I saw one show   two weeks ago. I was just reading the episode guides,   and I can't really  tell you which show I saw.   Maggie Smith is BRILLIANT   as the matron there-  she's on the board of directors at their hospital there.   I  LOVE  the fact that this takes place right after the Titanic sinking in 1912.   THAT was a terrible year, not only  for the sinking,  but also  for the upper classes in England, and for the folks in the USA and around the world.    And I  didn't  know of it till this year!!   But I  love this series.     But netflix   has seasons 1 and 2,  so I'll catch you up on those soon!!   It will premiere on PBS  in January  in USA,  the SAME month as MERLIN does on the syfy channel!!   Oh  dear.

Same over here. I just looked it up on my TV series DVD shelf: It sits - still unopened - between "To The Ends of the Earth" and "The Office".

Banbha wrote:

I've just finished the premiere of season three. Anyone else caught up? What did you think?

I like Downton Abbey. Well, I must say, I loved series 1, I thought series 2 was a bit of a letdown (not that bad as our Ben thinks, but not as good as the first one) and series 3... well, I liked it, but it has not been great. It has a tremendous twist by episode 5, but overall is not as good as it started being. Some plots are just ridiculous and others are... well. I don't know. I don't want to spoil it for you.

As usual, I am more interested in the things that happen downstairs and I like much more the job of the actors playing the servants than the ones playing the people upstairs.

But anyway, when you finish with it maybe we can comment more in depth.

I've seen bits and snippets of it and I saw the first episode, but other than that, I haven't seen much. I need to watch them all on Netflix too.

The first season was on German TV over Christmas. I liked it, but wouldn't want to buy it on DVD. It reminds me a lot of Upstairs, Downstairs.

I agree on everything you said Susi. It is really a soap opera.

Bates and Anna are my favourite couple, too. They are so frustrating! And Maggie Smith is of course brilliant.

I watch Downton I've seen all the episodes. You're in for such a big surprise if you haven't seen the last one yet! :O

Oh shame! My DVD continues to exist as an unopened shelf sitter...

Ivy wrote:

The first season was on German TV over Christmas. I liked it, but wouldn't want to buy it on DVD. It reminds me a lot of Upstairs, Downstairs.

........

Agree! Watched it over Christmas, too, and it reminded me immediately of ........ Das Haus am Eaton Place! 
Was quite relaxing.

veecee wrote:

My husband saw someone at the fitness center wearing a "Free John Bates" t-shirt.

I'm only as far as episode 5 of series 1 but it's good to hear that people care about John Bates. I like really his character. 

sherlockskitty wrote:

One thing puzzles me--  why  is this series called Downton Abbey?   Why not Downton House or Downton Manor  or something?  I  don't understand the Abbey part.

Ahh, that's right up my alley.
After the Norman invasion in the 14th century, there were many Abbeys built around the newly built churches, as they (Rome) tried introducing a big push for Christianity. Abbeys housed nuns or monks basically. But an Abbey isn't a single building, it's a series of buildings including things like libraries, kitchens,  or places of prayer as well as the church building.
Anyway, they were thriving little communities all related to praising the Lord in the Catholic faith.
Around 1536, Henry VIII put in place the Dissolution of Monastries which were laws that basically disassembled churches, abbeys, monasteries etc that were connected to the Cathoic faith, as he had now started the Church of England & was head of that church. This was done to basically wipe out the Catholics & the 'hold' the Pope used to have over England & its rulers etc. (And of course that all came about because the Pope wouldn't allow Henry to divorce his wife, Catherin of Aragon. Watch The Tudors for this, lol)
Anyway, a lot of religious sites were dismantled & everything sold off for profit to the King.
Some Abbeys prevailed but for the most part, where there WAS an Abbey, large residences were set up; either in the origina buildings or on the grounds. The name "Abbey" has basically stuck with many of these sites over the centuries.

So, while there isn't an Abbey there now, it was once the grounds of one.


On the subject of the show, while it's not 100% correct in all historical details, neither are many; this is after all entertainment, not a history lesson. But it captures the moments quite well.
I like the fact that it shows more of both the 'upstairs' AND the 'downstairs' and the interaction which must have gone on.
It shows the politics of the time; it shows the structure of the class system quite well and especially the 'infiltration' of Americans into the society. These were days of change, just before and after the war, where shiftng values as far as 'class' and society went & from what I see & what I know it has been detailed very well.
I truly enjoy historical looks at these types of events, when we know where we came from, we can start to understand where we are now & where we are going in the future. Again, right up my alley.


Yes, there are dramatic moments that one could class as 'soap' but truly, that stuff did/does happen. There are comical moments (not meant to be comical, but ...) because ironic things did/do happen to all of us.
I could go on but I think the general acceptance worldwide of this show has shown it has much appeal. It wins awards because it is very well constructed.

Last edited by kazza474 (January 11, 2013 8:58 am)