I am a huge fan of period dramas, so I was thrilled that Hallmark Channel gave this Jane Austen classic a go with a diverse cast. I went into my viewing experience with a reasonable mindset: this is Hallmark's version, and it is a made-for-TV movie. I was pleasantly surprised that this rendition exceeded my expectations. The acting was enjoyable and featured some familiar faces. I instantly recognized Dan Jeanotte from other Hallmark Channel projects and Bethany Antonia from "House of the Dragon". Additionally, the sets, scenery, and costumes were lovely. Everything from the estates to the countryside to the vibrantly colored dresses was well done. Also, the music was beautiful and seemed inspired by Bridgerton's soundtrack. As a music junkie, I was so excited to hear "Weak" by SWV and "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal! In my opinion, Deborah Ayorinde gave a wonderful performance as Elinor. She is a beautiful actress and portrays Elinor with much grace and poise. Overall, I enjoyed this movie and found it to be very entertaining. I hope Hallmark Channel will continue dabbling with more period dramas and maybe even a series.
Reviews
19 Reviews
A Difficult Episode to Watch; So Far, Best of Season 2
7 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was extremely difficult to watch, but in a strongly cinematic way. I had a very visceral response to everything that happened to poor Yesim Cetir. Seeing her hesitation regarding the exploratory procedure, enduring the complications of the biosynthetic trachea, and ultimately suffering through 191 surgeries to attempt to fix an unfixable problem was so heartbreaking. It was so hard to wrap my mind around how any human being could be put through that. So many procedures, so many organ removals, the loss of quality of life, and blatant medical malpractice. It made me so angry for her and her family. In my opinion, this is the best episode of Season 2 so far, and one of the best episodes of any show I've seen in some time.
Loved Seeing Ross & Demelza's Romance Rekindling
24 January 2024
This episode, though filled with a lot of politics and strategy, was also a great reminder as to why Ross and Demelza make a great team. They have similar hearts and values and, despite many bumps along the way, try to do the right thing. Between the love triangles and challenges of the mine and attempts to create change in Parliament, their relationship has suffered many obstacles. It is encouraging to see them returning to London together and rekindling their romance. The extended absences definitely put a strain on their marriage, but seeing them together on their first morning in London and acting like newlyweds was so heartwarming. The actors have a fantastic chemistry, and I hope to see more of moments like that in the remaining episodes.
Emotional Episode
24 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was full of emotion. The flood at the mine really got my heart pumping. It was clear that Dwight was motivated to save his friend not only as a physician but also because he felt helpless in saving his own daughter Sarah from her congenital heart condition. I cried tears of joy when he was able to resuscitate the young man, and then I cried tears of sadness when baby Sarah slipped away. Luke Norris's portrayal of Dr. Dwight Enys really shined in this episode. He has always been a very likable character, but these painful moments allowed his talents as an actor to be in the spotlight.
Dramatic and Suspenseful; Renewed My Love for the Show
22 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Partway through my watching of Season 3, I started to feel as if the show was dragging a little bit. The storylines seemed to be losing a bit of the heart that made it so special. This Season 4 opener was dramatic and suspenseful and renewed my love for the show. Personally, Tristan Sturrock's performance as Zacky Martin broke my heart. His pain as a father who not only lost his child but also witnessed his death in such a tragic way was portrayed so authentically. I also love the addition of Josh Whitehouse as Lieutenant Hugh Armitage. I do not condone cheating or stepping out of one's marriage at all; however, after everything Demelza has endured with Ross and Elizabeth and Ross's frequent neglect and attitude, it is refreshing to see her be desired and appreciated.
A Little Frustrated w/ Ross at Times, But Ultimately a Passionate Ending
19 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Throughout the episode, I found myself fairly frustrated with Ross. While I adore him overall and understand he feels a responsibility to be supportive of Elizabeth and the family after the recent tragedy, it broke my heart to see him neglecting his own wife and child, especially during the Christmas season (not with gifts, but with love and attention). Despite Ross's many risky endeavors, Demelza has remained steadfast. She's loved him through their few highs and their many lows. Ultimately, the ending was redeeming. It was possibly my favorite scene up to this point in the series. I absolutely loved how sensual and passionate that moment was, without becoming overly sexualized and inundated with nudity as other shows can. It was beautifully done. Going forward, I do hope Ross will learn to prioritize his own family while continuing to be the "good guy" for everyone else.
Beautiful, Quirky, Exciting & Heartfelt
2 September 2023
This wonderful movie made me laugh, cry, think, and feel. To be a sci-fi movie with alien and animal-robot hybrids, it had a tremendous amount of heart. The scenes with Rocket, Lylla, Teefs, and Floor were some of the best out of the entire film. So much love was poured into these animated characters! Guardians of the Galaxy has been one of my favorite series to emerge from the MCU. It has important themes about finding meaningful friendship in a universe where you feel as if you don't belong. I am sad to say goodbye to these characters and their stories, especially because I spent many hours watching them with my mother and making sweet memories, but I am so glad we've been able to enjoy the journey with them. To everyone involved with this project, well done! 👏
Finding Their Groove!
19 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was a great opening for the show's second season. In season one, the new show jitters were somewhat palpable. Although everyone was doing a great job, there was a little bit of a rhythm issue that made things feel overly cheesy at times. I can tell that the cast started finding their groove in S2E1. Each actor's dialogue and their interactions with one another seemed smoother and more in sync. Seeing Joey Lawrence was such a treat. It was a nice nod to Mayim Bialik's Blossom days. This is turning out to be a very cute show. I'm looking forward to watching more of season 2's episodes!
Ladies in Black
(2018)
Very Sweet and Charming
28 September 2022
After enjoying the handsome and talented Ryan Corr's portrayal of Ser Harwin Strong in House of the Dragon, I decided to take a look at his catalog of work. Luckily, this title was available on Tubi, and I have to say - it was such a treat to watch! It is a sweet, charming, and perfectly lovely film. I have always loved the 50s - particularly the music and fashion - but, as an American, I found it especially interesting to catch a glimpse of this era through an Australian lens. It was also refreshing to see how immigration and women's higher education were touched upon during this time in history. In addition to all of the wonderful performances by the entire cast, I absolutely loved seeing the beautiful locations throughout Australia. In fact, it has even inspired me to, hopefully, take a trip there one day. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and I'm sure others will, too.
As Luck Would Have It
(2021 TV Movie)
A Lovely Irish Romance
21 March 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this Hallmark movie! In my opinion, it is one of the better movies that Hallmark has produced in recent years. Great cast chemistry, beautiful Irish scenery, and a believable romance. Allan Leech is so charming...would love to see him in more Hallmark projects. I highly recommend this!
Bawled Like a Baby
9 February 2022
Heartbreakingly stunning performances by the cast in this episode. So emotional in the best possible way. My mother and I have been watching the series together from the beginning, and we are going to miss this incredible show.
Impeccable Acting; Painfully Spectacular
23 September 2021
This episode left me in a puddle of tears. The impeccable acting was painfully spectacular, and it made me feel as if I were in the halls of Downton Abbey, experiencing the strong emotions as the characters in the show.
Engaging
13 June 2021
This introductory episode to Dr. Lin's exploration was very engaging. The combination of technology and cinematography created a beautiful adventure into the Knights Templar's intriguing past. I look forward to watching more episodes of Lost Cities on Disney Plus.
Painfully Beautiful Portrayal and Tribute
12 June 2021
This conclusion to the series left me in a puddle of tears. My heart broke all over again seeing the events of that tragic day portrayed in such a painfully beautiful way. Congratulations to all of the cast and crew for a job well done in paying tribute to an icon.
Emotional to Watch
6 March 2021
I will not spoil the details of this episode, but I will share that my reaction was very emotional. I cried and was disgusted by the actions and demands of the townspeople. Although this is fiction, I imagine similarly horrific events occurred during this era of American history. We've come so far, but there's still much more progress to be made.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend
(2020 TV Movie)
My First Interactive Experience
6 June 2020
I loved the original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt series, so I was excited to try this as my first interactive title. Sadly, I was let down. For me, it was way too time-consuming! It seemed to take forever to reach the "You Win" ending. Maybe the interactive experience just isn't for me. I loved seeing the original cast and I'm glad others enjoyed the adventure, but in my opinion this missed the mark. Still, thanks for bringing Kimmy and the gang back one more time.
Ben Is Back
(2018)
Emotional
5 May 2020
This was a very emotional film. As someone who loves someone with an addiction, I empathized with Julia Roberts's character. My heart broke as I saw Ben battle with trying to make healthy choices and being tempted by his past. The story was painfully beautiful, and I encourage others to watch it.
Emotional
5 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was painfully beautifully and brilliantly portrayed. As a woman, I empathized with Claire's loss and mourned the death of her child with her. So far, this is my favorite episode of the second season. After watching the extremely difficult Wentworth Prison episode from season one, I was unsure if I would be able to continue with the series, but I am so glad I stuck with it. This was a very emotional experience in the best way possible.
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