Character Relationship Map: Starting Over

Characters

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst (played by Suzanne von Borsody) — protagonist

  Lady Elizabeth Dewhurst, known as Liz, is an aristocratic woman whose life is upended by her brother Simon’s accidental death and the breakdown of her marriage. She blames her husband, Gregor, for Sim...

• Gregor Dewhurst (played by Iain Glen) — supporting

  Gregor is Elizabeth’s husband, and their marriage has already been rocky before Simon’s accidental death becomes the final strain. Elizabeth believes Gregor is at fault for her brother’s death and ask...

• Peter Rossen (played by Rutger Hauer) — supporting

  Peter is a visitor from a local university and the professor of Elizabeth’s son, Alex. Elizabeth is drawn to him and has a mild affair with him while her marriage to Gregor is breaking down. The plot...

• Alex Dewhurst (played by Daniel Sharman) — supporting

  Alex is Elizabeth’s son and a student of Peter, who is visiting from a local university. His connection to Peter is established through their professor-student relationship, while Peter’s involvement...

• Mary Phillips (played by Rachel Fielding) — supporting

  Mary is Elizabeth’s best friend and has been interested in Gregor for some time. When Elizabeth asks Gregor to leave their household, Mary sees an opportunity and encourages Elizabeth and Gregor to us...

• Lord Simon McNichols (played by William Mickleburgh) — supporting

  Simon is Elizabeth’s beloved brother, whose accidental death is the event that intensifies the conflict in her marriage. Elizabeth believes Gregor is responsible for the accident, and the loss becomes...

• Mr. David Sharp (played by Jonathan Coy) — supporting

  Mr. Sharp is the Dewhurst family’s powerful but shady attorney. Mary encourages Elizabeth and Gregor to use his services in connection with their separation and the division of the estate. Sharp expec...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Gregor Dewhurst → Mr. David Sharp (Professional Family Attorney) — Gregor is also connected to Sharp through the legal handling of the estate division.

  Mary encourages Elizabeth and Gregor to use Mr. Sharp's services during the division of the Dewhurst estate.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Mr. David Sharp (Professional Family Attorney) — Sharp becomes the attorney connected to the division of Elizabeth's marriage and estate.

  Mary encourages Elizabeth and Gregor to use the services of the powerful family attorney Mr. Sharp.

• Peter Rossen → Alex Dewhurst (Professional Professor) — Peter has an academic relationship with Alex at the local University.

  Peter is identified as the professor of Elizabeth's son Alex.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Peter Rossen (Romantic Lovers) — Elizabeth begins a limited affair with Peter while her marriage is breaking down.

  Elizabeth is drawn to Peter for a mild affair.

• Mary Phillips → Gregor Dewhurst (Romantic Interest) — Mary is attracted to Gregor and views the marital breakdown as an opportunity.

  Mary has had her eye on Gregor for some time and sees Elizabeth's separation from him as her chance.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Alex Dewhurst (Family Mother) — Elizabeth is Alex's mother.

  Peter is explicitly described as the professor of Elizabeth's son Alex.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Gregor Dewhurst (Family Spouse) — Elizabeth and Gregor are married but their relationship is severely strained.

  The plot describes Gregor as Elizabeth's husband and states that their marriage has been rocky.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Lord Simon McNichols (Family Sibling) — Elizabeth is Simon's sister and feels profound grief after his death.

  The plot identifies Simon as Elizabeth's brother and describes his accidental death as a major change in her life.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lady Elizabeth 'Liz' Dewhurst → Mary Phillips (Social Best Friend) — Mary is Elizabeth's closest friend and takes an active role in the marital crisis.

  Mary is explicitly described as Elizabeth's best friend.

Story Analysis

An aristocratic woman's life is transformed by bereavement, marital collapse, estate conflict, and a new affair.

Plot Progression

1. Grief Breaks The Household — Elizabeth's aristocratic life is destabilized when her brother Simon dies accidentally. She blames Gregor, and their already rocky marriage reaches its breaking point.
2. Separation Creates Opportunity — Elizabeth asks Gregor to leave the household. Mary, who has long been interested in Gregor, sees the separation as her opportunity and recommends Mr. Sharp's services.
3. The Estate Becomes Leverage — Sharp becomes involved as the family attorney during the division of the Dewhurst estate. His shady motives are exposed when he expects to benefit financially from the process.
4. A Dangerous New Attraction — Peter arrives from a local University and is identified as Alex's professor. Elizabeth is drawn to him despite that connection, leading to a mild affair while her marriage remains unresolved.