Jane Austen's novels have been adapted countless times, but the 2009 Emma miniseries stands out for its spot-on depiction of the book's meddling and naive (but well-meaning) heroine. Romola Garai is dazzling as Emma Woodhouse. Not only does she capture the character's obliviousness to just how damaging her matchmaking can be for her friends, but she also nails Emma's innocence.
Ultimately, Emma is a coming-of-age tale, and that's something this miniseries understands better than any other adaptation. But perhaps its greatest strength lies in the natural chemistry that exists between Garai and Jonny Lee Miller's Mr. Knightley. Their loaded banter elevates the miniseries from good to superb and makes it an essential part of any best-of-the-genre list.
Watch Emma on Amazon Prime Video.