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To Serve Them All My Days

1980 – 1981Show1 season13 episodes

Drama
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.5

A slow-burning, moving drama series about history and growing up, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares, laughs or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 13 episodes · best: S1E1 "Part One" 7.8

Episodes

7.4

Story

The BBC's classic story of an English schoolmaster's life of tragedy and triumph between the wars

To Serve Them All My Days is a 1980-81 British television drama serial, adapted by Andrew Davies from R. F. Delderfield's 1972 novel of the same name. David Powlett-Jones, a shell-shocked World War I veteran, becomes a teacher at an elite English boarding school, Bamfylde. The drama explores his personal growth, relationships, and evolving views on society over his 20-year career at the school.

Feels like

  • Period Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Post-WWI Narrative
  • Teacher-Student Dynamics
  • Character Study
  • Historical Reflection
  • Emotional Depth
  • Slow-Burn Pacing
  • Inspirational Themes
  • British Television Classic

Cast

24 of 28 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Ronald Wilson, Peter Jefferies, Terence Dudley
Written by
Andrew Davies, R.F. Delderfield
Produced by
Ken Riddington
Music by
Kenyon Emrys-Roberts

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 17, 1980 · January 16, 1981 · Ended

First aired
October 17, 1980
Last aired
January 16, 1981
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 13 episodes
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom, Australia
Keywords
based on novel or book

Q&A

4 questions, like "Is To Serve Them All My Days worth watching?"

Questions about To Serve Them All My Days

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is To Serve Them All My Days worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 8.5).

Is To Serve Them All My Days okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch To Serve Them All My Days?

11 h

About 11 hours: 13 episodes in 1 season of about 50 minutes each, aired from 1980 to 1981.

Is To Serve Them All My Days plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.