This show is amazeballs. Season 1 is on Netflix Watch Instant and what has aired in the US of season 2 is on PBS. Yes, friggin PBS. I just watched the first season in two sittings (7 episodes). So the show starts off right after the Titanic has sunk and it takes place in a British manor called Downton Abbey. Sounds great, right? Well it is. You'll find yourself excited about the flower show, or when they get a phone, or when m'lady wears pants. Here are some choice quotes: "What is a weekend?" "I couldn't have electricity in the house, I wouldn't sleep a wink. All those vapors floating about." "Last night! He looked so well. Of course it would happen to a foreigner. No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house." So do yourself a favor and check out Downton Abbey.
I am a HUGE fan of this show. I found streams online to catch season two before it hit the airways here in the States. Sigh. I guess I need to hand over my mancard now.
The buzz on this show is tremendous. I was surprised to find out how many dudes actually watch the show. Good for PBS getting the US rights to it.
my parents were on me for MONTHS about watching this. since it won a golden globe i think i'll check it out.
The Artist won Golden Globe for best picture (albeit comedy or musical). My wife and I saw it. Good but not worth creaming one's pants over. Downton Abbey, though. Was flipping channels and found it by chance. Even Dudes with a capital D can get into it. Very high quality, well acted, great dialogue.
It won six Emmys last year too. Surprised that didn't do it for you, lol. Agreed. I liked it well enough but it wasn't OHMYGODTHISISTHEBESTTHINGEVARRRR. Probably getting tons of praise because it's a black and white silent film and it looks artsy so you should give it awards.
So is this like Mad Men in England (ie a chick tv show with stuff like drinking, smoking, and sex to get the male viewers)? Because I thought Mad Men, after 2 seasons, is the most overrated show I've ever seen.
My impression is this is basically a soap opera, but with a huge budget, great acting, and it's got that British thing going for it. I tried watching the first episode but got interrupted half-way through. Eventually I'll get around to watching an episode or 2 to see what the hype is all about. BTW, talking about British shows on PBS, I have seen anyone talk about MI-5. I've mentioned it a few times, it's a great episodic spy thriller.
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this is already on my list... the list is long Actually Downton Abbey is on the list as well, but I needed a break from British TV after my Doctor Who modern marathon during the summer/fall
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The Brits have been producing great historical dramas basically forever. If DA is you first taste of British period television, I envy you, because there is a ton of it available. Start with I Claudius. You're welcome.
I think your parenthetical is a better description of something like True Blood. But, Downton Abbey is like Mad Men as a modern soap opera built on dialogue that seems to interminally meander. I got through about 7 episodes of Mad Men and maybe 2 of Downton Abbey before giving up. They're both beautifully produced, well written and well acted, but I don't have much patience for a story line without a trajectory.
