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The Best Episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs

Every episode of Upstairs, Downstairs ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs!

The Best Episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs: the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys. Downstairs: their loyal and lively servants. For nearly 30 years, they share a fashionable townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in...

Seasons5

  1. Background image for The New Man
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - The New Man

    S2:E1

    Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kirbridge return from their honeymoon and set up their new household in nearby Greenwich.

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  2. Background image for A Pair of Exiles
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - A Pair of Exiles

    S2:E2

    Sarah tells James she's having his baby and the Bellamys make provisions to avoid a major scandal.

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  3. Background image for Another Year
    8.7/10(107 votes)

    #3 - Another Year

    S4:E9

    This difficult year finally comes to bumpy close. Helen and Richard meet Mrs. Charles Hamilton who wants Richard to help get her pet project off the ground. Edward is home on leave but all is not well. A bombing in London brings a familiar face back to Eaton Place.

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  4. Background image for I Dies from Love
    8.5/10(173 votes)

    #4 - I Dies from Love

    S1:E8

    April 1907: Believing destiny brought them together, Emily, the scruffy kitchen maid, falls deeply and hopelessly in love with a footman named William. When his mistress, Mrs. Van Groeben, learns about his relationship with Emily, she angrily orders William to stop seeing her, leaving Emily heartbroken and driven to an act of desperation.

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  5. Background image for The Glorious Dead
    8.5/10(111 votes)

    #5 - The Glorious Dead

    S4:E8

    Sadly, perhaps inevitably, a double dose of tragic news arrives for those at Eaton Place.

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  6. Background image for Peace Out of Pain
    8.5/10(96 votes)

    #6 - Peace Out of Pain

    S4:E13

    Rose receives excellent news, James is depressed about his slow recovery, Richard is courting Virginia, and the Great War is winding down to a victorious conclusion, but there's still one more casualty to be claimed.

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  8. Background image for Why is Her Door Locked?
    8.3/10(141 votes)

    #7 - Why is Her Door Locked?

    S1:E9

    November 1907: Everyone's been concerned about Mrs. Bridges, who's been despondent ever since Emily's suicide, but when they discover she took a baby from his pram when his mother wasn't looking, and brought him home with her, they realize she's suffering from a mental breakdown. Hoping to keep the incident quiet and protect everyone's reputations, the Bellamys return the baby to his parents and offer compensation, but refuse to divulge Mrs. Bridges' identity. The father, furious that they consider themselves above the law, has Mrs. Bridges arrested and during her hearing, Hudson makes an extraordinary gesture he hopes will keep her out of prison.

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  9. Background image for Missing Believed Killed
    8.2/10(95 votes)

    #8 - Missing Believed Killed

    S4:E11

    Grasping at straws, the Bellamy family continue to search for any information to indicate James is still alive, but when Trooper Frederick Norton, James' servant, arrives to deliver James' personal belongings, Hazel loses all hope.

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  10. Background image for A Suitable Marriage
    8.1/10(152 votes)

    #9 - A Suitable Marriage

    S1:E5

    December 1905: Elizabeth falls for a young German baron, whom her father is suspicious of. Richard quickly uncovers the Baron's secret, but as it turns out, Baron Klaus von Rimmer is hiding another secret, which Rose accidentally stumbles upon. The events of the evening compel one of the servants to betray not only the family, but the country as well.

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  11. Background image for A Cry for Help
    8.1/10(143 votes)

    #10 - A Cry for Help

    S1:E6

    October 1906: Mary, the new housemaid confides in Richard that she's pregnant, the result of an assault by a man who drunkenly forced himself on her. Insisting he must bear responsibility, she reveals the man is Myles Radford, the son of Richard's friend (and her previous employer), General Radford. Myles, outraged that Richard has the gall to question his integrity, gets even with a classless move that could have enormous legal, financial, and moral ramifications.

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    Director:Derek Bennett
  12. Background image for Magic Casements
    8.1/10(159 votes)

    #11 - Magic Casements

    S1:E7

    Summer 1906: Captain Hammond, a handsome young friend of James', graciously agrees to escort Lady Marjorie to the opera. Feeling a strong mutual attraction, they quickly realize how compatible they are, despite the age difference, Abuzz with gossip, the servants seem to be the only ones aware of what's going on.

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  13. Background image for A Patriotic Offering
    8.1/10(103 votes)

    #12 - A Patriotic Offering

    S4:E1

    In a gesture of goodwill, the Bellamys offer generous hospitality to a family of Belgian refugees and Edward is feeling increased pressure to enlist.

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  14. Background image for The Beastly Hun
    8.1/10(98 votes)

    #13 - The Beastly Hun

    S4:E3

    The sinking of the Lusitania has Hudson on a tirade and his anti-German fervor pervade the servants hall. Upstairs, Richard is made Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the newly-formed coalition government.

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    Director:Bill Bain
  15. Background image for Goodwill to All Men
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Goodwill to All Men

    S3:E9

    It's Christmas 1913 and two young ladies, one from upstairs and the new parlor maid, conspire to spread holiday cheer to the less fortunate.

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  16. Background image for Women Shall Not Weep
    7.9/10(99 votes)

    #15 - Women Shall Not Weep

    S4:E4

    Edward and Daisy marry before he's sent to France and Georgina becomes a volunteer nurse. Ruby surprises everyone with a surprise announcement.

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  17. Background image for If You Were the Only Girl in the World
    7.9/10(98 votes)

    #16 - If You Were the Only Girl in the World

    S4:E7

    Hazel has a little fling with Lt. Jack Dyson, whom she met at the tea party for wounded officers, and is seen by one of her lady acquaintances. James and Georgina meet in France and share a moment of passion.

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  18. Background image for The Hero's Farewell
    7.9/10(97 votes)

    #17 - The Hero's Farewell

    S4:E10

    Lady Prudence commandeers the Bellamy drawing room for a worthy cause. Another London bombing, another close call, and another tragedy is heaped upon the tattered nerves of those at Eaton Place.

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  19. Background image for The Path of Duty
    7.8/10(138 votes)

    #18 - The Path of Duty

    S1:E4

    May 1905: When Elizabeth returns home from abroad, her parents plan her debut into society, but the spirited young girl has little interest. She reluctantly agrees, but at the last moment, has a change of heart and flees. Rose, more like a sister than a servant, steps up and makes the girl see the situation in another light.

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  20. Background image for News from the Front
    7.8/10(95 votes)

    #19 - News from the Front

    S4:E2

    James is home on leave and offers a realistic account of what is really happening on the front and Daisy and Edward announce their engagement to Hudson.

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  21. Background image for Facing Fearful Odds
    7.8/10(91 votes)

    #20 - Facing Fearful Odds

    S4:E12

    Virginia Hamilton returns to Eaton Place, seeking Richard's advice for her son who is facing a court martial. Meanwhile, Edward is scheduled to go back to France, and James is wallowing in self-pity.

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  22. Background image for The Mistress and the Maids
    7.7/10(174 votes)

    #21 - The Mistress and the Maids

    S1:E2

    June 1904: An artist, commissioned to paint Lady Marjorie's portrait, takes a shine to Sarah and convinces her to pose for him. The painting, depicting Sarah and her roommate, is a bit racy, and when the Bellamy's see it in a public exhibit, they fire both girls for what they wrongly conclude is "questionable behaviour."

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  23. Background image for For Love of Love
    7.7/10(125 votes)

    #22 - For Love of Love

    S1:E13

    June 1909: Elizabeth and Lawrence Kirbridge have fallen in love and, refusing to conform to society's rules, announce their plan to live together without marriage, resulting in pressure from all sides. After Lawrence gives in and starts pressuring her too, Lizzie finally succumbs. Meanwhile, Sarah fulfills her dream to perform on the stage when she takes a job in a burlesque show. James shows up and, now that she no longer works for his family, wants to pursue the relationship they've both wanted for nearly six years.

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  24. Background image for Home Fires
    7.7/10(94 votes)

    #23 - Home Fires

    S4:E6

    The reappearance of Gregory Wilmot throws Rose into a tailspin. Lady Prudence butts heads with Helen over a tea party for wounded officers.

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    Director:Bill Bain
  25. Background image for On Trial
    7.6/10(221 votes)

    #24 - On Trial

    S1:E1

    November 1903: Clemence, young and inexperienced, is hired on a trial basis by Lady Marjorie, who decides Clemence is not an appropriate name for someone in service and changes it to Sarah. Being far too outspoken and having a tendency towards over exaggeration and drama, Sarah struggles to fit in and become accepted by the other servants.

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  26. Background image for A Voice from the Past
    7.6/10(126 votes)

    #25 - A Voice from the Past

    S1:E10

    Autumn 1908: While providing food for the homeless, James and Elizabeth are surprised to run into Sara whose been living on the street. Elizabeth insists on taking her back to Eaton Place where she's given a job as a scullery maid. Sarah immediately reverts back to her old tricks and, claiming to be a medium, causes an uproar when she tries to conjure up the spirit of Emily during a seance.

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Best Episodes Summary

"The New Man" is the best rated episode of "Upstairs, Downstairs". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Raymond Menmuir and written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, it aired on 10/21/1972. This episode scored 1.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Pair of Exiles".