S1 E1 • Episode 1

Titus—a son and heir for the 76th Earl of Groan—is born. In the castle’s kitchens, a new kitchen boy, Steerpike, rebels against the cook, Swelter, and runs away. He invades the bedroom of Lord Groan’s daughter, Lady Fuchsia, who finds herself strangely attracted to him and takes him on a visit to the family’s physician, Dr Prunesquallor. Steerpike accepts a place as Prunesquallor’s assistant, meaning a dramatic rise in his status, and is taken into the confidence of the Earl’s twin sisters, Lady Cora and Lady Clarice. Working on the sisters’ feelings of injustice, he persuades them to set fire to the castle library, dear to their brother’s heart. Steerpike knows—but the sisters do not—that the rest of the family is in the library at the time, with the doors barred.

Première diffusion : 17 janvier 2000

S1 E2 • Episode 2

Fuce, fidèle serviteur de la famille d'Enfer, comprend rapidement le manège de Finelame. Mais celui-ci sait se faire des alliés. Lady Fuchsia ne lui résiste pas. Fuce saura-t-il enrayer l'irrésistible ascension du commis de cuisine et sauver de la ruine l'héritage de la famille d'Enfer ?...

Première diffusion : 24 janvier 2000

S1 E3 • Part 3

Steerpike becomes the deputy of Barquentine, master of the castle’s rituals. He imprisons Clarice and Cora, faking their deaths, kills Nannie Slagg, and continues to pay court to Fuchsia. Titus begins his education at the castle’s dusty school, and Prunesquallor’s unmarried sister, Irma, falls in love with Professor Bellgrove, now the school’s headmaster. As the years go by, Titus finds the castle’s rituals more and more hateful, focussing his hostility on Steerpike. He finds a forgotten passage, leading outside the castle walls. Venturing into the world outside for the first time, he meets the exiled Flay.

Première diffusion : 31 janvier 2000

S1 E4 • Part 4

The elderly Barquentine clings onto his office. Frustrated, Steerpike kills him by fire, but he is left with his own face badly burnt. However, he takes over running the castle and continues to woo Fuchsia. Flay returns from exile and joins forces with Titus against Steerpike. They find him with the skeletons of Clarice and Cora, and Steerpike kills Flay and escapes. As Titus hunts Steerpike, Fuchsia refuses to hide him, killing herself instead. Titus and Steerpike fight to the death.

Première diffusion : 7 février 2000