Ep 1. Episode 1

Emma (2009) season 1 episode 1 - Episode 1

Emma (2009) is a British television series based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name. This first episode introduces us to the titular character Emma Woodhouse, a young woman living in the early 19th century village of Highbury. Emma is a busybody who loves to meddle in the lives of others, particularly when it comes to matchmaking. As the episode opens, Emma has just successfully orchestrated a match between her governess Miss Taylor and a local widower named Mr. Weston. With that successful match under her belt, Emma sets her sights on finding a match for her new friend Harriet Smith.

Harriet is a young woman of unknown parentage who Emma has taken under her wing. Emma believes that Harriet is too good to marry the local farmer Robert Martin, who has proposed to her. Instead, Emma encourages Harriet to set her sights higher and fall in love with Mr. Elton, the local vicar. Emma believes that she has elicited signs of interest from Mr. Elton towards Harriet, much to Harriet's delight.

Meanwhile, Emma's older sister Isabella and her husband John Knightley come to visit. John is Mr. Knightley's younger brother, and he is already suspicious of Emma's meddling ways. Mr. Knightley is a close friend of Emma's and serves as a voice of reason. He is the only person who is able to criticize Emma without her taking offense.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that Emma has been misreading Mr. Elton's intentions towards Harriet. He is actually in love with Emma herself, much to her shock and dismay. Emma had never considered Mr. Elton as a suitable match for herself, and she is horrified that her matchmaking has caused him to develop feelings for her. She tries to brush him off gently, but he is persistent, even going so far as to serenade her with a song.

Meanwhile, Emma's father Mr. Woodhouse is extremely concerned about the quality of the air and the possibility of catching cold. He is constantly urging Emma and Isabella to stay indoors and avoid any kind of exertion. He is also preoccupied with his health, taking medicine and looking for new cures for his various ailments. Emma is constantly indulging him, even to the point of canceling a dinner party that she had planned.

Finally, the episode ends with a visit from Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston's son from his first marriage. Frank arrives in Highbury to much excitement, and Emma is immediately intrigued by him. Mr. Weston has spoken of his son often, but Emma has never met him before. She is looking forward to getting to know him better, but Mr. Knightley is wary of him from the start. He believes that Frank is not to be trusted, even though he cannot pinpoint exactly why.

Overall, episode 1 of Emma (2009) does an excellent job of setting up the characters and their relationships. Emma is a flawed but charming heroine, and the other characters are all well-drawn and interesting in their own right. The episode is beautifully shot and well-acted, with Romola Garai giving a standout performance as Emma. Austen fans will be delighted by this adaptation, and newcomers to the story will find a lot to enjoy as well.