Rizzoli & Isles — Watch Order + Best Episodes (Ultimate Binge Guide)

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Rizzoli & Isles — Watch Order + Best Episodes

If you’re starting Rizzoli & Isles for the first time (or planning a comfort-show rewatch), this guide gives you: the correct watch order, a quick “essential arc” roadmap, and a curated list of the best episodes (including top-rated fan favorites).

  • Best for first-timers: Watch in release order (Season 1 → Season 7).
  • Best for rewatchers: Use the “Best Episodes” list and the “Essential Arc” list below.
  • Spoiler note: This post is mostly spoiler-light, but episode titles and basic premises can hint at big moments.

Watch Order (Simple + Correct)

Recommended watch order: go straight through the show in release order from Season 1 to Season 7. While the series is a case-of-the-week procedural, the character relationships and longer arcs land better when you watch in order. [1]

Season-by-season watch order (with episode counts)

Season Episodes Original run Why it matters (no spoilers)
Season 1 10 Jul 12, 2010 → Sep 13, 2010 Sets the tone, the partnership, and the early threats that shape Jane’s guardedness.
Season 2 15 Jul 11, 2011 → Dec 26, 2011 Deepens the squad dynamic and expands Maura’s world beyond the morgue.
Season 3 15 Jun 5, 2012 → Dec 25, 2012 Leans harder into family baggage and personal stakes alongside the cases.
Season 4 16 Jun 25, 2013 → Mar 18, 2014 Balances intense storylines with peak “best friends” energy.
Season 5 18 Jun 17, 2014 → Mar 17, 2015 Big emotional turning points and one of the show’s most beloved episodes.
Season 6 18 Jun 16, 2015 → Mar 15, 2016 Builds a longer-running threat arc that spills into early Season 7.
Season 7 13 Jun 6, 2016 → Sep 5, 2016 Wraps arcs and delivers a heartfelt finale.

Episode counts and original air dates above come from the official episode list/overview. [1]

Two quick watch-order tips that make Season 6 & 7 smoother

  • Don’t skip around Season 6 late episodes: a multi-episode arc centers on a threat aimed at Jane, including “5:26” and “Hide and Seek.” [2]
  • Save the finale for last: the series ends with “Ocean-Frank” (Season 7, Episode 13). [3]

Essential Arc Watchlist (Faster Binge)

Want the emotional & story “spine” of the show without committing to all 105 episodes? This is a starter-friendly, character-forward path that still feels like Rizzoli & Isles.

  1. S1E1 — “See One. Do One. Teach One.” (the foundation)
  2. S1E10 — “When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang” (classic high-stakes episode)
  3. S2E10 — “Remember Me” (cold-case emotion + friendship focus)
  4. S2E15 — “Burning Down the House” (personal stakes collide with the case)
  5. S4E4 — “Killer in High Heels” (Maura in the crosshairs)
  6. S5E2 — “…Goodbye” (a defining episode of the series)
  7. S6E12 — “5:26” (the arc ignites)
  8. S6E13 — “Hide and Seek” (arc pay-off)
  9. S7E13 — “Ocean-Frank” (series finale)

This list leans on episodes repeatedly highlighted as top-rated or pivotal by major fan/ratings roundups and official episode data. [2][3][4][5]

Best Episodes (Top Picks + Why They Hit)

There are “good procedural” episodes… and then there are episodes that remind you why this show became a comfort-watch classic: the friendship, the humor, the found-family warmth, and the sudden gut-punch when life turns real.

Top-rated fan favorites (a strong place to start)

Start TV published a roundup (Dec 16, 2025) of top-rated episodes “according to IMDb.” Here are the picks from that list, plus current IMDb ratings where available. [4]

  1. S5E2 — “…Goodbye”
    A standout grief-and-resilience episode that still manages to feel like the show (casework + team bond). IMDb currently lists it as one of the highest-rated episodes. [6][2]
  2. S7E13 — “Ocean-Frank”
    A warm, reflective finale that focuses on goodbyes, growth, and the “family” the squad became. IMDb lists it as a top-rated episode and the series finale. [7][3]
  3. S1E10 — “When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang”
    The “locked-in” high-stakes episode: danger comes right to their home turf, and everyone gets tested. [4][8]
  4. S4E4 — “Killer in High Heels”
    One of the best “Maura-centric” thrillers, because the case turns personal fast. [4][9]
  5. S6E12 — “5:26”
    A tense arc-starter that feels like a procedural suddenly sliding into a bigger conspiracy vibe. [4][2]
  6. S2E10 — “Remember Me”
    A great “friendship + investigation” blend with a memorable cold-case element. [4]
  7. S2E15 — “Burning Down the House”
    The kind of episode where the team’s personal lives crash into the week’s case. [4]
  8. S6E13 — “Hide and Seek”
    A suspense-forward episode that pays off the arc momentum from “5:26.” [4][2]

Best episodes by “vibe” (pick your mood)

  • If you want action: “When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang” [8]
  • If you want a Maura spotlight: “Killer in High Heels” [9]
  • If you want “make me cry but also heal me”: “…Goodbye” [6]
  • If you want a warm ending: “Ocean-Frank” [7]

Where to Watch

Streaming rights move around a lot, so always double-check your region. As of July 2025, Peacock said all 7 seasons were streaming there, and Peacock’s show page lists all 7 seasons. [10][11]

Also, multiple “what’s coming” schedules list Rizzoli & Isles Seasons 1–7 arriving on Netflix on January 20, 2026. [12][13][14]

  • Peacock: lists Seasons 1–7 available. [11]
  • Netflix: multiple schedules list Seasons 1–7 arriving January 20, 2026. [12]
  • Digital purchase: the series is also available on platforms like Apple TV (availability varies). [15]

FAQ

Do I have to watch Rizzoli & Isles in order?

You can jump around for case-of-the-week fun, but you’ll get more payoff watching in order because the friendships, family stories, and longer arcs build season to season. [1]

What’s the best “first episode” to test the show?

If you want the true beginning, start with the pilot. If you want a high-stakes sample, try Season 1 Episode 10. [1][8]

What’s the most emotional episode?

Many fans point to “…Goodbye” as the biggest tearjerker and one of the series’ strongest hours overall. [4][6]

What’s the finale?

The final episode is “Ocean-Frank” (Season 7, Episode 13), originally aired September 5, 2016. [3][7]

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — List of Rizzoli & Isles episodes (season counts, air dates)
  2. Wikipedia — Episode entries for “5:26” and “Hide and Seek”
  3. Wikipedia — Episode entry for “Ocean-Frank”
  4. Start TV (Dec 16, 2025) — Top-rated episodes according to IMDb
  5. Peacock — Rizzoli & Isles (series page)
  6. IMDb — “…Goodbye”
  7. IMDb — “Ocean Frank”
  8. IMDb — “When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang”
  9. Wikipedia — “Killer in High Heels” episode entry
  10. Peacock Blog (Jul 21, 2025) — All 7 Seasons streaming on Peacock
  11. Peacock — Shows Seasons 1–7 available
  12. What’s on Netflix — January 2026 schedule (lists Rizzoli & Isles S1–S7 on Jan 20)
  13. Vogue — Everything coming to Netflix in January 2026 (lists Rizzoli & Isles S1–S7 on Jan 20)
  14. TheWrap — New on Netflix January 2026 (lists Rizzoli & Isles S1–S7 on Jan 20)
  15. Apple TV — Rizzoli & Isles (series page)
  16. Wikipedia — Rizzoli & Isles (novel/series background notes)