MovieChat Forums > Upstairs, Downstairs (1974) Discussion > Episode rankings

Episode rankings

posted 7 years ago by mjgupsher
7 replies | jump to latest

I recently re-watched UD, and made a note of my personal ranking of the episodes in each series from best to worst. What do others think? I wouldn't expect anyone else to make a full list, but what are your favourite and least favourite episodes from each series? How would you rank the five series?

Here are my episode rankings:

Series One

1. Magic Casements 6
2. I Dies From Love 8
3. The Path of Duty 4
4. Board Wages 3
5. A Suitable Marriage 5
6. For Love of Love 13
7. The Key of the Door 12
8. A Cry For Help 7
9. Why is Her Door Locked? 9
10. On Trial 1
11. The Mistress and the Maids 2
12. A Voice From the Past 10
13. The Swedish Tiger 11

Series Two

1. Guest of Honour 5
2. A Pair of Exiles 2
3. The Fruits of Love 11
4. A Family Gathering 13
5. Whom God Hath Joined 4
6. The New Man 1
7. The Wages of Sin 12
8. An Object of Value 9
9. Out of the Everywhere 8
10. The Property of a Lady 6
11. Married Love 3
12. Your Obedient Servant 7
13. A Special Mischief 10

Series Three

1. Distant Thunder 12
2. A House Divided 2
3. A Family Secret 4
4. Miss Forrest 1
5. A Perfect Stranger 11
6. The Sudden Storm 13
7. A Change of Scene 3
8. The Bolter 8
9. Word of Honour 7
10. What the Footman Saw 10
11. Goodwill to All Men 9
12. Rose’s Pigeon 5
13. Desirous of Change 6

Series Four

1. The Glorious Dead 8
2. Women Shall Not Weep 4
3. Another Year 9
4. Peace Out of Pain 13
5. Missing Believed Killed 11
6. News From the Front 2
7. Home Fires 6
8. If You Were the Only Girl in the World 7
9. The Beastly Hun 3
10. Tug of War 5
11. Facing Fearful Odds 12
12. A Patriotic Offering 1
13. The Hero’s Farewell 10

Series Five

1. All the King’s Horses 15
2. Whither Shall I Wander?16
3. The Understudy 10
4. The Joy Ride 4
5. A Place in the World 2
6. An Old Flame 6
7. Laugh a Little Louder Please 3
8. On with the Dance 1
9. Alberto 11
10. Joke Over 13
11. The Nine Days Wonder 9
12. Noblesse Oblige 14
13. Wanted – a Good Home 5
14. Disillusion 7
15. Will Ye No Come Back Again 12
16. Such a Lovely Man 8

I would rank the series in this order: 4, 3, 5, 2, 1.

[–] nyctc7 7 years ago

Why have a number on the right and the left? For example 1. Magic casements 6.

Too confusing and hard to read. But respect the work you but into it.

[–] mjgupsher 7 years ago

Sorry to have caused confusion. I actually did it to help people: the number on the right is the episode number, for those who are not familiar with all the episode titles. I should have explained that in my original post.

[–] nyctc7 7 years ago

OK thanks, guess I should have caught that. I think ranking episodes is hard because even if it is overall not one's favorite, there still might be some good stuff in it. For example, I agree with Your Obedient Servant being low rated, but it has that wonderful performance by John Nettleton.

[–] nyctc7 7 years ago

I would rate lower

Magic Casements, Board Wages, A Family Secret, The Joy Ride

I would rate higher

On Trial, A Voice From the Past, A Special Mischief, Out of the Everywhere, A Change of Scene, Will Ye No Come Back Again

[–] mjgupsher 7 years ago

Thank you for responding!

I agree that it is difficult. For example, in Will Ye No Come Back Again, I like the scenes between James and Georgina, but most of the episode I find to be a bit of a waste of time. I like most of Out of the Everywhere, but I hate the way that Elizabeth is written. Granted, she redeems herself in the end, but she seems to behave in a very strange way through most of the episode (perhaps one could argue that it was a form of post-natal depression, but I don't think so). I like elements of On Trial: it introduces the characters quite well, but it lacks subtlety; I don't really like any of Fay Weldon's episodes. I love A Change of Scene, but I like most of series three, so it is only a bit low down the list because there is so much strong competition. I'm afraid to say, though, that I really don't like either A Voice From the Past or A Special Mischief.

I know that Magic Casements isn't everyone's favourite, but I really like it. Each time I watch UD in sequence, that is always the first episode that makes me realise how invested I am in the residents of 165. Board Wages is not perfect, but I find it quite funny, and the scene between Sarah and James is touching. To be honest, I'm not particularly fond of most of series one. A Family Secret is one of my absolute favourites; I love practically every minute of it. The Joy Ride has some very fine moments, such as the touching scenes between Richard and Prudence.

[–] nyctc7 7 years ago

I've been watching since the series first aired in the USA with introductions by Alistair Cooke. I was a teenager, and have been a fan ever since. That first airing, and a repeat showing in 1986 left out the B&W episodes and a few of the early color ones as well. I only became aquatinted with the entire series years later, and had absolutely no idea they even existed.

I'd say that the biggest difference between me and most fans is that, for the most part, I don't like Hazel, though I do like her early on, before she marries James.

Can't believe it's been 43 years since I first saw it.

[–] mjgupsher 7 years ago

I have to say that I do like Hazel very much. The big difference that I have from most fans is that I like Georgina, who seems to be rather unpopular with most viewers on this board.