Episode list

Becky Sharp, an impoverished orphan, graduates from Miss Pinkerton's Borading School, along with her wealthy and kindly friend Amelia Sedley. Amelia takes Becky under her wing to go and live with her and her family. Amelia is engaged to be married to Captain George Osborne, while her brother Jos becomes smitten with Becky. But all seemingly perfect arrangements are thrown into turmoil by a series of events and Becky finds herself having to work as a governess to the lecherous Mr Crawley to make ends meet.

Becky's grim situation at the Crawley household takes a turn for the better when she befriends her employee's half sister Matilda. She ends up staying with her when Miss Crawley falls ill at a party, and later meets Crawley's other son Rawdon. But things become very awkward when her employee's wife dies suddenly, and Pitt Crawley decides that he will have her as his second wife. But Becky has a shock for him that reverberates all round. Meanwhile, with Amelia's father now bankrupt, Mr Osborne's father breaks off her engagement to his son George. When George declares he will marry her regardless he is given an ultimatum - either marry the wealthy new suitor his father has lined up for him, or be cut off without a penny.

Both Becky and Amelia are now married, but their union has seen their prospective spouses disinherited. As hardship bites in, George begins to regret his decision to marry Amelia and starts to see Becky in a new light - something that becomes all too apparent to Amelia. But everything changes when George, Rawdon and Dobbin are all called up to be deployed to Waterloo to fight Napolean and his troops, leading to impeding tragedy.

Amelia is now a widow with a young child after her husband is killed during the Battle of Waterloo. Facing hardship, she then receives an offer of money from her father-in-law - but in return he wants possession of her child. Becky is also struggling with money due to Rawden's gambling and her proliferate spending. Still eager to court high society, she attracts the attention of Lord Stein, who wants her for more than just a mistress and is determined to have her at any cost.

Becky faces the debtors after Rawden discovers her assignations with Lord Stein. While Rawden challenges Lord Stein to a duel, William Dobbin returns home from the army to visit Amelia, but hears news that is not to his liking. Amelia's brother Jos also returns home, but when the trio go on holiday to Pumpernickel in Germany he comes across a familiar face, now on hard times.