Twelve years ago, Victorian England’s rigid class hierarchy prevented Emma and William from becoming a happy couple in the first season of Emma – A Victorian Romance. Historically accurate, right? The odds of those two getting together in Victorian England are slim. Screw that! This is fiction; love conquers all! We cannot let this stand! Fortunately, the second season agreed with this sentiment and brought us our fairy tale ending ten years ago.
The charm of the first season was watching two young people fall in love. While chronologically adults, “young” accurately describes Emma and William when they first meet. Emma’s life has been very sheltered with few relationships beyond her employer and the few people that visit. William is stuck in seemingly perpetual adolescence, content to fritter away his time rather than make the effort necessary to become a responsible heir to his father’s business. Their growth out of these comfortable patterns begins painfully when Emma runs away, both of them knowing that society balks at the mere idea of their relationship.
Second Act allows us to essentially watch both characters “grow up”. Emma has become a maid in a wealthy German household opening up her social circle to a diverse group of men and women each with their own hopes, dreams, and intrigues. William is forced to navigate the difficulties of honoring his commitment to marrying Eleanor, an arrangement beneficial to his father’s business, with his unwavering love for Emma. Their lives are separate but unexpectedly intertwined by an unexpected source.
Divulging this source would spoil a large portion of this series, but what can be said is it explains much about the motivations and politics of the people in William’s life. And politics is the driving force behind William’s growth. His rejection of Eleanor sparks her father into trying to ruin the Jones’ company. This may seem like cliched, mustache-twirling villainy, but it fits the character and time period perfectly.
Viscount Campbell’s pride is already wounded by needing the assistance of someone from the lowly gentry class. Now his daughter is being rejected by this mongrel son? These upstarts need to learn their place! This backfires spectacularly by making William realize his place is by his father’s side, working hard to keep the business going. Yet, he still cannot forget Emma, and their mysterious shared connection ensures they are not out of each other’s lives. Their plot threads eventually tie their lives together for good giving them the happy ending we feel they deserve.
If this were a live-action production, it would easily be at home on Masterpiece Theater or as the period piece du jour on a premium cable channel. While not likely the most historically accurate outcome, the visuals, music, and story perfectly capture the romance, intrigue, and society of Victorian England. My romance with Emma has only grown over the past decade and shows no sign of fading.