I was raised on PBS as a girl in the early 70s. Sesame Street, Electric Company, Anne of Green Gables, The Reading Rainbow, all of it. When my mom watched British Programing like Upstairs, Downstairs I watched as well and I had no idea what was going on really, but I was enthralled by the cockney accent spoken by the workforce "Downstairs." I even did my own version of a tape recorded narrative in which I did the voices for several imaginary British characters in a made up girls dormitory.
I still love watching PBS when I get the chance but I have not been hooked to anything on BBC or PBS since "Chef." It was literally some random comment made by an old High School Classmate about Downton Abbey. on Facebook that made me check it out. I never dreamed I would even like it let alone become addicted. The anglophile in me sickenly runneth over.
The immediate introduction in episode 1 of Mr. Bates, Lord Grantham's Valet, was a brilliant way for the series to begin. Like Anna, the head housemaid, I fell for Mr. Bates on first sight. Although I think it was intentional that we not know immediately whether to like him or not, those are the kind of characters I like the most. Bates is honorable to a fault, but with a great deal of darkness in his past that just seems to creep up and snatch his every chance of happiness away each time it's within his grasp. Fortunately, Anna is unerringly loyal to him and trusting of what she believes to be his deep virtue, almost from the very beginning. Their chemistry is the most beautiful because it requires that they always remain aware of their service to the house even in the midst of all the petty dramas and his own personal turmoil. They get their work done first, with pride and perfection but always find their way back to one another.
The Grantham family and daughters are both exceptionally honorable and achingly annoying, hypocritical and stubborn. Edith, is the youngest daughter, thought to never marry since she is not thought as attractive as Mary, the eldest or Sybil, the liberal do gooder middle child. The internal squabbling dynamic between daughters pitted against each other for marriage is amusing and average at best but it's the relationships between the Grantham upper class and their servants that are most fascinating. Robert and Mr Bates, Mary and Carson the head Butler, Sybil and Branson the revolutionary Irish chauffeur, Lady Grantham and Ms. O'Brien. They would literally be nothing without these people who work tirelessly to keep up appearances and traditions to the absolute best of their ability while all around them their way of life is being pulled apart little by little and soon to be completely leveled and turned upside down by the war. It is not only their service these people require but also their irreplaceable care and good character.
Maggie Smith as Robert Grantham's mother is of course clear stand out as a class act performer. I never ever get tired of watching her. She just has so much range. She's got the expression of venom, opinion, snobbery, humor, charm and a well hidden heart all down to a science.
Downton Abbey is also shot as beautifully as it is cleverly written and produced. Every other scene, especially in season 2 is played for suspense and strategically concludes just at the moment of impact like any good soap opera. I don't think that I could have stood to wait every week to watch each episode. I've watched the entire 1st season on Netflix streaming and have been watching season 2 on PBS.org I am up to the last episode of season 2 now and am so happy to discover that there will be a season 3!
One of my wishes is that they find a way to evolve Thomas's storyline a bit more. Being the only homosexual we know of in this drama, he has also been depicted as the most selfish, hateful and despicable of characters but there have been glimpses here and there as to where this all comes from. Still, it would be nice if they didn't go down the old familiar road with his character, even given the obvious pitfalls in society at that time for gay men. I've hated Thomas too but only because he's been so cruel and cold and an unfeeling. I still think he deserves to be loved.
