Upstairs Downstairs

[celticlassie]

Anyone watching?

Downton, it is not.

Oh so the nearly King who looked just like Hallam was the duke of Kent was he? Yes why choose 2 actors who looked so alike? not the one who abdicated no one has set me right on that yet.

I'm pretty sure Unity was a fascist.

yes, Jessica was the Commie and Unity was the one who was close friends with Hitler.

Yes once again Tunip I bow to yr. encyclopedic knowledge it was jessica who was a commie and Diana married Mosley, Unity was also a fascist, what a lovely family!!! D'ye reckon percy is based on Unity then?

this thread is 126% more entertaining than UD. Also, more informative.

I've jsut caught up on last weeks episode and am confused!
I'm not sure about it, I don't know if it's just my "I don't like hysterical dramas" head on (although I got into Downton) or what, I can't figure it out

love the character of Lady pamela, to show her living a "normal" life is fab, as most people with any form of special needs were shut away in institutions.

I thought the story-line with the monkey in the pram- gas-mask was very unlikely. Don't feel excited about watching tonight's episode. Anyone else not bothering?

Ppeatfruit - Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David- known to family and friends as David) became King in January 1936 and abdicated on the 10th December that year.

oh, those royals with their extravagant number of middle names!

Ah, but they weren't that extravagant, Tunip, they used to recycle them!

George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) had 5 sons, but didn't seem to worry about running out of names, he just reused them:
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David (Edward VIII)
Albert Frederick Arthur George (became George VI when his brother abdicated)
Henry William Frederick Albert (Duke of Gloucester)
George Edward Alexander Edmund (Duke of Kent)
John Charles Francis ('The Lost Prince' had epilepsy and never appeared in public, died at the age of 13 just after the first world war)

Rusty

i'm on ep 3 now... it isn't improving much but i'm sticking with it for reasons i don't fully understand.

I read a review today, think it was Sunday Times, that said the problem was it isn't focusing on the house enough. I think there is something in that. But we'll see what tonight brings.

interesting... there's something a bit housey in ep3 and it was the best little moment yet.

oh that's interesting.
It's easy to imagine the Edwardian house as a big living organism with all these complex needs that have to be serviced, but by the late 30s with more labour-saving devices and the servant problem it isn't so obvious. I can believe there were still houses that were practically unchanged but a sparsely-staffed wartime house doesn't obviously have such an independent character as an Edwardian one IYSWIM.

(am not that drunk but fear this para reads as if I am....)

ok then - who is the little girl? Lotte? Hallam's housemaid's daughter? Jewish? And her father is....? And Mr Singh is visiting her at school because....?

and Mr Singh is involved with trying to get Jewish refugees out of Germany?

oh, Alex Kingston is organising the Kindertransport. That's nice.

don't worry, she's forgotten all about it by ep3.

In my opinion, far too serious (no lighter moments - although I appreciate the backdrop); I want feel-good TV on a Sunday night. Also, too much overpowering music (we don't need constant emotional prompts). Ages and Persephone (characters and, sorry, actresses) both irritating beyond belief. Hallam - wooden clothes horse. Love the beautiful and talented Anne Reid (Mrs Thackeray). Not worried about missing future episodes. Sad - wanted to love it.

agree re music.

Alex Kingston can normally act, she's good in lots of things. I think the script must be the problem. I'm really not believing in her.
I think they should have got a less beautiful actress for Keeley Hawes' part, she's too perfect to be true.

spoileramas in the daily mail...

Yawn. Desperately sensational yet failing to have any impact on this viewer. Cheap shot. (What is going on with Emilia Fox's hair colour?) Really surprised this stuff is from the writer of Call the Midwife. Methinks the acting is largely the problem...

y, Kindertransport was cheap emotion & putting Blanche at the heart of it, a cheap plot. It could have been so much more interesting and subtle.

Throw-away, fantastical writing (also the addition of the Kennedys). Loved Downton Abbey, but the last series went in a similar direction - too fast-paced and flimsy.