(2010) Beginning with a contrast between the sunny upbringing (even though her mother had died) of Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai, who when she smiles, which is often, reminded me of Katee Sackoff's playing Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace in Battlestar Galactica), pampered and spoiled by her father (Michael Gambon) and looked after by her governess Miss Anne Taylor (Jodhi May) at their manor in Hartfield, and the harsh circumstances of Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper), completely orphaned, and Frank Weston (Rupert Evans), who becomes Frank Churchill, sent to live among strangers, this BBC, four-hour TV mini-series is a comical, romantic adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, published in 1815, adapted by Sandy Welch (adding considerably by means of preface to the original story) and directed by Jim O'Hanlon, with lovely photography of English landscapes and interiors.

Weary of listening to the tiresome reports from Miss Bates (Tamsin Greig) of Jane's accomplishments, vain of possessing a superior intuition, Emma prides herself on being an expert at judging people - predicting and precipitating a marriage between her sister Isabella (Poppy Miller) and John Knightly (Dan Fredenburgh) - though John's critical, rational brother Mr Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller) upbraids her: "You are mistaken as always." After Emma brings together Miss Taylor and Mr Weston (Robert Bathurst), her father, exasperated over the emptying of his home, tells his daughter: "You must stop this matchmaking."

As for Emma, having a fortune and much occupation of her time at meddling in others' affairs, she declares she has no intention of marrying. Companionless after Anne's moving into her husband's home, Emma discovers a new, special friend, a pretty simpleton, lacking sensibility and wit, Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan), natural daughter of an unknown person, whom she takes under her wing to makeover (encouraged to think above her station) into a prize for a man of quality, videlict, Mr Elton (Blake Ritson), the young clergyman.

However, when Harriet reveals having an interest in Robert Martin (Jefferson Hall), a decent farmer with ambition, Emma counsels Harriet ("Please do, influence me") to refuse Mr Martin's offer of matrimony in "a good letter." In a heated quarrel, Mr Knightley, her handsome cousin, 16 years her senior, takes issue with Emma over Mr Martin's lack of suitability for Harriet, an obscure girl: "He is her superior," referring to him as an ideal gentleman. Subjecting others to her fancy - "not your playthings, your dolls" - Knightley vociferously tells Emma that it's madness for Harriet to refuse Mr Martin, predicting that one day she will regret her meddling.

After showing Harriet a contribution of a poem to their collection of romantic riddles from Mr Elton, Emma helps her friend understand the meaning as a proposal of "court" plus "ship"; but Emma discovers to her enormous, humbling embarrassment that Mr Elton has all along intended a declaration of love for herself: "Make me the happiest man in the world."

Soon after Emma's introduced to Jane Fairfax at Miss Bates's home followed by news of Mr Elton's engagement to Miss Augusta Hawkins, a lady of wealth, upsetting Harriet, the long-anticipated Frank Churchill arrives at Highbury. At a party hosted by the Coles (of whom Emma initially expresses disdain for their being involved in business trade and of low origin), Emma and Anne discuss the curious arrival of Jane Fairfax in Mr Knightley's coach and the anonymous gift to her of a pianoforte.

Suggesting to Emma a ball for dancing, as well as demonstrating affection toward her ("How does it feel to be in love?"), Frank receives a letter, suddenly calling him away again. Regarding how Isabella already has five children, "I would rather be married than right," she expresses to him her alteration of attitude.

Following her hosting a party for the newly married but insufferable Mrs Elton (Christina Cole), Emma gets her wish of dancing with Frank when he's released from obligations to his aunt and the ball is reinstated; but her turn with Mr Knightley, after he gallantly dances with neglected Harriet, has her admitting to him she was wrong about Mr Elton.

Emma, having sworn off further interference and matchmaking, nevertheless recommends Harriet's checking her feelings toward Frank ("I owe you my life") after his rescuing from the clutches of young ruffians her and another lady on their walk through the woods. "I will never marry," insists Harriet.

Of the rumors attaching him to Jane, Mr Knightley speaks of his liking and admiration for Miss Fairfax to Emma but adds that her reserve is a fault. Yet unable to question her own judgment of others, Emma, musing on Frank's potential as a match for Harriet, defends Mr Churchill's character from Mr Knightley's dubious regard.

Acting irritated with the hot weather, Frank expresses his disgust to Emma, saying he's sick of England, "thwarted in everything I want," wanting to depart for Switzerland. During a picnic at Box Hill on an uncomfortably warm afternoon, Frank in his attempt to enliven the party - including Mr Elton and his wife Augusta, who considers everyone inferior to herself, Jane (soon to take a position as a governess), Harriet, Mr Knightley, and Mr Weston - announces that Emma, who has suggested a game to reveal what others are thinking, is "irresistible"; as the game begins, Emma curtly snips at poor Miss Bates, a volubly tiresome old maid, resulting in Mr Knightley's admonishing her apart from the others for "unfeelingly" showing contempt toward a poor woman: "badly done."

Feeling the piercing criticism striking at her core, Emma, realizing that she has demonstrated charity but not kindness, pays another courtesy call to Miss Bates, who praises her for having a good heart and thoughtful character. On a sudden impulse Mr Knightley goes off to London to stay with his brother John and Isabella.

Immediately following the death of Frank's aunt, news of his engagement to Jane (after a secretly lengthy relationship between the couple) reaches other ears. Astonished Anne says to Emma (also "blind to their engagement"): "I thought I knew him." "No wonder she cannot stand the sight of me," Emma remarks about Jane, wondering aloud at why Frank had pretended otherwise, admitting that at one time she had imagined herself in love with him.

When Harriet intimates to Emma her own expectation of Mr Knightley's taking a serious interest in herself (reminding her mentor of an earlier encouragement, "Let us think of superior men"), Emma all at once realizes that she's "been so busy managing everyone else's heart" without knowing her own. Too late? Mr Knightley returns from London with a surprising announcement.

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