Brideshead Revisited — Miniseries
11 episodesFirst aired 12 October 1981
Charles Ryder, an agnostic man, becomes involved with the Flytes, a Catholic family of aristocrats, over the course of several between the two world wars.
E1Et in Arcadia Ego
8.0Oct 19811h 40m
In the spring of 1943, disillusioned Army captain Charles Ryder stumbles upon Brideshead, once home to the Marchmain family, and recalls how he visited it for the first time twenty years ago.
E2Home and Abroad
8.0Oct 198153m
While Sebastian recovers from a broken foot, Charles is introduced to Sebastian's younger sister Cordelia and his older brother Brideshead "Bridey". Sebastian decides to accept an invitation to Venice by his father, Lord Marchmain, and takes Charles with him.
E3The Bleak Light of Day
Oct 198153m
As Charles gets closer to Sebastian's family, he and Sebastian begin growing apart. Lady Marchmain visits the university and implores Charles to be a good influence on her rowdy son.
E4Sebastian Against the World
8.0Nov 198153m
Sebastian's alcoholism, depression, and misbehaviour become more and more of a problem. At an unhappy Easter at Brideshead, Charles tries to reason with him and is left devastated.
E5A Blow Upon a Bruise
Nov 198151m
Charles returns from Paris to spend New Year 1925 at Brideshead and finds the family keeping Sebastian penniless to prevent him from spending on alcohol.
E6Julia
Nov 198151m
Rex Mottram is determined to marry Julia, a prospect which a fatally ill Lady Marchmain is reluctant about. Charles learns that Sebastian stole money and disappeared.
E7The Unseen Hook
9.0Nov 198151m
With Lady Marchmain very near to death, Charles searches French Morocco for Sebastian. He finds him, and is shocked by the state he is in.
E8Brideshead Deserted
Dec 198152m
Bridey commissions Charles to paint some parts of the family's London residence before it is demolished. He meets Cordelia again, and she expresses her unhappiness with the current state of her family.
E9Orphans of the Storm
Dec 198153m
Charles and Julia meet on a transatlantic liner and begin an affair, to the dismay of Rex and Celia.
E10A Twitch Upon the Thread
Dec 198152m
Bridey rebukes Julia for having affair with Charles while being married to someone else, stirring up intense emotions in her. Cordelia brings distressing news of Sebastian.
E11Brideshead Revisited
Dec 19811h 30m
In 1939, the terminally ill Lord Marchmain decides to return to Brideshead, and his children begin preparing for his death.