Eight weeks of this for it to end rather predictably. We get a reversal of Jane Austen's opening of Pride and Prejudice, where it's not the man with a good fortune looking for a wife but rather a man looking for a wife with money, the new universally accepted truth. Sidney (Theo James) was that man and yes this did end on a downer. As we got Charlotte (Rose Williams) in tears. Very anticlimactic as she changes him to the point where he admits he is his true self around her and then rats he has to bail out his brother and save the day and their fortune. Tom (Kris Marshall) failing to insure the buildings due to a high premium as is synonymous with most people today.
This series is probably one of looks and outstanding glances, as once again Charlotte happens to see Sidney in town whilst visiting Georgiana (Crystal Clarke) and if looks spelled ravaging feelings, well they had them ten fold and more. Except in Georgiana's case where, if looks could kill...! As with Pride and Prejudice it began with loathsome looks and misunderstandings of character between both Charlotte and Sidney. Before blossoming into love and ending in heartbreak for both.
Everyone even Mary (Kate Ashfield) expecting Charlotte and Sidney to get together and damn it man he was even going to propose. Charlotte realizing how Stringer (Leo Suter) felt with his unrequited feelings towards her, at least she would have if she'd known. But she did in a roundabout way suffer and realize you can't always get what you want. Even Lady Denham (Anne Reid) speaks of her lost love before she met her husband who actually went off with someone else; so perhaps foreshadowing here for Charlotte and her predicament. However it seems Esther (Charlotte Spencer) was the only one who fared well from all this as she is forced by Lady Denham to take a carriage ride with Babington (Mark Stanley) who loves her even if she dislikes him and as he later tells her at the Midsummer Ball, he doesn't want to own her and make her his property but to walk side by side with her. Though she did fall to pieces when Edward came storming in, in a last ditched effort to declare his love for her. Nay her money and Sidney must escort him to the London stage. So Charlotte dances with Stringer instead who tells her of his news, having just walked out on his father (Rob Jarvis) after telling him of his apprenticeship in London. His father all but calling him a traitor.
Charlotte telling Georgiana about her love for Sidney and she should see him in a new light, walking to the town with Sidney as she has a dress fitting but doesn't make it there as he's anxious to speak of the night before and his feelings for her. Finally kissing.
Arthur tells Georgiana she should come to the ball and they dance. Diana (Alexandra Roach) thinking he's going to leave her and she'll be all alone. However he says they're just pals and he doesn't know about the pitfalls of marriage or engaging in it. As they come across the fire started by Stringer senior who suffers a stroke and dies.
Charlotte and Sidney not getting their dance together but also ending up in that same balcony scene under different circumstances now. Sidney must rescue the family before Lady Denham sends for the debtors for Tom. Sidney engages himself to Eliza (Ruth Kearney) who gets him after all in what appeared to be a bad version of Jane Eyre, where Rochester had the secret, mad wife and he wanted Jane, where Sidney rides up in the carriage for a not so fond farewell with Charlotte and she hopes he will be happy. Well Mr Rochester he wasn't or Mr Darcy. As she's said her goodbyes and returns home.
Stringer stays in Sanditon to rebuild for his father's memory and will try his luck later as an apprentice as Charlotte tells him she's going back and probably won't be back again. Oh and she didn't seem to say goodbye to Georgiana either! What a friend!
Esther getting married in the ending I think Jane Austen would've reserved for Charlotte and Sidney who were definitely her romantic leads. As Sidney started out as a roguish Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility, minus penchant for money. but ended up that way to save Tom and the family.
As said this wasn't Austen's ending so we can come up with our own version of however we would've wanted things to be and after eight weeks of this it wasn't the finale most wanted. Might as well have made it a Wuthering Heights!!
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