TV Series Review: Return to Cranford (2009)
Return to Cranford is a two-part miniseries from the BBC, a continuation of the popular miniseries Cranford from 2007. Again, the series is based upon and inspired by various Elizabeth Gaskell stories. And many of the same beloved characters from the first series have reprised their roles, not to mention the addition of some handsome and talented new faces.
Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Francesca Annis, Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, Alex Etel, Barbara Flynn, Tim Curry, Tom Hiddleston, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, and on and on it goes. A truly stellar cast.
As with the first series, there is romance and tragedy, deaths and births, reconciliations and fissures, jealousies and heartaches, new ways and old ways. Yes, a half-year in the life of the village of Cranford in the year 1844.
RELATED: CRANFORD (2007): A GEM OF A PERIOD PIECE ON COMMUNITY
Cranford Anno 1844
The railway is coming to Cranford. Captain Brown (Jim Carter) and Sir Charles Maulver (Greg Wise) are ensuring the train’s arrival, while desperately trying to convince Lady Ludlow (Francesca Annis) to part with some of her lands, so that the railway can come right into Cranford itself. Lady Ludlow refuses to sell, but she is ailing, and when her ne’er-do-well heir Septimus (Rory Kinnear) arrives, well, he has his own designs.
Matty Jenkyns (Judi Dench) has a full house. Her brother Peter (Nicholas Le Prevost) is home from India at long last, the maid Martha (Claudie Blakley), her carpenter husband Jem (Andrew Buchan) and their daughter Tilly also live there. Not to mention, Mary Smith (Lisa Dillon) arrives as well for a visit.
The formidable ladies of the town – Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton), Mrs. Forrester (Julie McKenzie), Miss Tomkinson (Deborah Findlay) and the Honourable Mrs. Jamieson (Barbara Flynn), with Matty Jenkyns as their lead – still act as Cranford’s moral guardians/gossipmongers. They are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of Mrs. Jamieson’s relative, Lady Glenmire (Celia Imrie), but some pretentious aristocratic airs complicate that visit.
Young Harry Gregson (Alex Etel) is taking an education, but his impoverished roots make him the brunt of much hostility and ridicule. And the new railway means the eviction of his impoverished family from their little rowhouse.
RELATED: Cranford Book Review: An Enjoyable Classic
A wealthy widower Mr. Buxton (Jonathan Pryce) has returned to Cranford with his beautiful ward Erminia (Michelle Dockery) and his handsome, Eton-educated son William (Tom Hiddleston) in tow. This is duly noticed by the community at large, and soon the Buxtons are being introduced to the Bells. Peggy Bell (Jodie Whittaker) is the longsuffering and dutiful daughter to her woe-is-me, widowed mother (Lesley Sharp) and sister to her arrogant and ambitious brother Edward (Matthew McNulty). William and Erminia take a shine to Peggy and she to them. But Mr. Buxton enjoys the flattering of Edward Bell and offers him a job, insisting that any romantic entanglements between his son William and Peggy Bell are decidedly inappropriate and ill-advised.
RELATED: The First Dance – 12 Memorable Romantic Dance Scenes in Film and Television
Yes, and on it goes. We’ve got forbidden love, raw ambitions, deceptions, embezzlement, births, deaths, marriages, accidents, family schisms, inaugural train rides. It’s a very eventful six months in Cranford. And it all ends up nicely wrapped in a big Christmas party.
A Tad Flat but Perked Up with Hiddleston Appeal
Return to Cranford is no Cranford. Despite the fantastic cast and the wonderful cinematography and costuming, well, it just lacks something. It feels forced somehow as if they’ve tried too hard to cram so much into this two-part miniseries, that it just feels too much – too maudlin, too melodramatic, just too, too much.
Yes, I still enjoyed it, and, yes, it’s still worth seeing. You’ll still laugh and cry and sigh. But it’s just not quite up there with its predecessor. Although Tom Hiddleston in period garb does boost its appeal (-:
RELATED: Crimson Peak Review – A Gothic Romance for Fans of Jane Eyre
Content Note: Rated PG.
Where to Watch: BritBox, DVD and Amazon Video.
You can buy and/or rent on Amazon.
Photo Credits: BBC.
OVERALL RATING
“Hello, Gorgeous.”
ROMANCE RATING
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My
feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me
to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
ARE YOU A ROMANCE FAN? FOLLOW THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW:
Our romance-themed entertainment site is on a mission to help you find the best period dramas, romance movies, TV shows, and books. Other topics include Jane Austen, Classic Hollywood, TV Couples, Fairy Tales, Romantic Living, Romanticism, and more. We’re damsels not in distress fighting for the all-new optimistic Romantic Revolution. Join us and subscribe. For more information, see our About, Old-Fashioned Romance 101, Modern Romanticism 101, and Romantic Living 101.
Love it! Love it! Love it! Anything with Tom Hiddleston is GOLD! <3
I can only concur — Tom Hiddleston is indeed gold!