This one ranks up there with the likes of Pride & Prejudice, North & South, Our Mutual Friend, Wives & Daughters and so forth. There was just the right amount of 'darkness' but not the whole movie, as to make it feel like one big bummer. Great characters, acting, costumes, plot twists. I was hesitant of Gillian Anderson being Lady Dedlock, until I googled her and read that she grew up in England and moved back to the US as a teen. That explained why she does the accent so well! I watched the whole series over a few night (it's nice and long but I still didn't want it to end) and then promptly started it again. Highly recommended!