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flicka
Seriously Hooked
825 Posts |
 Posted - 01/16/2011 : 5:01:18 PM
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Part I, last week, made me remember how good the grand British costume drama can be. It isn't yet as compelling as "Upstairs, Downstairs" but it might prove to be by the end. Part II is on tonight and I have my viewing spot reserved!
flicka |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4291 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 5:11:01 PM
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I'm loving it — it reminds me a little of Gosford Park, probably because of Maggie Smith, but also because of the upstairs/downstairs aspect.
Jane
Betty deserves everything and more: Make a Donation
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: Flickr Album
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Milinda
Permanent Resident
USA
3816 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 5:49:37 PM
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I rub my hands together with glee! I love Masterpiece Theatre, they do it best. Support your local PBS station so you can continue to see such lovely productions.
M L
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minh
Permanent Resident and Destasher Extraordinnaire
USA
3416 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 6:30:30 PM
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Rats, I missed the first episode and I can't see it on Comcast On Demand. Off to see if I can find it on the PBS website so that I can follow the series...
Edited to add: The complete first episode was on the PBS website so I just watched it.
Tidbit 1: The creator/writer of this show was the screenwriter of Gosford Park.
Tidbit 2: The series will be coming back in 2011 in the UK for a second season. |
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kbshee
Permanent Resident
USA
4129 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 10:12:33 PM
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I love it too! And did you see the 'new' Upstairs/Downstairs is on MT in April?
kim in oregon
http://kbshee.blogspot.com |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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NastiJ
Permanent Resident
1268 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2011 : 3:17:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Lanea
...I just watched the third episode yesterday...
It was only the second episode here - am I in a time warp, or are you?
Nancy J.
"Learning how to knit was a snap.It was learning how to stop that nearly destroyed me." Erma Bombeck |
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anderknit
Permanent Resident
USA
2549 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2011 : 4:51:27 PM
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Second episode here. I am loving this. Just loving it.
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' " |
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flicka
Seriously Hooked
825 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2011 : 5:09:17 PM
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Episodes 1 and 2 were shown on the opening night (January 9), and episode 3 was shown January 16. Apparently some scenes were cut from the British version in episodes 1 and 2, because it was believed Americans would be bored or mystified by the "entail" business. Could be; if cuts were made I didn't notice any gaps. (I learned about which episodes were shown from Wikipedia, but I must warn you there are spoilers there.)
flicka |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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NutmegOwl
Gabber Extraordinaire
561 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2011 : 09:54:45 AM
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I am in heaven watching this on TiVo during our every-other-dayish storms ... I was not the right age for the original Upstairs, Downstairs, so any version would be fun!
Like Lanea, I have more than one PBS station, and that allows me to pick things up differently - especially old Mystery! and other shows like "Waking the Dead" - an old BBC favorite. My two networks show different WTD episodes a day apart - so in effect, I get to watch it twice a week.
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Nutmeg Owl
Quaecumque sunt vera
http://www.owlwaysknitting.wordpress.com |
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kkknitter
Seriously Hooked
641 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2011 : 6:43:23 PM
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We do not get TV reception up state. Can we watch it on the computer? I checked BBC out but could not find it.
KK |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4291 Posts |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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lella
Permanent Resident
9697 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 12:55:07 PM
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I'm going there right now, to PBS site, to watch it. Thanks Lanea! I guess PBS is also going to have Doc Martin, another one I love. Gotta love that Maggie Smith, too. Thanks for the topic!
Lella
Zippiknits
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Coolj
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 1:32:31 PM
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I just got the following statement from a friend who works for our local PBS station: Apparently "Downton Abby" was dumbed-down for the US audience. We're missing one whole episode! These are the things I learn by working at KET.
I'm totally addicted and don't want to miss one second of Downton Abbey. I would gladly watch the missing entail parts.
Juanita |
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eldergirl
Permanent Resident
USA
1674 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 2:04:07 PM
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Well, "dumbed down" might be a little harsh, but they do alter things for American audiences. I think they take out some if the darker threads of the story, characters with accents difficult to understand, scenes that are full of very British talk and issues.
Uh oh ! Sounds like "dumbed down", doesn't it?
I am addicted too, and I guess I'll take it anyway, but Juanita love, I'd love the missing bits, too!
Anna |
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Coolj
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 2:18:07 PM
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Oh Anna, if I'm having trouble with an accent, I can always turn on closed caption, and I'm sure you do the same. I wish those who make these decisions would give us more credit {{sigh}}. But thanks for trying to explain the thinking behind it.
Any ideas how we can find the missing episode/bits?
Juanita |
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queen of the east
Seriously Hooked
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 2:50:16 PM
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Downton Abbey and Gosford Park have more than Maggie Smith in common, Julian Fellowes the screenwriter of Gosford Park is the writer and creator of Downton Abbey.
Mr. Fellowes was 'to the Manor born' and has mentioned that some of the best lines uttered by Maggie Smith/Lady Constance in Gosford Park were first spoken by Mr. Fellowes' aged aristocratic aunts when he was a young man.
I imagine Downton Abbey has more than a few characters, situations and dialogue based on Mr. Fellowes own life.
Like Gosford Park, Downton Abbey also features a trio of young aristocratic sisters, perhaps J.F's own sisters or cousins are reflected in the fictional ladies.
I am surprised to read that the series was edited for American viewers, this is a new approach for MT and PBS to take. If any of you remember the series Poldark ( it aired many long years ago) it featured several characters with rather thick Cornish accents and that didn't seem to bother American viewers at the time.
Perhaps this has something to do with why some PBS stations carry East Enders but not Coronation Street. An east London accent is easier on American ears than the Lancashire slang of Corrie.
Ann in Montreal |
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minh
Permanent Resident and Destasher Extraordinnaire
USA
3416 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2011 : 5:33:41 PM
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This is not the first time that PBS edits a British series for American viewers. Foyle's War is slightly edited in order to fit into the 90 minutes time slot. I noticed the difference during the last season between what I saw on PBS and what was in the DVD set. I'm curious to see the UK uncut edition so I made a donation to my local PBS and will be getting the DVD of Dowton Abbey.
The rivalry between Mary and Edith is heating up... I'm with Lanea: when do O'Brien and Thomas get their comeuppance!?
http://minkyknits.blogspot.com |
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flicka
Seriously Hooked
825 Posts |
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Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater
