The WORST episodes of Ugly Betty

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

Smart but wholesome Betty embraces her unique appearance and independent attitude in the cutthroat world of New York fashion. It's amazing how Betty can stay true to herself, no matter how much drama the fashionistas throw her way. With the help of her proud yet far-from-glamorous family from Queens, Betty will continue to have big dreams and deal with any obstacle in her own unique style.

Last Updated: 8/22/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Swag
star
6.72
99 votes

#1 - Swag

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2007

Christina's swag lottery, with the Mode closet clothes and accessories, creates a feeding frenzy among the office fashionistas, while Betty wears herself out helping Daniel who had his credit card cut off, because of a $20,000 expense report that Betty filled and who was rejected, making it impossible for him to wine and dine an important Japanese designer, Oshi.

Directors: Tamra Davis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rabbit Test
star
6.84
256 votes

#2 - Rabbit Test

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/30/2009

Daniel hatches up an idea to boost the Mode's financial situation after discovering that Betty and her family have been invited to the home of Matt's obscenely wealthy father, for an Easter egg hunt. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina discovers a reason to become suspicious of her son's DNA.

Directors: Richard Heus
Writer: Chris Black
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Manhattan Project
star
6.90
330 votes

#3 - The Manhattan Project

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2008

Betty must make a life-altering decision about what to do with her life. Meanwhile, Ignacio lands a job at a fast food restaurant while Wilhelmina forces Daniel to make changes in his life.

Directors: Victor Nelli Jr.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Born Identity
star
6.91
261 votes

#4 - The Born Identity

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/7/2009

Baby William is the unlikely hold up in Mode receiving the money it needs to save the company, whilst Hilda is asked to help with a political campaign.

Directors: John Terlesky
Writer: Steven Ross
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Smokin' Hot
star
6.99
329 votes

#5 - Smokin' Hot

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2010

Daniel helps Betty to cover a low-priority show. Betty discovers a new designer, Marisa, and decides to promote her however she faces stiff competition from Marc. Amanda struggles to persuade Marc or Betty to vouch for her to Wilhemina about her clothing line. Tyler tries to find Claire in New York.

Directors: John Scott
Writer: Brian Tanen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A League of Their Own
star
6.99
160 votes

#6 - A League of Their Own

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2007

Betty tries internet dating and she gets asked out; Marc attracts the attention of a photographer that Marc doesn't see as attractive; Wilhelmina tries to prove to the skeptical Daniel and Alexis that she can be part of the Meade family; Hilda is unaware that Justin has become a changed teen when he starts hanging with the wrong crowd and skips school.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Granny Pants
star
7.00
238 votes

#7 - Granny Pants

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2008

Kimmie Keegan goes to Betty for help in finding a job. Meanwhile, Daniel decides to try a matchmaking service and gets a shocking "perfect" match. Elsewhere, Justin tries out for a Broadway musical.

Directors: Fred Savage
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fire and Nice
star
7.01
461 votes

#8 - Fire and Nice

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/10/2010

To speed along the investigation into her house fire, Betty is pressured to date an annoying fireman. Wilhemina tries to prove to Don, an old flame from her past, that she's just "Wanda from the block" instead of an uber-bitch, and Amanda draws closer to Tyler, convincing Claire to hire him as an in-house model at Mode. Meanwhile, Hilda meets Bobby's parents for the first time.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kids Are Alright
star
7.01
185 votes

#9 - The Kids Are Alright

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/15/2008

Betty finds her attempts to suppress her feelings for Gio useless when the two end up chaperoning Justin's school dance together. Meanwhile, Amanda agrees to do a reality show with Gene, and Hilda goes out of her way to catch the eye of Coach Diaz. Finally, Wilhelmina makes her return to MODE, much to the distaste of the Meade family.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Brian Tanen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Backseat Betty
star
7.02
325 votes

#10 - Backseat Betty

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2009

Hilda has doubts over her relationship with Archie after seeing an old flame Bobby Talercio. Marc helps Justin to fit in high school by telling him to become friends with some mean girls. Elsewhere Daniel is lured into a trap by Bennett. Wilhemina tries to come up with money to help Nico out of trouble.

Directors: John Putch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crimes of Fashion
star
7.04
243 votes

#11 - Crimes of Fashion

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2008

A tragic accident leaves the Mode staff stunned and Betty must find out what really happened when a detective comes looking for answers. Meanwhile, Ignacio learns about Hilda and Coach Diaz.

Directors: Victor Nelli Jr.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Sex Issue
star
7.07
259 votes

#12 - The Sex Issue

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/19/2009

Daniel and Wilhelmina make Mode's issue based on sex to spice things up. Matt is hesitant to take the next step with Betty. Marc and Amanda provide Betty with a makeover.

Directors: Victor Nelli Jr.
Writer: Cara DiPaolo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Grin and Bear It
star
7.08
194 votes

#13 - Grin and Bear It

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2007

Betty gets into trouble in her writing class when she submits a pre-written MODE story written by a woman who survived a bear attack (hence the title). Alexis returns to work, still with memory loss and having no idea how to act like a girl. Daniel receives a threat from their top advertiser who is against transsexuals and wants Daniel to fire his own sister. Amanda, still trying to figure out who her real father is, learns a shocking secret about Wilhelmina's past.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blackout!
star
7.09
293 votes

#14 - Blackout!

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/20/2010

Betty tries to be neighborly by planning a karaoke party in her apartment building, but before the big day, her building is robbed, and it's partly her fault. Marc is distraught since he lost something irreplaceable in the theft. Meanwhile, Daniel and Wilhelmina are back to being at each other's throats, so Amanda tricks them into attending couples counseling with Dr. Sparks (Frank Whaley), and Ignacio refuses to accept Bobby in Hilda's life. Then a citywide blackout ups the ante for everyone.

Directors: John Putch
Writer: Cara DiPaolo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Level (7) With Me
star
7.10
270 votes

#15 - Level (7) With Me

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/27/2009

Daniel hands over the power to the Community of the Phoenix to run Mode. Betty steps in to help Daniel with Bennet. She comes up with an cunning plan with the help of Claire. Wilhemina goes out in public wearing sweats creating mayhem with the media trying to get a scoop.

Directors: John Fortenberry
Writer: Chris Black
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Back in Her Place
star
7.11
238 votes

#16 - Back in Her Place

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/13/2010

A battered but unbowed Betty recounts her worst week EVER to Mr. Z (guest star Fisher Stevens) as the show flashes back to her horrible last few days. Frustrated over the frivolous assignments Wilhelmina gives her at Mode, and inspired by Audrey Hepburn's memoir, Betty creates her own blog about amazing charitable ventures that inspire her. However, as her hobby enriches her, her job is nearly killing her, since Wilhelmina tortures Betty with beauty experiments for future stories. Meanwhile, Daniel fears Marc is sabotaging him -- and he is; Bobby treats a hormonal Hilda to some pampering during "Hilda Week," which goes awry, and Wilhelmina makes a long-term commitment to the incarcerated Connor.

Directors: Richard Heus
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Filing for the Enemy
star
7.13
296 votes

#17 - Filing for the Enemy

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2008

Wilhelmina, getting ready for her first issue as editor, offers Betty a job as her assistant. Meanwhile, Daniel learns he will have to undergo a custody battle if he wants to keep Daniel Jr. in the U.S. Later, Hilda's romance with Coach Diaz continues to heat up.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Writer: Joel Fields
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Curveball
star
7.14
292 votes

#18 - Curveball

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/2009

Just as Betty agrees to move in with Matt, Henry pays a visit to NYC, forcing Betty to admit she still has feelings for her former fiancé.

Directors: Victor Nelli Jr.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Passion of the Betty
star
7.15
240 votes

#19 - The Passion of the Betty

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/6/2010

When Betty becomes concerned that she and Matt are spending too much time together, she tries to give him something else to be passionate about -- a surprise gallery showing of his art work -- with unintended results. Meanwhile, Marc is horrified that his one-night stand, Troy, is falling for him, since Marc was Troy's "first", Hilda grapples with whether or not to tell Bobby that he's the father of her unborn child, and Cal officially replaces Wilhelmina with Denise. Jesse Tyler Ferguson returns as Betty's orthodontist, Dr. Farkas, for a cameo, and Christine Ebersole guest stars as Frances, the gallery owner.

Directors: S.J. Clarkson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Betty's Baby Bump
star
7.16
180 votes

#20 - Betty's Baby Bump

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/8/2008

Betty decides to patch things up with Charlie by throwing her an unforgettable baby shower. Meanwhile, Hilda decides to confront Justin's teacher after learning that he is failing gym class and Christina learns who the father of Wilhelmina's baby really is.

Directors: Linda Mendoza
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kissed Off
star
7.16
349 votes

#21 - Kissed Off

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/5/2009

Betty comes up with a solution to deal with her personal problems but she has her sexy neighbor Jesse who keeps her distracted from her goals. Daniel does his best to cover his tracks as Connor is adamant on unveiling Molly's admirer.

Directors: Rose Troche
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Things Fall Apart
star
7.18
267 votes

#22 - Things Fall Apart

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/26/2009

Betty and Marc team up together to analyse Mode's budget. Matt continues with his pursuit to win Betty while she deals with some startling news on Facebook by a former flame

Directors: Tom Verica
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sisters on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
star
7.21
313 votes

#23 - Sisters on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/22/2009

Betty finds herself stuck between work and home life as she tries her best to appease both Hilda; Daniel, Molly, Connor and Wilhelmina.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Butterfly Effect (2)
star
7.21
253 votes

#24 - The Butterfly Effect (2)

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/16/2009

Betty gets to run her own Mode photo shoot at the United Nations to promote their anti-malaria initiative, "Nothing but Nets," but her big opportunity becomes a baptism by fire when Daniel's neediness takes its toll, and Matt openly demoralizes her. Meanwhile, Amanda does some soul-searching when she bonds with Daniel's new temp, Helen, a career receptionist as fabulous as Amanda is. Wili makes it her personal mission to protect a loved one, and Hilda reaches out to Marc to figure out how to help Justin.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Courtship of Betty's Father
star
7.22
322 votes

#25 - The Courtship of Betty's Father

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/12/2009

It's Claire's 60th birthday and Betty makes her a video which reveals some unintentional footage of Mrs Meade. Also, Daniel and Wilhelmina are finding it hard having someone new in their lives.

Directors: John Terlesky
Writer: Peter Elkoff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV