Downton Abbey Catch-All

Pages

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/j54Ral.jpg)

Since neither the Fall 2011/Spring 2012 TV thread or the Netflix Instant Watch thread is a great place to discuss all things Downton Abbey, I've started a catch-all. Season 1 is available on Netflix Instant Watch, and Season 2 just came out on Blu-ray/DVD February 7th (You can use the GWJ Amazon search on the left to order it for $25 USD on Blu-ray and $20 USD on DVD). Season 3 is scheduled for next year, thank goodness! I am through all but the last episode of Season 2. As with the first season, I couldn't stop watching last night. It's definitely one of the most entertaining dramas currently airing. I'll post some more thoughts eventually. Everyone please be diligent with spoiler tags! This is not a good show to spoil for people.

If you don't know about the show, the wiki page is here, but I don't recommend looking at it to avoid spoilers. Just know that it is a period drama set in the early 1900s at the fictional Downton Abbey estate. I believe the show is best described as Dickensian.

I don't think I could call the show Dickensian... Specifically, it starts the show in April of 1912, and the bulk of the overarching plot of the first season hinges on the sinking of the Titanic. (If you count something from the first 2 minutes of the show as a spoiler, then I just can't reason with you). Like Truffalo, I tore through the first season like it was tissue paper. I can't put my finger on why this is such a great show, but it is. I am not a huge fan of period pieces, and I don't have some fawning love of the noble/peasant divide but I loved this.

There are certainly some great performances, by just about every actor on the show, and the story just works, so maybe that is why I am so enamored with it. I might have to buckle and order season 2 (and season one) on Blu-Ray just so I don't have to wait to see it.

Atras wrote:

I don't think I could call the show Dickensian... Specifically, it starts the show in April of 1912, and the bulk of the overarching plot of the first season hinges on the sinking of the Titanic. (If you count something from the first 2 minutes of the show as a spoiler, then I just can't reason with you). Like Truffalo, I tore through the first season like it was tissue paper. I can't put my finger on why this is such a great show, but it is. I am not a huge fan of period pieces, and I don't have some fawning love of the noble/peasant divide but I loved this.

There are certainly some great performances, by just about every actor on the show, and the story just works, so maybe that is why I am so enamored with it. I might have to buckle and order season 2 (and season one) on Blu-Ray just so I don't have to wait to see it.

I'm not talking about time period Dickensian. I just mean that it has multiple story lines going on at the same time, deep character development, twists, etc. It feels like a Dickens novel set in a newer time period. You can always disagree, though, I don't have a problem being wrong with the definition of Dickensian.

It's awesome. I've been watching Season 2 via iTunes, but I'm an episode or two behind right now.

bennard wrote:

It's awesome. I've been watching Season 2 via iTunes, but I'm an episode or two behind right now.

I thought about buying it on iTunes or Amazon Instant Streaming, but they didn't have them all up until this week, so I figured I would wait for the physical release. I actually bought Season 1 as well, and I can't wait to finish and then watch the special features on both.

Plus, I've got to be able to loan my copy to friends so I can get them hooked.

Tagged for future commenting. But I will say that while I am way behind and only on the first season, I definitely love this show. And, if I ever get the chance to actually just visit the real house used in this show, I would.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I'm not talking about time period Dickensian. I just mean that it has multiple story lines going on at the same time, deep character development, twists, etc. It feels like a Dickens novel set in a newer time period. You can always disagree, though, I don't have a problem being wrong with the definition of Dickensian.

I think that description is apt. And I think the time setting is key to why I've enjoyed the show as much as I have. I told a friend who was highly skeptical in the show as I was describing it (and was even more skeptical that I enjoyed what I was describing) that I think having series 1 be almost literally at the dawn of WWI really aided my sympathy. Their lives are very vacuous (I think it was the last ep PBS aired where Isobel described it as "Changing clothes, killing things, and eating them all day"), but knowing how terrible things were about to get made them much more tolerable somehow.

Also: f*ck you, Sir Dick! You gunna get yours, believe it! And I still haven't forgiven Edith for being a goddam rat. Snitches get stitches!

Tagged because my wife discovered this show and we love it. Season 2 DVDs are pre-ordered on Amazon and should arrive this month, I think.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I'm not talking about time period Dickensian. I just mean that it has multiple story lines going on at the same time, deep character development, twists, etc. It feels like a Dickens novel set in a newer time period. You can always disagree, though, I don't have a problem being wrong with the definition of Dickensian.

I thought the Dickensian tag went on things where you have the downtrodden, the sad and the weak triumphing in spite of everything, just a nomenclature thing (I could be SOOOO far wrong it isn't even funny).

I love the show, though.

One of my favorite things about this show is the fact that you can often sort of see what's going to happen minutes beforehand. Then, when the drama actually "goes down," it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It happens quite often, and I always get a feeling of resolution when scenes play out like that for me. The show definitely plays the cliche card very often, but in just about the best way possible. Somehow, it works. I think the main reason this isn't a bad thing is that there are those occasionally moments that are very unexpected.

Atras wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I'm not talking about time period Dickensian. I just mean that it has multiple story lines going on at the same time, deep character development, twists, etc. It feels like a Dickens novel set in a newer time period. You can always disagree, though, I don't have a problem being wrong with the definition of Dickensian.

I thought the Dickensian tag went on things where you have the downtrodden, the sad and the weak triumphing in spite of everything, just a nomenclature thing (I could be SOOOO far wrong it isn't even funny).

I love the show, though.

I don't think you are, but there are definitely some novels that are less like Oliver Twist. I'm thinking of stuff more like Our Mutual Friend, which deals with inheritance, backstabbing, greed, social status, and the like. I think I'm also getting it a bit wrong because it has that BBC style which I tend to associate with Dickens for whatever reason.

I think a better way to describe the show would be "Dickens mixed with Austen set around the time of WW1."

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I think a better way to describe the show would be "Dickens mixed with Austen set around the time of WW1."

Bravo! I think you've got it!

IN BEFORE THE LOCK.

I mean. Tagging.

I got my wife Season 1 on bluray for Christmas and we've been watching religiously. We got the Season 2s DVDs in the mail on Tuesday and quickly ripped through the rest of the season. Good stuff. As it goes along its showing more and more of its soap opera flavor, but we still both love it.

lostlobster wrote:

I got my wife Season 1 on bluray for Christmas and we've been watching religiously. We got the Season 2s DVDs in the mail on Tuesday and quickly ripped through the rest of the season. Good stuff. As it goes along its showing more and more of its soap opera flavor, but we still both love it.

I've got a couple questions about season 2, but I'm gonna wait until I watch the Christmas episode to see if any are answered. Did you watch the special features on either season? Any good?

lostlobster wrote:

As it goes along its showing more and more of its soap opera flavor, but we still both love it.

Yeah, I've been less than pleased with Mrs. Bates and the burned soldier.

Seriously, Edith, grow a damn brain.

SpacePPoliceman wrote:

Seriously, Edith, grow a damn brain.

Spoiler:

I thought she transformed from a very unlikeable character in Season 1 into a fairly sympathetic likeable character in Season 2 (at least so far). Yeah, she's still seems a bit air-headed.

Mary's character also became a bit more likeable, I thought. I think she's going to turn very bitter and angry in the next season, however. They could take her character in a great direction. I think she could be a very interesting character if she got really evil and nasty.

If replying, please don't put in any spoilers regarding the Christmas episode. I still haven't watched it.

I'm about to watch the last episode! So excited! Got a few beers for the experience.

Just finished the first season (LOVED IT). Now I need to catch up on the PBS website. Season 2 has yet to hit NIW.

I also took the time to download the soundtrack from Amazon. Love the music too.

Dominic Knight wrote:

Just finished the first season (LOVED IT). Now I need to catch up on the PBS website. Season 2 has yet to hit NIW.

I also took the time to download the soundtrack from Amazon. Love the music too.

I never skip the opening/closing credits.

Regarding the end of Season 2, it's awesome. That's the non-spoiler version.

Spoiler:

I'm so happy that there was some resolution at the end of Season 2 unlike Season 1. I needed that before I wait another year. As much as I wanted Mary to decend into hell and become a nasty, evil woman, I couldn't help but have the biggest smile at the end of it all. I'm still grinning.

I think my favorite line in the movie was Maggie Smith's after hearing Sir Richard say "I probably shant see you again." She said something like "Is that a promise?" You gotta love the old up tight character becoming not so stuffy. Yeah, it's cliche as is everything in this show, but once again, they just do it better than perfect.

I'm still a little annoyed at the description of Downton Abbey being a soap opera set in the early 1900s. I think soap operas draw on many different things, but the comparison is just not very good because of the terrible aspects of soap operas. I like my description of the series better. It's a mix of Dickens and Austin set in England around the time of WWI. Soap operas use a lot of drama cliches that Dickens, Austin, and others not necessarily developed, but they sure made them popular.

Bravo, bravo, bravo to Julian Fellowes and any other possible creators/writers. This show is a home run.

Edit: I was curious if they have all seasons up if you bought the season pass from Amazon and they are only up to episode 6/9. That's really odd. I'm awfully glad I didn't go that route and just bought the Blu-ray. Once again, buying digital video through Amazon/iTunes/wherever is a super fail. I suppose they'll never get with the program.

I got into the show recently myself. I had heard so many of my friends talk about how great it was but I just couldn't get myself interested in watching. My sisters eventually got the episodes and so I tried one out and was immediately hooked. I love Maggie Smith's character Violet Crowley, Countess of Grantham. She always makes me laugh.

Gaald wrote:

I got into the show recently myself. I had heard so many of my friends talk about how great it was but I just couldn't get myself interested in watching. My sisters eventually got the episodes and so I tried one out and was immediately hooked. I love Maggie Smith's character Violet Crowley, Countess of Grantham. She always makes me laugh.

Welcome to the huge club.

Gaald wrote:

I got into the show recently myself. I had heard so many of my friends talk about how great it was but I just couldn't get myself interested in watching.

Same here. Despite all the goodjer praise I had low expectations, and was immediately impressed. Time to watch a couple more episodes before work.

The final episode of season 2 (Christmas at Downton) is amazing. Cannot believe how much they packed into it. I know it's 90 mins, but still. Fantastic.

lostlobster wrote:

The final episode of season 2 (Christmas at Downton) is amazing. Cannot believe how much they packed into it. I know it's 90 mins, but still. Fantastic.

Yeah, really pulled everything together well.

Gaald wrote:

I love Maggie Smith's character Violet Crowley, Countess of Grantham. She always makes me laugh.

The Dowager Countess should just be in everything. She should lead the Avengers, join the Walking Dead, become Raylan Givens' new partner, help Gordon run the Gotham PD. Everything.

I guess the Penny Arcades should get posted in here for anyone who missed them.

IMAGE(http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-62rrrDn/0/L/i-62rrrDn-XL.jpg)

IMAGE(http://penny-arcade.smugmug.com/photos/i-5b9TGcX/0/L/i-5b9TGcX-XL.jpg)

Somebody made some Downton Abbey paper dolls that are hilarious. There are some season 2 spoilers, so don't look unless you've watched most of season 2.

Here's one that isn't spoilery:

IMAGE(http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2012/02/16/16_downton-countess.o.jpg/a_560x0.jpg)

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Somebody made some Downton Abbey paper dolls that are hilarious.

They are the best thing!

I just discovered this series yesterday...just finished the finale of Season 2 now. And I'm not a fan of period shows/movies. Wow.

Pages