Netflix’sAlexa & Katieis a heartwarmingand funny seriesfollowing two best friends, Alexa (Paris Berelc) and Katie (Isabel May), who are getting ready to start their freshman year of high school together. Unfortunately, things take a turn when Alexa is diagnosed with cancer and has to start treatment alongside being a student. The show follows Alexa and Katie’s unbreakable friendship as the duo navigates all four years of high school and the struggles that come along with it, as well as the hardships of a cancer diagnosis as a young adult.
Alexa & Katietackles difficult topics with grace, earning the series a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program and an award for Television Drama at The Television Academy Honors. The show ran for 39 episodes over three seasons, with each covering a year of their high school experience. Here are the best episodes of Netflix’sAlexa & Katie, ranked.
10Season 2, Episode 8: “The Ghost of Cancer Past”
One of the bestAlexa & Katieepisodes is “The Ghost of Cancer Past” from Season 2. In this Christmas-themed episode, Alexa’s mom, Lori, sets up a Secret Santa gift exchange for the holiday, causing everyone to panic about what to buy.
During the festivities, Alexa stumbles upon her hospital bag from when she went through her chemotherapy treatments. The discovery brings a lot of emotions to the surface for Alexa and takes her back to the feelings of fear and depression she experienced during that time.
This episode is a great reminder of the support system Alexa has and also brings up topics like attending therapy and coping with difficult emotions.
9Season 1, Episode 13: “Winter Formal, Part 2”
“Winter Formal Part 2” is the last episode of Season 1, where Alexa and Katie are ready to attend the school’s winter formal dance. The only problem? There’sa flu outbreakat the school, which means it’s not safe for Alexa to go. Katie isn’t about to let that happen to her best friend and comes up with the idea for Alexa to wear a mask for protection.
Once she arrives at the dance, Alexa sees everyone wearing masks for her, including her date, Dylan. This is an incredibly emotional episode of the show, as it highlights how much everyone at Alexa’s school cares about her and her well-being.
8Season 3, Episode 13: “Speaking of Cancer”
Episode 13 of Season 3, “Speaking of Cancer,” is another emotional watch as Lori throws a carnival-themed fundraiser titled “Stand Up To Cancer.” Lori invites Alexa to give a speech at the event, which brings up a lot of challenging emotions for the teen. She ends up having second thoughts about speaking at the fundraiser, but her friends and family are quick to rally around her and offer support.
One of the main messages of this episode is that it can be difficult to process complex trauma, and it also emphasizes how crucial it is to find a healthy support system to get through those times.
7Season 1, Episode 3: “Basketball”
Another episode that tugs on the heartstrings is “Basketball” from Season 1. This is one of the first episodes where we see Alexa unable to participate in a school activity and just how devastating that can be to a high school-aged-teen. Alexa wants to try outfor the basketball team, but due to her chemotherapy, she isn’t allowed to play.
Katie doesn’t want to see her best friend upset and decides to try out for the team to show that she supports Alexa. However, things get tricky when Katie’s wig falls off during practice, and a rumor starts that she’s the student with cancer.
6Season 3, Episode 9: “Last First Day”
“Last First Day” is the Season 3 Part 2 opener that shows Alexa and Katie preparing for their first day of senior year. What sets this episode apart from others is how things have come full circle for the duo after supporting each other through the first three years of high school.
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This time, it’s Katie who’s feeling extremely nervous about what’s to come, but it’s Alexa who steps in and creates a foolproof plan to ensure they have the best year possible. This episode also shows Jennifer, Katie’s mom, jumping back into work while their brothers work together to overcome their struggles.
5Season 2, Episode 4: “Tryouts and Latte Doubts”
Season 2 ofAlexa & Katiehas great episodes, but “Tryouts and Latte Doubts” is one that perfectly balances comedy with more serious topics. In this one, Katie struggles with her first day of work at Wired and finds that dealing with rude customers isn’t as easy as she imagined.
Alexa is finally cleared to try out for the basketball team but notices her skills have declined after taking time off for treatments. Thankfully, another cancer patient talks to Alexa and helps her realize how strong she is and how much she’s already overcome in her journey.
“Bad Hair Day” isthe first episodeofAlexa & Katie,where viewers are introduced to the friend duo and get to learn more about their individual personalities. The two are getting ready to start their freshman year together, which they feared wouldn’t happen with Alexa’s chemo treatments.
Alexa wants to keep her cancer diagnosis a secret from everyone at school, but that gets difficult when her hair starts to fall out. The episode ends with Katie shaving her own head to support Alexis and show her that she’s willing to go through this struggle by her side. This is the first of many times the characters step up for one another and help solidify their close bond.
3Season 3, Episode 1: “First Day of Junior Year”
The Season 3 premiere, “First Day of Junior Year,” is one of the more unique, as it finds the two girls in a fight on the first day of school. Tensions are high between them as they start to think about college, which sends Katieinto a panic, thinking they might have to separate from one another. The argument leads the duo to see a therapist to help them get back on track with their friendship.
In the end, Alexa ends up helping Katie look for scholarships to ease her worries about paying for college. It’s one of the bigger challenges the two face in their relationship, though it’s no surprise to see how quickly the two were able to come together and move forward.
2Season 2, Episode 10: “Sweet Sixteen”
“Sweet Sixteen” is another episode where the two friends go above and beyond for one another. This is the finale of season 2, where Katie has to spend all of her hard-earned money meant for a trip to London on a broken coffee machine at Wired. It’s also the night of Alexa’s sweet sixteen party, which is why Katie decides not to tell her about the ruined London trip and risk ruining her night.
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Alexa ends up learning about Katie’s trip and decides to move her party from a booked venue to her house, using the refund to help Katie get to London. It’s another testament to their friendship and how a sacrifice for the other’s happiness doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all.
1Season 3, Episode 16: “This Feels Right”
The best episode ofAlexa & Katieis the series finale, “This Feels Right.” It’s finally time for graduation and for the girls to decide if they’re going to attend college together at UNC and share a dorm or if Katie will go to NYU for acting. It’s bittersweet to watch the pair separate for the first time in four years as they leave their jobs, families, and partners for their next life chapter.
The episode ends with the two reuniting for Thanksgiving break and heading over to their tree to talk and catch up. It’s the perfect conclusion to a show that watched these two friends grow up and deal with the fear of losing one another.
Alexa & Katiecurrently has three seasons and 39 total episodes. As of 2023, there are no plans for a fourth or fifth season of the show. Season 1 started with the girl’s freshman year of high school, and each following season covered their next year of school all theway to their graduation.
It seems like the perfect conclusion to the show as Alexa and Katie prepare to go to college and must learn to navigate the world independently for the first time. The entire show’s premise was their strong friendship, but with the two separating for school, it seems the two are strong enough to handle new challenges without the other by their side.
