Episode list

Whilst other children from their village, Jane Fairfax and Frank Weston, are sent away to be raised by wealthier relatives, Frank's surname being changed to Churchill, Emma and Isabella Woodhouse remain with their testy, selfish widowed father until Isabella marries John Knightley, whose brother is a frequent visitor to the Woodhouses, though Isabella moves to London with her spouse. Emma shamelessly match-makes former nanny Miss Taylor with Frank's father and is triumphant when they marry. Looking around for another match, she decides that Harriet Smith, an orphan who has become her companion is too good for the young farmer Martin and should aspire to be the wife of the vicar, Mr. Elton. Regardless of what Harriet thinks.

Despite the disapproval of both George and John Knightley, Emma continues to line vicar Elton up for Harriet and she is deeply shocked when, alone in a carriage with him, he professes his love for her and is somewhat condescending towards Harriet, to whom Emma apologizes, telling her she is too good for him. Soon afterwards they learn he is to marry another woman. Jane Fairfax, modest niece of garrulous Miss Bates, returns to stay with her and Emma is unimpressed, given how her aunt has always praised her accomplishments. The handsome Frank Churchill also comes to live with his father and seems to share Emma's low regard for Jane, though the anonymous gift of a piano to Jane sets tongues wagging.Miss Bates has spoken of an admirer of Jane's in Ireland but Mrs. Weston suspects George is the donor. Emma ridicules this, saying that he will never marry.

Claiming that her match-making days are over,Emma helps Frank organize a dance. Elton returns with his dreadful wife, a presence which upsets Harriet and annoys everyone else, especially Emma and Frank, who share their dislike of her at the dance, where they get close. Elton snubs Harriet but George tactfully steps in to partner her, for which Emma thanks him. Next day Harriet is saved by Frank from being mugged and she tells Emma that is smitten. She sees him as out of her league but at least he has got Elton out of her system. George continues to champion Jane Fairfax, leading Emma to believe he is in love with her but he is certain that her true admirer is Frank.

A picnic is held at Box hill where Emma and Frank get very flirtatious. Emma also scores cheap points at Miss Bates' expense, wounding her,and George gives her a severe telling-off for being insensitive and snobbish. Frank's bullying aunt, who has always been his patron rather than Mr. Weston, dies and Frank reveals that he and Jane have been engaged for several months but kept it secret for fear of the aunt's disapproval. Emma is shocked at Frank's deceit.She also sees the error of her ways in organizing others' lives and encourages Harriet to go after her first love, Robert Martin, preparing herself for a life as a singleton and feeling alone when George goes to London "to learn to be indifferent." However he returns, admitting it was the wrong place to forget Emma and proposes to her. She accepts, and even her neurotic old father is won over.