Lark Rise to Candleford

After putting off trying this series out, even though my parents recommended it over and over again, we finally got the first disc of Lark Rise to Candleford on Netflix.  After watching now about fifteen episodes, Harriet and I have actually found a TV series we enjoy even more than our beloved Downton Abbey.

I grew up on The Waltons.  Harriet especially loved Little House on the Prairie.  This sort of TV show that did so well in the 1970s just doesn't really exist any more, except on TVLand and Hallmark. 

Nowadays you have to delve deep into rerun-land to find wholesome, but top-quality shows like these.  At Drennon we have The Andy Griffith Bible Study, and it fits our congregation to a T (and Harriet and me too).  My other favorite shows of all time include M*A*S*H, Northern Exposure, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Office, none of which really have the same high values as Andy Taylor, John Boy and Charles Ingalls exude in their beloved shows.  This one comes close.

The scenery of Lark Rise to Candleford is amazingly detailed and historically accurate (to my layman's eyes).  The characters are real--earthy, gritty, warts-n-all kind of folks.  The stories aren't all pretty, and there's occasionally sadness, but that's okay.  This show is a thing of beauty.  The picture I included above says it all:  patient Queenie and mad hatter Twister, as appealing a pair as you could every imagine.  I've fallen in love with finding out what happens next with Alfie, Pearl and Ruby, Thomas Brown, Dorcas, Robert and Emma--everyone.  The only sad part is knowing that, even though this show was a smash hit in Britain, it ended last year after four seasons.  Once we hit the fortieth episode, that'll be it.

Find this show on Netflix, on DVD or on YouTube.  It makes you feel good in an age when TV rarely does that.