Keeping Up with the Kardashians might have ended back in 2021, but the Kardashian-Jenners are hard to forget. A reality TV series that boasts a whopping 20 seasons (not including Keeping Up‘s spin-offs), one might find this number to be excessive, and all this for a family that’s only famous for being famous. If that’s not enough, they’ve decided to document their lives once again on Hulu’s The Kardashians. Although the premise itself is similar to KUWTK, The Kardashians is their attempt to show their realities on their own terms.
With larger-than-life personalities like Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and not forgetting their momager to the stars, Kris Jenner, nothing is ever enough. Reminiscing their love for drama, excess, and sheer hedonism, here are the 10 best Keeping Up with the Kardashians Episodes, ranked according to IMDb.
10
“Soul(mate) Searching” (2019)
IMDb Score: 6.4/10
The Kardashian trio (and Scott Disick) enjoy their best Eat Pray Love lives in Bali, Indonesia. Throughout their stay on the Island of the Gods, the self-proclaimed clairvoyants Kim and Khloé are excited to get in touch with their more spiritual side. As for exes Kourtney and Scott, the two figure out if they want to rekindle past flames or stick to their current, co-parenting ways.
Long-time fans are very familiar with Kourtney and Scott’s toxic relationship in earlier seasons of KUWTK. However, despite their separation, “Soul(mate) Searching” shows how much the two have matured over the years. On the downside, the whole Kim and Khloé looking for psychic insights in an exotic country arc gives off strong white tourist vibes.
9
“Aftershocks” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.4/10
In the aftermath of Tristan Thompson’s cheating scandal with Jordyn Woods against former partner Khloé, Kim, Kourtney, and Malika Haqq take her out of town and urge her to let out her pent-up emotions. But when Khloé discovers that Woods has made some scathing online remarks, the feisty Kardashian returns the favor, much to the concern of her other sisters.
It’s painful to watch Khloé experience betrayal after betrayal in “Aftershocks,” especially since she’s only given birth ten months prior. But what’s even more heartbreaking is watching her revert to her old, excessively emotional ways to get the anger out of her system. Luckily, Khloé immediately recognizes the consequences of her actions and swiftly makes amends.
8
“Chicago Loyalty” (2019)
IMDb Score: 6.4/10
Like any season premiere, so much has happened with the Kardashians. Kim and her husband Kanye West announced they’re expecting a second child. The freshly single Khloé wastes no time going back to work, but she’s very excited about having fun at their family’s Palm Springs home. And it’s high time momager Kris Jenner makes time for her own mother, MJ.
True to its title, much of “Chicago Loyalty” follows Kim and her daughter North visiting Kanye’s hometown. Fans of the rapper get an exclusive peek at his childhood home, a.k.a. Donda’s House. Back in California, it’s surprisingly sweet that out of all people, it is Scott who brings together Kris and MJ for some quality time, not at a five-star restaurant, but at a kitsch tea house.
7
“Love Lockdown” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Despite everything that has happened to Khloé and Tristan, especially in mid-Season 16, the two made a commitment to work on their trust issues. But when the quarantine actually forces them to sit down with their feelings, Khloé realizes that she sees no future with him, confessing to Kris, “This isn’t forever.”
”Love Lockdown” also has its hopeful moments. Scott, who’s long struggled with alcoholism since the start of the show, finally enters a treatment center to work on himself (things did go wrong though, but it isn’t Scott’s fault.) The whole gang’s stuck in isolation, but they do stay connected through FaceTime marathons and porch parades.
6
“Cruel and Unusual Punishment” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
There’s no such thing as a normal family dinner in Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Kourtney and Scott get into a heated altercation with Kris’ longtime partner Corey Gamble, who has a controversial thing or two to say about their child, Penelope. Meanwhile, in Napa Valley, Kylie confesses to Khloé that she’s stressed out from her growing business.
It’s an uncomfortable episode to watch, mainly because of Corey’s blunt remarks. No parent wants to hear an adult casually say things like, “If P scratch me, I’m whipping her ass.” On the bright side, the siblings prank Kim’s bodyguards with a staged, faux paparazzi.
5
“Cattle Drive Me Crazy” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
In the heat of the family’s broken relationships, Kris organizes a week-long trip to none other than Wyoming. Not everyone’s on board with the plan. Instead of feeling relaxed in the cattle ranch, Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé are all up in each other’s personal businesses.
Normally in true Kardashian fashion, the multi-millionaire family goes on trips to exotic islands or luxurious locations. It’s amusing to watch the rich be so out of their element in the countryside. The whole Kardashian trio tension is old news, but it’s refreshing to watch Kylie and Kendall open up through horseback rides and late-night heart-to-heart chats.
4
“Winners Take All” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Although Kourtney and Scott have made their peace about their past relationship, Kim and Khloé believe that there are still sparks between them. Like the true butt-heading romantics they are, the two younger Kardashian siblings organize a candlelight dinner for the former flames, only to end in silence. Speaking of love, Kris and Corey decide to go on a celibacy experiment (inspired by Kourtney’s wellness brand, Poosh.)
The very repetitive “will they or will they not” shtick between Kourtney and Scott gets boring over time. But compared to their previous times of hurling verbal assaults (and not forgetting the infamous mirror punch incident in Season 2), viewers will take up their awkwardness any day. Outside of the date, the Kardashians have a friendly physical competition with the Jenners, only to end with Khloé face-planting during an obstacle course.
3
“The Betrayal” (2019)
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Khloé is two weeks into labor, and so far, she’s taking it easy. Not too far from Calabasas, Kendall Jenner, the only sister who’s not a mom, is bored out of her mind. Scott comes in to save the day with an outrageous plan: go skydiving. Unfortunately, the laughs and giggles die down when Khloé learns that her partner has been cheating on her.
“The Betrayal” is one of the series’ most tense episodes. It’s one thing to cheat on your partner, but with Khloé being so close to her due date, it’s very messed up. Luckily, the Kardashian family wastes no time packing their bags and flying to Cleveland the moment they hear Khloé’s in labor—even when Kim’s supposed to go to her 20-year high school reunion.
2
“The Final Curtain Part 1” (2021)
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
In an Andy Cohen special, “The Final Curtain Part 1” is an exclusive tell-all featuring the Kardashians-Jenners. In conjunction with Season 20 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the episode revisits some of the series’ biggest highlights. Plus, it wouldn’t be a Cohen event without some family intervention. In this seated setting, the family looks back on their journeys, reflects on what they’ve learned so far, and what they could’ve changed if they could go back to the past.
The Kardashians are no ordinary family. From the beginning of the series, the gang has had their massive share of controversial moments (e.g. Kim’s sex tape issue, Khloé getting into jail for a DUI.) Even after twenty seasons, the roller coaster called life they’re riding on seems to get wilder. From incredible highs like Kylie’s cosmetics line to harrowing lows like Kim’s Paris robbery, there’s much to discuss.
1
“The Show Must Go On” (2020)
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
The Kardashian sisters might be falling apart, but at the end of the day, “The Show Must Go On.” After 17 long seasons and two children to take care of, all Kourtney wants is more alone time for herself. While there’s nothing wrong with her choice, Kim and Khloé are more upset about Kourtney lying behind their backs. In other news, Kim, who’s shown interest in studying law, encourages a young man to do the same.
Kourtney has been known to be the most introverted out of the three main siblings. On top of filming less, she’s also guilty of skipping family events without giving concrete explanations. Although their confrontation is not as extreme as what would happen in the Season 18 premiere (the Kourtney-Kim slap), this episode is a precursor to their fractured relationship.