Doctor Thorne: Season One Recap and Reaction

Okay, this is certainly the only season of this show, so it really is a mini series, but there certainly could be more.
Though Doctor Thorne (Tom Hollander) is the title character, he isn't the most interesting, that would be his illegitimate niece, Mary (Stefanie Martini). She is kind-hearted and precious to all, but she has no money and confusing parentage, something which must be horrible, especially in 1850s England.
Mary has eyes only for Frank (Harry Richardson), but his family is in deep debt and only wants him to marry a woman with money. His mother, Lady Arabella (Rebecca Front) and nasty aunt, Lady Decroacy (Phoebe Nicholls) want him to marry the wealthy and elusive Ms. Dunstable (Alison Brie) from America. She is another interesting character, who only likes the chase and enjoys collecting and refusing marriage proposals, including one from the wealthy but annoying and pompous Mr. Moffatt (Danny Kirrane), who is, for a time engaged to Frank's sister, Augusta (Gwenyth Keyworth).
Then, he disappears, never to be seen from again. It is no big loss.
Now, then there is the owner and former criminal Sir Roger (Ian McShane), who killed Mary's father after the father impregnated Sir Roger's sister and spent ten years in prison for the crime and then he came out and made tons of money and got a title. He also owns the land that Frank's family lives on and after he dies, it all goes to his alcoholic son, Sir. Louis (Edward Franklin), who is nasty and wants Mary to himself, but fortunately she refuses his offer.
Though this isn't written by Jane Austen, it sure could have been, with a mostly tidy ending. Mary inherits Sir Roger's fortune after Sir Louis's death as you should never drink and ride as she is his eldest niece. So Lady Arabella has to come begging back to Mary, urging her to take Frank back, which she does.
They get married, Frank's one sister marries the vicar while his other sister shoots daggers at her cousin who is engaged to the lawyer she liked. And the American has actual eyes for the bachelor doctor.
The show is pretty good. The sets are inconsistent, however, with the village scenes looking like they are on a sound stage while the gorgeous estates are lovely and realistic looking. The costumes are great along with the acting, especially since most of the actors are unknown. I have seen a lot of British dramas lately, though this one wasn't as funny as the film I saw earlier. Again, I will watch this show again. Grade: B+