Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something?

Frontier · February 11 2013, 06:09 AM

OK, so... I freely admit I've seen 25 minutes worth of one episode. So, I very well could be missing a great deal. But that's my reason for asking so. So please don't eye-roll and flame me if I am, alright? Thanks!

But... from that cursory exposure... I find what little I observed, I didn't like. It seems to me a show about one of the wrongs of our past: the class system. A wrong that still exists today, but that we've made great ambitious strides towards pushing as far out of our culture as we can,

Am I wrong? Is it really a show about how all the servants save the day and educate the rich upper crust of the evils of a class system? Or something otherwise redeeming?

What's the attraction of this show?

The Mirrorball Man · February 11 2013, 06:20 AM

It's a well-made soap opera.

RoJoHen · February 11 2013, 07:01 AM

I have only seen the first season, but I loved it. I don't think there's some deep lesson about the rights or wrongs of the class system; it just happens to be the setting. It provides for some interesting drama that you don't get to see too often. The characters are engaging, the storylines are fun, and Maggie Smith is just downright hysterical.

lurok · February 11 2013, 09:33 AM

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

It's a well-made soap opera.

That's pretty much it. Escapist period fluff that's occasionally intentionally and unintentionally funny. And camp.

Gov Kodos · February 11 2013, 10:51 AM

It struck me as a variation on Buddenbrooks. Maggie Smith makes the show watchable, otherwise, it's as exciting as watching paint dry. The tribulations of a bunch of posh tossers really doesn't engage my interest here any more than it did in Buddenbrooks.

J.T.B. · February 11 2013, 05:22 PM

Frontier wrote:

OK, so... I freely admit I've seen 25 minutes worth of one episode. So, I very well could be missing a great deal. But that's my reason for asking so. So please don't eye-roll and flame me if I am, alright? Thanks!

But... from that cursory exposure... I find what little I observed, I didn't like. It seems to me a show about one of the wrongs of our past: the class system. A wrong that still exists today, but that we've made great ambitious strides towards pushing as far out of our culture as we can,

Am I wrong? Is it really a show about how all the servants save the day and educate the rich upper crust of the evils of a class system? Or something otherwise redeeming?

What's the attraction of this show?

It's well-made, has lots of good period detail and an ensemble of fine performers playing nicely developed characters. It has a lot of dialogue that bears attending to, there's not much action and what conflict there is is often understated. It's not for everyone.

The servants are not always good examples; they can be as judgmental and hierarchical as the aristocrats, or more so.

IMO the show has gone down a notch each season; the third season has been outright silly at times, although there was one major dramatic development that made up for some of it. I still enjoy the show, mostly for the character dynamics and performances.

Warp Coil · February 11 2013, 06:04 PM

It's a period piece soap. It's got a beautiful setting and great costumes and lots of British accents (which I love!). It's not for everyone. Hell, I was convinced that I would be bored to tears watching it, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit!

Temis the Vorta · February 11 2013, 06:07 PM

I know what you mean, I watched the first episode and had this overwhelming reaction, whooooo caaaaaaarrreeesss...

And I'm female, the target market for this show. I can only imagine how straight males would react, probably give them hives.

This is just another example that all TV is not for everyone. If fancy clothes and houses don't interest you, there's plenty else out there.

lurok wrote:

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

It's a well-made soap opera.

That's pretty much it. Escapist period fluff that's occasionally intentionally and unintentionally funny. And camp.

The confusion probably arises because of increased expectations due to it being on PBS and getting Emmy attention. Neither are generally associated with "fluff."

Allyn Gibson · February 11 2013, 06:23 PM

Temis the Vorta wrote:

And I'm female, the target market for this show. I can only imagine how straight males would react, probably give them hives.

I'm a straight male, and I love it. It's soppy and stupid and hits the romantic buttons pretty hard.

Also, I love an underdog, so I'm Team Edith.

Jan · February 11 2013, 06:45 PM

I've only just sttarted watching it this season but I've ordered the first and second. It's set in a time of great social change and you see that change catching up to the old guard, both above- and below-stairs.

It all comes down to what you like. I'm all for character drama and it works really well for me there.

Jan

Samurai8472 · February 11 2013, 08:27 PM

I assumed this show was made for

-lonely women with cats who hold "Talk English for a day" parties.

-Wives who are infatuated with the poshness(Oh look at the British and how classy they are compared to us Americans!")

Then I got sucked into it. I know more about the show then my family members.

Stuff like the Charles Ponzi reference I got.

Allyn Gibson · February 11 2013, 08:47 PM

Samurai8472 wrote:

Stuff like the Charles Ponzi reference I got.

That line was great! My immediate thought was, "No wonder you lost the entire family fortune on lousy railroad investments."

JoeZhang · February 11 2013, 08:47 PM

J.T.B. wrote:

Frontier wrote:

OK, so... I freely admit I've seen 25 minutes worth of one episode. So, I very well could be missing a great deal. But that's my reason for asking so. So please don't eye-roll and flame me if I am, alright? Thanks!

But... from that cursory exposure... I find what little I observed, I didn't like. It seems to me a show about one of the wrongs of our past: the class system. A wrong that still exists today, but that we've made great ambitious strides towards pushing as far out of our culture as we can,

Am I wrong? Is it really a show about how all the servants save the day and educate the rich upper crust of the evils of a class system? Or something otherwise redeeming?

What's the attraction of this show?

It's well-made, has lots of good period detail and an ensemble of fine performers playing nicely developed characters.

Costumes maybe but the social-political stuff is either so simplified to be insulting or simply wrong or sanitised paternalist bilge.

It's a great soap but it has nothing deeper to say.

auntiehill · February 11 2013, 10:19 PM

I didn't care much for it at first, but later, really enjoyed how the storylines mirror a little of what was going on historically and frankly, what REALLY hooked me was the cast of characters. I love all the subtle intrigue both among the servants and the family, the tiny details in what is said and what isn't said.

And, please, Maggie Smith doing what she does best--steal scenes left and right. I love her.

I am COMPLETELY Team Edith. I know what it's like to be the "ugly sister" so I completely sympathize with her.

Serial thread killer · February 12 2013, 12:53 AM

I can't explain why I love it, I think the show suffers from really bad writing but I just love it.
Also I'm team Edith.

February 11 2013, 06:09 AM	#1
Frontier Vice Admiral Location: Fifth Circle of Hell, IE: Pennsylvania	Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? OK, so... I freely admit I've seen 25 minutes worth of one episode. So, I very well could be missing a great deal. But that's my reason for asking so. So please don't eye-roll and flame me if I am, alright? Thanks! But... from that cursory exposure... I find what little I observed, I didn't like. It seems to me a show about one of the wrongs of our past: the class system. A wrong that still exists today, but that we've made great ambitious strides towards pushing as far out of our culture as we can, Am I wrong? Is it really a show about how all the servants save the day and educate the rich upper crust of the evils of a class system? Or something otherwise redeeming? What's the attraction of this show? __________________ Me on Tumblr Me on Twitter

February 11 2013, 06:20 AM	#2
The Mirrorball Man Vice Admiral Location: Switzerland	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? It's a well-made soap opera. __________________ Check out my deviantArt gallery!

February 11 2013, 07:01 AM	#3
RoJoHen Awesome Location: Wherever life takes me	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? I have only seen the first season, but I loved it. I don't think there's some deep lesson about the rights or wrongs of the class system; it just happens to be the setting. It provides for some interesting drama that you don't get to see too often. The characters are engaging, the storylines are fun, and Maggie Smith is just downright hysterical. __________________ I am the Quintessential Admiral. Get ready to grow your EQUINOX BEARD!

February 11 2013, 10:51 AM	#5
Gov Kodos Vice Admiral Location: Gov Kodos Regretably far from Boston	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? It struck me as a variation on Buddenbrooks. Maggie Smith makes the show watchable, otherwise, it's as exciting as watching paint dry. The tribulations of a bunch of posh tossers really doesn't engage my interest here any more than it did in Buddenbrooks. __________________ “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi

February 11 2013, 06:04 PM	#7
Warp Coil Rear Admiral Location: MD, USA	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? It's a period piece soap. It's got a beautiful setting and great costumes and lots of British accents (which I love!). It's not for everyone. Hell, I was convinced that I would be bored to tears watching it, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit! __________________ "I managed to find Uno and Checkers, and also parts of Battleship and most of the pieces of Candy Land, which I figure, I can mix together to create a fabulous new game, CandyShipBattleLand. War never tasted so good." - Lorelai Gilmore

STAR TREK

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ABOUT US

February 11 2013, 06:45 PM	#10
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? I've only just sttarted watching it this season but I've ordered the first and second. It's set in a time of great social change and you see that change catching up to the old guard, both above- and below-stairs. It all comes down to what you like. I'm all for character drama and it works really well for me there. Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

February 11 2013, 08:27 PM	#11
Samurai8472 Vice Admiral	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? I assumed this show was made for -lonely women with cats who hold "Talk English for a day" parties. -Wives who are infatuated with the poshness(Oh look at the British and how classy they are compared to us Americans!") Then I got sucked into it. I know more about the show then my family members. Stuff like the Charles Ponzi reference I got. __________________ "Inception" is a layer cake.

February 11 2013, 10:19 PM	#14
auntiehill Fleet Admiral Location: av by Chemahkuu	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? I didn't care much for it at first, but later, really enjoyed how the storylines mirror a little of what was going on historically and frankly, what REALLY hooked me was the cast of characters. I love all the subtle intrigue both among the servants and the family, the tiny details in what is said and what isn't said. And, please, Maggie Smith doing what she does best--steal scenes left and right. I love her. I am COMPLETELY Team Edith. I know what it's like to be the "ugly sister" so I completely sympathize with her.

February 12 2013, 12:53 AM	#15
Serial thread killer Rear Admiral Location: uk	Re: Downton Abbey - Am I Missing Something? I can't explain why I love it, I think the show suffers from really bad writing but I just love it. Also I'm team Edith. __________________ Malcolm on Star Wars: "The one about the fucking space hairdresser and the cowboy. He's got a tinfoil pal and a pedal bin. His father's a robot and he's fucking fucked his sister. Lego. They're all made of fucking lego."