Have always loved period dramas, film and television and of all different periods/settings, from a very early age. This is a love that keeps increasing getting older, now at an age where what wasn't noticed or appreciated by me when younger is very much now, and the more, old and new and whether adapted from a book or not, watched. A love that is highly unlikely to ever go and my appreciation for them is actually even more.
'Love for Lydia' is not quite one of the classics to me, but it is still a great series that deserves wider recognition. It is great that those who have seen it remember it very fondly, it is not hard at all to see why. It's sumptuous, very entertaining and very charming, and its look at love in youth and the pain it can cause is hardly superficial or empty. Quite the opposite. One may on occasions feel the slow pace, where parts are a little too deliberate and aimless early on. 'Love for Lydia' though has held up very well where the numerous good things are so good that any pace reservations can be overlookable.
It looks great, with the period lovingly and handsomely recreated complemented beautifully by the photography. The music, with a gorgeous main theme that sticks in the mind forever, never intrudes in mood or placement and doesn't over-emphasise what the characters are feeling.
The writing is layered and thought-provoking, not feeling too talk-heavy or wordy, flowing with ease and smoothly too. The direction is relaxed but not too relaxed, the intimacy is brought out effectively but it doesn't get static. The story entertains, charms and moves, the bigger scenes are not too overblown and the smaller scenes are very sympathetically written and played.
A great cast also helps. Mel Martin (in some of her best work), as a character that one can see where the attraction is but also has flaws that frustrate like immaturity and selfishness, and Christopher Blake are appealing in the lead roles. The supporting cast is full of talent, with standouts as two of the most interesting characters being a larger than life Michael Aldridge, in a role he was born to play, and a pre-'Brideshead Revisited' Jeremy Irons already showing incredible promise again in a tailor made role.
Summing up, great series. 9/10
