The Vow

10 Best Episodes of The Vow

The docuseries follows people deeply involved in the group NXIVM โ€” which is faced with various charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy โ€” over the course of several years.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 06, 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!

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The Vow - S1E4

#12 - Building Character (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Mark, Bonnie, Sarah and Nippy strategize with Catherine Oxenberg about how to get her daughter, India, out of DOS, even though she wants to stay. "Jane," India's close friend, describes the appeal of the organization and why she left it all behind.

The episode was rated 7.23 from 186 votes.

The Vow - S1E6

#11 - Honesty & Disclosure (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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Sarah, Mark and Nippy contact additional news outlets to provoke outrage and pressure law enforcement to pay attention. Barbara Bouchey, a former board member and early defector, reflects on her time in Keith's inner circle.

The episode was rated 7.31 from 161 votes.

The Vow - S1E7

#10 - Blame & Responsibility (Season 1 - Episode 7)

After learning that the New York Attorney General's chief investigator is interested in building a criminal case against Keith, Catherine travels to Buffalo to meet with Frank Parlato, creator of the anti-NXIVM blog "The Frank Report," to build a dossier of evidence. Meanwhile, we're introduced to Toni Natalie, one of Keith's former girlfriends, who takes us back to the '90s to share her experiences and the challenges she faced with Keith during the days of his first company, Consumers' Buyline.

The episode was rated 7.35 from 161 votes.

The Vow - S1E8

#9 - The Wound (Season 1 - Episode 8)

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As the group gathers evidence for their FBI testimonies, they express their beliefs about how the curriculums of SOP and JNESS, men's and women's groups within NXIVM, reshaped their ideas on gender roles in society and may have laid the foundation for DOS.

The episode was rated 7.36 from 148 votes.

The Vow - S1E5

#8 - Class 1 Data (Season 1 - Episode 5)

Catherine believes her daughter is in danger and wants her to come home. When she and the former members are unable to get the attention of the authorities, they approach the New York Times. Meanwhile, Mark reflects on his time at NXIVM.

The episode was rated 7.42 from 176 votes.

The Vow - S1E9

#7 - The Fall (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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Keith hasn't been seen in Clifton Park for weeks, and the team gets a tip on where he might be. Catherine meets with India, who maintains her position. Mark and Bonnie return to Clifton Park for the first time since leaving NXIVM and confront their memories of Keith and the curriculum. Sarah, Bonnie, Mark, Nippy, and Catherine face a shocking development in the case.

The episode was rated 7.45 from 139 votes.

The Vow - S1E1

#6 - The Science of Joy (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Mark Vicente and Sarah Edmondson, high-ranking former NXIVM leaders, describe the dream and mission of NXIVM to build a better world. Bonnie Piesse, Mark's wife, tells him she's worried about the organization and Keith Raniere, NXIVM's leader and Mark's mentor. Mark wonders how could tools to make a better, more ethical world be misused?

The episode was rated 7.45 from 239 votes.

The Vow - S2E3

#5 - Stimulus and Response (Season 2 - Episode 3)

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Marc Agnifilo presents his case attesting to the good work of NXIVM; Marc Elliot remains loyal to Keith Raniere after he claims the symptoms of his Touretteโ€™s syndrome were successfully reduced by Nancy Salzman. First-line DOS member and NXIVM leader, Lauren Salzman takes the standโ€ฆ for the prosecution!

The episode was rated 7.54 from 37 votes.

The Vow - S2E1

#4 - Tests of Loyalty (Season 2 - Episode 1)

Prosecutor Moira Penza and defense attorney Marc Agnifilo prepare for trial after the arrest of Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, Clare Bronfman, Allison Mack and Lauren Salzman. DOS members Nicki Clyne and Michele Hatchette offer a different perspective into NXIVM, DOS, and Raniere, while Nancy Salzman, under house arrest, sits down to speak with the filmmakers.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 45 votes.

The Vow - S1E3

#3 - At Cause (Season 1 - Episode 3)

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Sarah confides to Mark about DOS, a secret group involving "masters" and "slaves," and struggles in her relationships with NXIVM, her husband and her best friend. Sarah and Mark lament how many members they've recruited and question what to do next.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 186 votes.

The Vow - S1E2

#2 - Viscera (Season 1 - Episode 2)

After seven years, Bonnie leaves NXIVM for Los Angeles and tries desperately to get through to Mark, who reassures her all is well. Mark remains loyal to Keith and NXIVM, but a series of phone calls begin to sow doubt within him.

The episode was rated 7.68 from 199 votes.

The Vow - S2E2

#1 - Rapport (Season 2 - Episode 2)

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Nancy Salzman looks back at her professional and personal relationship with Keith Raniere and defends her intentions with the company: to help people achieve lasting, personal growth through Executive Success Programs. The first witnesses in the trial are called to the stand, including defector Mark Vicente and Raniere victim Sylvie.

The episode was rated 7.70 from 44 votes.

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