The BEST episodes of Suburgatory season 1

Every episode of Suburgatory season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Suburgatory season 1!

Single father George only wants the best for his 16-year-old daughter, Tessa. So when he finds a box of condoms on her nightstand, he moves them out of their apartment in New York City to a house in the suburbs. But all Tessa sees is the horror of over-manicured lawns and plastic Franken-moms. Being in the 'burbs can be hell, but it also may just bring Tessa and George closer than they've ever been.

Last Updated: 9/21/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Pilot
star
7.57
1960 votes

#1 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2011

Tessa and her father experience culture shock when they move out of New York and into a house in the suburbs.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Writer: Emily Kapnek
Watch Now:Amazon
Halloween
star
7.57
1474 votes

#2 - Halloween

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2011

Tessa channels her inner "suburban girl" for a Halloween costume, but it ends up spooking her friends and everyone at school since she reminds them of a recently "departed" resident of Chatswin. And George is determined to prove to Halloween-hater Dallas that being scared can be fun, but gets a scare of his own when Steven Royce (guest star Jay Mohr), Dallas' husband, finally comes home from one of his many business trips.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: Andrew Guest
Watch Now:Amazon
The Casino Trip
star
7.57
1188 votes

#3 - The Casino Trip

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2012

When George wins an all expenses paid trip to Atlantic City, he enlists Noah, Fred, Tom and Alex, and it turns into a getaway with the guys. During their trip they run into Steven Royce (who is supposed to be in Singapore), and they help Fred cope with his gambling problem. Meanwhile Tessa tries to get some alone time with Scott Strauss.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Andrew Guest
Watch Now:Amazon
Sex and the Suburbs
star
7.56
1107 votes

#4 - Sex and the Suburbs

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2012

Tessa enjoys rubbing it in Dalia's face that Scott Strause chose her over Dalia. However the closer Tessa gets to Scott, the more nervous George becomes. When George discovers a box of XXL condoms that Lisa has given Tessa, he becomes obsessed and starts planning game night with her friends in hopes of keeping her at home more. Meanwhile Tessa soon discovers that the more time she spends with Scott, the less attracted to him she is.

Writer: Adam Barr
Watch Now:Amazon
Down Time
star
7.55
919 votes

#5 - Down Time

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/11/2012

When Dallas's divorce is finalized, George becomes concerned and includes her in a shopping trip with Noah to buy a new mattress. Meanwhile Dalia makes a breakthrough in therapy with her psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Rohl (James Lipton), Lisa and Malik try to set up Tessa, and Ryan takes Tessa on a date.

Directors: Alex Hardcastle
Watch Now:Amazon
The Barbecue
star
7.52
1531 votes

#6 - The Barbecue

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/2011

Surprised Tessa realizes she is attracted to her jock suburban neighbor; George feels pressured to throw the perfect barbecue.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Writer: Bob Kushell
Watch Now:Amazon
Entering Eden
star
7.51
896 votes

#7 - Entering Eden

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/18/2012

George begins dating Eden (Alicia Silverstone), a woman he met at the town's farmer's market. Tessa helps Dalia find her missing dog.

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Watch Now:Amazon
The Great Compromise
star
7.50
910 votes

#8 - The Great Compromise

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/9/2012

While Tessa tries to adjust to living with Eden, George takes issue with Eden's parenting; Lisa and Malik consider which camp they should attend.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Watch Now:Amazon
Out in the Burbs
star
7.50
1104 votes

#9 - Out in the Burbs

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/11/2012

When Tessa is asked to show new guy Josh Sherman around school, she becomes convinced that he's gay, when in fact he's an undercover narcotics officer. Lisa becomes deeply infatuated with Josh, and Tessa inadvertly convinces Mr. Wolfe to make special announcement to the student body. Meanwhile George re-evaluates his relationship with Dallas.

Directors: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Bob Kushell
Watch Now:Amazon
Sweet Sixteen
star
7.49
1401 votes

#10 - Sweet Sixteen

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/2011

When Tessa tells Dallas that she wants a simple get together for her sixteenth birthday, Dallas convinces her to let Dalia plan the ultimate birthday extravaganza at the country club, complete with a live performance by her favorite band, specialty drinks and go-go cages. Meanwhile George throws his back out and Sheila Shay takes it upon herself to care for him, even though George is terrified of her.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Watch Now:Amazon
Thanksgiving
star
7.49
1354 votes

#11 - Thanksgiving

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/2011

Depressed that she has to spend Thanksgiving in the suburbs, Tessa convinces Dallas to take her to the city for a girls' day out. During their fun day, they run across George making out with a woman while he was supposed to be "working." Angry with George for lying to her, Tessa confronts him during the Royces' Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile Lisa refuses to wear a special dress Sheila picked out for her, so Sheila decides to literally turn up the heat.

Directors: Alex Hardcastle
Writer: Emily Kapnek
Watch Now:Amazon
Driving Miss Dalia
star
7.49
1072 votes

#12 - Driving Miss Dalia

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/4/2012

When Tessa gets her driver's license, Dalia hires her to drive her around to stalk her crush, Scott Strauss. As a result Tessa realizes that she and Scott might have feelings for each other. Meanwhile George and Noah's relationship is put to the test when George decides he wants to join the local country club.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Watch Now:Amazon
Don't Call Me Shirley
star
7.47
1590 votes

#13 - Don't Call Me Shirley

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/2011

When Shelia's Shirley Temple doll collection is stolen, Tessa can't help but be amused, until she faces the consequences. Meanwhile, afraid of being burglarized, Dallas and Dalia stay at the Altman's house.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Watch Now:Amazon
The Nutcracker
star
7.42
1267 votes

#14 - The Nutcracker

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/7/2011

When Tessa overhears George break up with his girlfriend, Zoe, on Skype, she blames herself for his failed relationship and decides that she's going to get them back together. Unbeknownst to her, though, George is really enamored with Tessa's cute art teacher, Aimee. He admits to Mr. Wolfe that he's over dating crazy city women, and that he's looking for love in the burbs. George decides to embrace the holiday spirit with a tree trimming party complete with ex-girlfriend, potential new girlfriend and the Royces, and he soon finds himself under the mistletoe with a special someone.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Watch Now:Amazon
Charity Case
star
7.42
1442 votes

#15 - Charity Case

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2011

Irritated by all the cafeteria waste at school, Tessa motivates the student body to get involved with giving back. Unfortunately their charity of choice involves helping residents of Florida improve their complexions. When Tessa introduces a homeless transsexual to the student body as part of a lesson, they decide that Tessa is really the person in need. Meanwhile George receives a large dental bill from Noah, which puts a strain on their relationship.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Adam Barr
Watch Now:Amazon
Fire with Fire
star
7.41
1054 votes

#16 - Fire with Fire

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/2012

When Jill turns to the newly single Dallas for inspiration and support, her marriage to Noah goes on the rocks. Meanwhile Dallas begins spending a lot of time with her hot younger boyfriend, Yoni, which causes tension with George, and Dalia befriends Lisa to get back at Tessa for dating Scott Strauss -- so Tessa decides to take action and recruits Kimantha to make Dalia jealous.

Directors: Alex Hardcastle
Writer: Emily Kapnek
Watch Now:Amazon
Independence Day
star
7.41
1092 votes

#17 - Independence Day

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/14/2012

When George picks Tessa up late from school she decides to get a job working for Dallas in order to buy her own wheels. Meanwhile Dallas invites her sorority sisters to stay with her in order to celebrate the opening of her store, A Crystal Cup of Crystals; however her rival sorority sister, Tulsa, decides to crash the party.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Emily Cutler
Watch Now:Amazon
The Body
star
7.41
971 votes

#18 - The Body

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/15/2012

When Tessa realizes that she's failing gym class, she decides to run for student body president in hopes of changing Chatswin High's obsession with sports. During the election, Lisa steps in as Tessa's campaign manager against Kenzie and Kaitlyn. Meanwhile, Ryan is injured during a wrestling match and finds himself mourned by his family, and George takes Ryan under his wing and introduces him to people who have moved forward from setbacks.

Directors: Phil Traill
Watch Now:Amazon
Poetic Injustice
star
7.38
1053 votes

#19 - Poetic Injustice

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/29/2012

When Fred and Sheila strike up a croquet match with Dallas and George, Fred misreads Sheila's interest in George. Fred tells George that Sheila is fantasizing about him and asks him to seduce her. Meanwhile Tessa desperately wants to impress the new poetry teacher, Ms. Evans, but she seems to prefer Dalia's prose.

Directors: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Andrew Guest
Watch Now:Amazon
The Motherload
star
7.37
886 votes

#20 - The Motherload

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/16/2012

Tessa feels a void as Chatswin celebrates mothers; Dalia goes to Israel without Dallas; Eden reacts to a baby shower's theme.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Emily Kapnek
Watch Now:Amazon
Hear No Evil
star
7.33
968 votes

#21 - Hear No Evil

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/2/2012

As George and Eden's relationship gets serious, he decides to introduce her to Tessa, who is preoccupied with her job at Crystal Cup of Crystals. Meanwhile, George and Noah make a deal regarding George's relationship boundaries with Eden, and Eden is overwhelmed by Sheila's meddling and the Werners' overprotective behavior.

Directors: Peter Lauer
Writer: Andrew Guest
Watch Now:Amazon
The Chatterer
star
7.31
1601 votes

#22 - The Chatterer

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2011

When George joins the PTA, he becomes well-liked by all the moms, which has Shelia (Ana Gasteyer) feeling threatened. Meanwhile, Tessa joins the school newspaper and with some help, turns it into a tabloid-style paper.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Writer: Emily Kapnek
Watch Now:Amazon