The Way We Live Now (2001–2001)

TV ShowEndedBBC OneDrama, Romance1 season, 4 episodes
The Way We Live Now poster

Plot

Set in the railway boom of the 1870s, The Way We Live Now captures the turmoil as the old order is swept aside by the brash new forces of business and finance. It contains all the elements that made Trollope the most popular novelist of his day - the trials and tribulations of young love, the enduring values of honourable men; but also the raw energy and excitement of the most powerful city the world had ever seen, and the greed and corruption that lay just below its glittering surface. It is packed with incident - elopement, scandal, suicide, fortunes made and lost, love lost and won.

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Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Episode 1S01E01 · 9.0Rich financier Augustus Melmotte's arrival in London sees the impoverished aristocracy rush to court his favour and their sons to court his daughter Marie.
  2. 02Episode 2S01E02 · 9.0While Paul Montague throws himself into the booming railway business with Melmotte, the presence of his mysterious American friend in London threatens to jeopardize his chances with Hetta. Felix is forced to desperate measures to secure his future with Marie when he learns that her father is planning her marriage to a rival suitor.
  3. 03Episode 3S01E03 · 9.0Paul visits Mexico to have his worst fears about the railway construction confirmed. Returning to London he decides to confront Melmotte and resolve his romantic situation. Melmotte involves himself in increasingly ambitious business schemes while Felix gets himself into further trouble and Hetta recieves some devastating news.

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode4Episodes2001Aired 9.0Season avg
  1. S01E01Season's bestEpisode 1November 11, 2001 9.0Rich financier Augustus Melmotte's arrival in London sees the impoverished aristocracy rush to court his favour and their sons to court his
  2. S01E02Episode 2November 18, 2001 9.0While Paul Montague throws himself into the booming railway business with Melmotte, the presence of his mysterious American friend in London
  3. S01E03Episode 3November 25, 2001 9.0Paul visits Mexico to have his worst fears about the railway construction confirmed. Returning to London he decides to confront Melmotte and
  4. S01E04Episode 4December 2, 2001—Melmotte reaches the highest echelons of London society but the wolves are beginning to gather at his door. Paul takes his chance to act and

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Cast

David SuchetDavid SuchetAugustus MelmotteMatthew MacfadyenMatthew MacfadyenSir Felix CarburyCillian MurphyCillian MurphyPaul MontaguePaloma BaezaPaloma BaezaHetta CarburyCheryl CampbellCheryl CampbellLady CarburyRichard CantRichard CantDolly LongestaffeShirley HendersonShirley HendersonMarie MelmotteAngus WrightAngus WrightMiles Grendall

Photos

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The Way We Live Now

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