Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, and Elizabeth McGovern lead a stellar cast in this Second Season of Downton Abbey. Maria Doyle Kennedy, Iain Glen, and Zoe Boyle freshen up this the Second Season of this Emmy Award-winning drama. This 3-disk set includes the Downton Abbey Christmas Special, as well as several bonus features like deleted scenes. The action continues from Season One with England in the middle of World War I. It’s 1916 and the events of the Battle of the Somme up to the end of the war power the plots. If you’re a fan of British drama like Upstairs, Downstairs and Brideshead Revisited, Downton Abbey will entertain and delight you. GRADE: A
Sorry. I did try to watch the first few episodes of “Downton Abbey,” but it seemed to be so much of a rehash of “Upstairs, Downstairs” that I started thinking of characters by their “Upstairs, Downstairs” names: Ah yes, there’s Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Bridges and Edward and Daisy (and, to complicate matters, there’s a servant named Daisy in D.A.!). Since I watched “Upstairs, Downstairs” faithfully in the 1970s/80s, I decided I didn’t have to watch D.A.
You’re right about DOWNTON ABBEY recycling much of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, Deb. I enjoyed the WWI material so I’ll stay with it. SEASON THREE is being filmed now.
It is awfully similar and it makes me mad–that they talk of the daughters getting jobs as noble when the poor servants have no choice but to work and the Lord of the Manor strutting around in his uniform and not doing a thing–but still I watch it. WWI is now over so that’s that.
Yes, the class structures of those times are disturbing, Patti. But the Brits know how to do these large-scale dramas so I’m hooked.
Compare it to the reboot of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, which is virtually unwatchable, and it looks a lot better. The villains are unsubtle (how stupid is Elizabeth McGovern to keep being manipulated so easily by the awful O’Brien?) but yes, we do still watch it.
You’re right about DOWNTON ABBEY being an updated version of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, Jeff. Obviously, there’s an audience for this type of British drama. You’re right about it’s “soap opera” elements, too.
K. and I LOVE Downton Abbey – both seasons. I know Season 2 didn’t get all the love from the critics the first got but it’s still better than 90% of the other stuff on TV.
Cousin Matthew is a little too whiny right now but I’m sure he’ll be up and around before this season ends. And next season they’re bringing in Shirley Maclaine as Cora’s sister! Can’t wait!
I was surprised that Shirley Maclaine is joining the DOWNTON ABBEY cast, Beth. But, you’re right: DOWNTON ABBEY is better than 90% of the crap that’s on TV.
George, you said, in answer to Patti, “the class structures of those times are disturbing”. Yes to US, NOW. When this takes place they were taken for granted, and there were many, many young women who would have swooned at the chance to go to the grand house and work there.
I watched some of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS back when it was first on, my mother watched every episode and watched it again when it was repeated (several years?) later. So I have only a vague memory of it, and certainly won’t have any of Deb’s problems with DA when I start watching the first season.
As for BRIDESHEAD, REVISITED I absolutely loved it, and watched it through twice, as it was also repeated later on. In addition, the soundtrack is stunning;y beautiful, one of my very favorites.
I love the soundtrack to BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, too, Rick. Watching historical dramas from other eras can be jarring. Gender discrimination, class distinctions, and cultural beliefs can grate on modern sensibilities. I’m sure you’ll enjoy DOWNTON ABBEY, both Season One and Season Two. I enjoyed the Christmas Special best of all.
“The past is a different country. They do things differently there.”
I occasionally wonder what behaviors of today–activities that are mostly uncontroversial and normal to us–will seem shocking and loathsome to our descendants a century from now.
The Rich are different, too, Drongo. I suspect our descendants a 100 years from now will look back on our medical procedures with horror.
Beth, Shirley is playing Cora’s mother, not sister.
MacLaine is 77, McGovern is 50.
As for the original UPSTAIRS, we bought the DVD complete boxed set but haven’t watched any of it as yet (of course).
I hate to think of all the DVDs I’ve bought that I haven’t watched yet, Jeff. Thousands of hours…
Actually George, these historical dramas don’t grate on my sensibilities. I simply accept the times and ways and enjoy the show.
Since my College doesn’t offer any history classes, my students are always jarred by the historical examples and video clips I show them, Rick. Not everyone has an open mind to historical variations.