Everybody Loves Raymond: Every Season Of The Show, Ranked From Worst To Best

Everybody Loves Raymond is one of the few television sitcoms that has remained comical and relevant over the years. Since its finale in 2005, fans still love the wacky premises, family relationships, and relatable personalities of the Barone family from Long Island, New York. Who doesn’t love to watch an eccentric, dysfunctional family?

There are many memorable episodes from the sitcom’s nine-season run. However, like most shows, there are a few seasons that are better than others. Some seasons focused entirely on Ray (Ray Romano) and Debra (Patricia Heaton), while others centered on the comedic talents of Marie (Doris Roberts), Frank (Peter Boyle), and Robert (Brad Garrett). Take a look at every season of Everybody Loves Raymond, ranked from worst to best.

9 Season 9

Everybody Loves Raymond is one of the rare shows that never had a “bad” season during its entire run. There are memorable episodes for every season, so it’s difficult to say which one is “worst.” However, by the show’s ninth and final season, viewers knew they were finished watching the Barone family. The season didn’t have as many memorable episodes as other seasons. Despite this, the season awarded the show an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Highlights from the season include when Frank and Marie briefly move to a retirement home in New Jersey and Debra threw out Ray’s beloved Muhammad Ali letter. Frank loses his sense of taste and reveals to his sons that his father beat him (for which Boyle received an Emmy Award nomination). Both Roberts and Garrett received Emmy Awards for their performances in the season. The show ended with an unforgettable series finale, in which Ray undergoes throat surgery and nearly dies during the operation.

8 Season 8

Like the show’s ninth season, the eighth season also featured less popular episodes than other seasons. The season continued to feature the Barones getting under each other’s skin in hilarious situations.

Highlights from the season include when Ray teamed up with Debra’s mother (Katherine Helmond) to throw Debra a surprise birthday party. Debra gets a job working at Frank’s lodge. Finally, Debra gets her hair stuck in a curling iron before an important dinner and Ray leaves without her.

7 Season 1

Every television show tends to have a rocky first season in order to establish the plot and characters. The show’s first season introduces viewers to Ray Barone and his family, including his overbearing parents. It’s a good introductory season, but it’s not a stand-out season compared to others.

Memorable episodes include when Debra cooks fish for Thanksgiving and Frank nearly chokes to death. Frank gets a story published in Reader’s Digest, and he thinks he is a talented writer. Finally, Ray and Debra remember when they moved into the house across the street from Frank and Marie, and they wonder why they ever made that decision.

6 Season 2

The show’s second season continued to focus primarily on the family life of Ray and Debra. Like the first season, it further established the family connection on the show, but it didn’t have as many memorable episodes as other seasons.

Highlights include when Ray is interviewed on television, but he mispronounces basic words. Ray attends his high school reunion with Debra and Robert takes Ray on a ride-along in his police car. Marie purposely sabotages a meatball recipe for Debra. Finally, a two-part flashback episode recounts when Ray and Debra got married, but Ray wonders if Debra felt pressured to marry him.

5 Season 3

By the show’s third season, Everybody Loves Raymond seemed to have finally found its groove and the perfect chemistry between the cast and the storylines. The season focuses more on Robert, who moves into his own apartment.

Memorable episodes include when Robert undergoes a racial change when he hangs out with his police partner (Sherri Shepard) and her Black friends. Robert and his longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend, Amy (Monica Horan), are caught in the middle of an intimate scene. Finally, Ray and Debra give Frank and Marie a personalized toaster for Christmas — only to find out they exchanged it.

4 Season 4

The show’s fourth season focused more on Debra, earning Heaton an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Debra tries new things, including tricking Ray into thinking she had a breast enhancement. Debra manages to actually cook a decent meal.

Other memorable episodes include when Ray suggests Debra to go on pills to manage her PMS. The Barones’ daughter, Ally (Madylin Sweeten), gets swept up in the hype of the popular Hackidu trading cards. Finally, Robert is injured in the line of duty by a bull and he must overcome his fears.

3 Season 7

The show’s seventh season was a knock-out performance by many of the show’s cast, including Garrett and Roberts, who both received Emmy Awards. The season itself awarded the show an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. The season dedicated more time to Robert and Amy’s relationship, including the memorable episode when Robert finally proposed. Fans waited several seasons for the moment to happen, and they rejoiced with the Barone family.

Other highlights from the season include when Robert seems to have joined a cult, but it was only to resolve the differences between Debra and Marie. The season ends with a two-part episode when Robert and Amy get married. It’s one of the most memorable episodes of the entire show.

2 Season 6

The sixth season of Everybody Loves Raymond is nearly perfect, with hilarious episodes about the entire Barone family. Romano, Garrett, and Roberts each received Emmy Awards for their performances. Every character is showcased equally this season, resulting in memorable episodes.

These include when Ray and Debra’s son, Michael (Sullivan Sweeten), seems to have written a revealing story (about an angry family) for his elementary school class. Frank gets injured while trying to fix Ray and Debra’s stairs and Ray sets the kitchen on fire. And Robert has a job interview for the FBI, but Marie ruins his lucky suit to keep him safe from the dangerous job.

1 Season 5

The fifth season of Everybody Loves Raymond is the show at its finest. The season focuses more on Ray and Debra having fights over everyday issues while his family gets involved. Every episode is hilarious and highlights all of the characters. The season earned Heaton and Roberts Emmy Awards for their performances.

Memorable episodes include when Marie crashes a car into Ray and Debra’s house. The Barones travel to Italy for a two-part episode. Ray is assigned to cover the Super Bowl for Newsday, but he must choose only one person to go with him. Ray’s high school journal is discovered, and Marie confesses that she always knew he “e-hats” her. Finally, the season ends with a hilarious flashback episode of the day Ally was born.

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