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Catfish might not be the highly-ranked MTV reality series that it once was, but the online mystery show has nevertheless contributed some amazing things to popular culture, and these are the best Catfish episodes, ranked. From memorable memes, hilarious terms, and even the usage of the word 'catfish' itself, it's safe to say Catfish has changed popular culture in many ways since it first premiered in 2012.
With eight seasons produced, a change in co-hosts, nearly 200 episodes in the books, and countless guest hosts under its belt, Catfish has more than earned the time to take a victory lap and look back at the best of what the MTV series has produced so far. As fans continue to rifle through the catalog and rate their choices for the best Catfish episodes, the all-time standings continue to change. Some classic Catfish episodes are still celebrated, but newer stories have now broken into the show's top tales of digital deception. These are the best episodes of Catfish ranked from worst to best.
15 "Artis & Jess"
One of the best Catfish episodes ranked is "Artis & Jess," a twisty and confrontational installment, that may have actually been planned by both parties. "Artis & Jess" finds a young man named Artis, ostensibly in a happy relationship, claiming to be in love with a model online named Jess. Of course, 'Jess' isn't who she claims to be.
In a memorable catfish reveal, 'Jess' is a man named Justin, who says he's working to expose cheaters online. The episode comes to a head in a confrontation. But as Artis and Justin would later claim in a behind-the-scenes Catfish fact, it may have all been a joke to try and fool MTV, in hopes of getting on television. The ending reveal is startling, to say the least, leaving audiences questioning if any of it was real or if it all really was just a prank.
14 "Dylan & Savenia"
Love stories that turn out to be genuine are all too rare in Catfish, underscoring its place as a guilty pleasure dating show on Hulu. That makes the seventh episode "Dylan & Savenia" sweeter, even though the young lovers don't wind up together after all. In the series, Dylan and Savenia have both written into the series for help at different points, but it's Dylan who plays the role of the hopeful as he comes to Nev and Max for help finding the woman he's fallen in love with over Facebook chats.
Although Savenia had slightly altered her profile pictures (which she feared would be a breaking point for Dylan), viewers were glad to hear that she still turned out to be exactly who Dylan believed her to be. Both Dylan and Savenia are incredibly shy and earnest in their first meeting, making for a sweet episode, no matter how their relationship may have ended off-screen. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked gives a rare happy ending, that most of the episodes don't often see.
13 "Lauren & Derek"
There are some seasons of Catfish that have become so iconic, they have not only been turned into memes but have also often been featured in the series' opening credits. The season two episode, "Lauren & Derek," is an episode filled with many of those moments, including hopeful Lauren excitedly shrieking, "I'm in Derek's driveway!"
Lauren connected with Derek online, and to her absolute delight, Derek turned out to be exactly who he said he was. The two even made things work for a while, getting engaged as they reported in a reunion episode. Sadly, their engagement didn't last. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked has not only a rare heartwarming ending but also some of the most quotable moments that the series has had to offer.
12 "Nick & Jasmine"
"Nick & Jasmine" is a crucial episode in the history of Catfish but it has very little to do with the case at the episode's center. This season 7 episode marks Max Joseph's final appearance as co-host, and it includes plenty of bittersweet moments to boot. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked features some unmissable red flags on the catfish's part, leading audiences to wonder how Nick could've gone on like this for so long.
The rest of the episode follows an unconventional Catfish case, as hopeful Nick tells Nev and Max that he has been in love with the alleged catfish 'Jasmine' - and even met and kissed her, while blindfolded. Of course, things don't turn out as expected, with 'Jasmine' revealed to be a young woman named Nicole. By the end, Nick and Nicole decide to go their separate ways.
11 "Candic & Titus"
One of the best Catfish episodes ranked, "Candic & Titus," explores some morally gray territory and features an intriguing storyline that isn't often seen on the show — especially considering the results. The episode has a bizarre twist, to say the least, and it features some cheating/adultery. In the episode, Candic is a wife and mother who has an online relationship with someone she met over a retail app. She was trying to sell a handbag, and he was looking to buy.
Candic looks to Nev and Max for help in hunting down her online love, despite the fact that she's already in a relationship, and wishes to do so without telling her husband. In a shocking Catfish twist, it turned out the man she had been talking to, Titus, was her husband all along, making a last-ditch effort to connect with his wife. The two do connect, but at what cost?
10 "Lucille & Kidd Cole"
A famous moment from Catfish history that has made its way into many memes and GIFs from some wild post-reveal fights can be found in the contentious episode "Lucille & Kidd Cole." This episode, which might no longer be aired due to legal issues with the catfish themselves, saw Nev throw the catfish's cell phone into the water they are filming beside after they refused to answer Lucille's questions.
The episode is also an unconventional one for the series, as the relationship between hopeful Lucille and catfish Kidd Cole was not a romantic one, but rather a business relationship. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked features one of Nev's most famous outbursts, and the fact that it might not even be able to air because of the messiness involving its subjects proves its reality TV gold.
9 "Catfish: The Untold Stories Part 10"
Viewers perhaps remember Catfish's Untold Stories special because it's one of the wildest Catfish episodes. Perhaps the most fascinating installment in the unique broadcast comes in part 10. Each part of the untold stories special is broken up into segments. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked, the installment leaves audiences in total awe because it's completely unbelievable that Nev would fall for what he did all over again.
Fans of Catfish know the series is based on a documentary in which Nev is catfished by someone he believed to be in an online relationship with. In part 10 of the untold stories, the focus gets turned on Nev as he is catfished once again. It's hard to be frustrated with Nev over the deception, but the fact that he fell for it again after what happened the first time is mind-blowing.
8 "Sheila & Rich Dollaz"
It's always a wonder when someone on Catfish genuinely believes they're in an online relationship with a celebrity, so naturally, that's the reason why one of the best Catfish episodes ranked features this kind of storyline. Rivaling some of the best catfishes on The Circle, in the installment, Sheila begins a relationship with the Love & Hip Hop star Rich Dollaz. After watching the show and falling head over heels, Sheila messages the star on Instagram, and he surprisingly answers back.
Unfortunately, this leads to a horrible reveal that includes sexual misconduct. Turns out, Rich Dollaz's nephew was the one running his account and talking to Sheila for eight months. He mainly asked for illicit pictures from her, and it's revealed that he has zero remorse for his actions or exploitations of her, even finding the whole thing a laughing matter. The reveal itself and Dollaz's nephew's behavior must be seen to be believed, and it speaks to some of the dangers of online romances.
7 "Danny & Rosa"
It's unfortunately all too common that catfishes wind up appearing on the series more than once, but it's not often that a catfish becomes the catfished. While Ghosted may sometimes do it better, "Danny & Rosa" is different in that it gives a first glimpse at a man named Jose, who here, is posing as a woman named Rosa on social media to connect with a man named Danny.
Jose returns to the series later, but in this episode, he undergoes a profoundly moving journey, opening up about his struggles with being bullied by the woman whose photos he used, and his ongoing personal struggles. In the end, Jose and Danny parted on good terms. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked features Jose's journey, which is worth the watch, and the catfish becoming the catfished is an intriguing dynamic.
6 "Lucas & Many"
"Lucas and Many" came to Catfish audiences during season 5. Nev and Max follow the story of Jayme. The dancer and former Playboy model is cast on Catfish and meets a love interest on Tinder until she finds out he isn't all he seems. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked sees a highly dramatic ending in which the perpetrator really does get his just desserts in an incredibly gratifying scene.
Fans perhaps say the episode is highly rated due to the level of drama it presents. For one of the first times in the series, a catfish was confronted for manipulating dozens of women. Furthermore, he wasn't confronted by just one, but three of his victims along with Max and Nev. It's one of the few episodes where it feels like justice has been served at the end, thanks to the satisfying confrontation.
5 "Keyonnah & Bow Wow"
Yet another episode where someone believes they're dating a celebrity online, "Keyonnah & Bow Wow" is different in that the relationship was somewhat believable, considering the catfish sent Keyonnah $10,000. Keyonnah enlists the help of Max and Nev to see if it's really celebrity Lil' Bow Wow, but unfortunately, it's not.
Rather, the catfish is a woman named Dee. The reason this is one of the best Catfish episodes ranked is that this is one of the few times that it's somewhat believable that Keyonnah is carrying an online relationship with a celebrity, and the whole time audiences are rooting for the relationship to be real.
4 "Tracie & Sammie"
The big reveal at the end is why this is one of the best Catfish episodes ranked. "Tracie & Sammie" sees actress Tracie Thoms trying to uncover the identity of an obsessive fan named Sammie. Including an arc where a fake death is used to garner sympathy, Tracie had a gut feeling that she was being led on — and she was right. Turns out, Sammie was a girl named Jacqueline.
In what Catfish host Nev Schulman himself considers to be one of the strangest episodes of the show, Jacqueline prides herself on being a catfish who relentlessly bullies people online. An episode in which the catfish isn't remorseful is one thing, but seeing someone actually take pride in being predatory is a whole other ball game.
3 "Spencer & Katy"
As should be well clear by now, many of Catfish's best episodes break the conventional mold of the dating series. Few episodes fit that bill better than the unforgettable "Spencer & Katy." One of the best Catfish episodes ranked sees some serious mental gymnastics that Spencer goes through, as to throw himself into a situation as bizarre as this one, given everything he did, means there had to be some introspection.
In this Season 5 episode, sweet and hopeful Spencer has gone and gotten himself convinced that he's not only talking to American Idol judge Katy Perry but also that they will be getting married too. He's even spent some of his savings on having an engagement ring made for her from his grandmother's band. Of course, Spencer winds up greatly disappointed in the end — but not without putting up a bit of a fight.
2 "Falesha & Jacqueline"
In yet another episode that doesn't involve a romance whatsoever, Catfish manages to tell one of its most disturbing tales. Hopeful Falesha is desperately seeking help from Nev and Max to locate the person behind a profile using the name 'Jacqueline' - a catfish who has been stealing her photos for years and spreading drama and vitriol on social media.
In a messy Catfish storyline, finding the woman behind the profile is just about as easy as it's ever been for Nev and Max. But the absolute most troubling part of the episode is the complete lack of regret the catfish shows, and her inability to understand why she has harmed Falesha for so long. One of the best Catfish episodes ranked isn't standard fare for the series, and the troubling ending leaves audiences thinking for a while.
1 "Antwane & Tony"
One of the best Catfish episodes ranked sees the wildest Catfish reveal in series history. In the episode "Antwane & Tony," Antwane enlists the help of Nev, Max, and his cousin Carmen to uncover the identity of his online boyfriend Tony — and the results have to be seen to be believed.
After assisting the team throughout the episode, Carmen is a catfish that comes clean and reveals that the catfish was her all along. Her reasoning is that she wanted revenge on her cousin for body-shaming her years ago. Antwane and Tony had carried on a three-year relationship, and it's shocking to think that Carmen would roll out a three-year revenge plan just to get back at her cousin's remarks.