It was a wonderful episode, and wonderfully acted by all concerned. I too felt like I'd been put through the wringer by the end of it.
I was fearful that Dorcas would lose her 'little man' - but as the episode progressed, I realised that probably not, and that it would be one of the Lark Rise children whom he had befriended (that little comment of his about how he and Dorcas were out there for 'fun', but that to his frienRAB this was life and the difference between eating and starving was very poignant).
Poor Alf. He started off the episode on cloud nine and by the end of it he had lost one of his siblings. Emma's appearance with his baby sister (it was a sister, wasn 't it? My memory isn't what it was! And it didn't used to be much!
) when he was standing outside the house looking so lost, grief-stricken and bewildered was perfect timing (and knowing Emma, done on purpose). It was just what he needed.
I loved the back stories, too - both our postie's and the eldest Pratt sister. (By the way, I loved Ruby's little aggrieved expression that she shared with Laura earlier on in the post office. She doesn't approve of much that her elder sister does, but she loves her and so she puts up with it - but she's not above sharing how she feels!). There was so much left unspoken in the Pratt history there - I definitely got the impression that Ruby was close to death when she had the measles back when she was young (or at least her sister thought she was going to die). And the lack of exposition there made the moment all the more poignant.
And I sort of expected their appearance at Lark Rise. I know Thomas didn't want to get involved with nursing the sick children because it brought back too many bad memories of losing his siblings and he couldn't go through that again, but also, he couldn't not help - he has a charitable heart even though sometimes he can be a bit inflexible in his beliefs.
I was tearing up as Dorcas kept her vigil - and I was so pleased to see Margaret come and insist that she got some rest or sustenance - even though it was fairly obvious she had no appetite for either. She was too frightened to sleep or eat (I can empathise). And the crash of the cup and saucer in such quiet, emotional moments, was jarring - but the look on Margaret's face (and the beetle - my god, where did that thing come from? I'm staying out of cornfielRAB if that's where they live!!!
) and the laughter on 'little man's (or Sidney's!) was such a relief!
Wonderful, wonderful episode, the suffering and pain and heartache juxtaposed with the desperate need to get the harvest in and gather the remains for flour for the winter, plus the beautifully sunny weather was absolutely brilliant.
A tour de force by all concerned.
(And, I'm another one who's got a hankering after Robert! But then, I've been a fan of the actor for a long time ...)
Haven't sold them though, I want my originals in their pretty boxes...
and they prob want a cliffhanger for S4