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The Best Episodes of The Up Series

Every episode of The Up Series ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Up Series!

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A series of documentaries that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Up Series Season 1 Episode 1 - Seven Up!
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    S1:E1

    A group of British children aged 7 from widely ranging backgrounds are interviewed about a range of subjects. Director Michael Apted plans to re-interview them at 7 year intervals to determine how their lives and attitudes have changed.

    Director:Paul Almond
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Up Series Season 7 Episode 1 - 49 Up, Part 1
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    S7:E1

    49 Up is the seventh film in a series of landmark documentaries that began 42 years ago when UK-based Granada's World in Action team, inspired by the Jesuit maxim "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man," interviewed a diverse group of seven-year-old children from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future. Michael Apted, a researcher for the original film, has returned to interview the "children" every seven years since, at ages 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and now again at age 49.In this latest chapter, more life-changing decisions are revealed, more shocking announcements made and more of the original group take part than ever before, speaking out on a variety of subjects including love, marriage, career, class and prejudice.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Up Series Season 7 Episode 2 - 49 Up, Part 2
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    S7:E2

    49 Up is the seventh film in a series of landmark documentaries that began 42 years ago when UK-based Granada's World in Action team, inspired by the Jesuit maxim "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man," interviewed a diverse group of seven-year-old children from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future. Michael Apted, a researcher for the original film, has returned to interview the "children" every seven years since, at ages 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and now again at age 49.In this latest chapter, more life-changing decisions are revealed, more shocking announcements made and more of the original group take part than ever before, speaking out on a variety of subjects including love, marriage, career, class and prejudice.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Up Series Season 2 Episode 1 - 7 Plus Seven
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S2:E1

    After a 7 year wait, director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born children from Seven Up! The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Up Series Season 3 Episode 1 - 21 Up
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S3:E1

    After another 7 year wait, director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born children from Seven Up! and 7 Plus Seven. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Up Series Season 4 Episode 1 - 28 Up, Part 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E1

    By the fourth installment of the series a few of our subjects have dropped out (John and Charles do not take part) and Paul’s move to Australia (before Seven Plus Seven) seems to have benefited this insecure man. Divorce is barely mentioned and children are starting to arrive.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Up Series

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  7. The Up Series Season 4 Episode 2 - 28 Up, Part 2
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S4:E2

    By the fourth installment of the series a few of our subjects have dropped out (John and Charles do not take part) and Paul’s move to Australia (before Seven Plus Seven) seems to have benefited this insecure man. Divorce is barely mentioned and children are starting to arrive.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Up Series Season 5 Episode 1 - 35 Up
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S5:E1

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Up Series Season 6 Episode 1 - 42 Up, Part 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S6:E1

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Up Series Season 6 Episode 2 - 42 Up, Part 2
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S6:E2

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Up Series Season 8 Episode 1 - 56 Up, Part 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S8:E1

    When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working class backgrounds were resigned to a challenging life of hard work. This premise was put to the test every seven years when the same group were interviewed about the progression of their lives. 49 years in the making, the changes that occurred to the original 14 make for fascinating television and are in many ways the stories of all our lives. From success and disappointment, marriage and childbirth, to poverty and illness, nearly every facet of life has been captured on film. Now, at the age of 56, the group are once more brought together and, with the benefit of hindsight, assess whether their lives have been ruled by circumstance or self-determination.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Up Series Season 8 Episode 2 - 56 Up, Part 2
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S8:E2

    When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working class backgrounds were resigned to a challenging life of hard work. This premise was put to the test every seven years when the same group were interviewed about the progression of their lives. 49 years in the making, the changes that occurred to the original 14 make for fascinating television and are in many ways the stories of all our lives. From success and disappointment, marriage and childbirth, to poverty and illness, nearly every facet of life has been captured on film. Now, at the age of 56, the group are once more brought together and, with the benefit of hindsight, assess whether their lives have been ruled by circumstance or self-determination.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Up Series Season 8 Episode 3 - 56 Up, Part 3
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S8:E3

    When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working class backgrounds were resigned to a challenging life of hard work. This premise was put to the test every seven years when the same group were interviewed about the progression of their lives. 49 years in the making, the changes that occurred to the original 14 make for fascinating television and are in many ways the stories of all our lives. From success and disappointment, marriage and childbirth, to poverty and illness, nearly every facet of life has been captured on film. Now, at the age of 56, the group are once more brought together and, with the benefit of hindsight, assess whether their lives have been ruled by circumstance or self-determination.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Up Series Season 9 Episode 1 - 63 Up, Part 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E1

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Up Series Season 9 Episode 2 - 63 Up, Part 2
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E2

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Up Series Season 9 Episode 3 - 63 Up, Part 3
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E3

    Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Director:Michael Apted
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Up Series Season 10 Episode 1 - 70 Up, Part 1
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S10:E1

    Reaching their milestone 70th year, the original participants gather to reflect on the transition into their late seventies, retirement, and the changing landscape of Britain. This first part focuses on Andrew, Bruce, Jackie, Sue, and Tony as they look back on six decades of public visibility, evaluating their youth, career journeys, and personal milestones against the Backdrop of six decades of British history.

    Director:Asif Kapadia
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Up Series Season 10 Episode 2 - 70 Up, Part 2
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S10:E2

    The definitive conclusion to the ground-breaking series. The final installment checks in with Neil, Paul, Peter, Symon, and John as they confront the physical realities of aging, family legacy, loss, and mortality. The episode also features an emotional tribute to the late director Michael Apted and participant Nick Hitchon, bringing the legendary 62-year documentary experiment to its final, poignant close.

    Director:Asif Kapadia
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Seven Up!" is the best rated episode of "The Up Series". It scored 8/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Paul Almond and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/5/1964. This episode scored 2.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "49 Up, Part 1".