Emma: A Victorian Romance—Season One / Season Two

Based on the popular manga by Mori Kaoru, this well-crafted period romance, set in London circa 1895, explores the gulf that separates a pair of would-be lovers: Emma, a house maid, and William Jones, scion of a wealthy merchant clan. The two meet when William visits his old governess, Mrs. Stowner, Emma's upright but sympathetic employer. He's a dreamer, largely uninterested in the family business, and romance with a commoner would threaten the Jones' intentions of marrying into nobility. Furthermore, his father has been busy arranging a marriage with sweet, young Eleanor Campbell, who can't hold a candle to Emma in William's eyes. For her part, Emma's sense of responsibility doesn't allow her to consider bringing ruin upon William, despite her feelings for him. After Mrs. Stowner's death, Emma flees London, and William spends much of the second season striving to become worthy of her while she attempts to find employment in a new home. Nicely mixing drama and romance, Emma also serves up comic relief from its solid supporting characters, including Mrs. Stowner, William's assorted relatives, and the Indian prince Hakim, who also sets his sights on Emma. Presenting all 24 episodes from the 2005 and 2007 first and second seasons (plus a special segment recapping season one) in Japanese with English subtitles, suitable for 7-up, DVD extras include a booklet in the style of a Victorian newspaper, a picture book with line art, and character biographies. Highly recommended. (L. Martincik)