest: Shirley Caesar After a devastating car accident, Kenny and Bird are hospitalized while Maxine is left with a broken arm. Teri decides to take a leave of absence from the law firm to care for her siblings' three children. One of Kenny's friends who has been looking after his towing business suddenly quits and Maxine decides to take over until Kenny recovers. Brian, Teri's colleague, informs her that the partners want to know when she'll be returning to work. So she quickly decides to return to work only to resign after the partners refuse to make her partner. Damon still blames himself for the accident and Lem brings forth his anger towards him for nearly killing the family. Bird has a mild bladder problem. Meanwhile, Ahmad believes that he has a "baptism curse" and will not allow himself to get baptized unless he receives a sign.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
6.67
3 votes

#12 - Let's Do It Again

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/14/2002

After seeing a marriage counselor, Kenny asks Maxine to renew their wedding vows. Bird makes presumptions about her new neighbors. Teri and Damon continue to have problems living together.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.75
4 votes

#13 - Truth's Consequences

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/30/2003

A visit from Aunt Ruthie wreaks havoc in the girls' lives. Meanwhile, Damon seeks help for his drinking problem. Ahmad falls for Reggie's girl.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.75
4 votes

#14 - Life 101

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/16/2003

Bird is surprised to learn that she's pregnant. Meanwhile, Teri has a problem with living up to her reputation as "Superchick". Also, Ahmad rekindles his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Keisha.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.75
4 votes

#15 - Running As Fast As I Can

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/12/2001

Maxine runs for Alderman on a platform of issues relating to children despite family opposition. Meanwhile, Ahmdad tries to avoid a class trip but gets caught in a lie.

Directors: Monty DeGraff
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
4 votes

#16 - Shades of Grey

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

Kenny takes on a mentally challenged employee at the shop. Meanwhile, Bird's deepening friendship with Eva raises eyebrows. Also, Ahmad has to report on Jewish culture for school.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
19 votes

#17 - The More Things Change

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/28/2000

Bird gives birth to a baby boy. Tension still hangs in the air between Teri and her ex-husband, Miles. Damon Carter, a deliveryman who services Teri's office, declares his affections for Teri, but she gives him the cold shoulder. Due to extensive water damage, Lem, Bird, the baby and Uncle Pete are forced to move in with Teri. Meanwhile, Ahmad runs into trouble at his new school. Bird and Lem's baby becomes sick and has to stay at the hospital. Later, Teri finally decides to let her guards down and go out on a date with Damon. Also, Lem's cousin, Franco, who had recently gotten out of jail, loans Lem money and tries to convince him to start hustling again.

Directors: Eriq La Salle
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
4 votes

#18 - Anything You Can Do (a.k.a. Show Me the Money)

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/23/2000

Damon stops by Teri's to hand her some flowers to show her his sympathy, but Teri wants to end their relationship so that they can just be "friends". Ahmad befriends Callie, a classmate from Lakeside Prep, but he soon believes that she only likes him because he's black. Maxine and Lem decide to pool their money to invest in a corporation, but are saddened when they lose everything they've earned. Meanwhile, Bird wants to learn more of what Lem does while she's not around.

Directors: Ken Girotti
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
4 votes

#19 - This Crazy Life

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/2001

A quarreling couple at the salon leads to Bird and Lem being held hostage. Meanwhile, Ahmad runs away from home and shows up at Damon's house.

Directors: Helen Shaver
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
2 votes

#20 - A Clear and Present Stranger

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/14/2001

Kenny's father announces that he's moving which also brings forth unresolved tension between the two. Lem's ex-con friend, Darnell, asks if Lem would give him a job working at the store. But Lem isn't too sure that he can trust Darnell. Damon tells Teri that she should resume her childhood dream of playing the piano, but she becomes so obsessed that her family can't seem to tell her that she's awful.

Directors: Clement Virgo
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
3 votes

#21 - Come Back for the Comeback

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/1/2001

Cousin Faith returns. Damon courts a college star basketball player as his first potential client. Despite a bitter rift, Teri agrees to represent Faith in a lawsuit. With Kenny back at work, Maxine reluctantly returns to her role as homemaker.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
4 votes

#22 - Never Can Say Goodbye

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/29/2001

Musical guest: Wynton Marsalis Hardy Lester returns and sues the family to get his half of J & H Groceries back, Ahmad's basketball coach is fired when his good intentions are misconstrued. Teri and Damon have a final confrontation.

Directors: Oz Scott
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
2 votes

#23 - Lovers and Other Strangers

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/30/2002

Musical guest: India.Arie Lem uses blackmail to rid his mother of her troublesome boyfriend. Kenny is rattled by his father's relationship with Lila. Bird is troubled by Lem's too-close relationship with his mother.

Directors: Salim Akil
Writer: Eric Haywood
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
2 votes

#24 - Stranger Than Fiction

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/31/2002

Musical guest: Eisa Davis Maxine asks Kenny to move back home. Bird shines in her makeover segment on "Chicago Update." Teri struggles with loyalty and morality in a suit against Peter Redmond Enterprises.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
3 votes

#25 - My Brother's Keeper

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/14/2003

Damon gets Teri's engagement ring which no one likes in the least. Meanwhile, Lionel stays with the Chadways, while Ahmad publishes an underground newspaper at his school.

Watch Now:Amazon