Cranford is a village in England during the 1840s. Times are about to change (railway), but not all want to move with the times. On the surface, this mini-series is mostly about the "gossiping" of some single women in this village. Viewed more deeply, this involves quite different people in very different layers, all trying to cope with their lives: The two stand-alone Jenkyns sisters who take up a young relatives from Manchester, the new Dr. Harrison, Lady Ludlow, whose Administrator Mr. Carter, to all kinds of neighbors, a maid, the pastor's family ... it's about love, family, wealth, caste society, change, how to behave, ... and how precious top gets clean again! All human emotions shall be studied ... The first episode I had to look three times, in order to understand who to whom such related and what is at stake - but the effort is worth it! Yes, it is English, a wonderful, British, Old English (with lots of vocabulary) - you get used to it. The complex class differences that prevailed this time in England, are audible only in the original. If you do not understand the language, the design of this series is only visually a pleasure. As you would expect from the BBC, the whole "set" with an awful lot of love has been created to detail. The development of the characters, who seem to be at first not connected strongly with each other, and the action are getting ever stronger. The first three episodes are good, but the last two ?? Unbelievably great. These actors, who all give a great performance. Absolute recommendation!