Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Libramedi Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Phidippides "Lark Rise to Candleford" was an unexpected pleasure to watch for my wife and I over the past several months, and we are sad that we have no more episodes to enjoy. We came across the series after getting interested in "Downton Abbey", and I was pleased to find in "Larkrise" a period-piece show which was relatively free of intense drama (my wife likes "calm" shows).The series chronicles life in two neighboring English towns around the late-nineteenth century: the smaller, agrarian Larkrise, and the slightly larger and more commercial town of Candleford. While the series' initial focus is on the activities of Larkriser Laura, who moves to Candleford to work at the post office, it eventually becomes an ensemble cast show which brings us a touching view of many aspects of life during this time. We watch as romantic relationships grow and falter, as happiness is gained and destroyed, and as human nature reveals its better and worse sides. Issues such as poverty, neglect of family, and temptation with money are dealt with courageously, and modernist issues - such as sexual ones - are thankfully virtually absent from this show.In the end, the pleasure of watching this show is in seeing life in a simpler time and a simpler place. I almost hope they come out with a U.S. adaptation of this show, just so I could watch more episodes; however, this could very well be a let down since the British version is so good on its own.I gave 9/10 stars as the show is a joy to watch in its story development, characters, and the scenery is beautiful. I do admit, though, that Season 1 is rather slow moving for the first few episodes, and it may be a struggle to stay interested early on. Yet if you stay with the show, you will be rewarded with four seasons of touching drama.

pensman This is a slow moving series which I take for a comedy in the style of Ballykissangel but a period piece. And to be fair I'm not in a position to judge. I am about eight episodes into this series but have never seen more than ten minutes of an episode. I was able to recognize Dawn French from The Vicar of Dibley and Brendan Coyle from Downton Abbey but the remainder of the cast is unknown to me. Basically I find the show a cure for insomnia. Really, the nights I can't sleep and even an Ambien won't help, this show makes me comatose; hence the not seeing more than ten minutes of any episode. It does seem to have excellent production values and I am somewhat disappointed at my reaction but if you need an anodyne to induce Morpheus to visit then this is it.

crunchykitten Years ago I read Flora Thompson's three little memoirs and since then have reread them several times- Lark Rise, Over To Candleford, and Candleford Green. They've stayed with me for 50 years, perfect vignettes of English village life in the transitional period of the Late Victorian Age. Recalled without romance or apology, Thompson nevertheless invests the time and places with the grace of her own memories. It's a shame that the writers of this series couldn't see the memoirs for what they were and instead obscured them with bad plots,cheap romance and ersatz emotion- like a venerable English oak being "improved" by glued-on plastic flowers. But even discounting the wretched ravaging of a classic historical memoir, it's just another costume soap, and not a very good one. "Will The Beautiful Postal Carrier Choose the Good-Hearted Village Boy, or the Snobby Middle Class Rotter? Will The Village Slattern Go To Prison? How Will The Still Young And Beautiful Postmistress Resolve Her Unrequited Love For The Squire?" I mean, really. If you can't figure out those plot points you probably don't deserve to own a television.

dane-92 I get so tired of modern drama based around dark, cynical, unpleasant characters. Lark Rise to Candleford is so different. The characters in this little community manage to rise above their conflicts, see past each others' foibles, and support and love each other. The program's good-heartedness is reinforced by a gorgeous soundtrack, beautiful camera work, amazing sets, scenery, and costumes, fine directing, and a rich cast of interesting characters.Granted, it's a fairy tale, but it's a mighty pleasant one. And after all, what's so bad about with having one show on television that actually leaves you feeling better about people?