How to get around the relative lack of female characters.
Let's face it..in this day and age it's not desirable or wise to have an all male cast with the exception of Lady Silence (who I believe will need to speak for a series to work).
As much as I disliked the flashbacks on LOST...this would be an excellent way to bring in Lady Jane and of course Sophia Cracroft who alone would up the sex qutient. Barring flashbacks then they could cut back to England and we could see the pair organizing search parties but the flashbacks would work better so they could be in scenes with Sir John and Captain Crozier.