The 12 Best Episodes Of The Munsters, Ranked

"The Munsters" is one of the most beloved TV series of all time. While it only ran for two seasons, each of which boasted 30-plus episodes, the family residing at 1313 Mockingbird Lane wormed their way into our collective hearts. Whether it was Herman's (Fred Gwynne) antics or Grandpa's (Al Lewis) latest money-grubbing scheme, the show retooled typical sitcom conventions by running them through a very spooky lens. The entire cast, which also featured Yvonne De Carlo (Lily), Pat Priest (Marilyn, who was originally played by Beverley Owen before she left the show), and Butch Patrick (Eddie), displayed pin-point comedic timing and magnetic onscreen charm. It's no wonder that "The Munsters" has endured as a timeless relic decades later.

With the release of Rob Zombie's technicolor film adaptation, we thought it was time to celebrate the Munster legacy. Below, we've compiled the 12 best episodes, ranging from the heartwarming to the truly absurd. Like many shows of the era, including "I Love Lucy," there's nary a dud in the bunch. So, we certainly had our work cut out for us. Have a seat, curl up with Spot, and let's get to it, shall we?

Bills are mounting, and Herman has never been more stressed. To clear his head, he takes leisurely midnight strolls through the park. Several neighbors spot him on one of his walks and call the police, claiming they've seen a brutish monster traipsing through the neighborhood. The police are also on the lookout for a masked purse snatcher who has been terrorizing the community, so this brings everyone out of the woodwork.

A cop decides to be a decoy and dresses up as a woman. During his stakeout, the purse snatcher attempts to mug him, but Herman happens upon the scene and saves the day. The purse snatcher, wearing a stocking over his head, is identified as the so-called monster, and the force gives the policeman-in-disguise full credit for saving the day. Meanwhile, Grandpa tinkers with a new enlarging gadget and accidentally shrinks Eddie in hilarious fashion (think "Bride of Frankenstein").

As a very early episode in the show, "A Walk on the Mild Side" leaves quite an impression. It's silly, endearing, and the comedy undeniably sticks the landing. It's everything you want in a "Munsters" episode.

Lily feels left out when she notices that Grandpa, Herman, and Marilyn all have hobbies and are busy with their outside lives. Home life doesn't seem to keep her fulfilled much these days. "I'm just not going to sit around here and deteriorate," she laments before declaring her desire to get a job. She pours through the classifieds and comes across job postings for a secretary, a nurse, and a bus driver, but nothing seems to work out.

A bit deflated, she eventually stumbles upon a call for fashion models at a local bouquet and schedules an audition. As it turns out, Lily is a natural when it comes to the runaway, and the couture owner is transfixed by her sense of style and the mystery that oozes from her pores. She lands the gig and prepares for an upcoming fashion show. Herman doesn't necessarily have a problem with Lily working, but her burgeoning modeling career does not sit well with him. As such, he enlists Grandpa to turn him into a rootin' tootin' cowboy from Texas. He plans to attend one of Lily's upcoming fashion shows, with Grandpa on his arm as a blonde bombshell.

Herman's scheme seems to do the trick, making Lily super jealous. "Lily Munster, Girl Model" is a classic case of lack of communication in their relationship. In the end, both express their feelings, and all is well once again in the Munster household.

Feeling pressured to save money for Eddie's college education, Herman moonlights as a pro-wrestler named The Masked Marvel. He keeps it under wraps, except when it comes to Grandpa, who helps him train and serves as his ring-side champion. Herman has the strength to be a champion, of course, but he's a big ol' bleeding heart. During his matches, his opponents plead with him and tell him an assortment of sob stories. Feeling bad for them, Herman throws his matches.

It all leads up to the final match of the season, during which Herman is drugged with sleeping pills by his opponent. Grandpa notices that Herman is off his game from the start. To distract the crowd, Grandpa casts a spell that makes the arena catch on fire. Herman removes his mask to make an announcement about what's going on, and the crowd flees to safety.

Herman always tries to do right by his family, even if that means keeping his well-meaning endeavors a secret. His unconditional loyalty may lead him astray, or to do wacky things, but his heart is in the right place. "Herman the Great" exemplifies exactly how much of a teddy bear Herman really is, and why we love him so darn much.

During an afternoon stroll, Herman wanders through downtown, where a few workers are lifting a safe into an apartment. The men accidentally drop the safe, and it knocks Herman unconscious. When he wakes up, he has severe amnesia and can't remember his name. He's swiftly transported to the police station and held until someone comes forward to identify him. When Lily learns the news, she calls the station, but is told she must petition the court for custody. It's as ridiculous as it sounds.

Believing himself to be Lily's adoptive son, Herman becomes Eddie's new pal, but it doesn't go over too well. Eddie and Herman fight over Eddie's toys, leading to a clash among the family. Days fall one into another, and it appears that nothing can bring Herman back to reality. One afternoon, though, Eddie climbs out onto the roof as he wants to try to get his kite even higher in the sky. The family freaks out; it's enough to pull Herman back down to earth. He immediately recalls everything, and shouts for his son to return to safety.

Even when the scenarios are absolutely outrageous, "The Munsters" has a way of imparting heartfelt messages about family and love. "John Dee Munster" is no exception.

Herman and Lily's 100th wedding anniversary is coming up. Both believe that the other has completely forgotten about it, and decide to go all out on presents. As a result, the bank receives two different checks worth $1,000 apiece. The clerks say that the Munsters have insufficient funds and return them, leading to Herman and Lily seeking part-time jobs to make some extra cash.

Answering job postings in the newspaper, Herman and Lily end up working as welders in the same shipyard, but neither knows exactly what the other is doing. Masked up and wearing welding helmets, they don't realize that they're working side-by-side, and begin flirting with one another. You can probably guess how this turns out.

Lily and Herman soon realize what's going on and confront each other about flirting with another person. Marilyn points out that perhaps it's fate, and that they simply fell in love all over again without realizing it. Even though it's not literally the 100th episode of the show, "Happy 100th Anniversary" feels like a milestone nonetheless.

Herman's twin brother pays an unwelcome visit in this essential season 1 episode. Charlie, a well-known conman, claims that he has invented a device that can extract uranium from seawater. It's guaranteed to make the Munsters millionaires. His presentation is convincing enough, but Herman knows better than to fall for one of his schemes. However, Lily is too gullible and hands over $5,000 to buy the contraption.

Charlie then runs into their next door neighbor, Mrs. Cartwright, and decides to sell to her, too. In several hilarious bits, Charlie and Herman both have scenes with the widow, as she believes Herman is playing a not-so-hilarious trick on her. Grandpa, who has been recalibrating the device, eventually fixes the machine, and it actually does turn seawater into uranium. Charlie scams the family right up to the bitter end, but then the device explodes, covering him in soot and ash.

"Knock Wood, Here Comes Charlie" is a goofy, entertaining, and endearing piece of television. After all these years, it remains the pinnacle of the show thanks to its top-notch gags and humor.