Lark Rise to Candleford {TV} 2008-2011 (4 seasons)

I confess that I am a sucker for BBC historical series. This show has captured me. It takes place in the late 19th century, based on the semi-autobiographical books by Flora Thompson. Told through the eyes of Laura, (Olivia Hallinan) a girl from Lark Rise, a small hamlet, who goes to Candleford, the big village, to work at the post office, this is her coming-of-age story.

The post mistress is Dorcas, (Julia Sawalha) who is Laura's mother's cousin. She and the post office are the center of Candleford. Dorcas is unmarried and although she does have some romances, her biggest love is the people of both Lark Rise and Candleford.

There is rivalry, of course, between Lark Rise and Candleford: country mouse vs. village mouse. Those from Candleford tend to look down on those from Lark Rise.  Yet both communities often come together into one.

Of course, there are many characters, but all are real and none are stereotypical.

In Candleford, Thomas who does the postal delivery, is a Christian, and romances the minister's daughter. Minnie, who is lazy, young, and romantic, comes to the post office as a maid. The Pratt sisters, who dress alike although there is at least 10 years age difference between them, own the local dress shop. 

Lark Rise is the home of Laura's family. They struggle, as does everyone in the hamlet, to make a living. Laura's father is a free thinker who often causes trouble with his belief that money does not determine the worth of a person. He and his wife have a loving relationship.
Queenie and Twister are an older couple. Queenie reads tea leaves, and practices herbal medicine and a little magic. Twister spends his days trying to get out of working and into the pub. They are also a sweet couple.

Of course, there are many other characters in this community. We come to know and love them all.

This is a gentle, sweet series. Little stories, a sense of the coming modern age as things such as bicycles arrive, a great feeling of community, relationships that change and grow, bits of humor, and an increasing depth to all the characters, have captured my heart.

The biggest surprise for me was the actress who plays Dorcas. She looked so familiar to me, but I just couldn't place her. Imagine how blown away I was when IMDB revealed that she played Saffron, Edina's daughter on Absolutely Fabulous! You couldn't imagine two more different characters. She does an amazing job with both.

If you loved Anne of Green Gables, you will love Lark Rise to Candleford.

CREATED by Bill Gallagher.  CAST: Olivia Hallinan, Julia Sawalha, Linda Bassett, Ruby Bentall, Claudie Blakley, Brendan Coyle, John Dagleish, Victoria Hamilton, Mark Heap, Karl Johnson, Sandy McDade, Ben Miles, Liz Smith, Matilda Ziegler.