The BAFTA-nominated BBC mini-series Howards End, starring Hayley Atwell and Matthew Macfadyen, is now streaming on Netflix. The four-episode adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel explores Victorian class divisions and family drama through three distinct households: the affluent Wilcoxes, the compassionate Schlegels, and the struggling lower-middle-class Basts.
Plot and Characters
Sisters Margaret (Hayley Atwell) and Helen Schlegel (Philippa Coulthard) befriend the prosperous and traditional Wilcox family. Margaret forms a deep connection with Ruth Wilcox, the owner of the family estate at Howards End. On her deathbed, Ruth takes an action that shocks the Wilcoxes, especially her son Henry (Matthew Macfadyen). Meanwhile, the Schlegels try to help Leonard Bast, a financially strained clerk. Romance, pregnancy, and mortality converge in a powerful conclusion with a surprising revelation.
Critical Acclaim
One IMDb reviewer praised the cast's "sparkling" performances, writing: "Matthew Macfadyen and Hayley Atwell just lit up the screen... I thought perhaps the glory days of BBC Sunday night costume dramas had passed, but their performances here were wonderful, the control and command of the dialogue was exquisite. A delight." Another viewer noted: "The story was interesting and I could not guess the ending. I loved the characters and how they changed over the course of the series. They learned and evolved. I loved the acting, photography, music and details about life in England and the different classes of people."
Cast and Awards
The 2017 production features an ensemble cast including Julia Ormond, Joseph Quinn, Alex Lawther, Tracey Ullman, Rosalind Eleazar, Jonah Hauer-King, Joe Bannister, Sandra Voe, and Miles Jupp. On Rotten Tomatoes, a reviewer said: "This transported me to a place that was very charming. I loved the story, the actors, the costumes and sets." The series received a BAFTA nomination for Best Mini-Series in 2018, and Atwell was shortlisted for Best Actress at the Broadcasting Press Guild awards.
