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Emma

Emma

1972Miniseries1 season6 episodes~240 min/epMidcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

After arranging a friend's marriage, the incorrigible Emma Woodhouse turns her attention to matching Mr. Elton, the local vicar, with Harriet Smith, her new protégé.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Emma?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Emma streaming on BritBox.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Emma?

Emma earns 1 badge: Sharp dialogue.

Reception

Is Emma worth watching?

Emma's Midcredits score is the 34th percentile of all shows, from 653 ratings across 2 sources. 60% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

34th percentile

Better received than 34% of shows

32nd percentile among Comedy23rd percentile among 1970s
Acclaim (how much people like it)39th
Approval (how many liked it)32nd

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

68 /100

39th percentile of all shows

39th percentile among Comedy27th percentile among 1970s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

60% liked it

32nd percentile of all shows

26th percentile among Comedy19th percentile among 1970s
60% rated it 7–1040% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

29th percentile

646 ratings across platforms

15th percentile among Comedy20th percentile among 1970s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 20% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A faithful but studio-bound adaptation that prioritizes Austen's character work over spectacle.

Fans praised

  • faithful adaptation true to Austen's spirit and specifics
  • strong performances from Godwin, Carson, and supporting cast
  • allows breathing room for character development and humor

Detractors panned

  • low-budget, stagey studio production with poor sets
  • Doran Godwin lacks charm, wit, and is miscast as too old
  • bland pacing, uninspired direction, no chemistry between leads

What stands out

DialogueDivisive85

witty, wordy, true to Austen; some find it stilted

CharactersDivisive82

complex, nuanced portrayals; Mr Woodhouse and Miss Bates stand out

HumorDivisive78

dry, wordy comedy; Mr Woodhouse and Mrs Elton highlight

ActingDivisive75

strong ensemble praised for fidelity; Godwin divisive as too plain/old

Plot and storyDivisive75

complete, faithful to novel; some find it draggy

PacingDivisive70

leisurely, allows character depth; detractors find it boring

AtmosphereDivisive65

intimate, captures period feel; detractors find claustrophobic

Cinematography40

stagey studio sets, few outdoor scenes, dated look

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 1972 · 6 episodes

  • S1E1

    Part One

    Jul 20, 197240 min
  • S1E2

    Part Two

    Jul 27, 197240 min
  • S1E3

    Part Three

    Aug 3, 197240 min
  • S1E4

    Part Four

    Aug 10, 197240 min
  • S1E5

    Part Five

    Aug 17, 197240 min
  • S1E6

    Part Six

    Aug 24, 197240 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Emma like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
WarmRomanticAbsurd
Heaviest: late
Dry humor
Register
Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series holds its material sincerely, playing the social comedy and emotional development straight without irony.
The rideThe series maintains a consistent light warmth, with the emotional peak arriving in the final episode as the central romance resolves.
StructureThe story is told conventionally from beginning to end across the series, following Emma's matchmaking and personal growth.
Episode formatEach episode continues the ongoing story of Emma's matchmaking and her relationship with Mr. Knightley, with no self-contained cases.
Season formatThe series tells one complete story over a single season, adapting the novel with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves a warm, agreeable feeling of social harmony restored, with a gentle touch of missed connections and quiet understanding.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows Emma Woodhouse's well-meaning but mistaken matchmaking schemes in her social circle, a classic comedy of manners. Her journey of self-discovery and correction of flawed judgments aligns loosely with the rebirth archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% (this title) · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 10% of showsClass · 4% of showsComing of age · 9% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores romantic love as a social game, where class distinctions and personal growth shape the path to true partnership.
StanceThe series wryly examines the social rules of romantic love and class, questioning the artificiality of matchmaking while still affirming genuine connection.

The world

19th centuryRuralDomesticRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score
Setting19th-century rural England, the village of Highbury and its estates
MusicLikely a period-appropriate score typical of BBC costume dramas of the era.

Content guide

Is Emma okay for kids?

As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (0/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (5 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Emma have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Emma?

Cast

Doran Godwin
as Emma Woodhouse
John Carson
as Mr. Knightley
Donald Eccles
as Mr. Woodhouse
Constance Chapman
as Miss Bates
Ellen Dryden
as Mrs. Weston
Debbie Bowen
as Harriet Smith
Raymond Adamson
as Mr. Weston
Timothy Peters
as Mr. Elton
Vivienne Moore
as Williams
Robert East
as Frank Churchill

Crew

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TMDB's suggestions for shows like Emma include Imperfect Women (2026), Sirens (2025) and Miss Austen (2025).

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What other shows share a tag with Emma?

1.1K other shows share the rarest tag below, relationship: mentor and protégé. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.