For a series that already veered dangerously close to pulp romance, this episode went for it, full throttle.
Seems a village girl in, I dunno, Istanbul, is weaving her answer to a marriage proposal into a magic flying carpet. It ends up at auction, where the lovestruck boy needs to buy it, take it to his uncle the rug merchant, who will interpret the answer.
Except an older couple show up to buy a rug for their beautiful big Irish Wolfhound. Virginia McKenna does a really nice job as the guest star. She's determined but also very sweet without being dotty. Superbly written and acted character.
The B plot is that Lord Alex Felsham's business affairs mean he wants to relocate to Hong Kong. Lady Jane is under pressure to say yes or no to the move. Pavel Douglas had a tough assignment as Alex. He needed to show affection for Lady Jane, and some realistic disdain for Lovejoy without being haughty or prudish, while maintaining our sympathies as viewers. A lesser actor could easily have steered the character into caricature or villainy, but Douglas threaded the needle every time he appeared.
The entire plot unfolds with a highly romantic subtext that works in several different directions. And before it gets too sappy Lovejoy is there to remind us that he's always got his eyes on the antique prize.
Seems a village girl in, I dunno, Istanbul, is weaving her answer to a marriage proposal into a magic flying carpet. It ends up at auction, where the lovestruck boy needs to buy it, take it to his uncle the rug merchant, who will interpret the answer.
Except an older couple show up to buy a rug for their beautiful big Irish Wolfhound. Virginia McKenna does a really nice job as the guest star. She's determined but also very sweet without being dotty. Superbly written and acted character.
The B plot is that Lord Alex Felsham's business affairs mean he wants to relocate to Hong Kong. Lady Jane is under pressure to say yes or no to the move. Pavel Douglas had a tough assignment as Alex. He needed to show affection for Lady Jane, and some realistic disdain for Lovejoy without being haughty or prudish, while maintaining our sympathies as viewers. A lesser actor could easily have steered the character into caricature or villainy, but Douglas threaded the needle every time he appeared.
The entire plot unfolds with a highly romantic subtext that works in several different directions. And before it gets too sappy Lovejoy is there to remind us that he's always got his eyes on the antique prize.
