The BEST episodes of Surface season 1

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

A marine biologist, an insurance salesman and a teenage boy find their lives changed when a new and often dangerous sea life species emerges, while the government tries to keep the affair under wraps.

Last Updated: 6/26/2025Network: NBCStatus: Ended
The Story's Out
star
7.73
222 votes

#1 - The Story's Out

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/2/2006

Laura and Rich escape from the hospital with the creature footage before Lee and his men get to them.

Directors: Michael Robison
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Who Will Be Left Behind?
star
7.61
217 votes

#2 - Who Will Be Left Behind?

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/6/2006

As a massive tsunami heads for the east coast, Laura must save Rich by heading to North Carolina where Miles and his family are trying to escape with their lives.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Josh Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fears Are Rising
star
7.54
158 votes

#3 - Fears Are Rising

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/30/2006

Laura and Rich decide that it's time to get some answers from Lee. Miles gets in trouble with the local residents after a violent incident with a bully.

Directors: Jean de Segonzac
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
No Boat in Sight
star
7.37
221 votes

#4 - No Boat in Sight

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/28/2005

Laura and Rich return from their plunge to the ocean floor - with no boat in sight.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Darcy Meyers
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Mystery of the Ocean Is Now On Land
star
7.30
329 votes

#5 - The Mystery of the Ocean Is Now On Land

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/2005

After taking one of the creatures home, Miles decides to name it Nimrod. But when Nimrod escapes, it causes havoc at Savannah's house party.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Josh Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
There's Something Strange Going on in the World's Oceans
star
7.27
352 votes

#6 - There's Something Strange Going on in the World's Oceans

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/2005

Oceanographer Laura Daughtery discovers an unknown life form and unearths a vast government cover-up. Across the globe, something mysterious lurks in the seas.

Directors: Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Experiment Gone Awry
star
7.26
213 votes

#7 - Experiment Gone Awry

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/23/2006

Experiment Gone Awry - Will the creation of the new species of creatures bring an end to the world as we know it?

Directors: Brad Anderson
Writer: Jonas Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Who Turned Out the Lights
star
7.16
259 votes

#8 - Who Turned Out the Lights

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/2005

A mysterious power outage erases all of Laura's GPS tracking data. Lee and Cirko, who have been secretly following her, ask Laura to join their investigation.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Writer: Jason Cahill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Race Against Time
star
7.14
217 votes

#9 - Race Against Time

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/2005

Laura and Rich make a startling discovery while in diving in their struggling submersible. Miles tries to reunite with Nimrod, and finds that Nimrod is not alone.

Directors: Bill Eagles
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Submersible Setback
star
7.12
195 votes

#10 - Submersible Setback

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2005

Laura and Rich race to construct a submersible so they can observe a spawning site. Miles's parents consider sending him to a boot camp for problem children.

Directors: John Behring
Writer: Jay Beattie
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It Is Time to Track These Unidentified Species
star
7.12
257 votes

#11 - It Is Time to Track These Unidentified Species

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/2005

Laura attaches a GPS devise to one of the creatures in order to track it. Cirko testifies before the Pentagon that the unidentified species is extremely dangerous.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Another One Bites the Dust
star
7.12
229 votes

#12 - Another One Bites the Dust

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/2005

Cirko and his assistant figure out the origin of the unidentified species and subsequently suffer mysterious mishaps before they can fully report their findings.

Writer: Josh Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Things Are Heating Up Under the Ocean
star
7.11
302 votes

#13 - Things Are Heating Up Under the Ocean

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2005

Lee and Cirko theorize that the unidentified species are heating up the Earth and causing global warming. Nimrod is struck by lightning.

Directors: Aaron Lipstadt
Writer: Jonas Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
On the Run
star
7.01
194 votes

#14 - On the Run

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/2005

Laura and Rich are on the run after someone ransacked her home, while Nimrod's erratic behavior forces Miles to make a difficult decision.

Directors: Rick Wallace
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fugitives on the Run
star
6.95
188 votes

#15 - Fugitives on the Run

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/9/2006

Fugitives on the Run - Laura and Rich become fugitives and are being pursued by Lee and his legion of secret agents.

Directors: Marita Grabiak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV