* The Frogs and the Spanish (Season 1, Episode 1): This episode introduces Horatio Hornblower as a young midshipman facing his first sea battle. He is put to the test when he is ordered to deliver a message to the Spanish fleet.
* The Duchess of Portobello (Season 1, Episode 2): This episode features Hornblower's first command, a small sloop called the *Lydia*. He faces the challenge of capturing a French privateer ship and also the complex emotions of a forbidden romance.
* The Loyalty of the Heart (Season 2, Episode 1): This episode takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. Hornblower is assigned command of a larger ship and finds himself caught in a dangerous game of strategy against the French.
* The Fire Ships (Season 3, Episode 1): This episode features one of Hornblower's most daring and dramatic exploits. He uses a risky plan to attack the French fleet by using fire ships.
There are many other great episodes in the Hornblower series, but these four are a good starting point to get a feel for the show's themes of courage, duty, and naval warfare.