South Riding — Season 1, Episode 1: The Powers That Be

Episode synopsis

Sarah Burton returns to her childhood home after many years away to apply for the new vacant position of headmistress at the local school. Her personality wins over many people, but at least one of the school governors, Robert Carne, is against her appointment for reasons at first unclear. He is a landowner who recently lost the vote to become the new MP there, but Robert has his own troubles with a wife in a mental home and a daughter that has started to show signs of mental instability. He is just one of many people that Sarah Burton will encounter in the poverty stricken area of South Riding.

About South Riding

Headmistress Sarah Burton, a left-wing feminist, is disgusted by the social injustices faced by her pupils. In spite of her beliefs, she reluctantly finds herself falling in love with a Tory landowner whose wife is suffering from insanity.

More episodes from Season 1

• E2A Land of Hope and Glory?
• E3Those For and Those Against
• E4A Time to Live and a Time to Die
• E5The Facts of Life
• E6In Sickness and in Health
• E7Dreams and Destinations
• E8Beggars and Choosers
• E9Take What You Want ~ and Pay for It
• E10The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away
• E11The Number of Our Days
• E12Forgive Us Our Trespasses
• E13Give Us This Day