Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One

Spoilers...

Oh Harry...where oh were do I begin? I'm not really sure how to review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One. I can't recall the last time I've ever looked forward to film with more excitement, balanced with equal amounts of trepidation. It's not that I was concerned about how J.K. Rowling's fantastic series finale would be brought to life on-screen, it's more that I just don't even want to contemplate the end of the journey. When the seventh book came out I wasn't as crushed by "The End" of the series as much as I could have been, because I knew we still had films in the pipeline to look forward to. And now, the nearly decade-long film journey anchored by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint is drawing to a close - and I loved every second of it.

Going into the film, I hadn't re-read the book. I haven't re-read any of the books in ages, actually, now that I stop and think about it. Chronic case of too many books and way too little time. I've never been one who has been bothered by any omissions or changes from book to film. I typically do a pretty good job of "filling in the blanks" when it comes to any changes or omissions the filmmakers made in order to bring the stories to life on-screen. I'm actually quite glad I didn't re-read Deathly Hallows prior to seeing the movie - there was a lot that I'd forgotten, so I feel like I was able to approach the story with somewhat fresh eyes. It was rather like reading the book for the first time - a revelation in every scene instead of on every page.

I've read a couple of reviews that made statements to the effect that this is a complete tonal shift from all previous movies in the series. Yes, there's no Hogwarts in Part One, and yes, with different directors bringing their own vision to Rowling's world, none of the films have ever been cookie cutter copies of the others in the series. But like the novels, Deathly Hallows felt like a natural progression of everything that's come before. The characters we've come to know and love and watch grow up before our very eyes are in more danger than ever - quite frankly at the end of their rope. When all seems hopeless and overwhelming, this is where the rubber meets the road, relationships are tested and fears are faced. This is where everything that's come before has led - all pointing towards a final showdown with overwhelming darkness. You must pardon me if I sound more melodramatic or over-the-top (than usual), but I love these characters and stories so much that I can't help but feel emotionally invested in watching this story play out on the big screen.

I can remember joking when Return of the King came out that the last hour of the movie was rather like Peter Jackson's long, endless goodbye to the characters and their adventures in Middle Earth. That's rather how I feel about Deathly Hallows - and if the "goodbye nods" in Part One have gotten to me, after Part Two you're going to need to scrape me off the floor, I'm sure to be a sobbing puddle. *wink* The filmmakers are doing their level best to be thorough and I so appreciate all the little touches this film contains, bringing the whole series to a glorious close. We get to briefly revisit Harry's Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw), Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths), and cousin Dudley (Harry Melling) as Harry sees them off as they go into hiding - characters we hadn't gotten to see since Order of the Phoenix. (Side note: When Harry took one last look inside the cupboard under the stairs before being picked up by the Order, I nearly started bawling.) It was also great to see Madame Maxime (Frances de la Tour) return for Bill and Fleur's interrupted wedding - watching Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) make eyes at her once again was a fun moment. And speaking of Fleur and Bill, it was great to finally, finally meet Bill Weasley on-screen (played by Domhall Gleeson). And words cannot describe how happy I was to see the role of Rufus Scrimgeour played by Bill Nighy. That was pitch-perfect casting.

Of course it was wonderful to see the rest of the Weasley clan and members of the Order make return appearances. We only get to see Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) briefly at the beginning of the film, but it served to remind one of just how perfectly Gleeson was cast in the role. Lupin (David Thewlis) and Tonks (Natalia Tena) are of course married now, and let me tell you with as much as I adore Lupin there's a part of me that is not looking forward to seeing him again in Part Two. *sigh* I simply adore Molly (Julie Walters) and Arthur (Mark Williams) Weasley, though their on-screen time was all too short. Can't wait for Molly to utter "the line" during her final fight. *wink* And the twins, Fred (James Phelps) and George (Oliver Phelps), they just about broke my heart. I loved seeing their humor and bravery - I know they're gonna break my heart in Part Two. And isn't Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) just too adorable for words?! (Interesting fact: According to the IMDB, Wright is engaged to Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Gellert Grindelwald - interesting connection, no?) Oh, and I've just got to tell you while I loved catching glimpses of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), I can't wait to see him again in Part Two! Gambon is one of my favorite bits of casting for the entire film series - he's pretty much exactly as I'd imagine Dumbeldore when reading the novels.

My absolute favorite returning character belongs to Dobby the house elf, voiced by Toby Jones. I love Dobby, and honestly I've quite missed the fact that he hasn't been seen on-screen since Chamber of Secrets. But returning for this film means Dobby returns in style - he gets his finest moment here, sacrificing himself heroically for his friends - and I loved that. It was a wrenching note on which to end this installment, but it was not without hope. For as sad as Dobby's burial scene was, I loved the way the scene was staged - Dobby was a character that, thanks to Harry's actions at the end of Chamber, got to finally live life on his own terms.

Of course plenty of villains (I can't bring myself to include the Dursleys in the out and out villains category) and familiar settings get revisited in this film - it's nothing if not thorough. I was so, so happy to see Jason Isaacs back as Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. My oh my that man can rock the long blonde hair. Loved seeing the normally smooth and suave Lucius borderline unhinged from the pressure of trying to deal with Voldemort. I also really like Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy. I don't think she had a single line in this movie, but oh goodness does she have the look and attitude I'd imagine for Narcissa. I also love me some crazy Helena Bonham Carter - she was pitch-perfect casting as Bellatrix Lestrange. Her face-off with Hermione at Malfoy Manor was chilling and so well-played! And of course there's my beloved Draco (Tom Felton). I am so, so glad he stuck with the film series - I can't imagine anyone else playing Draco half so well. It's nice, too, that the other "kids" have caught up with Felton - it seems like he hit his growth spurt/maturity a bit before Harry, Hermione, and Ron. It was also great to see Dolores Umbridge again (Imelda Staunton) when Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into the Ministry of Magic to steal the Horcrux locket. She is so over-the-top and prissy it always cracks me up, and I enjoyed experiencing her cat obsession when they all started meowing from the plates in her office - hilarious! Of course we get to see Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) - I'm really, really looking forward to seeing how Rickman plays Snape's pivotal scenes in Part Two.

I've always been a bit iffy on the casting of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort. I fully acknowledge that's more due to my bias against him as an actor than his actual acting abilities. But this time around I felt like Voldemort was finally unleashed if you will, and Fiennes took the creep factor to a whole new level. From the opening scene at the Death Eaters "convention" (haha) were Voldemort terrifies Lucius by asking for his wand, and then murders Charity Burbage, to the scene at the very end where he breaks into Dumbledore's crypt to steal the wand, I finally felt like I really was satisfied with Fiennes' casting. He was creepy and disturbing and insane, everything Voldemort needs to be.

But of course the heart of the movie is the relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They are the heart and soul of the movie, and the chemistry between Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson are one of the main reasons I love the movies so much. The studio hit the casting jackpot when they bestowed the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione on these three - it's been a joy to watch them grow up on-screen, hasn't it? This movie was, as is fitting, almost painful to watch at times because of the severe testing Harry, Ron, and Hermione undergo throughout their journey to outwit Voldemort and the Death Eaters and find the remaining Horcruxes. There are so many great moments between these three. From Ron and Hermione's budding relationship (loved Watson's delivery of the line about always being mad at Ron) to Ron's jealousy of Harry nearly costing him his two closest friends (wasn't expecting nearly naked Harry and Hermione though, LOL), to Harry's close, protective relationship towards Hermione - these "kids" have grown into some really great actors. Wasn't the moment where Harry and Hermione dance just to die for? LOVED the expressions on their faces. It was a nice way of acknowledging that there *could've* been something between Hermione and Harry, but they choose not to go there. Didn't expect it but very well played by Watson and Radcliffe. Each successive film has stretched and tested the abilities of the main three, and Deathly Hallows feels like a culmination of that process. I really look forward to seeing what projects come from Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson's post-Harry careers.

I want to touch on two of my favorite scenes in the entire film. The first is where Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, and Harry sees the destroyed home where he became "The Boy Who Lived." They also visit James and Lily's graves, and oh the look on Radcliffe's face as he stood over their tombstone ripped my heart out. And when I saw the inscription, "The last enemy to be conquered is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26), I nearly lost it right then and there. That hope, that type of worldview, is just one of the many reasons I adore the Potter stories. Rowling crafted characters whose faith and resilience are a ray of hope and light in the face of overwhelming evil and darkness. It's their choices that make these characters so beloved and unforgettable, and examples of the best mankind has to offer. I also loved the way the film brought "The Tale of the Three Brothers" and the fabled Deathly Hallows to life when the three visit Luna's father, Xenophilius Lovegood (Rhys Ifans). The animation was just fantastic and just seemed to fit so well in the Potter universe. I never expected an animated interlude in a Potter film like that, much less one that worked so well. And seeing things "click" for Harry, Ron, and Hermione as the Hallows are described was a great moment. (Side note: I loved seeing Evanna Lynch's take on Luna Lovegood again, she was just perfectly cast. But I'm not sold on Ifans as her father. Physically he was a good match, just not quite as I imagined.)

Deathly Hallows marks director David Yates third outing at the helm of a Potter film. I've got to say I've been quite pleased with his vision for bringing the stories to life, and I think it's served the series well, as it builds towards its epic finale, that the same director has been overseeing the last few installments of the series. The camerawork and pacing of this movie is superb - never a dull moment, for a film with only a few action sequences and a lot of "down" time for our leads, I was riveted throughout the movies two and a half hour runtime. I loved the look of the movie - often bleak and empty, the settings place our characters in an eerie physical and spiritual, if you will, isolation that intensifies their struggles to cope with the dangers before them. I also thought that Alexandre Desplat's score was terrific. This is the prolific composer's first score for a Potter film, and I thought he did a fantastic job marrying the music to the action. We've come a long way from the childlike wonderment evident in John Williams' score for the first two Potter films, but no matter the composer subsequently, the magic has never been lost and the emotion still remains.

Oh how I can't wait for Part Two in July. The wait seems interminable, but I know all too well that the time will fly by. I'm sure I'll greet the premiere with even stronger mixed emotions, but it is a moment I anticipate even more now that I've seen Part One of Deathly Hallows brought to life.

So, Harry Potter fans, if you've seen Deathly Hallows, please chime in with some comments, I'd love to know what you think! There's so, so much more I could say about this film - in a way I feel rather like I'm still "digesting" it if you will. It will take another few viewings to really take everything in, don't you know. I could go on and on, but I've got to stop this post sometime. :) After all, I've been working on this post for over a day as it is...

Alice in Wonderland

I saw Alice in Wonderland this afternoon, and I absolutely loved it. Every single frame of film in this movie just blew me away. Tim Burton has made several movies that I've liked, but never one that I really liked, if you know what I mean. This one fits the bill. I've never been fond of the Alice story - Lewis Carroll's books never  really captivated me, and the animated Disney film was always one of my least favorites growing up. However, I've grown into a really big fan of revisionist retellings, like Tin Man in the case of The Wizard of Oz, or the SyFy miniseries Alice that aired in December of last year. In the case of this latest version of the Alice story, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to Wonderland over thirteen years after her first visit. You see, she has a destiny to fulfill - killing the Jabberwocky and ending the Red Queen's reign. But first she must navigate the dangers of Wonderland and decide if she has what it takes to be a heroine.

I loved the "real world" frame story Burton presents us with - Alice, surrounded by very conventional people, is expected to marry a gosh-awful fellow named Hamish and lead a very conventional, very safe life. But Alice's father was a man who used to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast, and that sense of wonder, and longing for adventure, is in her very blood. I really, really liked Wasikowska's take on Alice - she starts out rather unsure of herself, but as she finds her footing and her confidence, she learns to handle all of the strange creatures and dangers thrown her way with courage and ingenuity.

Helena Bonham Carter's gigantic-headed Red Queen was hilarious. Carter almost manages to turn the Red Queen into a sympathetic character (really, being sister to the White Queen would've gotten old after about five minutes), but she's too far gone really change, and is a great villainness. I'm thinking Carter is a lock to play Maleficent - given how much I like what Burton's done with the Alice story, I can't wait for his take on Sleeping Beauty, one of my all-time favorite fairy tales. Anne Hathaway was perfect to play the absolutely perfect, beloved White Queen. She takes her acting history playing perfect, princess-y characters (think The Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted) and gives the White Queen these really funny, over-the-top mannerisms that fit the character perfectly. Her dark eyebrows and lipstick was a little freaky, though - that could've done with some toning down, just sayin'!

It should come as no surprise that my absolute favorite character in the film was Johnny Depp's the Mad Hatter. I don't think you could wish for a better actor to play the crazy guy. :) The Hatter is funny, and over-the-top, and poignant, and brave all at once. It's yet another riveting chance to watch Depp completely lose himself in a role, and I loved every moment of it. The Hatter and Alice are given a really wonderful friendship in this retelling, and I wish it had been given even more screentime. There were moments when the Hatter went all crazy-intense, that he sounded like Captain Jack - loved that. :)

In addition to Martin Sheen as the White Rabbit, this movie is packed with tons of other great voiceover talent. Stephen Fry gives voice to the rather devious Cheshire Cat (LOVED it!), while Alan Rickman voices the Blue Caterpillar. I'm not familiar with actor Paul Whitehouse, who voices the March Hare, but his work was HILARIOUS, and a great companion to Depp's zany Hatter. Imelda Staunton lends her voice to two talking flowers, and Christopher Lee is pitch-perfect and menacing as the voice of the Jabberwocky. Oh, and in the non-voiceover category, it was great to see Tim Pigott-Smith (North & South) in a supporting role as Alice's future business partner, Lord Ascot.

Besides the acting talent, the script, design of the film, costumes, special effects, and music are all superb. Burton's use of color in his films is always one of the most striking things about his work (for me, anyway), and this time is no exception. The color and design of this film fills each frame with eye-popping, fantastic visuals. It will take multiple viewings of this movie on DVD, I'm sure, to really appreciate the depth and richness of this movie. Oh, and Danny Elfman's score is AMAZING! He's created some great work for Tim Burton's movies, but this score has to be my favorite. It sort of as an old-fashioned adventure movie feel to it - lush, full orchestrations with just the right dash of the whimsy and the fantastical. Just shy of two hours long, this movie flies by with never a dull or dragging moment. To sum up, see this movie asap - it's tremendous fun. :)

Return to Cranford, part 2

Spoilers...

I was so, so impressed with the conclusion of Return to Cranford. My only complaint about this second series is that is wasn’t longer. Here’s the brief episode summary of part two from the Masterpiece website:

William Buxton's big news is not warmly received by his father. William, in turn, decides to strike out on his own in an apprenticeship with Captain Brown on the railway. But the work is difficult, and his separation from Peggy problematic.

The social scene of Cranford becomes the center of focus when Mrs. Jamieson's sister-in-law Lady Glenmire arrives. The women of Cranford eagerly anticipate some interactions, but are seemingly spurned by their friend Mrs. Jamieson. Lady Glenmire, with the encouragement of Captain Brown, takes matters into her own hands, and plans a party.

In the meantime, Miss Galindo is concerned about Harry Gregson, who has disappeared from school. Worse still, it becomes clear he has a very good reason for running away.

The friendships in Cranford are strained when a surprise wedding shocks everyone. But no one can know the tragedy and challenge that await and will threaten the ties of the close-knit Cranford community, putting the women to their ultimate test.

As I mentioned in my review of part one, my favorite storyline in Return to Cranford is the romance that develops between William (Tom Hiddleston) and Peggy (Jodie Wittaker). I didn’t see how it would be possible, but this storyline gets oh so much better in part two when the stakes are raised. When William makes his intentions known regarding Peggy, his father (Jonathan Pryce) erupts in anger, since marriage to a woman of Peggy’s standing does not fit with his plans for William’s political future. Thankfully, William tells his father just what he can do with his plans (in a very respectful, 19th-century manner, of course – LOL), and goes to work for the first time in his life as an engineering apprentice to Captain Brown (Jim Carter), who’s overseeing construction of the new railway. William and Peggy become Cranford’s star-crossed lovers, the town’s own version of Romeo and Juliet, only much less annoying than those two and thankfully, with happy ending after much heartache. There is something so incredibly romantic watching William and Peggy’s relationship grow through secretly exchanged letters, and watching William struggle to establish himself as an engineer and prove that he can support himself, and a wife, without his father’s patronage. Tom Hiddleston is just swoon-worthy here – I loved every moment.

Since I mentioned Captain Brown, I’m going to backtrack here and discuss his surprising courtship and marriage, which resulted in some wonderfully funny and poignant scenes. Brown has mellowed out considerably since he first came to Cranford, learning to see the merits of Cranford’s slower pace of life, thanks to residents like Miss Matty. When the pretentious Mrs. Jamieson’s (Barbara Flynn) widowed sister-in-law, Lady Glenmire, comes to visit, the rumor mill starts wagging since she’s titled. Mrs. Jamieson offends everyone when she makes it known that the women of Cranford need not bother her illustrious relative (played by Celia Imrie). Brown intervenes when the newcomer is snubbed, resulting in an especially hilarious scene when Lady Glenmire takes Mrs. Jamieson’s dog for a walk near the railroad construction, and the dog apparently nearly dies or something and has to be “revived.” It was so funny to watch them “consult” over the proper course of treatment. When their friendship results in a whirlwind surprise marriage, it’s fascinating to watch the social ramifications of so “rash” an action play out in the small town atmosphere. Those obsessed with social status are horrified by the impropriety of such a match involving two people from very different social backgrounds, while others (like Miss Matty) love seeing a romance between two people “their own age” play out right before their eyes. The latter group breaks your heart just a bit, because you know these characters can’t help but relive their pasts and wonder what might have been.

Harry (Alex Etel) had returned to school at the end of part one. Several months later, his advocate in Cranford, Miss Galindo (Emma Fielding), is horrified to discover that he’s run away from school due to abuse suffered at the hands of his classmates. Though we only hear about these events after the fact, this is one more way in which this miniseries brings to light class distinctions during this time period and how incredibly hard it was to change one’s circumstances. When Harry runs away again, he sets in motion a chain of events that will bring great tragedy to Cranford – a fiery train wreck. This wreck is cause by, of all things, Mrs. Forrester’s pajama-wearing cow wandering onto the tracks. Honestly, and I promise I’m not overstating things here, the cow’s death is probably one of the most shocking things I’ve ever seen in a BBC period drama. I was quite traumatized. :P Anyway, after this near death experience, Harry receives the happy ending he’s longed for – a home with Miss Galindo and the chance to attend school closer to Cranford. These two are bonded together by a shared love and admiration for Mr. Carter, Harry’s benefactor, and it brought a tear to my eye to see the two of them form their own little family.

The train wreck also proves to be the making of William and Peggy’s happiness, after a very close call of course. Throughout this series, Peggy’s been on a character-building fast-track, learning to stand up to her domineering mother and brother, and proving her mettle to William’s father. She also receives some romantic encouragement from Miss Matty (Judi Dench), who tragically had her own romantic hopes thwarted twice. When Matty informs William that Peggy is taking her embezzling, worthless brother out of the country, he races to intercept the train. And yes, maybe the whole racing-to-stop-the-train thing is clichéd, but I loved every moment of it. William really seizes the moment here and becomes even more of a romantic hero by rescuing Peggy from the overturned railcar – and then he nearly gets himself blown up. I could barely stand the drama, people!! The two are only reunited after William spends several weeks convalescing, and Peggy remains a faithful visitor even while being denied entrance to the house. The moment when they’re finally united, after months of hardship and separation, is oh so sweet.

Tom Hiddleston as William Buxton

Jodie Wittaker as Peggy Bell

Since the heart of Cranford is Miss Matty and her dearest friends, it’s only fitting that this series ends with Miss Matty using her savings to renovate the neglected assembly rooms and bring in an exotic magician for a Christmas performance. Along with Mrs. Jamieson, Mrs. Forrester, Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton), and Miss Tomkinson (Deborah Findlay), Miss Matty restores Cranford’s assembly rooms to their former glory, and the entire town is brought together to celebrate the power of community following the devastating shock of the train wreck. It’s touching and humbling, in a sense, to watch these women relive past glories through this process – but they don’t dwell on the past. No matter what happens, this core group of friends has always learned to look forward. I have to mention Tim Curry as Signor Brunoni, the visiting magician. He’s perfectly cast in the role, and the fact that Miss Pole is quite taken with him just adds to the fun. While much has changed in Cranford over the course of this series, the importance of family and friends has, if anything, only been amplified. Again, this show nearly made me cry when Miss Matty receives the best present she ever could’ve wished for – Martha’s daughter Tilly, and her now-widowed husband Jem have returned to Cranford for good. Though change can be indescribably difficult, it’s heartening to witness how the residents of Cranford have weathered the storms that come their way. I only hope that maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to visit this town again in the future.

Return to Cranford, part 1

Spoilers...

My intention to blog about the return of Masterpiece Classic in a timely fashion went up in smoke (obviously). Blame the long-awaited (and awesome) return of Chuck and 24 on the last two Sundays. But I do intend to catch up. :) Here's the brief synopsis of episode one of Return to Cranford from the Masterpiece website:

New life is charmingly apparent in Cranford as Matty Jenkyns enjoys sharing her home with Tilly, the daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem Hearne. Familiar faces including Miss Pole, Mrs. Forrester and Mrs. Jamieson surround Miss Matty in a loving community.

Some new faces have arrived as well — Mrs. Bell, her daughter Peggy and son Edward. Mr. Buxton and his son William have returned to town after years away. Young William eagerly aspires to be an engineer, while his father is grieving the loss of his wife.

The railway has crept closer to Cranford, but has been halted several miles outside the village. For it to move any further, Lady Ludlow would have to sell part of her land. Captain Brown is determined to make progress for the railway, but meets resistance from the village residents.

An unexpected and alarming shift signals yet more change in store for Cranford. Can Matty and the women of Cranford muster support for what inevitably awaits?

The original Cranford was a stand-out miniseries for the way in which it documented and relished the triumphs and tragedies of everyday life. Unlike many shows that keep characters around forever, for fear of losing an audience, no one is "safe" in Cranford, because changed, partings, and death are as much a constant of life as births, marriages, and the promise of new beginnings.

The heart of Cranford is Miss Matty Jenkyns, wonderfully played by Judi Dench, and her close circle of friends - Mrs. Jamieson (Barbara Flynn), Mrs. Forrester (Julia McKenzie), Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton), and Miss Tomkinson (Deborah Findlay). These women hold the traditions of village life near and dear to their hearts, but when Cranford is "threatened" by change - in the form of the highly contentious railway plans seen in the first series - they must decide if the bonds of friendship and the values forged in Cranford can survive the progress of industry that's changing the country.

This installment of Cranford contains a good balance of beloved, familiar characters (see above) and several new faces for the women of Cranford to interact with in their own special ways. I absolutely loved seeing Miss Matty play grandmother to her beloved maid Martha's (Claudie Blakley) first child. After all the heartbreak Miss Matty endured in the first series of Cranford, it's wonderful to see her so happy - for a while, anyway. Because it seems that in Cranford, happiness is all to often tempered with a healthy dose of heartbreak. The scene when Martha passes away giving birth to her stillborn second child absolutely broke my heart. And witnessing the women of the village come together to prepare her body for burial brought tears to my eyes. I was reminded of my grandmothers, and others, who over the course of their lives have lost so many who were near and dear to them - and I wonder and marvel at the strength they found to keep going. That's just one of the reasons I think Cranford is such a powerful little show, because it taps into the tried-and-true emotions and experiences of life that are timeless. Everything changes, yet some things stay the same, you know?

Another familiar face to Cranford fans is Lady Ludlow, played with an icy strength and dignity by the marvelous Francesca Annis. Can I just tell you, I had no idea Annis could play someone at death's door quite so well. The great tragedy of Lady Ludlow's character was always her refusal to see that her son, Septimus (Rory Kinnear) was such a freaking loser. All things considered, it's probably best she passed away before he returned to wreck her estate. Septimus's selfishness has grave ramifications for another favorite character - young Harry Gregson (Alex Etel), who benefited from the mentorship and generosity of Lady Ludlow's now-deceased estate manager. Harry's innocence and sense of responsibility towards Cranford and his inheritance makes him an easy mark for Septimus's machinations, and he stands to lose most of his promised inheritance unless his only advocate, Miss Galindo (Emma Fielding) can help. Whether or not they will be successful remains to be seen.

The romantic in me loved the Cinderella-esque romance that blooms between newcomers William Buxton, an aspiring engineer played by Tom Hiddleston, and Peggy Bell, played by Jodie Wittaker, who is constantly dumped on by her needy, controlling mother and pretentious brother. Hiddleston is a Masterpiece veteran, having played in Miss Austen Regrets and the Wallander mystery series, as the character Martinsson. I can't decide if I like him because he's a good actor, or because he's a dead ringer for an old favorite of mine - Sam West. *wink* I'm loving watching their romance play out.

I was quite pleased to see the return of Miss Matty's dear friend Mary Smith (Lisa Dillon). Mary's now engaged to some guy who owns a button factory, apparently. What I love about her character is that she's a sort of bridge between the past, and the traditions Miss Matty and her generation hold dear, and the future. It's Mary's support that helps Miss Matty muster the courage to reconsider her point of view on the advisability of the railroad entering the idyllic Cranford. I also loved little touches like seeing the return of Mrs. Forrester's pajama-wearing cow (Julia McKenzie's humor in this role is wonderful to see all the way around). Imelda Staunton is also absolutely hilarious as the gossipy, somewhat pretentious Miss Pole, especially once she acquires a rather exotic pet. :) There are also a few other familiar faces that I won't go into detail about here. This show is quite literally bursting at the seams with wonderful characters and interwoven storylines.

My review of part two will be coming shortly. So, if you watched Return to Cranford, did you enjoy it? Do you prefer the previous miniseries to this one? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments! :)

Masterpiece Classic returns!

After what seems like an interminable wait, the new season of Masterpiece Classic begins this Sunday with part one of Return to Cranford, the sequel series to the fabulous Cranford miniseries, based on the works of Elizabeth Gaskell. Here's just a bit about what's in store:

This Sunday, January 10, revisit Cranford — the sleepy English village that captured the hearts of MASTERPIECE viewers in 2008. In Return to Cranford, the distinguished cast is back, including Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie and Francesca Annis, as Cranford continues to come to terms with wrenching social change against the backdrop of a close-knit community. Return to Cranford is based on the works of Victorian-era writer Elizabeth Gaskell.

Isn't this cast fantastic? Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, and Francesca Annis are just a few of the familiar faces due to appear in this production. I don't know about you all, but I for one am very excited about Masterpiece Classics posts returning to the blog. :)