Downton Abbey--Upstairs/Downstairs, Stiff Upper Lips, and Tea!

[PRlady]

I think that some of us can. I concede that it's likely more of a problem for others, though. I never could bring myself to "root" for Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, myself. Sorry, Jane, I really couldn't.

Me neither. What a wuss.

One thing's not making sense, though. Lady Chatham's pretty shrewd (for an American ). Why hasn't she caught on that her lady's maid is a scheming beeyotch?

[znachki]

I'm a little confused as to why we're only getting 4 episodes right now, though. When it aired in the UK there were 7 episodes in the first season, ending in ........ I hope we won't have to wait too long to see the rest of the season.

Artemis - the show aired on ITV in England - which has commercials. There were 7 eps. - 2 were 60 mins, 5 were 45. Total = 345 minutes of TV without commercials.

What we saw on the first two episodes, encompassed the first 3 in England. Episode 3 was 4 & 5 of the series.

On my local PBS station they even made a point of saying this is why it's "shorter" than in the UK - no commercials.

Read this:

http://www.televisionaryblog.com/201...y-or-dont.html

[skatingfan5]

One thing's not making sense, though. Lady Chatham's pretty shrewd (for an American ). Why hasn't she caught on that her lady's maid is a scheming beeyotch?

Lady Grantham (thank you, Wikipedia!) probably doesn't spend enough time "downstairs" -- if she did, she surely would have a clue. O'Brien is rather good at being two-faced when dealing with the upstairs folks -- downstairs, they've all got her number.

[PRlady]

Lady Grantham (thank you, Wikipedia!) probably doesn't spend enough time "downstairs" -- if she did, she surely would have a clue. O'Brien is rather good at being two-faced when dealing with the upstairs folks -- downstairs, they've all got her number.

[skatingfan5]

I'd be completely lost without the wiki entry since I missed the first episode. The entire upstairs seemed to be crawling with Crawleys -- and I first thought it was Lord and Lady Grantley.

[Wyliefan]

I think that some of us can. I concede that it's likely more of a problem for others, though. I never could bring myself to "root" for Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, myself. Sorry, Jane, I really couldn't.

Oh, me neither. And I like Dickens heroines, often derided for being too meek, so it just shows you how wussy Fanny is!

[Artemis@BC]

Artemis - the show aired on ITV in England - which has commercials. There were 7 eps. - 2 were 60 mins, 5 were 45. Total = 345 minutes of TV without commercials.

What we saw on the first two episodes, encompassed the first 3 in England. Episode 3 was 4 & 5 of the series.

On my local PBS station they even made a point of saying this is why it's "shorter" than in the UK - no commercials.

Ok, I was confusing myself because I thought I'd watched 3 episodes (which corresponded to the episodes 1-3 description) when in fact I've only watched 2 so far ... it all makes sense now!

[vesperholly]

I do agree it's a bit of a stretch to call it "Masterpiece Classic,"

If it's got a British accent, it's a Masterpiece Classic

I'm a little confused as to why we're only getting 4 episodes right now, though. When it aired in the UK there were 7 episodes in the first season, ending in 1914 with the beginning of WWI (oops, sorry, spoiler alert!). I hope we won't have to wait too long to see the rest of the season.

The British episodes were shorter - 50 minutes? PBS episodes are 1.5 hours long.

[Buzz]

That sound like it might have been Lark Rise to Candleford, which is currently in repeats on PBS Saturday nights. I'm not watching right now because they're repeats, so can't say if that particular storyline sounds familiar, but regardless it's a great series. Chronologically, though, set a few decades earlier than Downton Abbey.

I developed a bit of a crush on Brendan Coyle, who plays Robert Timmins, the father of the protatonist Laura in Lark Rise ... so was delighted to see him reappear in Downton Abbey. Which I am also loving, soapyness and all. I do agree it's a bit of a stretch to call it "Masterpiece Classic," but I'm certainly not going to let that interfere with my enjoyment of it!

I'm a little confused as to why we're only getting 4 episodes right now, though. When it aired in the UK there were 7 episodes in the first season, ending in 1914 with the beginning of WWI (oops, sorry, spoiler alert!). I hope we won't have to wait too long to see the rest of the season.

MANY THANKS!!!!

[jlai]

I love Lark Rise to Candleford. Just waiting for season 3 to come out on Netflix

[pollyanna]

really? i think mary is pretty but i think sybil is much more beautiful, she needs more camera time

I think Sybil is absolutely stunning. Mary is very attractive, but if I was Matthew, I'd be sneaking peeks at Sybil all the time.

I am SOOOO mad at my daughter. DA dvds were released today on Netflix. I had them at the top of my queue. My daughter snuck in sometime late last night and place a couple of Harold and Kumar movies ahead of Downton Abbey. Now I have a VERY LONG WAIT to see the rest of the series. Needless to say, I've changed my password, but at polly jr. Who the hell are Harold and Kumar?

[vesperholly]

PBS has the episodes available for free on their website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch/index.html

[Fergus]

Who the hell are Harold and Kumar?

The first movie was actually sorta funny! Even has Neil Patrick Harris trippin' balls.

Definitely the polar opposite of "DA", however. In no way does it fulfill one's minimum daily requirement of Maggie Smith.

[jen_faith]

I am really enjoying Downton Abbey. It is so freaking soapy in a very classy kind of way. What's not to love?

I think Mary Crawley is irredemiably obnoxious and if she and Matthew end up together I shall be annoyed. I am rooting for Sybil and Matthew to get together and make pretty little Crawley babies.

Downstairs, am not liking eville Thomas nor the nasty lady's maid O'Brien... schemers all of 'em... Rooting for William and Daisy and hoping that Daisy finally wises up to Thomas' machinations and eville ways and loses her crush on the blighter.

[skatingfan5]

Downstairs, am not liking eville Thomas nor the nasty lady's maid O'Brien... schemers all of 'em... Rooting for William and Daisy and hoping that Daisy finally wises up to Thomas' machinations and eville ways and loses her crush on the blighter.

Or at least finally gets a clue about what was meant when she was warned that he wasn't a ladies man.

[Wyliefan]

I don't think Daisy will ever get a clue about anything. Poor girl is a few French fries short of a Happy Meal.

[moojja]

I love Mary and Matthew. It's like Pride and Prejudice in reverse.
It helps the actress is gorgeous. Also you get the feeling for all her snobbery, Mary is trapped in a role and she doesn't know how to break out of it. But her encounter with the Turkish diplomat is full of unfortunate implications. The show made a point saying she agreed/was interested. But he also didn't leave her a lot choices.

[Artemis@BC]

I love Mary and Matthew. It's like Pride and Prejudice in reverse.

That's exactly what I thought! (The P&P parallels that is -- not sure if I'm in love with the idea of M&M.) Of course with P&P there's a predetermined end point, a resolution to the hate-turned-love. With Downton Abbey, since a 2nd season is in the works, if they resolved this particular storyline, that would end the overarching conflict and they'd need to introduce another continuing plot string.

I refuse to spoil myself by reading future episode descriptions but here's my speculation: Mary & Matthew do discover their love for each other, and get engaged; the Abbey is saved. Then WWI begins, Matthew signs up, and either goes MIA or gets severe shell shock.

[jen_faith]

I refuse to spoil myself by reading future episode descriptions but here's my speculation: Mary & Matthew do discover their love for each other, and get engaged; the Abbey is saved. Then WWI begins, Matthew signs up, and either goes MIA or gets severe shell shock.

Nooo.... Mary and Matthew is too easy and it's been done already in practically every Jane Austen book. Since Matthew has modern ideas and Sybil has modern ideas, they are definitely the best match. Obviously I am alone in my lonely Syb-Mat shipping

As for Daisy and William: I speculate that William will finally win over Daisy and then Cranston will use his previous connections in the entertainment industry to get William gigs/a career in music and whatever the British version of vaudeville was/is. That's my prediction!

Oh and I agree Matthew will end up in WWI in some awful battle like the Battle of the Somme and be traumatized by it. He can't be killed, though, or the soap goes out of the soap opera.

[vesperholly]

Obviously I am alone in my lonely Syb-Mat shipping

I love Sybil but I think she's too young for him. I ship Sybil-socialist driver. Run away together, very romantic!