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Sharpe

Sharpe

1993–2008Ended7 seasons18 episodesMidcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Sharpe is a British series of television dramas starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is the hero of a number of novels by Bernard Cornwell; most, though not all, of the episodes are based on the books. Produced by Celtic Films and Picture Palace Films for the ITV network, the series was shot mainly in Turkey and the Crimea, although some filming was also done in England, Spain and Portugal. The series originally ran from 1993 to 1997. In 2004, as part of ITV's new set of drama, ITV announced that it intended to produce new episodes of Sharpe, in co-production with BBC America, loosely based on his time in India, with Sean Bean continuing his role as Sharpe. Sharpe's Challenge is a two-part adventure; part one premiered on ITV on 23 April 2006, with part two being shown the following night. With more gore than earlier episodes, the show was broadcast by BBC America in September 2006.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sharpe?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sharpe streaming on BritBox, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free).

Subscription

FreeFree

Highlights

What stands out about Sharpe?

Sharpe earns 5 badges, led by Top 5% of shows and Universally Loved.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Sharpe worth watching?

Sharpe's Midcredits score is the 96th percentile of all shows, from 3.7K ratings across 2 sources. 93% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

96th percentile

Better received than 96% of shows

96th percentile among Action94th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)92nd
Approval (how many liked it)97th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

92nd percentile of all shows

93rd percentile among Action89th percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

93% liked it

97th percentile of all shows

96th percentile among Action98th percentile among 1990s
93% rated it 7–107% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

76th percentile

3.7K ratings across platforms

45th percentile among Action62nd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A modestly-budgeted 90s British TV series built around Sean Bean's magnetic presence as a gritty commoner soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, with action that feels more scrappy than epic.

Fans praised

  • Sean Bean's commanding performance as the rough-edged everyman soldier
  • Strong chemistry between Sharpe and the supporting cast, especially the Chosen Men
  • Engaging mix of historical backdrop, adventure, and character-driven drama

Detractors panned

  • Low-budget look with small-scale battles and unconvincing combat choreography
  • Repetitive plot formulas — same traitor, same damsel, same miraculous survival
  • Weak camerawork, lighting and color control that undermine atmosphere

What stands out

Acting88

Sean Bean fully inhabits Sharpe; the ensemble — especially Harper and guest stars like Pete Postlethwaite — draws repeated praise; critics mostly love the casting, though one finds Hugh Fraser a weak Wellington

Characters80

Sharpe's rough-mannered but honorable commoner officer, his Irish sidekick Harper, and the loyal Chosen Men are vivid; villains are memorably nasty; some guest characters feel wasted

Atmosphere73

Strong sense of time and place with period costumes, muddy battlefields, Spanish exteriors; one episode has a mean spirit but the series overall is immersive

Dialogue65

Generally strong and character-rich, but occasionally hammy or repetitive

Plot and story63

Adventures are engaging and embedded in real history, but plots are often repetitive and implausible; one reviewer calls them samey with predictable bad guys and romance

Cinematography55

Beautiful outdoor Ukrainian locations give a cinematic feel, but often let down by cheap-looking camerawork, poor lighting and color control; one reviewer says filmed in widescreen looks terrific

Originality55

Fans note it follows Cornwell's books faithfully; detractors cite samey plots and the typical rise-through-ranks formula

Effects and spectacle40

Battles are small-scale; combat is sometimes laughable with silly choreography; fans wish for larger budget, critics call them unconvincing and lacking extras

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

7 seasons

Season 7 · 2008 · 2 episodes

  • S7E1

    Sharpe's Peril - Part 1

    Nov 2, 200868 min
  • S7E2

    Sharpe's Peril - Part 2

    Nov 9, 200868 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Sharpe like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you fired up.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseThrillingWarmMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 15% of showsWarmEpic · 3% of shows: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe series treats its historical setting and characters with earnest respect, balancing military drama with hearty camaraderie.
The rideThe series maintains a steady pressure of combat danger and class tension, punctuated by quieter moments of camaraderie, from first episode to last.
StructureEach episode follows a straightforward three-act mission structure.
Episode formatEach episode focuses on a specific military campaign or mission (e.g., seizing a fortress, escorting a treasure), while Sharpe's ongoing rise against class prejudice and the slow evolution of his unit form a continuous arc.
Season formatSharpe's career advances from episode to episode across the Peninsular War years; seasons are numbered by airdate but the story is one continuous chronicle.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Rousing · 9% of showsFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you invigorated by Sharpe's triumphs and the bond of his riflemen, with a sense of swashbuckling entertainment.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode sends Sharpe and his riflemen on a perilous mission against a superior enemy, typically a French commander or a treacherous British officer.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfLoyaltyBonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% (this title) · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% (this title) · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Loyalty · 7% of showsClass · 4% of showsWar · 1% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series is built on the fierce loyalty among the men of the South Essex, tested against the brutal backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars and the rigid class hierarchy of the British army.
StanceSharpe's loyalty to his men is presented as an unqualified virtue—the series celebrates this bond as the core of courage and decency in a brutal world.

The world

19th centuryRuralInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalFolkSupportive music · original score · Dominic Muldowney
SettingThe Peninsular War in Portugal, Spain, and France, 1808–1814
MusicThe main theme, 'Over the Hills and Far Away', adapted from a traditional tune, anchors the series' swashbuckling yet earthy tone.

Content guide

Is Sharpe okay for kids?

As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (58/100), sexual content at moderate (55/100), language at moderate (44/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • UK15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
heavier than 72% of all shows
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (25 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Sharpe have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sharpe?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Sean Bean
as Maj. Richard Sharpe
newcomer then · star now
Daragh O'Malley
as Sgt. Patrick Harper
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
John Tams
as Daniel Hagman
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jason Salkey
as Harris
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Hugh Fraser
as Lord Wellington
Diana Perez
as Ramona
Michael Cochrane
as Simmerson
Lyndon Davies
as Ben Perkins
Abigail Cruttenden
as Jane Gibbons
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Michael Mears
as Francis Cooper
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

More like this

What are shows like Sharpe?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Sharpe include Combat! (1962), Foyle's War (2002) and S.W.A.T. (1975).

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What other shows share a tag with Sharpe?

120 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: war epic. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.