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Am I the only person in the world who doesn't GET Downton Abbey?

51 replies

headintheclouds · 22/09/2013 23:17

I really enjoyed series 1 , but but felt s2, s3 etc were poorly acted ,a caricature of themselves ,completely wooden acting etc.. And I really didn't give a stuff about any of the characters. ( However didn't enjoy Julian Fellowes books either for same reason).
So many of my friends / family love it and given the hype and build-up of this series I thought Ill give it another go... But I'm sorry it's still utter shite and I really do not get it... I cannot believe its up for acting awards amongst the likes of Damien Lewis et al for Homeland .., I did try tonight ,I really did but Lady Mary waltzing down the stairs trying to act bereft..No didn't happen for me...

OP posts:
Teapigging · 23/09/2013 13:57

See, I think it has a brilliant cast (well, some of them, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Jim Carter, and some excellent cameos from people like Harriet Walter), and it completely wastes them! And I used to really like Hugh Bonneville as an actor, but he is beyond woeful in this, probably because the script is so poor, all he gets to do is stand about mouthing patriarchal nothings in suits...

It's hard to remember Julian Fellowes also wrote the excellent Gosford Park. I think he's dumbed down for the overseas market. English aristocratic families in the 30s were just not that chummy with their staff, and were highly unlikely to marry the chauffeur or collapse sobbing not the arms of their butler, after he's been tearing them off a strip or two...

HarlotOTara · 23/09/2013 14:39

Teapigging agree the Gosford Park was wonderful and you are probably right.
Justbecause I met someone who knew HB and told me what he had 'allegedly' done but for some reason I can't remember, spanking may have been mentioned but am not 100% sure

loveliesbleeding1 · 23/09/2013 14:57

Nope never watched any of it,

PharaohHound · 23/09/2013 15:07

I love it, it's so clunky.

"Who would have thought it is time to put the gravestone up"

"Yes, they always allow six months for the grave to settle"

Now, how many months has it been since Matthew died, class? Six Months! It has been Six Months since Matthew died!

cq · 23/09/2013 15:16

Awful but compulsive. Lady Mary was catatonic last series. How is it possible to be even catatonic-er now in her grief. She was dreadful. And spot the howling great plot tease about Lady Edith's soon-to-be shag taking German citizenship so they can be together - ooh, that'll be WWII looming then.

But love Maggie Smith, Mrs Scottish housekeeper and Penelope Wilton, the costumes and the houses, so it's a nice Sunday night sofa surf that I can sit and criticise!

Cannot WAiT for Homeland new season!

elQuintoConyo · 23/09/2013 15:25

Bollocks. And not even watchable bollocks but arse-clenchingly awful bollocks.

I'd rather spend an hour in a sealed chamber of my own farts.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 23/09/2013 15:25

It's easy to watch, basically. And the clothes and houses you see are gorgeous.

I vaguely remember him explaining something about why the family and staff are closer than usual after the the first series, it's because it makes writing the scripts easier the mother's american, so not as traditional I think.

PostBellumBugsy · 23/09/2013 15:29

I find it arse-clenchingly awful too. I find myself wincing at all the historical and social inaccuracies, implausible characters and over-played stereotypes.

Numberlock · 23/09/2013 16:17

You are all invited to join me on my Brideshead thread, although it pains me to use the words on the same ad Downton shite ...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1861027-Brideshead-Revisited

Numberlock · 23/09/2013 16:26

You are all invited to join me on my Brideshead thread, although it pains me to use the words on the same ad Downton shite ...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1861027-Brideshead-Revisited

Echocave · 23/09/2013 19:14

I can't watch it either. I just about handled the first series but after that...ye gods it's awful.

I'm not sure where to begin but the combination of rushed plotlines, terrible script and wooden acting is too much.

I saw Michelle Dockery on stage a while ago using her normal voice and she was good. But concentrating on her RP totally deadens her acting and I don't know why she was cast (well, she is beautiful of course!).

Hugh Bonneville just needs to cash the cheque until this woeful programme is canned (in about 10 years' time at this rate!). He's been really good in some things (hilarious cameo in Rev for instance) but he does have form for dodgy telly (anyone remember Bonebreakers or whatever that dreadful BBC series of a few years ago was called?).

Numberlock · 23/09/2013 19:57

Do you think the world can be divided into two kinds of people then? Them what likes Downton and them what doesn't?

Teapigging · 23/09/2013 20:45

Hugh Bonneville was also good in 2012.

Determined to be fair, me.

Maybe Dan Stevens was right to run screaming for the Hollywood hills...

usualsuspect · 23/09/2013 20:52

Never watched it.

Numberlock · 23/09/2013 20:56

Not often you see 'good' and '2012' in the same sentence.

limitedperiodonly · 24/09/2013 11:19

It is utter shite, which as bof says, is its appeal.

I laughed every time I saw Lady Mary's mournful face.

Completely baffling that the cast and British journalists seemed surprised that it got trashed by things like Homeland and Breaking Bad at those awards.

It's like the British Soap Awards. People seem to take it really seriously even though we all know it was invented because these people would never get a BAFTA in a million years.

And so we can laugh at pix of the outfits and them stumbling pissed out of the aftershow party.

Don't spoil Breaking Bad btw. I've missed several seasons but I mean to catch up. I'vejust got lots of telly to watch and a life to live sometimes. Thanks.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 24/09/2013 11:27

I love Sunday night bonnet dramas, but this isn't one of those.

The dialogue is awful, the whole thing is so wrong in terms of detail that it sets my teeth on edge.

DH and I decided to watch an episode at the beginning of the 2nd series to see what the fuss was about - we were hoping to enjoy it, but turned over after ten minutes it was so excruciating.

Solaia · 28/09/2013 08:40

Well most of you are wrong cause it is bloody brilliant.

And I'm sorry but the suggestion that there is a particular 'type' of person who likes Downton is a crock of shit, even by MN snobbery standards.

Solaia · 28/09/2013 08:42

Sorry that last post sounded a but grumpier than I had anticipated

Vivacia · 28/09/2013 18:54

I hate all of the "oh wasn't it wonderful when poor people were servants and had job security and were happy and clean and well-looked after and BFF with the aristocracy?".

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/09/2013 21:04

I've never seen it either (and have no intention of doing so)

vjg13 · 29/09/2013 07:55

I know it is total crap, the script is awful and at times steals lines, plots from other things but still watch it. It is just posh soap.

buzzgirly · 29/09/2013 08:23

I've never watched it. It doesn't appeal to me at all - looks very dull. Plus Sunday nights are only meant for one thing, and that's Homeland!!

HarlotOTara · 29/09/2013 12:42

I can't watch Homeland as Damian Lewis's mouth always reminds me of a pursed anus

Polpotsbabyteeth · 29/09/2013 16:37

God it's just pants isn't it?
It would be my worst nightmare sitting through a boxset of that.
Not my cup of tea at all.