Watch Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne

Set in the fictional village of Greshamsbury in Victorian England, Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne is a charming and engaging period drama that follows the lives of the wealthy aristocratic family, the Greshams, and their neighbors in the village. The show, which is based on the 1858 novel of the same name by Anthony Trollope, revolves around the story of Doctor Thorne, a kind and benevolent country doctor, and his relationship with the Gresham family.

At the heart of the story is the romance between Mary Thorne (Stefanie Martini), the doctor's penniless but spirited niece, and Frank Gresham (Harry Richardson), the heir to the Gresham estate. Mary's mother had been estranged from the Thorne family due to a scandal years ago, and Mary has grown up in relative poverty. Despite their differing social standings, Mary and Frank fall deeply in love, but their relationship is complicated by the financial difficulties facing the Gresham family.

Frank's mother, Lady Arabella Gresham (Rebecca Front), is determined to maintain the family's status and sees Frank's marriage to Mary as a financial disaster that would lead to the family's ruin. Lady Arabella would much prefer Frank to marry a wealthy heiress, such as Martha Dunstable (Alison Brie), the daughter of a millionaire from the United States who has recently moved to England. In Lady Arabella's eyes, Martha has everything Mary doesn't - wealth, social status, and connections.

However, Frank is torn between his loyalty to his family and his love for Mary, and he must navigate a series of challenges in order to convince Lady Arabella and his father, Sir Roger Gresham (Ian McShane), that he should be allowed to marry Mary despite her lack of wealth and connections.

While the central romance provides much of the narrative thrust, there are also a host of other subplots and characters that make Doctor Thorne engaging and entertaining. Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, brings his signature wit and charm to the script, and the show is full of memorable and eccentric characters, including the scheming Lady Arabella, the gossipy Miss Dunstable, the dashing but unreliable Sir Louis Scatcherd (Edward Franklin), and the crotchety old doctor himself.

In addition to the strong writing, Doctor Thorne also benefits from excellent production values. The costumes and sets are all beautifully crafted, and the show's cinematography effectively captures the lush landscapes and stately homes of Victorian England. The music, composed by Ilan Eshkeri, is also a highlight, with its lilting strings and evocative melodies adding to the show's overall charm.

Overall, Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne is a delightful and engrossing period drama that combines romance, humor, and drama in equal measure. The show's strong writing, memorable characters, and beautiful production values make it a must-watch for fans of the genre, and it stands as a worthy addition to the canon of classic British TV dramas.

Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between May 19, 2016 and on Amazon Studios