Downton Abbey (2010 – 2015)

Having been a late fan of Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975), I find it interesting how the British love to show a time when rich people (read, the nobility) had servants (read, slaves). At the moment, we are just finishing season two of the six season series of Downton Abbey on Netflix, and as a result, we are witnessing the dividing line between the past and the present, the Great War (hence the title of this post).

I watched the predecessor of the series, Gosford Park, in its entirety. Because it was set in the 1930’s, changes had already taken place. (And, as the director was American, there is a great deal of ‘noise’ in the dialog, as if Robert Altman couldn’t hear the players clearly, so he allowed the cacophony to stand.)

Meanwhile, the ‘will they, won’t they’ relationship between the heir to the estate (Matthew) and the present owner’s daughter (Lady Mary) is about to be resolved, finally. (*Spoiler alert* – Look away, if you don’t want to see this plot development…)

But as with all good things, they must come to an end. If I continue on with the program, I might comment later. For now, I just want to share that it’s lovely to see so many great British actors and actresses. (I spend a great deal of my viewing time trying to remember where I’d seen them last.)

Let’s leave this post, with the following Julian Fellowes’ quotes:

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Exactly!