The first episode nearly got drowned by aggressive waves of nostalgia that I'm sure were very meaningful for people who watched before, but absolutely slaughtered the pace for newcomers like me. Oh, and Ellie Kendrick's tears. She's really not a very convincing crier AT ALL. And it was really rather a slow episode. D:
Second episode really picked up though! If Downton gets dull in the future, they should make a note that they could do a lot worse than inserting fascists for maximum drama.
At some point, I shall regain the television from my family and go check out episode 3. In the meantime, I shall offer my grudging approval for Just William; I'm not convinced any child will ever be able to capture William's ferocity and gruffness, but it's pretty good in spite of it. Very true to the books, and some great performances from the cast. I blame Martin Jarvis. He'd never let any Just William go wrong, he's WAY too emotionally invested. :)
Three cheers for Eileen Atkins! She's my favourite acting dame, even though she would probably never survive a brawl with Maggie Smith. XD
UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS pretty much owns me.
I'm dying a little knowing that I have to wait before I see the new series.
I'm really old so I remember clearly (I said CLEARLY!) when Upstairs/Downstairs first ran on PBS. We couldn't wait to get home from work and watch it and then go back the next day and talk about it with each other. It captured everyone's imagination - appealing just as much to the younger people (as I was back then) as it did to the older folks in the office. I had lots of favorites (characters, scenes, events) but I think the dinner Mrs. Bridges prepared for the night the king came to dinner, and the whole WWI sequence, were my favorites. WWI was no longer something I just read about in history books in school. It really came alive for all people through those episodes.
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