Do I need to give this Downtown Abbey thing a go?

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

I seriously know nothing about it! Oh, except that three ex PCBH actors guest star...

Someone give me a DA For Dummies crashcourse?

Me and DH watched the first episode, 'live' back in the day

'Not gonna catch on'

Ahem.

I wondered what all the fuss was about so I watched episode 1.

And now watched every episode in every series.
At least twice.

There are three Prisoner Cell Block H actors in Downton?

Yeah you might as well. I've heard it's quite popular.

Just begin at the very beginning. You'll be fine.

I'll be your 'latetodowntonpartybuddy' ive always wanted to watch the crimbo specials

Only if you're an insomniac

Just watch from the start, it's easy to follow, got some great actors in it, you will soon be hooked.

It's rubbish. But compelling rubbish with some good actors doing their best and Maggie Smith engaging in wanton scene stealing. Maggie Smith's horror at the suggestion that she might actually watch it was epic.

Asked DH to get me the boxset for Xmas one year as wanted to start watching it. Persuaded him to just watch the first episode with me and then he needn't watch any more if he didn't want.

We both spent the next three days on the couch binge watching the first four series....

Pros:

Great cast

Big budget. So great settings, costumes, camera work feels movie quality

Cons:

Pacing is all over the shop

Big storylines dropped without being resolved

Tedious storylines dragged out over more than one series

Cousin Matthew. So dull.

All of Lady Mary's suitors looked identical

Boring main characters like chauffeur bloke

All in all it's high end enjoyable soap and pretty watchable if you like costume dramas

I watched the first one of two episodes, that was enough

one or two!

Savoy another blockie? I thought we were a dying breed!

I can't remember who the other two are, but Penny thingimyjig (played Kerry Vincent) is in there as a guest.

Crap TV, you say? I've sat through all 692 episodes of PCBH, All (up to now) eps of Pretty Little Liars, and I've just forced persuaded DH to "dance" the cat along to a Shirly Temple tune while watching A Little Princess. and got it on video. So I can deal with cheese. 😂

Me & my dh never watched it when it was on but for some reason started it last week, we are already on series 3 episode 6! Totally addicted!

It's amazingly addictive. The Bates storylines can be a bit tedious. But generally it gets better and better as the series go on. Matthew Goode is in the final series so is worth watching for him alone.

It's spectacular, visually. Just lovely.

We gave up after about two series as it felt very soap like at that point, but then watched the last series.

It's amazing! Watch it!

Do it! We didnt 'get' it either. We assumed it was be all posh and boring. A friend lent us the DVD of series one which sat on our shelf for months and in a weak moment we put it on. Well.. we were instantly hooked! We bought the box set of the whole lot and watched them all within a couple of months. We were gutted when we finished watching the last one. We aren't far from Highclere and have been a few times, stunning place.

Yes go for it. You know when you are ready I think, you get the calling .

I watched them all about 18 months ago.

I didn't watch the original run, thought the trailers were overhyped. Then last summer it was on the sky boxsets so I thought I'd give it a go. That was it. Totally hooked. Watched every episode over the course of a month. Absolutely loved it. Give it a go.

I didn't start watching until it was on catch up. Given how many there were, it is a time investment. It's definitely good drama, Maggie Smith delivering epic one-liners Do expect the worst outcomes for everyone, sometimes it felt like 'Surely not? Oh yes, more catastrophe'. But I watched the lot. If you've watched all of PLL like me you'll probably enjoy it.