Friday, March 29, 2013

Lark Rise to Candleford (Part 1 of 2)

For quite some time I regarded Lark Rise to Candleford to be a so-so period drama... something I didn't mind watching on occasion, but which wasn't really that spectacular; not to be compared with other things. So far, though, I'd only seen a few random parts of episodes from Season 1, then later a few more random ones from Seasons 2 and 3 (mostly 2) when they were playing on TV (I watched it if I remembered, which I usually didn't), and finally most of Season 4 when it was playing on PBS. Then the series ended, and I didn't look into it further. By Season 4 you're pretty much supposed to know all the characters, and I didn't... which made it less interesting in general.

Then, one day, back in November, I didn't have anything at home to watch, and I was at the library, so I did something I rarely do: I browsed the DVD shelves, just to see if I might find anything interesting. Browsing DVD shelves at the library is rather like looking for flowers under a whole bunch of weeds in a garden. Weeds with prickles on them, so you don't want to touch them, you know. I knew I'd probably miss anything new to watch, and as a blogger and someone who mainly watches period films is there really much of anything good that I don't know about?, so I was mainly looking for something good I hadn't seen in a long time and had quite forgotten about. Then I saw two seasons of Lark Rise sitting there. So I read the back covers... I knew some of the story from Season 2, so I looked at Season 3, and found that it looked unfamiliar. I checked it out, brought it home and watched it, starting with Episode 1, of course... and then another, and then another, and suddenly I found to my surprise that I was hooked. I was loving it. I didn't want it to end yet at the same time I wanted to find out what would happen, and... well, you know that old dilemma.

After I'd finished Season 3, I got Season 4 again, just because I was rolling with the story, you know, although I'd seen all those episodes before. (Only now they actually made sense.) Then I started afresh with Season 1... it was checked out at the library, so I would curl up on the sofa in the living room with my brother's laptop on the coffee table and watch the episodes that way, using this delightful channel on YouTube. (My brother's laptop has a nicer widescreen than the main one. Like I really need to mention all that.) There were tons I hadn't seen from Season 1, although it was fun to recall the bits I did see. And I think it had been another case of my happening to see the bits that are exactly the things I don't much care for in the series, so I thought it was all the same and formed an unfavorable impression. It's strange how that often happens. But anyways, I watched quite a bit of Season 2 the same way before getting that DVD set from the library... but it was quite sad by the time I'd gotten to the last episode. For a while, you know, I was experiencing new and never-before-seen-by-me period drama, which is nice after a long time of having to re-watch things.


But it isn't all over. Because now I get to review it. (Well, it will be half review and half long-winded babbling about all the characters.) Although a fan of Lark Rise now, there are still things about it that I don't like and things I wouldn't recommend. Also the episodes can be very hit-and-miss. Season 3 is still my favorite, and it's not just because that's what got me hooked, as I suspected originally. I've figured out some other reasons why I like it better... but I will get to all that in due course. I'm not going to review this one season as a time, because if I was going to do that, I'd probably review Season 1 and then stop. So what I did was write it as one big long (long, long) post, and then because of its horrible longness I am dividing it up into two parts and this one will cover the main characters & season 1. (I wanted to split it up with the first post having the first two seasons, and the second having 3 and 4, but that would make the second post a lot shorter.)

Characters
I'll start by talking about the main characters... and by "main", I mean the ones that are pretty much in the whole series (at least three seasons). There are some other characters that are only in certain seasons, so I'll get to them later.

One thing I like about this show is the abundance of recognizable actors. (Of course, if I hadn't seen so many other period dramas they wouldn't be recognizable, but... anyways.) So I'll talk about that at the bottom of each rambling. ;)

In Candleford


Laura Timmins
In the beginning at least, Laura is the main main character, or the heroine of the piece. Like most of the characters in this show, I have like-dislike emotions regarding her. (That's a less drastic version of "love-hate", you know.) She can be quite annoying at times, and frankly, not very relate-able. That's not to say I don't have anything in common with her, because I do, somewhat. Sometimes. And sometimes I do like her... and I'm usually on her side, anyways. I wish her good and not ill. Her taste in young gentleman is not always the wisest, however. But I'll get to talking about her beaux later on.
But here, I haven't talked at all about Laura, I've just rambled on about what I think of her, and not very well at that. Laura is 16 at the beginning of the series, leaving her boisterous home in Lark Rise to live in Candleford and work at the post office, under the supervision of her mother's cousin, Dorcas Lane, who runs the post office. She is very wide-eyed and unused to everything at first--Candleford is a high-class town in comparison with the village of Lark Rise, though it is a small one. Gradually she becomes accustomed to it and learns to love her new life, though she continues to stay connected with her family and friends in Lark Rise.

Dorcas Lane
As aforementioned, Dorcas Lane runs the post office. She's a single lady and therefore Quite Independent. She inherited the post office from her father, although I'm sure it could not have been passed down to a more deserving and capable person than she. She loves it and the community wholeheartedly and finds herself satisfied with her life--most of the time. She has a little tendency towards meddling, although it all comes from an earnest desire to help people... also, she is sometimes accused of meddling when half the people come to her for advice, plain and simple, and she can scarcely avoid it. She can't be expected to just act like a hired counselor--give her advice and then forget all about everything; she really cares about these people and what's happening to them.
As much as I admire Miss Lane in many ways, sometimes she does infuriate me. She can be rather high and mighty at times, and it's like she can make assumptions about other people and try to help them and all that, but when they try to do it with HER... well, she bites. As my mamma often says, she can "dish it out but she can't take it". And besides for that she is a bit of a know-it-all, and quite opinionated. (And the opinions themselves sometimes annoy me--especially her more 'liberal' ones. When it comes to her reading Charles Darwin, I agree with Thomas. Oh wait, haven't talked about him yet...) I must say I like her best in her vulnerable moments. Oh, and she has a good sense of humor, and be quite funny with all her announcements that such-and-such is her one weakness. Let's see, how many can I think of that she mentioned? Food, baths, picnics, clothes... I think that's just from the first few episodes. Next time I watch the series I should keep a real list.
Other parts I've seen Julia Sawalha in: Mercy Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1995), Jessie Brown in Cranford (2007); and apparently she did the voice for Mouse in the animated/cartoon Kipper movies I used to watch. Ha, ha, ha. Now I want to watch them again. :P By the way, it's rather amusing to compare Dorcas Lane to Lydia Bennet. That is, it's amusing to try to compare her to Lydia Bennet, and fail miserably.

Thomas Brown
Thomas is the mail-carrier. Well, the main one; Laura has a few "rounds" of her own after the first few episodes. I have mixed feelings about Thomas, but for the most part he annoys me. He is sooo moody and has absolutely no sense of humor. (Well, on second thought, let's change that to 'very little'.) He has very strong convictions about things, which I do respect in a lot of ways; I don't agree with the Church of England but a lot of his sermonettes are Biblical and I agree with some things. He always sticks up for what is right. But on the other hand, some of it is just ridiculous, and there lies the problem... I think that the general idea is supposed to be that he and his opinions in general are ridiculous, when really it is blended and people who know better can discern which things are which, but everyone else probably just views him as one of those crazy Christian fanatics. (It's supposed to be comical, you know.) I admire his character for being devout, but I don't admire him for being unreasonable as he can be. And as I said... major mood swings. Man, that guy is a straight melancholic. I can be quite moody myself, but Thomas is the extremity. Eh-heh.

I do like him and Margaret (his sweetheart/fiancee/wife, depending on where in the series you are) together. I think that she's the only sort of person that could have been right for him... but that being said, it makes a nice romance.


Minnie
Minnie doesn't come in until the second episode of Season 2, but I'm going to talk about her anyways, because she's one of my favorite characters. She's the maid at the post office, and she's so FUNNY. One of those people, you know, who don't mean to be funny, but they are. She's not the brightest crayon in the box, I must say that... but she has a good heart, never means any harm, and is a true and loyal friend. That is, you wouldn't want to trust her with a secret, but she'll stick up for you if necessary. (Unless it is too frightening to do so. :P) Anyway... she's hysterical. Her looks, her way of talking, her facial expressions, the things she says, her density, her flustered-ness... oh, and I love it when she hears a new word and tries to say it. "Persisterence" is my favorite, and I never can conquer the way she says "extraordinary".
Now, when she first appears she can be rather annoying. But stick with it, because she improves. And like so many of the characters, I like her best in the 3rd season.
It's fun watching her and Dorcas Lane, who is constantly working at instructing Minnie, and sometimes she doesn't understand half of what Miss Lane is saying. Their random little conversations and exchanges often amuse me.
"Mum... is frivolous bad?"
"On the contrary. Frivolity is essential. When we begin to take ourselves too seriously, we are headed for trouble."
"Do I take myself too seriously, mum??"
"Not often, Minnie. I think you are safe."
I haven't actually seen this actress in anything else, but apparently she played Mary Bennet in the infamous Lost in Austen, which amuses me to contemplate. Also a random person in Oliver Twist (2009).

Pearl and Ruby Pratt
The Misses Pratt are seamstresses who have a shop just down the street from the post office. They are sisters, unmarried, and can be very snooty and uppity and gossip quite a bit... I definitely like Ruby better, although she seems pretty much as bad as Pearl in the beginning. Gradually as you get to know her character better, though, you can see that she's better when she's not so much under her sister's influence. Pearl has some moments where you feel sorry for her, but other than that... ehh. I don't like her.
The two of them are always matching, which, I think they explained once, is somewhat of a publicity stunt. As it happens, though, I think a lot of the dresses they wear are hideously outlandish and the things they actually sell people are nicer.
Victoria Hamilton played Ruby, who was also in P&P95 as Harriet Forster. I've also seen her as Harriet Musgrove in Persuasion (1995), and she's been in a few other period dramas I haven't seen.

Margaret Ellison/Brown
I'm not sure whether to put her in Lark Rise or Candleford, because in the beginning she lives in Lark Rise, I think... she's the daughter of the rector, so it's sort of both while he's living. But once she gets married she lives in Candleford. Anyways, for the most part I like Margaret, except for in a few episodes... in at least one episode, I think they did some things with her that were out of character. But anyways, she's a nice lady, and as I said earlier, the only sort of person who could get along with Thomas (though they do have their problems sometimes... usually his fault though).
The last time I watched the 2011 Jane Eyre, I noticed this actress (Sandy McDade) as Miss Scatcherd, which was a very small part... and she's much more suited to a nice lady like Margaret Brown than a harsh schoolteacher.

In Lark Rise


Robert and Emma Timmins (& family)
These are Laura's parents. For the most part, I don't really care for Robert; too opinionated and generally irritating, although I like him all right some of the time. (Dear me, what a broken record I am.) I like Emma for the most part, although as a sister of mine pointed out, she can be rather irritating in Season 4. (And other times... just not as much.) She is a sensible woman, which is something I greatly admire in the Lark Rise crowd... but then, she's not annoyingly sensible, if you know what I mean. And she certainly has her faults and all that, but anyways.
About the children, I don't have much to say... Edmund is the only one who really has anything to do with anything, and that's in the second half of the series. It's funny to see how young he looks at the beginning, after watching the later seasons.
Brendan Coyle, who plays Robert, was in North & South as Nicholas Higgins (and his character was actually similar to Robert's in some ways), and I know he is in Downton Abbey although I've only seen a few clips of that. Claudie Blakley--Mrs. Timmins--is one of those actresses I see popping up all over the place: Camilla French in He Knew He Was Right (what a character!!), Charlotte Lucas in the 2005 P&P, Martha in Cranford, and those are only the ones I've seen to date. 

Queenie and Twister Turrill

Twister is an old coot (or, as Queenie would call him, a "duffer") who isn't really quite right in the head a deal of the time, and is just an odd one in general. And he complains a lot. And is very touchy. And is very fond of liquor, a trait which I greatly anti-admire. Queenie I like for the most part, except when she's being superstitious and pagan. (Which by the way, Dorcas, does not "only mean rustic faith".) There are some bits concerning that that I do not condone, but fortunately it isn't too often. She keeps bees, which I don't seem to notice in the later seasons... she's a sort of mother to anyone who needs one, having a past and present with taking care of children who need it at the time. She's an interesting character, and as long as she's around I actually find Twister tolerable most of the time.
I've seen Linda Bassett in Our Mutual Friend as a woman named Abby, and in Sense and Sensibility (2008) as Mrs. Jennings. 

The Arlesses 

Caroline Arless drives me nuts. That's all there is to be said. Well, scratch that, I have more to say. She can be sort of funny sometimes, but it's often in a way that irritates me, and her coarseness and general annoying-ness and, well, stupidity, outweigh it if you ask me. And even if not, it's again with the over-fondness for ale. (Actually, any fondness for ale would gain my disapproval but she is even worse.) I find it rather amusingly satisfying that that is what got her in debt, though. Heh, heh, heh.
Ahem. Anyways.
Needless to say, I was glad when she left after the first episode of Season 2 and didn't come back until the end of the series. (She's also gone briefly in Season 1.)
On the other hand, I do like her son Alf, who fortunately was able not to be too much influenced by her while being brought up, it seems. He's a nice fellow; honorable, considerate and rather happy-go-lucky, except when his circumstances get to him and he feels depressed, which isn't all that often considering. He likes Laura in the beginning, although she just wants to be friends with him, even though she seems to come close to considering him a couple times. As for his other romances, there's one in Season 2 where I kind of liked the girl at first, but then she got annoying and I was glad she didn't reappear. As for Seasons 3 and 4... heehee. *smiles mysteriously* Well, I won't give away anything, but I do consider that romance to be very cute.
Mr. Arless is only in one episode... and I like him tolerably some of the time. It is annoying that he keeps leaving, though. He should stay and take care of his family; and with that woman, they need it.

Now I've finished with the main characters, and we can proceed.

Season One (2008)


I saw bits and pieces of the first few episodes of this when my mom was watching it a few years back; but the problem was, what I happened to see was too much of Mrs. Arless and too little of the people in the Post Office. When I watched this season thoroughly, I had already seen seasons 3 and 4 in their entirety, and was curious to see how the characters and situations would evolve. It was quite fun, and I liked a good portion of it, although I still prefer most the other seasons to this one.

Main Characters from Season One

Sir Timothy and Lady Adelaide Midwinter
After a while, I got tired of these characters and the drama involved with them. It's also not quite the thing, because the drama is... not quite the thing. Sir Timothy, though married to Lady Adelaide, still seems to have feelings for his former sweetheart--Dorcas Lane. And spends a bit of time in her company (which most of the time is excused as business), so the wife gets jealous, and all that. As for Lady Adelaide, sometimes I liked her all right, and other times she annoyed me too. I did feel sorry for her, though, and while Dorcas was not entirely blameless, she had a much better sense of propriety than Sir Timothy did--and also a better consideration for Adelaide's feelings. In the last episode she was very rash about things, which did annoy me... but of course it all turns out all right. (It always does, you know.) And Sir Timothy finally realizes what his duty is. (Although technically, why did he go and marry somebody else to begin with, if he was still interested in Miss Lane? And somebody who doesn't seem to be his "type", at that... not clever.)
Oh, but I do think Midwinter is a very romantical surname. I must remember to use it sometime.

Zillah
Zillah is the maid at the post office in the first season (before Minnie). I do not like her. Old bat.
Oh, ahem. Did I just type that out loud?
But I don't like her. She is annoying. I comforted myself, though, that since she was so old, she would probably die by the end of the season. They had to drag it out as long as possible, though....
I recognized this actress when I recently watched the 2001 version of Nicholas Nickleby.

Phillip
Argghhhh. This guy is Laura's beau during this season, and he annoys me too. He's a bit of an arrogant numskull, and I thought Laura a bit stupid to take so long to realize it herself. I suppose she was just interested in him because he was interested in her--but she eventually discovers that there's more to a person than how they act when you're together.


Favorite Episodes
1 - This one is fun because it's the very first.
5 and 6 are both interesting and don't annoy me for the most part.

Not-So-Favorite Episodes
2 - Minus the annoying bits with Mrs. Arless and the people she owes trying to find her and all that, this wouldn't qualify as a least-favorite episode; some of it is quite interesting. So I just skip the bits I find distasteful.
3 - This one was rather irritating in general, but the plot with the maid for Amos and his son was a bit... ehhh.
4 - Mr. Smallweed from Bleak House is in this one, as a villainous character... and it is just not a very enjoyable episode.
8 - I think I can call this one a "least favorite". It is one in which Miss Lane forces me not to like her (and she wears the most low-cut dress I've seen on her in the series, haha). The schoolteacher, around whom the episode revolves, gets on my one nerve, and her romance with him is quite ridiculous. (And in real life he was like nine years younger than her, hahaha...)


Recognizable Actors

Claire Skinner as Mrs. Macey

Mrs. Macey is actually in two episodes and plays a prominent role in one of them. She is the other mail carrier until she leaves before episode 3, and Laura eventually takes over her rounds. There's some interesting story involving her... a mysterious past, muwahahaha. Anyways, I recognized her at once as Fanny Dashwood (half-sister-in-law of the Dashwood sisters) from the 2008 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Oh, and I've heard her as Isabella Thorpe in a radio adaptation of Northanger Abbey. She was pretty good.

Peter Wight as Amos (or "Old Amos")
This fellow appears mainly in one episode (Episode 3, mentioned below), but he makes an appearance in one or two others. I've seen him in Jane Eyre (1997) as the clergyman, Our Mutual Friend as Mr. Wilfer, P&P 2005 as Mr. Gardiner, and Persuasion (2007) as Admiral Croft. ("Such a number of mirrors... there is no getting away from oneself.")

Peter Vaughan as Reverend Ellison
In general I like the roles this actor plays, although he was dreadfully annoying on here. He's... the type who is controlling and wants to have everything his way, and is an old toad while he's at it. *cough*
I've seen him in The Moonstone (1997) as Gabriel Betteredge, Our Mutual Friend (1998) as Mr. Boffin, and Lorna Doone (2000) as Sir Ensor Doone.  He's also in quite a few other period dramas I haven't seen.

Philip Davis as Mr. Ashlow
Yick. This fellow's best known to me as Mr. Smallweed in Bleak House (2005), and I can't say his character is much better on here. I've also seen him on Nicholas Nickleby (2002). 

Stephen Campbell Moore as James Delafield

He shows up in Episode 8, and annoys me greatly. So does Dorcas Lane, because she has a brief romance with him. (Ugh.) Anyways, I've seen him in He Knew He Was Right as Hugh Stanbury... I also see from IMDb that he was on Amazing Grace as James Stephen, whoever that was--I can't even remember.

Jason Watkins as Constable Patterson
He's actually in Season 2 as well. I forgot to include a picture of him... but he was Mr. Plornish on Little Dorrit.

***
Click here to read Part 2!

16 comments:

Kara said...

I LOVE Lark rise to Candleford! I will definitely agree, however, that season 1 is the weakest of the lot. I picked it up a few years ago, and wasn't impressed enough to watch any more. Then I found season 3 at the library and decided "why not?". Which led to watching the whole thing. And watching season 3 several times more. Season 3 is still the best of all 4 in my opinion! :)

There are definitely characters that are annoying, and several that make ridiculous choices and mistakes. But overall, I think I love everybody. I do agree that Minnie is fabulous! (I adore "persisterance". I keep wanting to use it myself, but haven't found the perfect opportunity yet.) ;)

You certainly did your homework on the actors! I knew most of them, but there were a couple that I knew were familiar but I couldn't remember where I'd seen them before. So thanks for that.

Anyway, great review! I'll look forward to the next part. :)

Unknown said...

I'm finishing Season 4 and really like these series. Lots of wise thoughts, I would say )))
P.S. Minnie is adorable! ))

Lily said...

Melody,

Larkrise is one of my "one weaknesses"! = )I love how all of the characters develop through the seasons, especially Laura. I'm finishing up season two, and then it's on to season three. I can't wait for Daniel to show up! ; )

Miss Elizabeth Bennet said...

Yay! Finally, you have a Lark Rise to Candleford review! I shall go through it and comment as I read ;-)

For me, Series 1 was my favorite and Series 3 was my least favorite. I think maybe it was because I fell in love with Series 1 and Series 3 was... well, different. I'm looking forward to your review of Series 3.

I had love-dislike emotions with Laura. I really like how she was at the beginning of the series when she was trying to find her way in Candleford. I started to dislike her after she dated Fisher; after that, it was like the directors were trying to make her "worldly" (for lack of a better term), which didn't work for me.

Overall, I liked Dorcas, but after a while, her meddling got annoying. She does give new meaning to the phrase "my one weakness." ;-) For a Lydia/Dorcas comparison, you could say that they're both stubborn, but other than that...

You hit it on the head with Thomas! There were some things that he said that I agreed with also (and like you, I don't agree with the Church of England, but I still agreed with some of his "sermonettes"... ooh, I think I repeated that a bit ;-) ), but I really didn't like that he was made out to be ridiculous the way that he was. As I recall, as the whole program went on, this came up more and more.

Oh Minnie... I was definitely irritated at her when she first appeared, but I grew to like her (sort of like Pearl and Ruby Pratt). :-) Personally, I thought Zillah was better, but I liked Minnie too.

For Margaret, I want to say she's always lived in Candleford. I'm about 90% sure on this...

Robert and Emma wore thin towards the end of the series (though Robert wasn't in Series 4). I think Robert got annoying for me quicker than Emma, though: after a while, it was like his only purpose was to be political, which got boring/irritating.

Twister I found amusing, and I also liked Queenie for a while, but after about half way through Series 2 I didn't care for them so much anymore. The pagan thing did get to be too much.

I thought Phillip was the best of Laura's boyfriends *shrug*. I really disliked Fisher and I couldn't fully like Daniel in the third and fourth series...

Oooh! The school teacher episode! I really disliked him!

Oh! Stephen Campbell Moore was the guy in Amazing Grace that recorded what was going on during William Wilberforce's meetings with other abolitionists (if that rings a bell).

Woo! Long comment! Can't wait for Part 2 :-D

Anonymous said...

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Jessica said...

I enjoyed this post very much. It has been so long since I saw season 1 that I hardly remember it. ha However, I watched 2-4 recently and loved them, except for the various things you mentioned. I didn't care for those things, either.
I do remember not liking season 1 as much, which is why I haven't re watched it yet. Mostly because of the Sir Timothy plot. It certainly was not "the thing", as you say. ;-)

Miss Dashwood said...

So I'm fiiiiiiinally commenting. :D I like to think that you were waiting anticipatorily (is that a word? apparently not).

I agree, liking/disliking Laura is probably my opinion of her too. She annoys me too much to be a really likable character but she does have her good moments. And I liked Fisher. So there, Marilla.

DORCAAAAAAAAAAS! She's probably my favorite character, hands down. Can't say much for her taste in men (heh heh) but her meddling never annoys me. At least, it hasn't yet. Having only seen two seasons, perhaps I shouldn't judge.

And I love her weaknesses. :D

To be honest, I really like Thomas. He annoyed me to no end at the beginning, but now I find him hilarious (though unintentionally-- think "pie fatigue") and endearing. Of course sometimes he's still a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, but honestly I think that's more the fault of the scriptwriters. I suppose you could argue that the scriptwriters created the character, so my argument is invalid, but I like Thomas and that's that.

*loudly bites apple*

I don't actually have an apple on hand, but I had to make an Emphatic Noise.

And definitely, he and Margaret are adorable together. As you know, I cried at the wedding. (Surprise, surprise.) They're just so perfect for each other. :D

YAY MINNIE! Okay, perhaps SHE is my favorite character. I can't decide. She hasn't annoyed me yet, not even once, and she's just so HILARIOUS. Love her to bitty bits.
"I can't say, mum. You'd only tell me to get out of your sight."

I love the Pratt sisters. I mean.... I hate the Pratt sisters. Well, Pearl anyways. Well, what I mean is, they're mean. Sometimes. But other times I feel sorry for them. Especially Ruby. Ugh, I don't know what I mean. The show just wouldn't be the same without them, okay?

I like Margaret muchly. And her yellow spring-ish outfit from S2... so purty.

Emma annoys me way more than Robert does. I really like Robert-- though it is hilarious how similar he is to Nicholas. :P I keep expecting him to start a strike against something. IDK what, but something.

Queenie and Twister are just so CUTE. You should really see the 2005 Heidi and then you can giggle at Twister being a senile old church warden. :D

GAH CAROLINE ARLESS DRIVES ME NUTS TOOOOOOOOO.

ALF! YAY! I LOVE ALF! *hugs Alf* I can't wait for seasons 3 and 4...

I felt really bad for Lady Adelaide-- and had no sympathy whatsoever for Sir 'Igh Muckety-Muck. (heh... quote from At Home in Mitford. You should read that.) I do think Lady A was too harsh in the whole gate fiasco, but I can't say I blame her... it's too bad for Matthew but if I'd been in Lady Adelaide's posish (as Bertie would say :P) I might have done the same thing. Don't be shocked.

MELODY, DEAR. Did you just call Zillah... an... old... bat????

*waits happily for response*

Yeah, she is annoying. I was not sad when she died. :P

ARGH PHILIP. I hate him. He's such fun to make fun of, though. I'm kinda glad he was on the show because it's always fun to have a character to hate. :P Though there are several other people who fit that role quite nicely, so we really don't need Philip.

The schoolteacher annoyed me SO MUCH. Mostly it was his beard, I think. I tend to be prejudiced against beards. Remind me never to marry a man with facial hair.

Peter Wight was in Persuasion 07??? I did not know this. Must watch it again. He's in the 2005 Heidi too, as the pastor.

WAIT WHAT???????? MR. ELLISON WAS ENSOR DOONE? HOW DID I NOT REALIZE THIS?????????
Ohmygoodness. I didn't even recognize him. Did you tell me he was Noddy??????

An old toad while he's at it... hahahahaha. Your posts rarely fail to MMG, my dear.

Now for Part 2...

Melody said...

Kara,
I enjoyed your comment! :) I find it amusing that Season 3 is what hooked you, too! How splendid! I think once I used 'persisterence' at an appropriate moment... but it can be hard to do with quotes! ;)

Helga,
Glad you are enjoying it!

Miss Elizabeth,
I enjoyed your comment! Funny how our opinions are almost opposite on some things! But I'm glad there are a few we agree on. ;) Yeah, anybody as political as Robert has got to annoy me. "From politics it was an easy step to silence"-- that quote from NA pretty much describes how I feel about politics. Bleh. ;)

Jessica,
Haha, no, not the thing. ;) Thanks for commenting!

Melody said...

{Ignore the last comment. Had to correct a few things. :P}
Miss Dashwood,
(Ha... it's funny to actually call you that... reminds me of the old days!)
Well, yes, I was anticipating your comment. :P I thought that when I published the second part maybe that would make you finally get around to it. HAHAHA. (Well, I had to get you back for enjoying the feeling that I was waiting around for you to comment...)

Somehow I think you're even more emphatic about liking Fisher after you knew *I* didn't. Is this the argumentative nature you speak of, m'dear? :P By the bye, why DO you like Fisher? I mean, you've told me what you like him despite of, but not really what you DO like. (Although I know that's not as easy to pinpoint.) And I'm curious to know thy point of view. I don't dislike everything about him, mind. It's just that the annoying parts outweigh the other ones for me. And I don't really think he and Laura were a good match.

Haha, probably but hands-down? :P But come now, did not she annoy you in the last episode of season 1?

Well, about Thomas... you must remember that you have two seasons yet to see of him. *loudly crunches her own imaginary apple*

I think Minnie is my favorite character. :D

Nope, the show wouldn't be the same without the Pratt sisters. That's for sure. :D And they can be quite amusing.

Well, I hope Robert will annoy you one day. Heehee. Emma really didn't annoy me as much as he did, not that he does all the time. His political-ness is just so ANNOYING. (Although I think it annoys me more on re-watching, haha.) And talking about evolution, too. Oh wait... you haven't seen that episode yet...

I'M GLAD CAROLINE DRIVES ME NUTS. Finally something you don't mind agreeing with me on. ;P (Haha, if I am a wild Beast...)

Somehow I feel that your love of Alf comes in part from expecting to because Petie did. ;D Hey, how come you have to be obstinate and want to dislike Daniel, then? *Offended sniff* (Hahahahaha.) Alf probably annoys me the least of most of the characters... but even he isn't without some things. Men weren't born to cook and have babies, they were born for the alehouse, inDEED. Ughhhhhhh.

You might have done the same thing? I'm SHOCKED! (You told me not to be shocked, you know, so now I must be. *does the Emma look like after Mr. Knightley said "I thought gentlemen always rode in carriages"*)

No, Miss Dashwood, I said WHERE'S MY HAT? ...she's an old bat....
:D

If you ever want to marry a man with facial hair... I will remind you not to. TRUST ME. :D

Um... I DID mention Noddy when we were chatting once, and you did a similar mark about Sir Ensor Doone, hahaha. But I guess you didn't recognize him when he came along! Funny, that.

Ha, my posts "rarely" fail to MYG... that's almost like a back-handed compliment. ;P But I suppose I couldn't say your posts never fail to MMG either... although there are very few exceptions. :)
Enjoyed your comment!

Lara said...

I posted a reply about a month ago - I too LOVE LRTC - but have not heard back - have you abandoned this blog -

Best

Lara Dupont

Melody said...

Lara,
Actually you'd commented on part two, and I answered you there. ;)

Anonymous said...

From an avid reader and fan of this blog--
I just want to say that I LOVE your posts and I do not think you've abandoned this blog at all and I think you are not at all obliged to answer people's comments (and of course you must be busy sometimes) though I think it is nice that you do. People who do not seem to realize that no blog author is obligated to respond to comments should think before they complain, and certainly should not complain about a blog author not posting as frequently. Just wanted to pop in and tell you that. :D

Melody said...

Well, I certainly appreciate your appreciation, Nice Anonymous Person. ;)

Unknown said...

Hey guys. I'd just like to ask if Timothy returns to the series??

Thanks
Xx

Melody said...

Georgia,
No, Sir Timothy doesn't return after season 1, although he is mentioned. Lady Adelaide shows up for one episode in season 3.

Ruth said...

Lark Rise To Candleford is great! Except one or two episodes we skipped. I find Sir Timothy very annoying. Veeery!
Great review, Melody. I like your header by the way!
~Ruth~

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