7.9/10371 votes#1 - 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
8.1/10319 votes#2 - 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
8.2/10308 votes#3 - 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
8.2/10296 votes#4 - 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
8.4/10338 votes#5 - 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
8.3/10277 votes#6 - 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
8.4/10284 votes#7 - 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
The Best Episodes of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Season 1
Every episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Season 1!
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
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Return to the Circus" is the best rated episode of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 371 votes. Directed by John Irvin and written by Arthur Hopcraft, it aired on 9/10/1979. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Tarr Tells His Story".