The Pretender

10 Best Episodes of The Pretender - Season 1

Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually a prisoner and his captors are not as benevolent as he's been told, he breaks out. While trying to find his real identity, Jarod helps those he encounters and tries to avoid the woman sent to retrieve him.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 20, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
The Pretender - S1E12

#15 - A Prison Story (Season 1 - Episode 12)

MARYLAND OAKFIELD PENITENTIARY - Jarod pretends to be a prison guard who is trying to prove a man on death row didn't commit the crime he's sentenced to death for. Meanwhile, Miss Parker, Sydney, and Broots all get a clue that makes them believe they're now one step ahead of Jarod.

The episode was rated 7.53 from 73 votes.

The Pretender - S1E19

#14 - Jarod's Honor (Season 1 - Episode 19)

Advertisement

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - After completing a pretend, Jarod receives an email offering answers to his past. While investigating the lead, Jarod unexpectedly stumbles upon a dying hitman. When the hitman's last job comes calling, Jarod takes it. Meanwhile, Sydney and Miss Parker, following a lead from Jarod, attend a Twins Convention while Broots covers for them.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 64 votes.

The Pretender - S1E11

#13 - Bomb Squad (Season 1 - Episode 11)

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - Jarod poses as a member of the bomb squad, searching for a serial bomber who left a woman blind from one of his attacks. Meanwhile, the Centre puts Mr. Reines in charge of finding the person who's leaking information to Jarod. By utilizing Angelo, he puts Miss Parker, Sydney, and Broots to the test.

The episode was rated 7.57 from 83 votes.

The Pretender - S1E3

#12 - Flyer (Season 1 - Episode 3)

Advertisement

ARIZONA - Sydney and Miss Parker survey a wind farm in Baja, CA where Jarod was last seen testing aerodynamics. Jarod is now flying jets for Skyvionics, which is testing a defense contractor's new computer system, while trying to figure out why a test pilot died during one of the tests. Jarod also befriends Mr. Hollis, a conspirator who was involved in the Manhattan Project.

The episode was rated 7.57 from 113 votes.

The Pretender - S1E14

#11 - Ranger Jarod (Season 1 - Episode 14)

TOLUCA NATIONAL FOREST, OREGON - Jarod falls in love with his hiking partner while on a seach-and-rescue for a boy who disappeared in the mountains. Jarod also befriends a man named Big Bob who has many stooge-ish qualitites. Back at The Centre, Miss Parker reminisces about how she loved Jarod when they were children.

The episode was rated 7.57 from 61 votes.

The Pretender - S1E17

#10 - Keys (Season 1 - Episode 17)

Advertisement

MIAMI, FLORIDA - During a hurricane, Jarod is getting revenge for the deaths of a refugee's parents. He figures no one will pursue him since, after all, he's in the middle of a hurricane. But he's caught off guard when Miss Parker suddenly shows up. Even further caught off guard when his revenge backfires. Meanwhile, Miss Parker recalls the Thanksgiving before her mother's death. But she's blocked out certain details and Jarod makes her confront them.

The episode was rated 7.60 from 62 votes.

The Pretender - S1E5

#9 - The Paper Clock (Season 1 - Episode 5)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Aiming to help a man wrongly sentenced for murder, Jarod becomes a lawyer and goes after the arrogant attorney protecting the real killer. Meanwhile, Sydney is trying to reach an agreement with The Centre to make a trade with Jarod: A piece of Jarod's past for some of the simulations.

The episode was rated 7.61 from 102 votes.

The Pretender - S1E8

#8 - Not Even A Mouse (Season 1 - Episode 8)

Advertisement

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - Jarod investigates the mystery behind a hit-and-run death of a homeless man known as 'Christmas George' while simultaneously trying to identify a Jane Doe before Christmas. Meanwhile, Sydney anxiously awaits word from Jarod and Miss Parker gets her hopes up spending Christmas with her father.

The episode was rated 7.63 from 95 votes.

The Pretender - S1E2

#7 - Every Picture Tells A Story (Season 1 - Episode 2)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Miss Parker and Sydney once again miss Jarod at the Y.M.C.A., who is now posing as a member of the Coast Guard trying to figure out the truth behind the death of a man who died at sea waiting for rescue. Jarod also befriends a hermit who lives out at sea and refuses to come back to land.

The episode was rated 7.66 from 131 votes.

The Pretender - S1E20

#6 - Baby Love (Season 1 - Episode 20)

Advertisement

WYOMING(?) - After a close call with getting caught by Miss Parker, Jarod stumbles upon a baby who was thrown into a dumpster. Jarod takes the child and nurses it until he can find his parents while avoiding sinister authorities. At the same time, Miss Parker, Sydney and Broots all follow clues that Jarod has dug up in reference to the meaning of SL-27.

The episode was rated 7.67 from 54 votes.

The Pretender - S1E6

#5 - To Protect and Serve (Season 1 - Episode 6)

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - Jarod, suspecting corruption in a police department, becomes an officer himself to solve the death of a boy who had recently been reunited with his father. He also befriends an aging lady who's young at heart, but is afraid of losing her wildside due to her fading eyesight. Meanwhile, Miss Parker is spending time in jail for violating criminal code 369.7 - Unlawful Carrying and Possession of Concealed Weapon, thanks to a tip from Jarod. With her in jail, Jarod uses that window of opportunity to hire a private investigator to aid in finding information about his mother.

The episode was rated 7.67 from 105 votes.

The Pretender - S1E10

#4 - Better Part Of Valor (Season 1 - Episode 10)

Advertisement

PITTSBURGH, PA - Jarod works as a firefighter while investigating the murder of another smoke-eater; Miss Parker tries to seduce a married man.

The episode was rated 7.67 from 73 votes.

The Pretender - S1E1

#3 - Pilot (Season 1 - Episode 1)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Miss Parker and Sydney find they had just missed Jarod helping a tanker ship in Alaska. Jarod is now posing as a doctor to uncover the truth behind an operation that resulted in a boy becoming paraplegic. Jarod also befriends a sicilian woman who has trouble with (ahem) bowel movements.

The episode was rated 7.70 from 187 votes.

The Pretender - S1E21

#2 - The Dragon House (1) (Season 1 - Episode 21)

Advertisement

FORT REXFORD, NEW YORK - Jarod becomes aware that Kyle, another pretender from The Centre, is on the run from the law. Eager to find him, he becomes an F.B.I. agent to aid the investigation. But he discovers that Kyle may have something to do with his mother. Meanwhile, Miss Parker and Sydney recruit Angelo to go through all of Jarod's red notebooks. They figure he can become Jarod and thus aiding in his capture.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 56 votes.

The Pretender - S1E22

#1 - The Dragon House (2) (Season 1 - Episode 22)

UPSTATE NEW YORK - Jarod discovers more about his family through Harriet, and decides that he must return to The Centre to free his brother Kyle. Meanwhile, Miss Parker convinces Broots and Sydney in helping her find the answers to her mother's death and believes Kyle may be the key. Finally, Jarod gets the opportunity to reunite with his family, including his sister. But The Centre becomes aware of the rendezvous and intends to stop it.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 20 votes.

Latest articles

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!