Most critics like it. Seven of the eleven reviews are positive, and the praise clusters almost entirely on the two leads. Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are named in nearly every review, and their chemistry is the thing most often credited with keeping the romance going across a long run. Mod draws particular attention for a funny, expressive Emma. Several critics also find this adaptation more moving than the earlier film, and the period detail and soundtrack get a nod.
Reservations cluster on pace and length. Several reviews say the series starts slowly, that early episodes could be shorter, and that the ones centred on Dexter are the weaker ones. A few feel the couple’s banter takes time to convince. The Guardian and Variety both note that the series says little about Emma’s heritage. The spread is fairly wide, from near-raves to one outright dismissal: Radio Times tells readers to read the book instead.
