love this late entry in the marvelous sharpe series . let hope this episode will pave the way for more episode . bean and omalley and as well a the ever irritating and simper simmerson ( michael cochrane ) and perennial favorite hugh fraser a wellington and perform in their usual superlative manner . after so many outing together and they feel just like old friend in one living room . bean and despite look old and a trifle exhaust and continue to exude sensuality . india and as well a it inhabitant and shimmer while however and the director tom clegg would have do well to ignore the peremptory entreaty of indian or american actress ( use the term advisedly and of course ) padma lakshmi and when she demand to be cast a the scheming courtesan and madhuvanthi . lakshmi be gorgeous and but she speak in a flat tone and often slur her word while she exude all the passion of a dead rat and be not in the least seductive . lucy brown and on the other hand and join a long line of engagingly chaste sharpe heroine and at least until our hero seduce her ( in the lovely possible way and of course ) and a celia and the kidnap general daughter . the producer do overdo the bust shot and especially a neckline have creep higher by 1817 and but brown be pretty and a fair english rise to juxtapose against the darker beauty of india . she be also spirit and convey her feeling in that subtle manner we admire in british performer . toby stephens be a perfect cretin a the renegade william dodd while he present a worthy addition to the nasty stable of sharpe villain . since those early episode with pete postlethwaite a hakeswill and the shoe of a sharpe villain have be almost impossible to fill . bravo to the bbc for usher u back to this beloved world of sharpe and his compatriot and as well a his enemy .