

The letter in question is written by Helen Schlegel (Philippa Coulthard) to her older sister Margaret (Hayley Atwell), letting her know that she’s decided to break off her impulsive engagement to Paul Wilcox (Jonah Hauer-King), son of industrialist Henry Wilcox (Matthew Macfadyen). This is a subtly audacious way to kick off a fresh version of a beloved story, and in the end, the production mostly delivers. Forster’s novel by screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan ( Manchester by the Sea) and director Hettie Macdonald ( Doctor Who), and airing over the next four Sundays on Starz. So writes a character in the new Howards End, a BBC mini-series adapted from E.M.

“My darling sister, it isn’t going to be at all what was expected.” Photo: Laurie Sparham/Starz Entertainment, LLC
