A couple of years ago, PBS did a six-part “Masterpiece Theater” production based on the work of 19th-century novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. The first-class cast was headed by Judi Dench and Imelda Staunton. Loved it to bits, and having watched it twice I think I may go ahead and buy the DVDs.
Anyway, if there are other fans out there – they’ve made two more (90-minute) episodes, the first of which airs tonight.
Woo hoo! Cranford!
They called it Cranford Christmas. But apart from the airdates in the UK, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas at all.
Still good, though.
No, that was something else, I think – this is two new episodes about what happens when the railroad comes. Also I think Lady Whatsherface’s profligate son returns.
Will Octavian 2.0 be on it?
Woo hoo! Judi! 
These episodes are new? I didn’t realize that; thanks.
I watched this when it was on PBS originally, and then got the disks from Netflix a few months ago and watched it again all in one night. It’s the best and features so many notable British actresses all at once.
Yeah, they reran the original series over the last two or three weeks, presumably in preparation for this. Didn’t watch it, though, since I’d just seen it a couple of months ago with my sister.
On a similar note, has Lark Rise To Candleford been shown in the US? The third series of 12 programmes starts tonight here in the UK.
Already have the DVR set!
Just watched the original series on PBS. Wish I’d recorded it. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I will be recording this.
Yeah, that’s the one I meant. Maybe it was only referred to casually as Cranford Christmas, rather than being its official title.
Ah. Okay, sorry, I misunderstood. On this side of the pond they’re calling it “Return to Cranford.”
I’ve never understood the need to change the name of stuff between countries.
Well, I was a little disappointed, but am reserving judgment till we see what happens next week.
The new lord is as selfish and manipulative as we’d expected – whaddya think, are he and Giacomo an item? – but I’m glad someone’s looking out for Harry.
Loved the parrot cage bit – the look on her face before she whirled around and ran into her cottage at the end of it was wonderful. Also liked the different reactions to the train ride.
Go Miss Matty!
Haven’t heard of it, but it looks like my sort of thing – added it to my Netflix queue, despite the “long wait” designation.
That’s okay – I need to finish “House of Elliott” first …
It was here on Minnesota’s PBS station but I don’t think it was the whole 12-series set; IIRC it was interrupted by a pledge drive but things were hinky for me at that time.
Saw it and liked it (as I had the first series), although IMHO Miss Mattie and the others changed their minds too quickly about the train. And why wouldn’t the top train guy go on the ride with them, to answer their questions and keep up the sales patter? Sorry the doctor and his beautiful bride are gone. Looks like they recast Miss Mattie’s brother, back from India, too.
I watched the first two episodes on PBS but then, for some reason, my DVR didn’t capture the final one.
I guess I’ll have to Netflix it to see what happens now!
It’s possible some of the Ladies had already changed thier minds, but were unwilling to say so out of respect for Deborah’s memory and tradition.
I don’t think Mattie changed her mind so much as she was willing to do anything to get Jem and baby back. She really loved the child, and had alreay taken some disrespect to keep her.
It turned out that the end of the 2nd of the two episodes takes place at Christmas, so this wasn’t a completely bizarre title. They presumably changed it for the U.S. since it didn’t air till January here.
They really hit their stride with last night’s episode, but I do wish they’d had a little more time to tell the stories more fully – another episode at least. For instance, in the Harry subplot:
episode 1 ended with the milliner finding out that the lord had tricked (and ripped off) Harry and threatening to sue … but in episode 2, there’s no mention of any of that, but he seems to have all his money back.
And how excellent to see Tim Curry at the end!