I didn't expect to be this taken by a period-drama set in America, other than John Adams, but this is done quite well; HBO is as HBO does. It reminded me of the 2001 BBC adaptation of Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now, starring the incomparable David Suchet (but not as good for understandable reasons), who immortalised Poirot! And Ada and Agnes reminded me of Sisters Jenkins, Matty and Deborah respectively, of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford and Return to Cranford adaptations.
From a technical standpoint, i wished they had increased the overall brightness and contrast in all interior scenes, for they were too dark that said darkness related visual wear and stress ate one star of this here humble review of mine, alongside the nonsensical modern-day White man's guilt rubbish --- Season 2 episode 5, where those two White men barged in and created all that ruckus in that little Alabamy restaurant. The main one of the two, in a production from the good ol' days of historically accurate portrayal, would have used the N-word just as easily as 'boy!' but oh, no, not here! Revisit the 90s classic, Fried Green Tomatoes, for one, and you shall see what i mean.
That little hiccup aside, the production design was excellent, and CGI was done quite well and tastefully. The framing of each shot was immaculate! Costume design, needless to say, was exquisite!
And a special, heartfelt mention to the original background music by the Gregson-Williams Brothers (Narnia will always be in my dreams just as how he tuned it) is a blissful treat in itself; one of those few series where I did not once skip the beginning and ending credits!
Season 3 is due this year and I am curious enough!