Episodes:

(based off the original broadcast order on Fox)

Pilot

Air Date: Fri Oct 23, 1998
Written by: Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris
Directed by: Felix Alcala

Synopsis: A conscientious former cop makes a deal with the Devil and returns from Hell to track down 113 escaped, damned souls who are wreaking havoc on Earth. A maniacal priest kidnapping innocent boys is the first bounty.

Heat

Air Date: Fri Oct 30, 1998
Writer: Janis Diamond
Director: Jesus Trevino

Synopsis: A Medieval rape victim who brutally murdered her attackers is back on Earth, seducing men and killing them with supernatural abilities.

Encore

Repentance
Air Date: Fri Nov 13, 1999
Synopsis: Someone is killing homeless people and cutting their eyes out--but the true culprit may surprise Stone.

Poem

Executioner
Air Date: Fri Dec 4, 1998
Synopsis: Stone investigates a series of murders by electrocution.

Slayer
Air Date: Fri Dec 11, 1998
Synopsis: An invincible Carthaginian warrior wants Stone to join him in his evil reign.

Ashes
Air Date: Fri Dec 18, 1998
Synopsis: While becoming more attracted to a sexy police detective, Stone faces his most powerful adversary ever.

Lovers
Air Date: Fri Jan 8, 1999
Synopsis: Stone pursues a murderous former activist--but his job might be twice as hard this time.

Carrier
Air Date: Fri Jan 15, 1998
Synopsis: Stone pursues an escaped soul spreading an instantly fatal disease.

Faces
Air Date: Fri Jan 29, 1999
Synopsis: Stone explores fatherhood when he cares for a vulnerable teenager--but a devilish surprise awaits him.

It's A Helluva Life
Air date: Fri Feb 05, 1999
Synopsis: The Devil and an Angel show Stone the consequences of his past actions--and what would have happened without him.

Mourning After
Air date: Fri Feb 12, 1999
Synopsis: Stone's decision to reunite with his ex-wife puts her life in danger. (Also to be known as the last episode to be aired on television, Fox more specifically for they are the ones who cancelled the greatest show on television period)

Reasoning for my ideal episode order...

Let me first say, the creators who were also the writers of the show once told the fans what they felt was that correct episode order for the show. I just wish I could remember it so I could watch the show evolve the way they did. Of course there is much debate as to how the earlier episodes fit together. From Slayer on to the finale I truly believe that is the correct order as it gives a better closure to Father Horn. Since Slayer was set in Los Angeles as well was Repentance. The two together play off each other reasoably well especially as lead-ins to Executioner. Slayer features Father Horn discussiing how close Zeke got to going back to hell. Then in Repentance they have a beer at the bar while watching the football game while discussing Zeke's current problem with a damned soul who is trying to make up for his crimes. To me it gives a much more uplifting episode after Slayer in which the last scene we saw was Father Horn screaming for Zeke after having his face cut.

Now before Slayer, I think Heat is a direct lead in to this episode where we first meet Max. Since at the end of Heat, we saw the manager of the hotel changing a light bulb and then running out to see what happened with all the noise. Which then Slayer picks up on, with the introduction to Max as the other guy went back to his native country. And going back to Repentance, Zeke makes a comment to Max "what was your name again." It leads to further proof Slayer is a direct lead in to Repentance, while Heat was a lead in to Slayer. Also the hotel room from Heat through the rest of the series remains the same even though Zeke seems to move the furniture around. The fridge remains yellow with handles and a counter and etc...

In my opinion Encore, even though I think the episode should be placed in the later half of the episode just doesn't work out that way as it is the first time Zeke tells Father Horn the truth about who he is and what he's doing. This leads me to believe Zeke is still in New York. Gilbert Jax had all those firends of his, that his mother spoke on. So unless they all moved to Los Angeles, despite the Devil's hair cut between these episodes, it fits more logically in this second place. It also sort of begins the theme of the Devil wanting Zeke to stop acting human and loafing around and to take his job seriously. It's a terrific setup for the series. So while this episode should have taken place later in the series, the story dictates that this must come before Slayer, Repentance, and even Heat and Poem.

Now Poem should right directly after Encore, as it was the very first and only time the Devil mentioned anything about a trek 3,000 miles across the country and with Zeke ripping a page out of the phone book. That would be the first thing any Detective or person would do when entering a city looking for someone. Remember he was dead for 15 years and doesn't know anything about computers and stuff. Poem like Heat features scenes with Ash seeing Zeke for the second time. It's like an unfilmed episode looking for the first time these two crossed paths. But from a comment Ash made in Poem, where she asked "on vacation?" it seemed to be a direct tie in to their first meeting. While in Heat, Ash's hair is died a brighter blonde and she takes a more vested interest into Zeke popping up here and there. It feels like a better fit to come after Poem and make a bit more logic. Later on in the series we learn that Ash has feeling for Zeke and vice versa. I'd say it's safe to assume that after the first two choice encounters in non existent first meeting and Poem, that she deducing she would run across Zeke again that she should work on getting closer to him. This order still leaves some holes, as no matter how you would organize these episodes, they'll never quite complete the puzzle. Like trying to make an appropriate order for the old tv show "the Prisoner." Anyway, to me, this order makes a bit more sense and hits a little closer to what I would have done with the order of the series when selecting from the episodes aired on television.