It is, in some ways, a British version of Dynasty. Based on the popular novel by Evelyn Waugh, when middle-class freshman and aspiring artist Charles (Irons) arrives to Oxford, he is befriended by the rich, spoiled party boy Sebastian (Anthony Andrews) who soon falls in love with Charles and introduces him to his severely dysfunctional upper-class family living in the grand estate of Brideshead. —Amanda Schurr, Created by: Andrew Davies Stars: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Ton Courtenay, Andy Serkis, Eddie Marsan, Arthur Darvill, Most people discovered the exceptional talent of Claire Foy while watching The Crown, but those who watched the 2008 miniseries Little Dorrit (part of the BBC’s well-received run of adapting some lesser-known Dickens works by Andrew Davies) had an early heads-up. Watch even more of your favorite shows online or in the PBS Video apps by signing up for Iowa PBS Passport. Weaving in a host of Indian characters’ stories with English socialites and politicians, Indian Summers actually has something interesting to say—even if it too often gets caught up in melodrama to say it as effectively as it should. Miller’s Knightly is the perfect mix of affection and exasperation, even if he’s never much of a surprising love interest (he is obviously the love interest). As the seasons progressed, many more tragedies would befall the Crawley family, making for some of most compelling television in recent memory, and all capped off with one of TV’s most satisfying finales (and then, another hugely satisfying movie). The PBS on-demand streaming service, Passport, is now available in Canada! To put it another way: In Prime Suspect, Mirren delivers one of the most brilliant, influential performances in the history of the medium. But Sanditon, a book with no ending, was given life as a PBS miniseries. Temporary paralysis? Featuring both PBS and select local programming, Buffalo Toronto Public Media Passport allows you to watch even more episodes of your favorite shows, including releases of entire new seasons. A well-costumed soap opera, Mr. Selfridge is on the saucier side of Masterpiece’s offerings, and also makes a good companion watch with the similarly-themed (and earlier-set) Paradise. It sounds very posh, but in fact Louisa Durrell (the exceptionally charming Keeley Hawes) moved her four children from England after the death of her husband because they were struggling financially. The series, stunningly directed by Hettie MacDonald and wonderfully adapted by Kenneth Lonergan, is in many ways an atypical and refreshing period piece. Watch on Hulu, ITV’s long-running crime drama, which follows Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) as she pursues her quarries and confronts the Metropolitan Police Service’s rampant sexism, possesses the skeleton key to the antiheroes of TV’s most recent “Golden Age”: a slight, perceptive, ambitious, alcoholic British woman. On your schedule. Running for four seasons, the series had a strong start and waned a bit as it continued (as its plot became increasingly ludicrous and key actors came and went), but it was always entertaining, providing a host of unforgettable characters who emotional impressions far outlast the series. And yet she etched in our memories a uniquely compelling, damaged character, one to whom every detective to appear on TV since bears no small debt. The 11-hour series earned an Emmy for the late Laurence Olivier and catapulted Jeremy Irons into a successful, Oscar-winning career. So it holds that Grantchester—a story about a murder mystery-solving vicar—would itself be grand. —Lacy Baugher, Created by: Sandy Welch Stars: Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Louise Dylan, Rupert Evans, Tamsin Greig, The most important aspect of any Emma adaptation is the chemistry between Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightly. After all, it is hard to imagine the virginal Austen writing explicit sex scenes that pepper this new work. Yup. Among the politics there are also two beautiful love stories at the center of Victoria; a chaste one between the young queen and her first Prime Minister, “Lord M” (as she calls him), and the other between Victoria and her future husband Albert. How to reset your access for your Passport benefit I made a donation but did not receive an email with an activation code. What sets this drama apart are the four women at the center of the puzzle, a quartet of former code breakers from the same WWII think tank as that in The Imitation Game (granted, these characters are fictional). As the heroic Poldark, he vows to sets things to right even as the odds seem insurmountable. Find show websites, online video, web extras, schedules and more for your favorite PBS shows. Full list of past and current PBS shows. Last Tango in Halifax is an easy and comforting binge-watch. Watch full episodes online of shows from MASTERPIECE on PBS like All Creatures Great and Small, Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Poldark. It is familiar ground prettily trod, a comforting return to a story told many times over. Gentle but determined, she works tirelessly to care for her father in debtors prison. like Frontline, NOVA, Sesame Street, The Joy of Painting and Arthur, but it’s also full of great UK period pieces and crime series. And indeed, in this 2009 version starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller hits all of the right notes. The PBS Passport activation code was not in the email I received. KCTS 9 Passport is an added benefit that gives eligible donors and supporters of the station extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming online and via mobile devices. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking® and Raymond James, with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust, created to help ensure the series' future. The miniseries is perfect for those who love the flavor of Jane Austin but want an unexpected storyline with a touch of the erotic. Though it could have used more time in which to spin its intriguing tale, the uniqueness of the setting and storyline, especially given its elements of gothic drama and unexpected humor (not to mention the immensity of Taylor-Joy’s talent), make it both a surprising and worthy watch. When most of us think of PBS series, our minds go to what is actually under the Masterpiece banner. The dizzying, cacophonous ending is a bit rushed given all that comes before it, but Little Dorrit is ultimately one of the most sweeping and engrossing miniseries of our age, too oft forgotten but well worth your time. Do not miss! But there are a number of compelling subplots that provide some balance, including romance and revolution, and all of it is a complicated collision between Indian and English culture. Gorgeously costumed and compellingly crafted, Victoria is a wonderful series to fully immerse yourself in—one that will (for many Americans, at least) have you constantly on Wikipedia to learn more about the historical events it portrays. And this version, written by Andrew Davies, is an absolute banger. Over the course of seven seasons, spanning 25 years in all, Mirren found in Tennison the resignation, and the rage, that faces any uncompromising figure in this comprised world. Easily paired with the similarly themed, slightly later-set Jeremy Piven-starring series Mr. Selfridge, this story of a small-town girl who moves to London for a coveted retail job is definitely worth a look. Gorgeous to look at and with a sumptuous score to match, the series is Victorian-era consumer porn. Wolf Hall’s primary strength, however, lies in depicting the fascinating machinations of 16th century politics, the importance of religious freedom and reform, and how a few choice whispers can so drastically influence the progression of history. —Allison Keene, Created by: Guy Burt Stars: Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael Stirling, Sophie Rundle, Julie Graham, Hattie Morahan, Murder mysteries and the BBC go together like tea and crumpets (see also: Ripper Street, George Gently, Hinterland, this list). Worsley’s intimate knowledge of the niche subject matter of each of her documentaries will leave you full of trivia facts, yes, but her illuminating the lives of women in particular during these eras gives essential context into how our own modern customs were formed. There have been many prior versions of the tale, and most of them condense it to two or three hours. The show truly blossoms in its second season, and continues from there to be an emotional and surprisingly cozy portrayal of the royal household, the people it employs, and a nation Victoria and Albert seek to modernize. Watch on PBS Passport. Yes, PBS has given us many treasures over the last 50 (yes, 50! —Allison Keene, Created by: Simon Langton Stars: Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Susannah Harker,Julia Sawalha, Horse riders make their way through a 16mm-colored countryside, Colin Firth makes his way into a lake, and Austen makes her way onto TV in what remains the definitive adaptation of Austen’s work for the screen (the breathtaking opening three minutes of Joe Wright’s 2005 film adaptation aside). Early women’s lib-meets-whodunit in this intriguing ensemble drama, which contrasts the murder investigations with post-war gender roles. Watch full episodes of your favorite PBS shows, explore music and the arts, find in-depth news analysis, and more. Stream your favorite PBS shows, create the perfect watchlist, connect with WNED PBS, and more — anywhere you watch. As they decipher the clues and patterns, the ladies must juggle their sleuthing efforts with their newly civilian lives—to avoid suspicion, de facto leader Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin) and co. tell their husbands they’re in a book club. Full list of past and current PBS shows. Worsley usually dresses up in accurate period wear and includes herself as an observer in the reenactments of English life from centuries ago, paying homage to those whose working conditions were beyond horrid, never holding back in describing gory details. The reboot version, which launched in 2012 and ran for just two seasons (and only six total episodes), features a stacked ensemble that includes Keeley Hawes, Claire Foy, Alex Kingston, Eileen Aitkins, and original series cast member Jean Marsh. Ross Poldark, an officer in the British army, returns home to his family estates in Cornwall to discover that not only was he presumed dead, but his father has died, the woman he loves is marrying his cousin, and he has a mountain of debts and no obvious way to raise the funds. The miniseries is able to expand on the film adaptations in important ways, allowing Emma to have a little more shading than just the spoiled girl with nothing to vex her and who likes to run everyone’s lives. With PBS Passport, an added member benefit, you get extended access to a digital, on-demand library of more than 1,500 episodes of PBS favorites. It can be very quiet, but once it has its hooks in you, you won’t be able to stop bingeing each of its three, six-episode seasons (with another on the way). Led by an excellent cast (including, rather iconically, Gillian Anderson), this battle of wills (both literal and figurative) is long enough to be able to include the full measure of Dickens’ strange side characters and dizzying plot strands, all of which connect in one way or another and in fantastically satisfying ways. The two solve Cases of the Week as vicar Sidney listens to jazz, questions his faith, and tries to stop being in love with his childhood friend Amanda, since they cannot marry. Though uneven at the best of times, Indian Summers makes a case for itself thanks to excellent performances from Nikesh Patel, Jemima West, Aysha Kala, and Alyy Khan in particular. Full list of past and current PBS shows. Become a Member Lushly produced, it should not be mistaken for high art so much as engrossing melodrama. Watch on PBS Passport, A tour of BBC programming would be incomplete without some Agatha Christie. Fortunately for us, this is an ace adaptation, helmed by David Suchet’s masterful performance. Watch on PBS Passport, Mr. Selfridge is the Masterpiece series for those who thought Downton Abbey didn’t feature enough sex, gangsters, or Americans. It is a soothing, deeply engaging alternative to the sound of fury of so many current dramas. Both are unique in their own ways, especially in how the show allows Victoria and Albert to settle into both domestic bliss and the natural scuffles all couples face (augmented, of course, by their positions). KCTS 9 is excited to share an improved experience for our Canadian members. —Amanda Schurr, Created by: Paul Rutman Stars: Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Nikesh Patel, Julie Walters, Jemima West, Olivia Grant, Aysha Kala, The best thing about Indian Summers is that it presents something totally different than the typical Masterpiece fare. WNED PBS Passport is the member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming. But the less known about the gentle twists the final season takes the better. Highlights of programming now available include every past episode of award-winning MASTERPIECE favorites like Poldark, Victoria, and Sanditon, along with hundreds of hours of Nature, NOVA, Antiques Roadshow, Finding Your Roots, Baking with Julia, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Ken Burns … —Allison Keene, Created by: Andrew Davies Stars: Felicity Jones, JJ Feild, Carey Mulligan, Technically Northanger Abbey is a film, but in all honesty I remember PBS airing it as a two-part miniseries. If you can, give. Stream top food shows, dramas, histories, documentaries, and more. But like so much in the streaming world, just because we once saw these shows on PBS doesn’t mean you can find them there today (RIP forever the OG Anne of Green Gables miniseries). While it may drag a little as it goes, including the repetition of a number of relationship quandaries, not enough can be said about Damian Lewis’ lead performance as the jealous, difficult Soames. But more than anything, you feel like you’re being let it on the secrets your schoolbooks never shared with you. PBS Passport is a tax-deductible member benefit that allows you to stream even more of your favorite PBS shows including THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, and original series like JAMESTOWN, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES, and MODUS. WPBS Passport can be accessed on the WPBS website, as well as on PBS.org, the PBS Video apps for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and the PBS app on AppleTV and Roku once WPBS has been identified as the member’s local station. Murder conviction? Cancelled after just two seasons, the charmingly messy Indian Summers may not quite end on a satisfying note, but the journey is one worth taking. The PBS Passport library features episodes from popular programs, including American Experience, American Masters, Antiques Roadshow, Nature, NOVA, and Masterpiece. Overall, Cranford is a timeless, comforting, joyful watch for the whole family. This 2018 retelling of the novel—which many people familiar with the story through the stage musical and its screen adaptations may not have actually read—is brought to you by Masterpiece, and it lives up to the name. In the style of Bleak House which came before it, this miniseries has the time and space to explore all of Dickens many side characters and subplots, but the beating heart of the series is Foy’s Amy Dorrit. Look at and with a sumptuous score to match, the series have... — anywhere you watch foibles of the erotic souls, Brideshead is always revisiting. To offer cast and setting is thoroughly lovely, there ’ s even a Piven lookalike ( Emun Elliott as! 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