Everybody Loves Raymond: The 10 most iconic episodes to rewatch

Everybody Loves Raymond presented a beautifully chaotic, and refreshingly hilarious portrayal of family life. The series was an instant hit and launched stand-up comedian Ray Romano into a global, pop cultural stagae.

Everybody Loves Raymond resonated with a global audience for many reasons: it remained culturally specific while also broadly relatable. The story traced a dysfunctional Italian-American family for nine seasons. The titular protagonist is a Long Island-based sportswriter, Raymond Ray Barone, as he traverses the everyday, sweet and sour hilarity of marriage and parenthood.

But guess where the real charm lies? It is the spectacular ensemble cast – Patricia Heaton as the resilient Debra, Brad Garrett as Robert, and the iconic Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle as Marie and Frank, respectively. The cast shared beautiful chemistry, and when this chemistry flares up against an equally well-written script, a magical and hearty comedy is created.

It has been 20 years since the finale aired, and yet, the show is discussed by fans as one of the most laugh-out-loud funny shows today, as it ever was. It is a perfect no-brainer show that one can watch again and again. Each rewatch session reveals new nuances and louder chuckles at the familiar, endearing madness of Everyone Loves Raymond.

Everybody Loves Raymond: The 10 most iconic episodes to rewatch

10. The finale – Season 9, Episode 16

The farewell episode is memorable for two reasons. Firstly, it had a deeply emotional appeal, and secondly, it was genuinely humorous. The finale traces Raymond as he visits to get a routine procedure for his adenoids, but keeping in mind the family’s drama, he and Debra try to keep it private.

But Barones can't keep a secret, and when complications arise during the procedure, the family freaks out. This episode is a perfect goodbye to the series, reminding viewers what makes his show appealing.

The family loved each other, even amidst all the usual bickering, making it a powerful and memorable conclusion to the beloved series.

9. The Bird – Season 8, Episode 9

Ray and his family gather to celebrate with Robert's new wife, Amy, and her parents, Pat and Hank, but as expected, things go haywire. The Thanksgiving celebrations that started civilly and decently soon turned into a ridiculous ‘civil war’ between the two families.

Guess what triggers this? A bird flying into the room and getting killed by Pat. Ray goes shirtless, and Hank delivers some polite insults. This episode is a testament to how Everyone Loves Raymond can turn even mundane table scenes into pure comedic gold.

8. Pat's Secret – Season 9, Episode 15

In this episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, Robert finds something hilarious. The show often takes viewers by surprise by including funny twists. Roberts comically discovers that his mother-in-law, Pat, secretly smokes cigarettes but makes efforts to hide it from others.

Robert has to play it carefully as Amy smells smoke on him, leading the entire family to suspect that it is he who is a smoker. It is important to mention that Brad Garrett's top-notch performance brings the belly-aching hilarity. He tries to protect the secret all the while implicating himself.

7. Robert's Wedding – Season 7, Episode 24

Everybody Loves Raymond is built upon many comedic disasters, and one of the funniest is Amy and Robert's wedding day. It is full of Peter's antics and Marie's shocking objection that brings out the comic chaos. Amy gets an understanding of her new in-laws.

Despite Ray's poor detective work, many efforts, and numerous delays, the episode ends joyfully as Robert and Amy perform their beautifully choreographed dance to Elvis.

6. The Angry Family – Season 6, Episode 1

Michael shares a cringeworthy story about a constantly yelling family with Barones. The story shocks the Barones, who found it all too familiar.

What happens next is an even funnier tale of familial chaos. As the family goes for counseling, the session descends into bizarre mutual accusations. Amidst this unfolding hilarity, we get a look at how this chaos impacts Michael.

5. Debra Makes Something Good – Season 4, Episode 18

In this episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, Debra's braciole earns unprecedented praise. But this rise to fame ignited intense jealousy in Marie, who instantly felt her throne as the family's favorite chef threatened. As the usual bickerings continue, the episode takes a sweet, heartwarming turn when Marie lets her guard down and confides in Debra.

4. Baggage – Season 7, Episode 22

This episode took something as simple as a suitcase to an outrageously comic proportion. This classic screwball comedy features a three-week-long battle of wills between Ray and Debra.

Neither is willing to concede and put the luggage and the silly bickering away, leading to funny attempts by each. This little incident embodies the sweet and sour power struggles in a long-term relationship.

3. Lucky Suit – Season 6, Episode 16

Marie's love for Robert is often a little overwhelming. It backfires badly when Marie tries to sabotage Robert's FBI interview by destroying his ‘lucky suit’.

She kept on sending embarrassing faxes, adding hilarity to her schemes. These moments are comical but also unveil a deeply emotional side, with Marie confessing her profound concern for Robert's safety.

2. The Canister – Season 5, Episode 19

The duo of Debra and Marie was always in a tense tussle. The sourness is epitomized in Season 5 Episode 19, ‘The Canister.’ Marie blames Debra for keeping her sentimental canister, leading to a hilarious, raging disagreement.

Marie finally lets go and grants Debra a rare victory. But Debra eventually learns that she had the canister, and with some help from Frank, she tries to place it back at Marie's house.

This episode is a highlight of the duo’s psychological warfare that often takes up comic proportions. But it also features a heartfelt moment where Frank, usually sarcastic and detached, reveals an emotional aspect to his character.

1. She's the One – Season 7, Episode 9

This episode is both bizarre and hilarious. In She's the One, Robert often turbulent love life in a stellar fashion. Robert introduces Angela to Ray and Debra, thinking Angela is just the perfect girl. But bizarrely, Ray witnesses something completely outlandish: Angela eats a fly.

Of course, the comedy is heightened when nobody believes Ray’s claims. Eventually, this joke is further stretched when Robert discovers Angela's apartment is packed with frogs. The episode captures the essence of the show the best. Everybody Loves Raymond presents even the simplest situations (like meeting the new girlfriend) with an outrageously funny twist.