Emma, Second Act 01 - I’m all ferklempt!
There was much waving of hands and girlish squealing when I found out that there would be a second season of Emma and even moreso throughout the entire first episode. (Technically first two episodes, but episode 00 is mostly a recap.) I’m excited beyond belief to get to watch these characters once again. Pardon my giddiness as we explore “A New House.”
We meet up with Emma again one month into her new position at a mansion, Haworth - certainly a shift from Kelly Stowner’s place. She works hard, but clearly is having some trouble fitting in with the other maids.
Meanwhile, William is up to his usual social awkwardness. He attends a party at his friend Lionel’s house and pretty much whines the whole time, until Hakim shows up on an elephant, then he whines even more. He runs into Eleanor and she reminds him that she’s still desperate to get married. We also see her parents; her father is not pleased with the match. Good, it’s all wrong.
Back to Emma! She’s still the same quiet, sad-looking girl, though when she gets a moment alone she does pause to smile. She also witnesses one of the other maids talking to her sexy blonde boyfriend and gets caught eavesdropping. The other maid begs her not to tell and in the next breath admits that she knows it’s love above her station and the man doesn’t really love. “Love above her station” gets Emma’s attention.
There’s a little snippet of Eleanor with her maid, but who cares? We move back to the mansion as the housekeeper, Mrs Wieck, voices her objections to keeping Emma around full time, however good she may seem. The mistress of the house seems largely unconcerned; at least someone can appreciate Emma!
Some other servants, include a dark-haired and deep-voiced gentleman, look at a broken clock. Emma stands quietly off to the side, until one of them suggests the she run to get the parts. The man says no, it would be faster for him to do it himself. Asshole! Be nice to Emma!
Then the servants are called to a meeting because someone has stolen the mistress’s fan. Gee, I wonder who? The one who stole it is the first to object and suspicion falls onto Emma. Tasha tries to defend her, but the one who really did steal it starts to sell her down the river. Hans, the dark-haired man, looks to the maid who stole it as though he knows, but she doesn’t say anything. They go off to search Emma’s room (and her person!) and, shockingly, find nothing.
Hans goes off to get the replacement part for the clock and as he’s walking back he sees the fan in question - the loser blonde boyfriend is giving it to some chick. Hans follows them into a pub and decks the guy. He demands the fan and the chick gives it to him. Go Hans! Then he punches him again when the blonde guy bad-mouths the maid, Nanette. (His new chick is also pissed. Ha!)
So the fan is returned, the dinner party is saved, Emma’s name is cleared. Whew. Nanette gets canned, but c’mon - she deserved it. Emma’s a nice person so she feels bad and follows Nanette when she runs out. Lucky for Nanette, since she was running off to drink poison and kill herself and Emma prevents it. Nanette feels appropriately ashamed for trying to pin the blame on Emma and they go back into the house together.
Then a meeting is called between the mistress and the staff. Mrs Wieck explains that Nanette has to go, but the mistress is more interested in why Emma would go along with the cover-up. Emma apologizes, but obviously she can’t tell her boss that she feels a kinship with Nanette because they’re both in love with men they can’t have.
Emma asks the mistress to forgive Nanette and everyone is surprised (except me, that’s my girl). The mistress laughs and agrees, for Emma’s sake, to keep her on staff. She won’t be a lady’s maid anymore, but she still has a job and she’s not dead. Warm and fuzzy, anyone?
Back to the Jounes estate for the moment, we find William staring forlornly out the window, clearly pining away for Emma. Hakim smokes and tells him not to be such a coward, but I don’t know how good advice about women is from a guy who has a harem. Eleanor writes William a letter hoping to get him interested. William sighs at the window. Bitch, back off!
So far I’m as in love with the second season as I was with the first. It has the same sort of quiet power and remains true to the character designs. It already looks to be wavering from the manga a little bit, which makes me happy. There are yet surprises to uncover! I’m so excited to see where this goes next!
Next time: Emma finds love in a little boy and William weeps like one. OK, that first part isn’t true, but I’m definitely going to be watching with a box of Kleenex close at hand.
