Another series from the pen of Julian Fellowes and yes it is rather Downton Abbey wouldn't you say, even the music has a distinct air of Downton to it. Whereas the opening titles are more Sanditon. As with Vanity Fair, this begins with the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the Duke of Wellington's impending victory at Waterloo. Focusing on the Trenchard family, with the father, James (Philip Glenister) being the one responsible for acquiring supplies for the army: a Jack of all trades and known as 'Magician'. A victualler. He wants to attend the ball given by the Duchess of Richmond (Diana Kent) and his daughter, Sophia (Emily Reid) has acquired three invites for each of them from the Edward Lord Bellasis (Jeremy Neumark Jones) also the nephew of the Duchess. A cad in disguise, only Sophia's too smitten to see through the veneer. Not heeding the warnings of her mother, Anne (Tamsin Greig) who is loathed to attend the ball. And no she doesn't think she married below her status with her husband as she tells Sophia. (Pronounced So-phi-ya.)
Anne thinks the ball will be a disaster anyway and she doesn't need to be against it. The Duchess of Richmond is also loathe to have them here, after all they're just 'commoners' trying to muscle in on this society do, irrespective of there being a war on. Felt more like a last farewell for the military who were anyone with a title. As it was also attended by the Prince of Orange. Sophia still besotted with Edward can't bear it when they leave immediately for the battlefield with the advancement of Napoleon and Waterloo.
Victory is sealed and Bellasis is lost which leaves Sophia heartbroken but also hiding a secret. The drama moves on 26 years to Belgravia, London and we learn that Sophia is dead, she died shortly after the battle. At this point and her conversation with the Duchess's sister, Belasis' mother, Lady Brockenhurst (Harriet Walter) you get the impression either Sophia isn't dead or she's been kept in hiding re a baby. So as to avoid embarrassment, as Anne said as much in the beginning. It was all about reputation. Anne attends a tea thrown by the Duchess of Bedford and it is her idea to do so, since they can sit with anyone they want to and leave when they want to. Here she encounters the Duchess again as she catches her plate from falling, reminiscing on old times and speaking of Sophia. She's overheard by Lady Brockenhurst (sounds like Brocklehurst from Jane Eyre) who later speaks with Anne privately. Flashing back to the soldiers coming to balls at the house and Sophia dancing with Bellasis. It is a strained meeting as there isn't much to tell about him and Sophia.
At dinner with Anne, Oliver, their son (Richard Goulding) and his wife, Susan (Alice Eve) who Anne dislikes immensely and the feeling is mutual. The conversation is strained and they don't want Oliver to go beyond the status he is accustomed to or to rise above it. Having a full blown disagreement in front of the servants and so of course, you get the servants gossiping downstairs, as in Downton with varying views on the family, even after Turton (Paul Ritter) has said they shouldn't speak so as they pay their wages. Yet joins in with them. How very droll, not.
Anne wants to tell Lady Brockenhurst about her grandson, but Trenchard disagrees as he doesn't want his daughter to be seen as a "harlot." Another flashback to Sophia marrying Bellasis and having been given permission by her father, who wanted better things for her and honestly the status wouldn't hurt him either in business. Sophia tells her she's pregnant and how she was duped into marrying him. Thus explaining the look of horror on her face at the ball when she spots the parson, one of the military men. She'd also hate being known as a "street walker." Thus they go away and under an assumed name up north, she gives birth to a son and dies from complications of bleeding out.
Eventual comparisons will be made to Downton, obviously since it's that similar, but trying to maintain a modicum of difference. Exposition on Thomas Cubbitt, architect was funny in the sense that he was well known, but did we really need the long clunky detail of how Trenchard fit into their line of work. As well as Oliver, tad snooty, brought up that way, but then being made to live it down as he will be given a meagre little house to live in, even if as one of the servants stated, Susan brought money to the family. Which doesn't help Anne any as she was so enamoured with Sophia, as she tells the duchess how they shouldn't have favourites and the implication being Sophia was hers.
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