The Best Episodes of Sharpe

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Updated May 15, 2024 19 items
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Fans of historical dramas fall for Sharpe Episodes - the British TV series that transports viewers back to the Napoleonic Wars. Adapted from Bernard Cornwell's popular novels, this show chronicles the rise of Richard Sharpe (played by Sean Bean) through the ranks of Wellington's army. With compelling plots and intriguing characters in each episode, it's no wonder so many viewers are drawn to this series.

A closer look at the list of Sharpe episodes reveals the meticulously crafted costumes and sets that compliment the stellar acting performances of this historical drama. The result is an engaging experience that breathes life into history while offering top-notch entertainment. 

Some standout episodes include "Sharpe's Honour," where the protagonist must clear his name after being unjustly accused of dishonorable conduct. This episode unravels a tangled web of conspiracy within the upper echelons of British society. Another fan-favorite is "Sharpe's Waterloo," which depicts one of history's most infamous battles in gripping detail. As Sharpe and his devoted soldiers navigate treacherous landscapes and confront overwhelming odds, their camaraderie amid chaos carries them through. And let’s not forget "Sharpe's Siege," where internal conflicts among allies and encroaching enemy forces test Sharpe's resolve. There are many more episodes awaiting discovery within the world of Sharpe. 

This show's intricate storylines, memorable characters, and impeccable storytelling continue to mesmerize audiences across generations. As more viewers discover this classic, Sharpe's enduring appeal as a quintessential British drama remains intact.

  • Sharpe's Rifles
    1
    May 05, 1993
    27 votes
    Portugal 1809 - After saving the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Sgt Richard Sharpe is rewarded with the field commission of lieutenant. His first mission is to go behind enemy lines to Casa Antiga to locate a missing agent, James Rothschild, who carries a banker's draft for badly needed funds for the British army. Sharpe is given command of the 95th Rifles under Capt Murray, but soon finds that they are an undisciplined bunch of louts. Neither Murray nor the men of the Rifles are prepared to accept Sharpe's command as 'proper' officers are not raised from the ranks. Captain Murray is killed after a surprise French attack and Sharpe is left in sole command. The Chosen Men of the 95th attempt to mutiny, but the fight is stopped by the arrival of two Spanish allies, Major Blas Vivar and Comandante Teresa. They offer to lead Sharpe to Casa Antiga since they are heading to Torrecastro. Sharpe reluctantly agrees and en route he attempts to win over the Chosen Men. At Casa Antiga, there is no sig
  • Sharpe's Eagle
    2
    May 12, 1993
    117 votes
    Spain 1809 - Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson arrives with his new regiment, the South Essex, and Wellesley decides to keep in Simmerson's good graces by arranging for the South Essex to blow up the bridge at Valdelacasa. Aware that Simmerson is incompetent, Wellesley orders Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to captain.Simmerson is infuriated to learn that Sharpe is not a gentleman and was raised from the ranks by Wellesley. In revenge, Simmerson orders Sharpe to train his men to fire three rounds a minute by nightfall, or they will be flogged as punishement for failure. Sharpe and Harper manage to succeed, but this infuriates Simmerson even more. Sharpe has made an enemy.The following day, Simmerson orders Capt Lennox to lead the South Essex across the bridge in the attempt to chase away a small French patrol. However, a large French cavalry appears and the South Essex men panic and try to escape back across the bridge. As the French cavalry butcher the S
  • Sharpe's Enemy
    3

    Sharpe's Enemy

    June 01, 1994
    47 votes
    Sharpe's Enemy is a British television drama, part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. This episode is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.
  • Sharpe's Battle
    4

    Sharpe's Battle

    April 19, 1995
    22 votes
    Sept 1813 - While in the Spanish hills, Sharpe and his men come across a scene of devastation in the town of Casa Antiga. The town has been sacked by the fearsome French commander, Brigadier General Guy Loup and his Wolf brigade. Perkins rescues a young woman from two of Loup's soldiers and they are arrested. When Loup rides into town demanding they be released, Sharpe refuses and has them executed in front of him. Loup vows revenge.Back at camp, Wellington gives Sharpe command of the Royal Irish Company and orders him to knock them into shape. The Irish descendants are inexperienced and unused to the harsh realities of war and it is not long before they consider mutiny. Sharpe tells them they have three choices: be slaughtered by the French, get shot for deserting or stay and learn how to be soldiers. Sharpe's gallantry and battle-hardened experience wins the company over and they soon begin to respect him.However Sharpe faces treachery from the Spanish partisan fighter, Dona Juanita de
  • Sharpe's Regiment
    5

    Sharpe's Regiment

    May 01, 1996
    62 votes
    June, 1813 - The South Essex is seriously short of men and when Wellingtion is informed that there are no recruits available, he orders Sharpe to go to England to investigate. When Sharpe and Harper arrive in England, they are informed that there are 700 men waiting for them in Chelmsford. Arriving at Chelmsford, Sharpe finds the barracks deserted with no sign of his missing regiment. While visiting an old friend, Harper and Sharpe are attacked and Sharpe decides to feign death. Taking the initiative, Sharpe and Harper decide to do some undercover work and enlist. Recruited by Sgt Havercamp, Sharpe and Harper arrive at a training camp near the estate of Sir Henry Simmerson, where they are trained mercilessly. Sharpe discovers that the new recruits are being auctioned to other regiments and his suspicions are confirmed by Simmerson's niece, Jane.
  • Sharpe's Sword
    6

    Sharpe's Sword

    April 26, 1995
    29 votes
    Sharpe's Sword is a 1995 British television drama, part of a series screened on the ITV network that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. It is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell, though it is set a year later than the book.
  • Sharpe's Challenge
    7

    Sharpe's Challenge

    59 votes
    Sharpe 15: Sharpe's Challenge is an action/adventure film directed by Tom Clegg.
  • Sharpe's Siege
    8

    Sharpe's Siege

    May 08, 1996
    28 votes
    Winter 1913 - Wellington is informed by the debonair Comte de Maquerre that Bordeaux is ready to rise in rebellion against Napolean. Wellington's spy master, Ross, is suspicious and tests Maquerre by suggesting that they use Maquerre's own castle as a base. Maquerre reluctantly agrees, but informs them the castle is in Napolean's hands. Wellington appoints Col Bampfylde to lead the attack on the castle with Sharpe in support. Sharpe, newly married to Jane Gibbons, is outraged that he has lost his command to Bampfylde, however he is soon distracted when there is an outbreak of yellow fever and Jane falls ill. Her chances of recovery are poor as there is not enough quinine in camp to cope with the outbreak. With a heavy heart, Sharpe leaves to go on his mission, realising that he may never see Jane alive again.Bampfylde, intent on glory, sends Sharpe on a scouting mission and tries to capture the castle on his own. He fails and casualties are heavy. Sharpe, seeing the carnage, has Harris an
  • Sharpe's Company
    9

    Sharpe's Company

    May 25, 1994
    25 votes
    Spain 1812 - After victory at Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellesley (now Duke of Wellington) sets his sights on Badajoz. Sharpe is reunited with Teresa and learns that he is the father of a baby girl, but is alarmed to learn that the baby is in Badajoz.As new men arrive from England, Sharpe discovers that his old nemesis, Obadiah Hakeswill is among them. Hakeswill was responsible for having Sharpe flogged for a crime he did not commit. His speciality is preying on soldiers while being servile towards the officers. Hakeswill also believes he is immortal, after surviving a hanging.Hakeswill attempts to rape Teresa who is on the point of killing Hakeswill when Harper intervenes. Hakeswill develops an obsession with Teresa and is determined to hurt her to get at Sharpe. Adding insult to injury, Sharpe learns that he is to be demoted from captain as the regiment now has a full complement of captains. Sharpe volunteers to lead the attack on Badajoz in an attempt to secure his captaincy, but he is refused.
  • Sharpe's Mission
    10

    Sharpe's Mission

    May 15, 1996
    25 votes
    France 1813 - The war is entering its final stages and the French formulate a desperate plan to capture Wellington's spy master, Major General Ross. Sharpe is ordered by Wellington to accompany Colonel Brand, who is intent on destroying the French's main powder supply in the caves of Rocha. Wellington and Ross are both suspicious of Brand's loyalty, but they do not reveal this to Sharpe. The suspicions are well-founded as Brand secretly meets with the French and makes plans for capturing Ross. On the home front, Sharpe's wife is showing signs of being bored with army life and enjoys the attentions of a young poet.
  • Sharpe's Revenge
    11

    Sharpe's Revenge

    May 07, 1997
    13 votes
    Sharpe's Revenge is a British television drama, part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The adaptation is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.
  • Sharpe's Honour
    12

    Sharpe's Honour

    June 08, 1994
    24 votes
    Sharpe's Honour is a 1994 British television drama, part of a series screened on the ITV network that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. It is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.
  • Sharpe's Justice
    13

    Sharpe's Justice

    May 14, 1997
    33 votes
    The war over, Sharpe returns to England with his reputation restored. He is ordered to the North of England to command a local militia force in his home town which is troubled with unrest.Sharpe soon finds himself torn between the gentry, Lord Willoughby Parfit, the yeomanry captain Wickham and the locals, while discovering secrets from his own past.Sharpe also has the chance to confront Jane, when Lord Rossendale inherits a mansion near where Sharpe is stationed.
  • Sharpe's Peril: Part 2
    14

    Sharpe's Peril: Part 2

    November 09, 2008
    41 votes
    It's India, 1818 and Lt Col Richard Sharpe and Sergeant Major Patrick Harper are travelling across India, escorting the beautiful Marie-Angelique Bonnet to meet her fiancée. While in bandit-plagued badlands, they come across the very dregs of the Crown's troops; an ill disciplined, rag-tag unit led by boy soldier Beauclare. As Sharpe and company sit down to have dinner with their hosts, the camp comes under attack by the notorious bandit Chitu. As the dust settles, it becomes apparent there have been many casualties and Sharpe realises that he is the only person now capable of getting this wagon train to the safety of the next army garrison. Little does Sharpe know that the adventure has only just begun and that he has inadvertently stumbled across a massive opium trafficking ring...
  • The Legend
    15

    The Legend

    October 13, 1997
    22 votes
    Sharpe The Legend, a reminisce which brings back the mysteriously departed Rifleman Cooper (Michael Mears) as he sits in a pub telling a friend (the viewer) about the stellar escapades of one Richard Sharpe, chronicling the original episodes from Rifles to Waterloo. It’s the typical tongue and cheek of this series and fans will delight in the actions, duels, loves, and losses from almost 25 hours of Sharpe television.
  • Sharpe's Waterloo
    16

    Sharpe's Waterloo

    May 21, 1997
    40 votes
    Sharpe has settled down to an idyllic lifestyle with Lucille on her French farm, when the news of Napolean's escape from Elba compels him to return to the army to fight at Waterloo. There, he joins the staff of the Prince of Orange. Reunited with his Chosen Men, Sharpe abandons the inept prince and organises the defence of key British positions on the farm of La Haie Sainte.
  • Sharpe's Gold
    17

    Sharpe's Gold

    April 12, 1995
    25 votes
    Summer 1813 - An angry Sharpe goes in search of the British infantry who failed to prevent the French retreat from a recent battle. Sharpe discovers that the infrantry men are deserting and is unable to prevent it. Meanwhile, Ellie Nugent, a relative of Wellington, rides into camp accompanied by her mother. They are searching for Ellie's father who has gone missing while looking for Aztec gold in hills nearby. Wellington refuses to help them and orders them to return home. Wellington has more serious problems to contend with as he is running short of men in the army and has agreed to exchange 52 captured deserters for Baker rifles. Sharpe is ordered to make the exchange and is followed by Ellie and her mother.
  • Sharpe's Peril: Part 1
    18

    Sharpe's Peril: Part 1

    November 02, 2008
    38 votes
    It's India, 1818 and Lt Col Richard Sharpe and Sergeant Major Patrick Harper are travelling across India, escorting the beautiful Marie-Angelique Bonnet to meet her fiancée. While in bandit-plagued badlands, they come across the very dregs of the Crown's troops; an ill disciplined, rag-tag unit led by boy soldier Beauclare. As Sharpe and company sit down to have dinner with their hosts, the camp comes under attack by the notorious bandit Chitu. As the dust settles, it becomes apparent there have been many casualties and Sharpe realises that he is the only person now capable of getting this wagon train to the safety of the next army garrison. Little does Sharpe know that the adventure has only just begun and that he has inadvertently stumbled across a massive opium trafficking ring...
  • Sharpe's Shooting
    19

    Sharpe's Shooting

    18 votes
    A 25 minute documentary which gives us a behind the scenes look at one of the later episodes as it's filmed