After North & South success in 2004, the BBC returned in the beginning of this year with another Elizabeth Gaskell adaptation – Cranford. This series shows us the daily life of a small rural town during the 19th century England while the changes of the industrial era and the rising of a new society affects everybody’s life. It’s undeniable the cozy feeling while we watched each episode and we quickly chose our favorite characters or those we simply cannot stand. It’s truly easy to get attached to Cranford and its people. We truly hope you’ll like this series as much as we did. With an all star cast of well known names, some of which we have appreciated in other period dramas, this series can boast of excellencies in the acting department but also contributing to it’s success are the great settings and the fascinating wardrobe. There’s an attention to detail in everything shown from the dialogues to the smallest piece of clothing.
Cranford was adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cranford and the novellas My Lady Ludlow and Mr. Harrison’s Confessions by Sue Birtwistle, Susie Conklin and Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson.
We have to give a special thanks to Penny for her gorgeous screencaps of the serie.
[youtube=http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=TkpWA1222FM]
As we are introduced to Cranford we realize this is a mostly feminine society. Not only Miss Jenkyns does some less than flattering remarks towards the male gender but with the exception of Captain Brown every other gentleman works for a living. Life may be simple in the village but the ladies follow strict rules of conduct in their relationship with family, friends, neighbors and strangers. How did you like the ladies of Cranford? Any favorites? Is life really simple in the village or does it simply appear so because everyone’s interests and behaviors follow the expected pattern?
Cranford discussion: episode 2 & 3, episode 4&5.
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I really enjoyed this series. When I first started watching it I really didn’t know what to expect, so I just sat back and relaxed. A wee while later I was hooked. Upon reflection, it seems to me that the series is like life itself – at first glance it seemed straighforward, a bunch of women sticking to doing what society dictates, but if you stay around a while, you see the complex layers begin to reveal themselves. This was my experience of Cranford.
The first episode gave me the impression that it was going to be a lighthearted series. I enjoyed the way the women rushed around spreading the gossip. I loved the longsuffering men who carried the chair! I think that my favourite character in the series was Mary Smith. I liked her immediately and she remained my favourite throughout.
I totally agree, it only seems simple in the beginning. As we get to know the ladies better we realise their lifes are much more complicated and not at all what it seemed at first.
I loved Mary Smith too and Miss Matty although in that first episode I thought Miss Jenkyns had some of the best lines even if they are a bit sexist: No Woman is the equal of a men! She is his superior… A man is so in the way in a house… :-)
I was hooked right away by this series but maybe because it reminded me so much of my grand-parents village. Each time I go there to visit, I still can see some Miss Poles or Miss Forresters walking and gossiping in the streets. Life in Cranford can be deceivingly simple, but as you say Dee, slowly we see that everything is more complex than it seems.
My favorite character is Miss Deborah Jenkyns. She was a vicar’s eldest daughter, so some austerity was expected but she balanced everything quite well with a sharp sense of humor and a kind (even if disguised) heart. Ana T, that line is one of the best in all the series ! Eileen Atkins is a great actress and I do hope to see more of her in the future. I enjoyed every minute she was on the screen and was deeply annoyed with the end of episode 2. How could they do that ?!! Miss Matty and Mary Smith are also irresistible characters, it’s impossible not to like them. It’s not hard to like Cranford’s people, even if some can be particularly annoying like Miss Caroline. Miss Pole always makes me laugh when she’s running all over the place with that particular bonnet of hers, the one with the straight feathers. ;-)
A little question for those who saw Pride & Prejudice (the movie). What did you think of Simon Hood’s performance as Dr. Harrison ? I didn’t like him at all as Bingley but here he seemed more at ease and in a suitable role.