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The Best Episodes of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Every episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy!

George Smiley, the aging master spy of the Cold War and once heir apparent to Control, is brought back out of retirement to flush out...
Genres:War & PoliticsDramaMystery
Network:BBC Two

Best Episodes Summary

"Tinker Tailor" is the best rated episode of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy". It scored 8.4/10 based on 338 votes. Directed by John Irvin and written by Arthur Hopcraft, it aired on 10/8/1979. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Flushing Out the Mole".

  • Tinker Tailor
    8.4/10338 votes
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    #1 - Tinker Tailor

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/1979

    Smiley, now fortified with new information, goes to confront Jim Prideaux, an old spy who long since came in from the cold and is now a school teacher. Control, in his last days, seemed to have confided in him and sent him on a mission behind the Iron Curtain to find out who exactly the mole in the Circus was, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Rich man, or Poor man.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • Flushing Out the Mole
    8.4/10284 votes
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    #2 - Flushing Out the Mole

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/22/1979

    The waiting has paid off and the traps closes on Karla's mole. It is agreed to trade him against several English spies who were captured by the KGB, but Prideaux is still not found and he has an open account to settle with the mole. With the command structure of the Circus hollowed out and containment in progress, Smiley cannot come in from the cold but remains to pick up the pieces.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • Smiley Sets a Trap
    8.3/10277 votes
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    #3 - Smiley Sets a Trap

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1979

    Smiley now has the information he needs and starts to stir things up with the men of which Control suspected one to be the mole. He is able to eliminate two, himself and one other. The waiting begins, when suddenly the message arrives that Prideaux has disappeared.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • Smiley Tracks the Mole
    8.2/10308 votes
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    #4 - Smiley Tracks the Mole

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/1979

    Now that Smiley has rejoined the game he must secretly procure the information and files needed to conduct his investigation. While Peter breaks into the Circus' archives and finds files that bring a whole new perspective to consider, Smiley goes to interview an old friend.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • How It All Fits Together
    8.2/10296 votes
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    #5 - How It All Fits Together

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/1/1979

    Ricki Tarr becomes unstable and George Smiley must examine his past to find answers. He must examine his personal life as well as his past with the Circus, especially in regard to Control. He also reflects on his meeting with Karla, 'The Sandman'.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • Tarr Tells His Story
    8.1/10319 votes
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    #6 - Tarr Tells His Story

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1979

    Ricki Tarr, an active agent, recounts a tale to the spy masters that sways Smiley in favour of returning to the Circus to secretly ferret out the mole. Tarr's tale is of The Sandmann, the KGB counterpart and nemesis of Smiley, and of his network in the Circus.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft

  • Return to the Circus
    7.9/10371 votes
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    #7 - Return to the Circus

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1979

    George Smiley's quiet retirement is interrupted when messengers arrive from London Station and call upon George Smiley to come back into the game. Smiley is brought to Sir Oliver and it is revealed that a highly influential mole has been operating out of the Circus for quite some time.

    Director: John Irvin

    Writer: Arthur Hopcraft