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The Best Episodes of The Sandbaggers Season 1

Every episode of The Sandbaggers Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Sandbaggers Season 1!

Binge this in 7h 0m•Peaking at 9.2/10

The Sandbaggers is a British television drama series about men and women on the front lines of the Cold War. Set contemporaneously with its original broadcast on ITV in 1978 and 1980, The Sandbaggers examines

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 1 - First Principles
    7.7/10(111 votes)

    #1 - First Principles

    S1:E1

    Neil Burnside, the Director of Operations for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, objects to sending his best agents, the Sandbaggers, on a mission into Russia for Norway's Secret Service.

    Director:Michael Ferguson
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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  2. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 2 - A Proper Function of Government
    8.5/10(89 votes)

    #2 - A Proper Function of Government

    S1:E2

    The Sandbaggers may be sent to Vienna to keep tabs on a possible defector, while Burnside tries to get official approval to assassinate an African dictator.

    Director:Michael Ferguson
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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  3. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 3 - Is Your Journey Really Necessary?
    7.9/10(85 votes)

    #3 - Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

    S1:E3

    Alan Denson threatens to quit the Sandbaggers after a rough, unauthorized mission near the Soviet border, so Burnside applies pressure to Denson's fiancee

    Director:Derek Bennett
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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  4. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 4 - The Most Suitable Person
    8.3/10(74 votes)

    #4 - The Most Suitable Person

    S1:E4

    Sandbagger One Willie Caine goes to Gibraltar to investigate the murder of an SIS agent, and potential new Sandbagger Laura Dickens goes to Morocco to get more clues in the case.

    Director:David Reynolds
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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  5. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 5 - Always Glad to Help
    8.3/10(69 votes)

    #5 - Always Glad to Help

    S1:E5

    Dickens is assigned to find out where an Arab sheik's sympathies lie while Burnside clashes with Deputy Chief Matthew Peele and the Ministry of Defence over a covert scuba-diving operation.

    Director:David Reynolds
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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  6. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 6 - A Feasible Solution
    8.4/10(67 votes)

    #6 - A Feasible Solution

    S1:E6

    Caine and an agent fresh out of field school go to Cyprus on the trail of some missing rocket scientists while Neil lets his romantic guard down at home.

    Director:Michael Ferguson
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Sandbaggers

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  7. The Sandbaggers Season 1 Episode 7 - Special Relationship
    9.2/10(76 votes)

    #7 - Special Relationship

    S1:E7

    Laura Dickens is the most qualified agent for a risky mission in East Berlin and Burnside has to double-deal to make sure her presence there won't pose other security risks as well.

    Director:Michael Ferguson
    Writer:Ian Mackintosh

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"First Principles" is the best rated episode of "The Sandbaggers" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 111 votes. Directed by Michael Ferguson and written by Ian Mackintosh, it aired on 9/18/1978. This episode is rated 0.8 points higher than the second-best, "A Proper Function of Government".