Return to Cranford

Several stories intertwining in the small village of Cranford. More like a Christmas special. Several characters are gone, and new ones have arrived. The young doctor is gone, along with his wife, and the wife's family isn't in the story that much anymore. Again, lots of death, especially since there's no longer a damn doctor in the area. Miss Matty Jenkins's servant dies from childbirth. Lady Ludlow, played by Francesa Annis, kicks the bucket as well as her land agent or financial assistant. The land agent leaves his fortune, or most of it, to the poor young boy, Harry, who is a young man now. Harry doesn't like the new school he had been sent to and runs away. Then main new love story is between William Buxton, who is from the upper class, with a young woman, Peggy Bell, who is below his station. Mr. Buxon dislikes the match his son William has formed with Peggy. Judi Dench plays Matty, and she becomes the main character here that ties everyone together. Oh and the trains come.

I liked it. It's like watching Golden Girls, the mid-19th century version.

I like the part when someone or other, I forget, invites the Peggy and the William to a small gathering, so they can see each other, without the William's father knowing. They're drinking tea and eating cake. Some of the cake crump falls on the girls' dress and the boy goes down and rubs it off her dress. Oh how very scandalous they are.

Another favorite scene: when the older women are inside the abandoned building, that they plan on reopenning, start reminiscing about the old days when they were much younger and the building held balls. There's an old large mirror and they all see their reflections and find an old dance ticket once owned by Matty, and they reflect on how old they have gotten. How heart-breaking.