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The Best Episodes of Special Branch

Every episode of Special Branch ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Special Branch!

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Special Branch is a British police drama centred on members of the Special Branch anti-espionage and anti-terrorist department of the London Metropolitan Police.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Special Branch Season 1 Episode 1 - Troika
    7.9/10(39 votes)

    #1 - Troika

    S1:E1

    The officers of the Special Branch mount a dawn raid on the homes of the members of a suspected spy ring.

    Director:Mike Vardy
    Writer:George Markstein

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  2. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 10 - Short Change
    7.9/10(29 votes)

    #2 - Short Change

    S1:E10

    A girl being held for giving official secret documents to the Russians faces a long gaol term, but an exchange offer for a Briton arrested in Moscow is offered. The officers suspect she's far more than she seems to be.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:George Markstein

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  3. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 9 - Reliable Sources
    7.8/10(27 votes)

    #3 - Reliable Sources

    S1:E9

    Superintendent Eden is on the spot. The Security Commission has met to consider the leak that tipped a spy during the Troika affair. The detective is cleared - but told that he cannot continue his role as Special Branch controller.

    Director:Dennis Vance
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 1 - Inside
    7.8/10(26 votes)

    #4 - Inside

    S2:E1

    Jordan goes undercover as a prisoner to uncover a convicted spy's secrets.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Special Branch Season 3 Episode 8 - All the King's Men
    7.8/10(35 votes)

    #5 - All the King's Men

    S3:E8

    A deranged man has taken a hostage and threatens to blow up a block of flats. Craven must act quickly to avert disaster.

    Director:Dennis Vance
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Special Branch Season 3 Episode 12 - Hostage
    7.8/10(35 votes)

    #6 - Hostage

    S3:E12

    Craven and Haggerty are under the gun to find a kidnapped diplomat's daughter before she is killed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Special Branch

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  7. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 12 - Care of Her Majesty
    7.7/10(30 votes)

    #7 - Care of Her Majesty

    S1:E12

    Jordan's methods cause friction in an overseas British Embassy when he goes to investigate the theft of ten thousand pounds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Robert Banks Stewart

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  8. Special Branch Season 3 Episode 4 - Assault
    7.7/10(35 votes)

    #8 - Assault

    S3:E4

    Haggerty and Craven target a team of vicious muggers.

    Director:Douglas Camfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Special Branch Season 4 Episode 6 - Rendezvous
    7.7/10(29 votes)

    #9 - Rendezvous

    S4:E6

    Craven provides security for the debriefing of a captured KGB agent.

    Director:Terry Green
    Writer:Tony Williamson

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  10. Special Branch Season 4 Episode 10 - Intercept
    7.7/10(28 votes)

    #10 - Intercept

    S4:E10

    Craven has to investigate a morally dubious but strategically important foreign VIP who has been robbed of a fortune in diamonds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Ian Kennedy Martin

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  11. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 11 - Exit a Diplomat
    7.6/10(29 votes)

    #11 - Exit a Diplomat

    S1:E11

    When a member of a foreign embassy is caught shoplifting in London, but tries to hide her status by willingly accepting arrest, Superintendent Inman takes an interest in her employers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 2 - Dinner Date
    7.6/10(28 votes)

    #12 - Dinner Date

    S2:E2

    Jordan flies to Frankfurt to escort a British subject, Selby, back to England. Selby had disappeared three years earlier in East Germany and the British Government are anxious to learn what he's been up to - but the Russian KGB hide in the shadows.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:George Markstein

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  13. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 13 - Fool's Mate
    7.6/10(25 votes)

    #13 - Fool's Mate

    S2:E13

    When Britain's top code and cypher breaker is forced to mingle with Communist players during a chess tournament, Inman goes along to keep an eye on him. Moxon, meanwhile, is playing a dangerous game of his own: the pawn being Jordan.

    Director:Dennis Vance
    Writer:George Markstein

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  14. Special Branch Season 3 Episode 2 - Round the Clock
    7.6/10(30 votes)

    #14 - Round the Clock

    S3:E2

    Haggerty's appointment to Special Branch immediately brings him into conflict with Craven - he believes that Craven is on the trail of a man who is already dead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Special Branch Season 4 Episode 5 - Something about a Soldier
    7.6/10(31 votes)

    #15 - Something about a Soldier

    S4:E5

    Tensions run high as Craven and Haggerty investigate two army officers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Michael J. Bird

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  16. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 2 - Smokescreen
    7.5/10(38 votes)

    #16 - Smokescreen

    S1:E2

    Cowley suicides shortly after an unproductive round of questioning by Eden in gaol, which leads to an embarrassing public coroner's inquest. Jordon investigates a scientist being vetted for a sensitive position and all agree he's too far left for further consideration, yet he still succeeds.

    Director:Jim Goddard
    Writer:George Markstein

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  17. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 7 - You Don't Exist
    7.5/10(36 votes)

    #17 - You Don't Exist

    S1:E7

    A girl lands at Heathrow from Rhodesia, but owing to Britian's break of diplomatic relations, she has no valid passport. A young officer is supposed to mind her until she can be sent back, but takes her for a tour instead.

    Director:Dennis Vance
    Writer:Anthony Skene

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  18. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 6 - The Pleasure of Your Company
    7.5/10(30 votes)

    #18 - The Pleasure of Your Company

    S2:E6

    Inman meets the CIA's new man in London. Jordan meets an old friend from Moscow. All perfectly legal - until the two are seen together at intervals and the Special Branch team become involved in international politics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:George Markstein

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  19. Special Branch Season 4 Episode 2 - Catherine the Great
    7.5/10(28 votes)

    #19 - Catherine the Great

    S4:E2

    The team are on the trail of Rehfuss - a deadly assassin who has managed to get into the country.

    Director:Douglas Camfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Special Branch Season 4 Episode 12 - Diversion
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #20 - Diversion

    S4:E12

    Is Strand's erratic behaviour a result of the pressure he is under or is he playing a much more dangerous game?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 6 - A New Face
    7.4/10(28 votes)

    #21 - A New Face

    S1:E6

    The son of a trusted officer of the special branch has become radicalised while away at university, trying to join a gang of riot-minded militant socialist students. This threatens to break up his family, and his father's position.

    Director:Peter Duguid
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Special Branch Season 1 Episode 14 - Time Bomb
    7.4/10(27 votes)

    #22 - Time Bomb

    S1:E14

    Sent to investigate the death of the son of a pro-British oil sheikh in a bomb plot, Superintendent Inman finds a hotbed of intrigue and dangerous international situation about to explode in his face.

    Director:Voytek
    Writer:David Gordon

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  23. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 10 - Sorry Is Just a Word
    7.4/10(29 votes)

    #23 - Sorry Is Just a Word

    S2:E10

    When a Czech au-pair goes missing in London and her father is one of the most powerful men the country, Inman and Jordan must find out what's happened to her. But their enquirers lead to a dead end.

    Director:Jim Goddard
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Special Branch Season 2 Episode 12 - Reported Missing
    7.4/10(29 votes)

    #24 - Reported Missing

    S2:E12

    Jordan and Inman go in search of a missing Russian ballerina.

    Director:Dennis Vance
    Writer:Louis Marks

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  25. Special Branch Season 3 Episode 1 - A Copper Called Craven
    7.4/10(40 votes)

    #25 - A Copper Called Craven

    S3:E1

    Craven find himself under suspicion of accepting a bribe. This marked the return of the series in an all new shot on film format with a mostly new cast and lots more action.

    Director:William Brayne
    Writer:Roger Marshall

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Best Episodes Summary

"Troika" is the best rated episode of "Special Branch". It scored 7.9/10 based on 39 votes. Directed by Mike Vardy and written by George Markstein, it aired on 9/17/1969. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Short Change".