South Riding — Season 1, Episode 2: A Land of Hope and Glory?

Episode synopsis

Sarah checks out her new school and teachers ready for the term to come, but is less than impressed by both the conditions of the building and the staff's lack approach to teaching. She also checks out the other pupils that will be attending there when she goes to a local stage production, where she encounters the Holly family, a family of nine who live in caravan type slums and who one of their daughter is rushed in to hospital with suspected appendicitis. The eldest daughter Lydia befriends the new neighbours Fred and Nancy Mitchell, who have had to move there when money became tight. While Nancy is snobbish about the area, Fred encourages Lydia's love for literature.

About South Riding

Headmistress Sarah Burton, a left-wing feminist, is disgusted by the social injustices faced by her pupils. In spite of her beliefs, she reluctantly finds herself falling in love with a Tory landowner whose wife is suffering from insanity.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Powers That Be
• E3Those For and Those Against
• E4A Time to Live and a Time to Die
• E5The Facts of Life
• E6In Sickness and in Health
• E7Dreams and Destinations
• E8Beggars and Choosers
• E9Take What You Want ~ and Pay for It
• E10The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away
• E11The Number of Our Days
• E12Forgive Us Our Trespasses
• E13Give Us This Day