Looking for a compelling period drama to watch? Perfect timing: Julian Fellowes, a master of the genre, delivers an ideal series for a cosy evening.
A period setting, an impossible marriage, a rigid and codified aristocracy… it sounds like the perfect recipe for a comforting drama. This historical fiction is Doctor Thorne. Created by Julian Fellowes—and produced by two well-known Hollywood figures—it first aired in 2016 and enjoyed notable success at a time when period dramas were less in vogue. Here’s a closer look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1wUwBTv6Qo
An impossible love story in 19th-century England
Mary Thorne is a young woman with neither fortune nor real social standing, raised by her uncle, Doctor Thorne. She grows up alongside the wealthy Gresham family of Greshamsbury Park, whom she visits regularly.
During these visits, she gradually grows close to Frank Gresham, the family’s son. Their budding romance, however, seems doomed: the Greshams are determined to save their estate through a financially advantageous marriage, even at the cost of true feelings. In a society where reputation and wealth outweigh everything else, Mary and Frank must fight for their love against an aristocracy willing to do anything to preserve its status.
A series by Julian Fellowes
Written by Julian Fellowes, Doctor Thorne revisits his signature themes: social hierarchy, arranged marriages and rigid social codes. As with all his works, the series is visually refined, with elegant period sets and costumes, and a restrained atmosphere that avoids excessive romanticisation. It also features Harry Richardson, who would later appear in The Gilded Age, another acclaimed Fellowes production.
With just three one-hour episodes, Doctor Thorne is an easy and engaging watch. While the writing can occasionally lack subtlety—some characters feel slightly caricatured, divided between virtuous figures and more stereotypical antagonists—the series still delivers on its promise and will undoubtedly appeal to fans of historical dramas.
Looking for your next watch? These articles should inspire you:
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