The Pretender Episode Ratings Heatmap
1996 · 4 Seasons · 86 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.8/10 (86 rated)
Season 4 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 4 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.48), maintaining an average of 8.2.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.7 |
| Ep 2 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Ep 3 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| Ep 4 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Ep 5 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.7 |
| Ep 6 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.3 |
| Ep 7 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 8.7 |
| Ep 8 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| Ep 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| Ep 10 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 8.7 |
| Ep 11 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| Ep 12 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 8.3 |
| Ep 13 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Ep 14 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 9.0 | 7.7 |
| Ep 15 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| Ep 16 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Ep 17 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| Ep 18 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Ep 19 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.7 |
| Ep 20 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.7 |
| Ep 21 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | – |
| Ep 22 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8.5 | – |
| Season Avg | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 8.2 |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 4 seasons and 86 episodes, The Pretender has earned an overall series rating of 7.8 out of 10. The series demonstrates an upward quality trajectory, with later seasons sustaining higher viewer acclaim than its debut.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 2, Episode 22 ("Bloodlines (2)"), rated at an extraordinary 9.0/10 with 2 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 3, Episode 12 ("Unsinkable"), landing at 6.0/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 3 between Episode 6 ("Parole", 8.5) and Episode 7 ("Homefront", 6.5), a swing of 2 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Pretender
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 2, Ep 22 | Bloodlines (2) | 9.0 | 2 | May 16, 1998 |
| #2 | Season 3, Ep 14 | At the Hour of Our Death | 9.0 | 2 | Feb 27, 1999 |
| #3 | Season 4, Ep 1 | The World's Changing | 8.7 | 3 | Sep 25, 1999 |
| #4 | Season 4, Ep 5 | Road Trip | 8.7 | 3 | Nov 13, 1999 |
| #5 | Season 4, Ep 7 | Wild Child | 8.7 | 3 | Dec 11, 1999 |
| #6 | Season 4, Ep 9 | 'Til Death Do Us Part | 8.7 | 3 | Jan 15, 2000 |
| #7 | Season 4, Ep 10 | Spin Doctor (I) | 8.7 | 3 | Feb 5, 2000 |
| #8 | Season 4, Ep 19 | The Inner Sense (1) | 8.7 | 3 | May 13, 2000 |
| #9 | Season 4, Ep 20 | The Inner Sense (2) | 8.7 | 3 | May 13, 2000 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 1 | Pilot | 8.5 | 4 | Sep 19, 1996 |