Countdown to Thirteen: Cranford: Series 2, Episode 2 – “Return to Cranford: Part Two – October 1844” (2009)

It’s nice to report that Peggy, Jodie Whittaker’s character, does get quite a bit less milquetoasty in the second half of series 2, which is a relief.  While she’s still not a character I have a huge amount of interest in, it does make the whole thing a little less trite, less one-note love interest who’s beloved by the dashing young man Because Reasons (a few spoilers.)

Surprisingly, the hubbub over the railroad has pretty much completely vanished since Part One.  William, Peggy’s would-be beau, is still obsessed with trains and the future, but everyone else in town has moved on to more pressing matters, like the arrival of an aristocrat and the effect that will have on their social circle (or not have, if the lady’s hostess has anything to say about it.)  Meanwhile, William’s father is appalled at the thought of his son wanting to marry someone who isn’t from an old well-to-do family, and all the expected keep-the-lovers-apart dramatics ensue.  Peggy and William, however, aren’t giving up without a fight.

That fight is where we see more of Peggy’s personality.  It’s a sort of strength that fits with her character as we’ve seen it, more of the Fanny Price variety – timid but resolute, standing up to a man of a considerably-higher class.  Mr. Buxton tries numerous tactics to get Peggy away from William, but while Peggy has no intentions of dragging William down to ruin if that’s the situation Mr. Buxton is trying to force, she doesn’t let him strong-arm or try to scare her into giving up the man she loves.

There are still a ton of clichés here:  the roadblocks thrown in the path of the young lovers, the handsome heir having to choose between his money and his lady, the quiet dignity of the young heroine standing up to the classist antagonist, and so on and so forth.  Nothing that we haven’t seen executed far better in a Jane Austen novel, and as such, the plot doesn’t hold too much of my interest, but I am still pleased to see Peggy being less of a wet blanket.  She strikes a good balance between fighting for what she wants and being realistically cowed by Mr. Buxton.

Also, I was really charmed here by Erminia, the Buxtons’ ward played by Michelle Dockery.  It would’ve been super easy to paint her as Peggy’s snobby rival, a father-approved choice for William to have to resist.  However, the moment she hears Mr. Buxton suggesting William would be better off with her, she shuts the idea down right quick.  Not in a mean way exactly – not looking down on William as not good enough/handsome enough/rich enough/whatever for her – but in kind of a delightfully dry way, ironically pointing out that neither should be forced to inflict themselves on the other.  A wonderful little scene, and I love it.

It might seem silly to repeat my wrap-up info, since Whittaker’s part here is only two episodes long and I just did all this last week.  But, first- and last-episode wrap-ups are the way I do actors’ TV reviews, so here we are.

Accent Watch

Northern.

Recommend?

In General – Not necessarily.  Masterpiece/ITV fans will probably enjoy it, but there are plenty of better options for getting that fix.

Jodie Whittaker – Again, not necessarily.  Although Peggy does get more interesting in the second half, there just isn’t a whole lot to this character worth checking out.

Warnings

Brief violence and some drinking.

Countdown to Thirteen: Cranford: Series 2, Episode 1 – “Return to Cranford: Part One – August 1844” (2009)

This isn’t precisely a show I’ve seen before, since I have yet to watch its first season, but I have previously seen the episodes Jodie Whittaker is in.  Like Whittaker, Tom Hiddleston is featured just in the second season, and I saw both episodes of series 2 a handful of years ago when I was working my way through Hiddleston’s filmography.  Watching only a latter portion of a series is always an odd experience and gives you an uncertain vantage of the regular characters.  As such, it’s hard to give a really definitive impression of Cranford based on the small part of it I’ve seen.  I can only give my impression of this episode and the one that follows.

The small town of Cranford is abuzz with dramas both large and small.  Everything from a visiting entertainer to a torn gown to prospective young love is fair game for the spirited opinions of the clutch of older women who take responsibility for Cranford’s moral and social welfare.  However, the largest topic of conversation by far is the impending introduction of a new rail line that would bring this steam-powered behemoth of the modern world into the heart of the town itself.

As I said, it’s hard to get too accurate a read on a show when you start with the second season.  I can tell it’s very quaint, by turns comical and warm, dominated by the various personalities of the leading ladies (who include the likes of Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, and Deborah Findlay.)  Much of the humor is mined from their outsized reactions to minor bits of town intrigue, like a feud arising from a bird cage ordered from Paris, and much of the heart comes from the way they look out for all their “charges,” the other residents of Cranford.

Whittaker plays Peggy Bell, the soft-spoken daughter of a strong-willed widow.  Peggy, it seems, spends most of her time at the beck and call of her mother and brother, who make constant demands of her while criticizing her looks, manner, and capabilities.  It’s all very “life of quiet desperation,” but Peggy’s life begins to change with the return of the long-absent son of Cranford’s wealthiest man.  Tom Hiddleston’s William (along with the family’s ward, played by Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery) immediately takes an interest in Peggy, awakening in her the possibility of being around people who actually care about her and value her as a person (novel idea, right?)

Peggy didn’t catch my attention much the first time I saw these episodes, and watching them again specifically for her character, I’m still not particularly impressed.  It’s not Whittaker’s fault – there’s just so little to work with here.  I feel like this is a character I’ve seen hundreds of times, a sweet but bland milquetoast with low self-esteem who manages to enrapture a magnetic young man through methods unknown.  There are sparks of personality here and there, like Peggy’s bold confession to William that she learned to ride bareback rather than side-saddle, but mostly, she’s the type of character who’s the love interest because we’re told she is.  I don’t remember much about her in the second half of the season; we’ll see if she gets any more interesting in Part Two.

In addition to the copious Who’s Whos of British acting that I’ve already mentioned, the episode also features Lesley Sharp (from the “Midnight” episode of new Who series 4,) Jim Carter (Mr. Carson!), and the always-great Jonathan Pryce.

Accent Watch

Northern – Whittaker’s own, I think.

Recommend?

In General – Eh, maybe.  It’s hard to say without having seen the first season.  The series seems charming but inconsequential – maybe fun for a lark.

Jodie Whittaker – Not so far.  I’ll revisit if things change in the second half, but as of now, there’s just not enough “there” there.

Warnings

Drinking and a childbirth scene (not graphic at all.)