Anybody watching the new "Upstairs, Downstairs?"

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:07pm

Great to see Jean Marsh on an updated version of that set. (Hate the electric-blue carpeting though!) ... and hear that music again in glorious stereo. The new cast is good. I'm not loving the lord and lady of the house, though. They're kind of despicable at worst and irritating at best. The staff is great, though. I hope they find a good balance.

Overall, I'm glad to be back at 165 Eaton Place.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:17pm

Never saw the original series, but like this...the acting is great - interesting too to see King George make a little cameo, after The King's Speech!

[Almira]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:20pm

I couldn't wait for my PBS station (well, the PBS station in the neighboring county as my PBS station is no longer) to air the episodes.

I watched them on youtube and was pulled in immediately . I'm particularly impressed with Eileen Atkins. And what a treat to see Rose again.

I understand it didn't get the ratings hoped for in UK, but there will be future episodes.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:20pm

Definitely, Jay! Royalty made an appearance in the original series as well. If you can ever rent the DVDs or check it out, you should. You're in for a real treat.

I still have great hopes for this new incarnation. Hopefully, things will gel in future episodes.

Jean (as Rose) is still the heart and soul of the series. She always was.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:23pm

Almira, I LOVED seeing Eileen Atkins in the show ... AT LAST. She was supposed to play Sarah in the original series (which she co-created with Jean), but she had to bow out due to a commitment on the West End.

She never appeared in the original series. But here she is now, as (easily) the best new character they've introduced!

The big let-down for me was that, other than Eileen as Lady Holland, the rest of the Upstairs crowd is horrendous. Not their acting, but their characters. They're abhorrent. Nothing to like about them at all ... yet.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 7:33pm

Lady Holland doesn't seem overly likeable either. I'm sure they'll all show a softer side at some point - if this was American TV, they'd definitely have a tragic backstory to explain their attitude.

Will definitely look up the original series at some point, it's on my rapidly growing list of things to see/listen to since I joined BWW!

[fflagg]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 8:42pm

I think the show is better than Downton Abbey re the scripts and the overall "feel" of the show. Downton veers too much towards campiness whereas UP/DOWN seems more cohesive.

Would love for Pauline Collins to appear in an episode as Sarah, Rose's old friend.

Best moment of episode 1: Rose holds the keys that belonged to Mr. Hudson.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 9:00pm

As one who is obsessed with the orginal...I even have the paperback novelizations...I was fairly satisfied with the new one but the original is a VERY hard act to follow.

So good to see Jean Marsh...she's 76 now...and like many have said, she and Atkins are the best things about the new edition so far.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 9:00pm

As one who is obsessed with the orginal...I even have the paperback novelizations...I was fairly satisfied with the new one but the original is a VERY hard act to follow.

So good to see Jean Marsh...she's 76 now...and like many have said, she and Atkins are the best things about the new edition so far.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 10:12pm

I looked Jean Marsh up on imdb.com - surprised to find she was Princess Mombi in Return to Oz...she's been in my life longer than I realized! Love that movie.

[pli1018]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 10:16pm

Although I haven't seen the original, I'm finding it adequate so far. Definitely a step-down from Downton Abbey, which I adored (and yes, I realize the original Upstairs, Downstairs came first). Jean Marsh is fantastic but I'm having a hard time warming up to Eileen Atkins, who I loved in Gosford Park. Her character seems way too similar to Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey. I'll keep watching though!

Posted: 4/13/11 at 10:07am

I LOVED the first episode and can't wait to see the others! We need a LOT MORE Monkeys on television!!!!

[fflagg]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 3:35pm

You can check out a sexy Jean Marsh in Hitchcock's 1972 film Frenzy.

[Jilani]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 4:11pm

The big let-down for me was that, other than Eileen as Lady Holland, the rest of the Upstairs crowd is horrendous. Not their acting, but their characters. They're abhorrent. Nothing to like about them at all ... yet.

I've seen (and enjoyed) all three episodes . . . a lot is going to happen, and without giving anything away, all I can say is, be patient. :)

Posted: 4/14/11 at 5:03am

I worshipped U/D in reruns when I was a teen in the 90s--but I do feel like Downton Abbey, while not really the same thing, ahs stolen this new series' limelight somewhat both in the UK and here (even with PBS's flat out idiotic editing of Downton).

Still, I enjoyed the first ep and will watch all three--and wouldn't mind if this becomes a continuing series as planned.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/14/11 at 3:35pm

After the Blackshirt stuff in episode 3, I felt this was little more than the remains of The Remains of the Day.
Updated On: 4/14/11 at 03:35 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 6:17pm

I'm liking Downton Abbey at the moment! Although I think some of this is a bit unoriginal...wasn't that flower competition with Maggie Smith's character used in some classic novel I can't remember the name of?

Re: Upstairs Downstairs, best12bars, did you warm to any of the characters by the end? The sister is the only one who remained so abhorrent all the way through.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 6:34pm

I agree, Jay. The only character (of the Upstairs crowd) that I warmed to was the husband. After the surprising turn of events in the last episode of the season, I felt some sympathy for him. His wife is still abhorrent. I don't mind a bit of larceny, but if I don't care about the characters, the plot doesn't really matter. If she has good fortune or bad, I'm ambivalent. Kill her, have her win the lottery, have her husband cheat on her, blow her up ... whatever. They've got to work on that in the second season. It's not balanced between the servants and the gentry.

A friend watched the full season on DVD after seeing the airings on American TV first, and, apparently, the are many deleted scenes. We're getting an abridged version of each episode here. I'm going to borrow the DVD set before the second season airs, and see if I can pick up anything new that will add to the story or characters.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:06pm

Maybe that was to factor in commercials? And there is definitely going to be a second season? Hope it's more than three episodes...there's something like 12 in Downton, which I like but not as much as Upstairs Downstairs.

You're right about the imbalance between the servants and gentry...I did warm to most of them, but come to think of it I'm not sure why...maybe just familiarity, and the fact Eileen Atkins is so great. I hope the sister (I can't seem to remember any names...except Johnny...) doesn't feature in season 2, not sure there's any way back for her.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:12pm

Definitely a second season, Jay!

I haven't clicked on anything other than the main page on IMDb.com, because I don't want it spoiled. But it looks like a total of 15 episodes have been filmed so far (broken into two seasons ... or "series" as they call them in the UK).
LINK

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 7:49pm

Glad there's to be a second season of Downton, and I see six more episodes of Upstairs Downstairs have been ordered by BBC, so yay.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:43pm

I just realized I linked to the completely wrong program! LOL

I think I've fallen victim to that "Upstairs Downtown Abbey" parody where they both blended together as the same show.

... but yes, there will be a Season 2 of Upstairs, Downstairs.

Updated On: 6/7/11 at 09:43 PM

[supportivemom]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:38pm

Wow- I didn't even know there was a new version and for some reason, I didn't even think Jean Marsh was still alive. I just saw her in a rerun of The Waltons (I still love that show! It's on the Hallmark Channel every day. It reminds me of my childhood. Also, there are a lof of excellent actors who have appeared on that show) Anyway, I used to watch the original and loved it. When I was younger- I loved all things British! Jean Marsh is an incredible actress. Also, Charles Shaugnessy (?)- Mr. Sheffield on The Nanny- his father was involved with the original series- a producer or writer- can't remember but I remember seeing that last name on the credits. I haven't seen this new version advertised so I'll have to look for it! Thanks!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:45pm

I cried when she sang the lullaby.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/8/11 at 5:17pm

Jean Marsh was in The Waltons?

Seriously?!

I love The Waltons. The whole thing was rerun on Sunday mornings several years ago over here and I thought I saw most of them - but I don't remember seeing Jean Marsh.

Updated On: 6/8/11 at 05:17 PM