Ep 1. Part 1

In Catherine Cookson's The Rag Nymph, season 1 episode 1 named Part 1, we are transported to the streets of Victorian London, where we meet young Millie Forester, played by Perdita Weeks, a scrappy young girl who's struggling to survive in the harsh city. Millie's mother died when she was young, and her father is a violent alcoholic who beats her regularly, leading Millie to run away from home.

After being caught stealing food, Millie is sentenced to time in a workhouse. Here we are introduced to some of the harsh realities of Victorian life, as the workhouse is full of children who are beaten, starved, and forced to work long hours doing back-breaking work. Millie manages to survive in the workhouse, but she longs to be free.

When she is released, Millie tries to survive on the streets, but it is a harsh life. She is forced to steal food and clothes just to survive. But when she meets an older woman named Miss Florrie, played by Susan Cookson, her luck seems to turn around. Miss Florrie runs a rag shop, and Millie begins working for her, learning the trade of selling rags, all while trying to avoid the dangers of the city streets.

We also meet a young man named David, played by Archie Panjabi, a doctor's son who is studying medicine at university. David is drawn to Millie, and he tries to help her, even though his father disapproves of his interest in the lower classes.

The episode ends with Millie's father finding her, and dragging her back to their squalid home. Millie is trapped once again, with no hope of escape.

Catherine Cookson's The Rag Nymph is a gritty and emotional drama that explores the horrors of Victorian life in England. It is a realistic look at the challenges faced by the poor and working-class, and it shows the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Part 1 is an engaging and heart-wrenching start to the series, and it leaves us eager to see what happens next to Millie and the other characters.