The BBC One/Starz series was adapted fromE.M.
Here, she meets Henry Wilcox (Macfadyen), the insensitive patriarch of the family.
Even more thanPride & Prejudice,Howards Endfeatures a couple that immediately clashes.
Image via Starz
The romance slowly sneaks up on the audience.
Afterward, he uncertainly asks her if they should resume the tour of his house.
Howards EndandPride & Prejudicehave similar plots.
Image via Starz
Like the Bennets, the Schlegels are on the brink of losing their home.
I don’t intend to correct him or to reform him, only connect."
In this story, romance and marriage are treated as only one small part of a person’s life.
It’s counterintuitive that her feminist ideals would lead her to marry a wealthy capitalist man.
Yet counterintuitive details like this make Forster’s commentary on society interesting and layered.
We love his portrayal “most ardently.”
Unlike Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wilcox is never proven to be a genuine catch.
There are no misunderstandings; hes just a little bit of a flop.
But, like Margaret, the audience slowly sees the appeal of his stumbling earnestness.
Longergens sharp dialogue brings out the humor, while Atwell and Macfadyen still manage to sell the romance.
But it’s even funnier anda perfect showcase for Macfadyen’s acting.
