A Horseman Riding By (1978) (Episode 4)

Part 4 of 13 of the period drama. It's now 1905 and storm clouds are brewing - literally! Paul's absconding wife Grace has returned from London and is now heavily pregnant. When she starts contractions during one dark and stormy night, there isn't a doctor around - at least sober - to help her. And there are further problems when Martin Codsall finally snaps and flips and goes wandering about the village with a gun. Paul is torn between the safety of his wife and the duty and safety towards the village, but little does he know of what tragedy lies ahead... Starring Nigel Havers, Glyn Houston, Fiona Gaunt, Glyn Owen, Madge Ryan, Joby Blanchard, David Delve, Frank Morey, Will Stampe, Julie May and Kevin Cope. A dramatic episode, but also one that proved very irritating to me due to the obnoxious characters of Arabella Codsall and Grace Lovell, who spends much of the episode rallying against her husband about what men have done to her and injustices she has suffered. Indeed, there are very few sympathetic characters in this episode, save for Glyn Houston's put upon John Rudd, even though there is a death or two in this episode. It's a shame as I was really hoping to enjoy this series, but sad to say it doesn't really improve much regarding obnoxious characters popping up in this.