The BEST episodes of The Pretender season 2

Every episode of The Pretender season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Pretender season 2!

The Pretender is an American television series that aired on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The series starred Michael T. Weiss as Jarod, a genius and former child prodigy with the ability to become anyone he wants to be, i.e., to flawlessly impersonate anyone in virtually any line of work. Patrick Bauchau and Andrea Parker co-starred as Sydney, Jarod's childhood teacher and mentor, and Miss Parker, a childhood friend. They are both operatives for a mysterious organization called "The Centre", which took Jarod from his parents as a child and developed his special talents with the intention of making him one of their agents, while also using his brilliant intellect for their own evil purposes. After escaping from their custody, Jarod begins traveling the country, searching for clues to his true identity while posing as a doctor, police officer, attorney, or some other character who helps those in trouble. The Centre's directors are determined to return Jarod to The Centre to further their mysterious plan. A team of operatives, led by Miss Parker, attempts to find and capture The Pretender. Jarod's extreme intelligence combined with his childlike innocence create a memorable and endearing character that was popular with viewers.

Last Updated: 3/3/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Toy Surprise
star
7.88
184 votes

#1 - Toy Surprise

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/7/1998

TURNERS RIDGE, IDAHO - Jarod helps a troubled teenager by becoming an outdoor counselor. But back at The Centre, Miss Parker is grieving the anniversary of her mother's death. The day just gets worst when she's tipped off by Jarod that there's going to be an assassination attempt on her father. With only 2 hours to stop it and trapped in the Sub-levels, Miss Parker has to get to the tower before her father arrives by helicopter.

Directors: Fred Keller
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Past Sim
star
7.58
146 votes

#2 - Past Sim

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/13/1997

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - While watching the news, Jarod finds that one of his old simulations he preformed has just been utilized in kidnapping a witness in a murder trial against the Yakuza clan. Outraged, Jarod sets out to reverse the outcome of the situation he's created. Meanwhile, Miss Parker suspects the sale of the simulation came from Mr. Lyle, and begins to apply pressure in hopes of finding any other connections to Jarod.

Directors: Fred Keller
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Scott Free
star
7.45
152 votes

#3 - Scott Free

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/8/1997

MIDDLETOWN, DELAWARE - Jarod intercepts the role of a real safecracker to help a man who's being forced to participate in one more heist. Jarod also starts to feel the need of a father figure and turns to Sydney. Meanwhile, Brigitte tries to take control over Miss Parker's role in the capture of Jarod.

Directors: Joe Napolitano
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Collateral Damage
star
7.42
146 votes

#4 - Collateral Damage

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/3/1998

LOST HILLS, VIRGINIA - Jarod becomes a Special Forces soldier to help the daughter of a Vietnam veteran get her father's name added to the War Memorial. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker reluctantly babysits Debbie while Broots is in Florida on an assignment.

Directors: Vern Gillum
Writer: Harry Dunn
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Crash
star
7.38
139 votes

#5 - Crash

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/11/1998

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - While waiting for his plane, Jarod meets a young man who is bumped to a later flight. Jarod offers an exchange of tickets to the boy, who thanks him for helping. But Jarod is horrified when he hears later that day that the plane has crashed. Guilt ridden, Jarod sets out to find the cause of the accident. Meanwhile, Miss Parker is put in charge of find out everything on Mr. Lyle. And with aid from Jarod; Sydney, Broots, and Miss Parker are going to get all the information they need.

Directors: Scott Lautanen
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Exposed
star
7.37
150 votes

#6 - Exposed

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/22/1997

MIAMI, FLORIDA - Jarod takes on the role of a fashion photographer in order to stop a stalker who has already claimed the life of one of his victims. Meanwhile, Miss Parker follows Jarod's clues that lead her to Rock Cove, Maine and uncovers more information about her mother.

Directors: Jim Charleston
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Over the Edge
star
7.34
153 votes

#7 - Over the Edge

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/15/1997

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - Jarod becomes a member of the emergency search and rescue team, trying to figure out the true cause of another member's supposed suicide-attempt. Jarod also tries to reunite him with his estranged mother. Meanwhile, at The Centre, a criminal behaviorist is brought in to interrogate and find the person who shot Mr. Raines' oxygen tank. Finally, Jarod utilizes a sensory deprivation tank to simulate closeness to his mother.

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Bulletproof
star
7.34
170 votes

#8 - Bulletproof

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/28/1998

CINCINNATI, OHIO - Jarod becomes a member of SWAT to find out the truth behind why another member died in the line of duty. Meanwhile, Sydney has Broots do some searching for him after finding a clue Jarod left. But Miss Parker interprets his secrecy as an aid in protecting Jarod and intervenes.

Directors: Fred Keller
Writer: Mark Dodson
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Bank
star
7.33
112 votes

#9 - Bank

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/9/1998

DOVER, DELAWARE - Jarod tricks Miss Parker to meet him at a bank, where they come face to face with the mysterious Mr. Fenigor. But this arrangement gets complicated when there's a robbery the same day. When The Centre gets news that Jarod is trapped in this hostage situation, they close in and make sure he'll not slip through their fingers this time.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Harry Dunn
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Indy Show
star
7.32
151 votes

#10 - Indy Show

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/31/1998

FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - Jarod takes to the wheel of an Indy race car to figure out what happened to a driver involved in a crippling accident. After a bizarre dream, Sydney runs to his ailing brother's side and holes both himself and Jacob up in a cabin with a consoling Miss Parker.

Directors: Chuck Bowman
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A Stand Up Guy
star
7.32
151 votes

#11 - A Stand Up Guy

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/14/1998

STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK - Jarod poses as a counterfeiter and undercover FBI agent trying crack a crime syndicate. Jarod also tries to clear the name of another agent who was framed after his cover was blown. Meanwhile, Mr. Lyle has resurfaced and The Centre is on edge. Miss Parker is temporarily taken off Jarod's case and called upon to use her old sweeper skills to dispose of Mr. Lyle.

Directors: Michael Lange
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Hazards
star
7.32
147 votes

#12 - Hazards

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/10/1998

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - After witnessing a man attempting suicide before his eyes, Jarod becomes a chemical waste expert to discover the facts to absolve the man's guilt. Meanwhile, Sydney seeks long-awaited vengence for the death of his family when a man shows up at The Centre.

Directors: Chuck Bowman
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Nip and Tuck
star
7.32
179 votes

#13 - Nip and Tuck

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/6/1997

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - Jarod becomes a plastic surgeon to find out who deliberately ruined the face of a bright young student. Meanwhile, at The Centre, Broots is paranoid that someone is following him where ever he goes. Brigitte offers help, but at a price.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Eric Morris
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Gigolo Jarod
star
7.31
148 votes

#14 - Gigolo Jarod

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/7/1998

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - Jarod takes on the role of paid escort to get close to a housing developer who has plans to displace a low-income neighborhood for a high-rise. Jarod also is hired by another woman, in a seperation period, who thinks her husband doesn't love her anymore. Meanwhile, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots are following Jarod's latest trail, which leads them to a book (The Saddest Little Valentine) that Jarod has published.

Directors: Rodney Charters
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Silence
star
7.30
136 votes

#15 - Silence

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/4/1998

EL PASO, TEXAS - Jarod becomes a child psychologist to help a little boy, who witnessed the murder of a DEA agent, break out of his wall of silence. Back at the Centre, Mr. Raines is under tower review, thanks to Miss Parker. Things get worst for him when an old patient / project comes back to haunt him.

Directors: Joe Napolitano
Writer: Denise Dobbs
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Back from the Dead Again
star
7.25
165 votes

#16 - Back from the Dead Again

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/1/1997

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Jarod morns the death of his brother. He then takes on the identity of an anatomy professor trying to find a boy who has been missing since Halloween of the previous year. Meanwhile, Miss Parker is startled to find that her father has disappeared and has been replaced by a Mr. Lyle. With him comes Brigitte, a mysterious girl who is more thorough in finding Jarod than Miss Parker. And Sydney, at Jarod's request, researches why there's no DSA for the last three weeks of October prior to his escape.

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Bloodlines (2)
star
7.23
124 votes

#17 - Bloodlines (2)

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/16/1998

BLUE COVE, DELAWARE - Jarod, along with Angelo (Timmy), try to find a way to rescue the kidnapped child. Miss Parker confronts her father about her discovery that she has a twin. Sydney plots to finally have his revenge against Mr. Raines, but his plan backfires...

Directors: Fred K. Keller
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Bloodlines (1)
star
7.22
143 votes

#18 - Bloodlines (1)

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/16/1998

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Jarod recieves a letter from an anonymous source and believes The Centre is going to kidnap another boy-genius. Sydney creates a serum that allows Angelo to become a normal person again, provided he takes all the doses at the right time.

Directors: Fred K. Keller
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FX
star
7.17
144 votes

#19 - FX

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/17/1998

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - Jarod becomes a special effects coordinator to find out why a stuntman was seriously injured during the filming of a beer commercial. Back at the Centre, following clues left by Jarod, Miss Parker begins her search for a Dr. Fenigor and a boy named 'Timmy'.

Directors: Vern Gillum
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Red Rock Jarod
star
7.15
130 votes

#20 - Red Rock Jarod

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/2/1998

DRY RIVER, ARIZONA - Responding to an email he believes was sent to him by Sydney, Jarod finds himself in the hands of someone he once thought dead. Jarod also meets a boy who is in need of a heart transplant. Meanwhile, Miss Parker closes in on Jarod. But she's in for a surprise when she meets his captor

Directors: Fred Keller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Stolen
star
6.90
111 votes

#21 - Stolen

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/2/1998

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA - After taking down a corrupt doctor, Jarod unexpectedly gets involved in a kidnapping when the father of the kidnapped ends up in the hospital. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker sides with Mr. Raines on the fact that Sydney is becoming too attached to Jarod. To the point, even, that it's complicating the search for him.

Directors: Scott Lautanen
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Amnesia
star
6.87
142 votes

#22 - Amnesia

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/21/1998

LOCATION UNKNOWN - During the intervention of his current pretend, Jarod is caught off guard and beaten, resulting in the loss of his memory. Jarod is then rescued by Argyle, a smooth-talking con-artist. But his savior soon starts to wonder how this situation could benefit him. Meanwhile, back at The Centre; Miss Parker, Sydney, & Broots are put before a T-Board. There, they are interrogated to see just how dedicated they are in their search for Jarod.

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