Best Seinfeld Episodes – Ranked from Worst to Best
Larry and J.Seinfeld first visualized and produced this comedy series as a standup comic. Although the first seasons didn’t generate expected positive reactions from viewers, it eventually became a cultural milestone. Seinfeld is a comedy sitcom that aired on NBC. With over 180 episodes and nine seasons, this hilarious series focuses on Seinfeld’s personal life together with his three friends.
Here is the list of the main characters:
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Jason Alexander
- Michael Richards
- Larry David
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Elaine Benes plays as his friend, George Costanza, as his girlfriend, and Cosmo Kramer, as his neighbor who lives across the hall. It was set in Manhattan and described as “a show about nothing.”Richards brilliantly played his role with delight. Jerry and George lived up to their role as good neighbors and friends. Their daily life with unavoidable mishaps added color to this comedy series.
Coming from the lowest point of being placed on a bad time slot for a couple of years, now Seinfeld has dominated the entertainment world, and the fans still enjoyed it up to now. In this blog post, we’re here to give you a complete guide of the best Seinfeld shows ranked.
What Is The Highest Rated Seinfeld Episode?
While Seinfeld remains one of the most historic comedy sitcoms of all time, let’s not forget the masterminds behind this masterpiece. Jerry and Larry are the great minds who created the show. Seinfeld himself starred as one of the main actors in this stand-up comedy series.
While most of the episodes are remarkable on their cultural standpoints, there are just some that will never get old. That even your great-grandsons or granddaughters will appreciate. Here are the best episodes with the highest ratings that stayed as witty today as they were years ago.
The Contest
- Season 4 – Episode 11
- Rating (IMDB): 9.6
A Seinfeld chronicle that already stood the test of time. Everybody would agree that the later seasons of Seinfeld are just the best. And “The Contest” is the highest-rated Seinfeld chronicle. Aside from being one of the best episodes, it also hit the top spot of TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time. For 22 minutes, you’ll find yourself marveling at how brilliant Larry has executed this script.
Although masturbation is the main topic of this episode, it was cleanly adapted in censor-friendly euphemisms. The word maturation wasn’t even mentioned, but instead, creative languages are used. Elaine’s portrayal of her admiration for JFK jr. is hilarious. Aside from Elaine’s obsession, the episode ended with the whole gang watching Kramer in his intimate moments in the apartment across the street. Hilarious line (Estelle Harris): “I find my son treating his body like it was an amusement park.”
The Opposite
- Season 5 – Episode 22
- Rating (IMDB) : 9.6
While this episode is linked with “The Contest,” the latter is remembered the most. If doing the exact opposite of what you would normally do is the only way to improve your situation, would you dare do it? This finale of season 5 answers that question as this episode focuses on realism. The power play between George and Elaine is eminent here. George decides to do the opposite of what he would usually do.
After a few days, his life improved with a dream job, a new girlfriend, and moving out from his parents’ house. While George’s life improves, Elaine’s takes the wrong turn. Elaine realized that her life was falling apart as she “became” George. This is the funniest moment in one of the best episodes.
The Chicken Roaster
- Season 8 – Episode 8
- Rating (IMDB): 9.0
Kramer swapped Jerry’s apartment as a Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant opened up across the street. Jerry aims for the restaurant to be open so his friend won’t lose his job. So he moves into Kramer’s apartment and vice versa. Living in each other’s apartments turns them into each other’s personalities, with Richards playing as Jerry and Jerry playing as Cosmo Kramer is one for the books.
The Subway
- Season 3 – Episode 13
- Rating (IMDB): 8.7
The applause track played when the cop arrested a robber who tried to steal Kramer’s winnings is not a good match. Which is the only downplay for this episode. It didn’t match the sentimentality of the show. However, everything else in this episode is refreshing without the overkill.
The Chinese Woman
- Season 6 – Episode 4
- Rating (IMDB): 8.2
Jerry dates someone with the surname “Chang.” However, she isn’t of Chinese descent. Elaine says, “Isn’t that a little racist?”Jerry replied that he “loves Chinese women.” At the start of the story, George’s parents consider getting a divorce. Here goes a cameo from a cape-wearing Larry. He played the lawyer of Frank Costanza, which made this episode more bubbly and lighter.
The Doll
- Season 7 – Episode 16
- Rating (IMDB): 8.2
The comedy banter between Kramer and Frank while trying to play billiards in George’s bedroom is unforgettable. However, the height of this episode is getting Kathy Griffin to play the role of Sally Weaver. She is Susan’s former roommate.
7 Best Seinfeld Episodes
If you haven’t heard yet, Seinfeld is also available on Netflix. While most of us strive to watch episodes per episode in our old DVRs, now Hulu is also streaming the epic episodes of Seinfeld. With over 169 episodes, you can’t just jump in mid-point without watching the first seasons. Thanks to these streaming services, the novices, and the veterans can enjoy every episode of Seinfeld. If you want to start with the most epic episodes, our list is ranked from worst to best.
7. The Chinese Restaurant
(Season 2, Episode 11)
The episode is the breakthrough of Seinfeld. It brought to life the sitcom’s “show about nothing” signature. Also, it laid the groundwork for Seinfeld’s future episode. Although this is groundbreaking, it didn’t hit the top spot. The plot of this Chinese restaurant episode is slow, which is a common mistake with most of the first seasons of Seinfeld. The greatest moment here? When Elaine accepts a bet of eating off a patron’s plate, the restaurant host is screaming “Cartwright!” Made up for the first slow scenes of this episode.
6. The Merv Griffin Show
(Season 9, Episode 6)
The characters seem elusive in this Merv Griffin episode. With Kramer suddenly turning his apartment into a TV show set and Elaine losing her job due to one box of Tic Tags, the turmoil makes this episode alive. George isn’t exempted from being unlucky. His interaction with pigeons ended up taking care of a wounded squirrel. However, nothing beats discovering that George still had his diaper changed until he was eight years old. Elaine, George, and Jerry found out while watching videos from George’s childhood.
5. The Pen
(Season 3 – Episode 3)
The one episode that doesn’t include George. Alexander was so disappointed he even threatened to leave the show. One of the most remarkable Seinfeld chronicles revolves around an infamous astronaut pen. Hence, the episode’s name. An introduction to the world of Del Boca Vista, you’ll also get to know Jack Klompus. Elaine, induced with muscle relaxant and yelling “STELLA!!” It’s so hilarious you’ll ROTFL. Louis-Dreyfus earned an Emmys award for that.
4. The Marine Biologist
(Season 5, Episode 14)
With an architect persona Art Vandelay, George is at ease living one of his lies. But George was thrown off guard when Jerry told his old crush that he had become a marine biologist. Guaranteed that this is one of the greatest episodes. It has one of the best endings, linking George’s marine biology to Kramer’s beach golf. George even told a story of saving a beached whale.
3. The Fire
(Season 5, Episode 20)
This is the Seinfeld chronicle where George has done his worst. When the police officer asked him how he lives with himself, it was relatable. Credits to the writers for coming up with a clean “No bad deed goes unpunished” approach. On the other hand, Jerry completes a comedian’s revenge goals while Elaine loses a promotion.
2. The Bizarro Jerry
(Season 8 – Episode 3)
Elaine faced a “bizarro” version of all her friends in this episode. It was ridiculous enough that it’s a miracle how the writers pulled it through. Aside from Elaine’s exposure to another version of the Seinfeld world, George encountered models at a lavish party that might not exist at all.
In addition, Larry left Seinfeld around this time. Jerry took place as the sole head writer. Seinfeld enhanced his creative controls by inserting meta aspects in seasons 8 and 9.
1. The Soup Nazi
(Season 7, Episode 6)
Soup nazi episode is where Larry Thomas showcased his comedy skills. His most memorable guest performance was when he played the character with the famous line “No soup for you!” This famous line overplays the episode’s average comedy scene. Also, George getting annoyed at how Jerry and girlfriend Sheila called each other “schmoopie” is funny. To say that the characters are funny in this episode is an understatement.
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Key Takeaway
Tons of comedy sitcoms are out on different streaming platforms. However, nothing beats a trailblazing and classic sitcom like Seinfeld. Whoever may be your favorite character in this tv series, we hope that our list can be your start-up guide before jumping into all the episodes. Whether it be the episode at the Chinese restaurant or the one where Jerry met a woman named “Donna Chang’, all the latter episodes are a guaranteed must-watch.
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