Downton Abbey

[aagold76]

maybe I didn't think you knew because you keep calling it Gosforth Park....not Gosford....

[pat grimshaw]

Do you have favourite moments in the series?

My favourite is Matthew's blue eyes.

The other was early in the series when the Dowager Countess asked 'What is a weekend?'. I didn't really get the significance of that question until the following day when I was sardined on the train.

[Spensed]

maybe I didn't think you knew because you keep calling it Gosforth Park....not Gosford....

My bad. Gosford Park was 10 years or more ago. But the fact that Downton and Gosford have the same writer isn't relevant to what I was saying, which is, in essence, that the Downton doesn't have the weight or context of Gosford.

To pick up on one or two of the other posts, I'm not even saying that it should, if people like it for what it is.

But it then stays at a less ambitious level of costume melodrama, rather than more impactful drama.

Because the writing is, to at least to me, so far one dimensional, I don't really care about the marital fortunes of the girls in the same way that one does in say, Jane Austen. It is just romantic escapism, whereas it could have been that and then some.

The other thing that occurs to me is that, despite dealing with a gay character, Downton is short on good looking guys, which is never a good thing.

[suck poppet]

The other thing that occurs to me is that, despite dealing with a gay character, Downton is short on good looking guys, which is never a good thing.

Which, ironically, is one of the more natural, realistic aspects of the show.
I don't think the polished "Playgirl"-type models are suitable for this particular ensemble (although Theo James as Mr. Pamuk came pretty close!).
Besides, the real hot actors are more suitable for shows with nudity in it, like Spartacus, OZ, Footballer's Wives and True Blood.

However (to contradict myself here) I do hope Henry Cavill will join the cast in future episodes since I had a big crush on him when he played Charles Branson in The Tudors.

Finally, may I suggest the movie "Up The Aristocracy", featuring The Ultimate Gayporn Couple, Daniel & Pedro? Some of the cumshots are very compelling and impactful and will certainly get you glued to the screen

[aagold76]

favorite moments...have to agree- Maggie Smith's 'What's a weekend' was priceless- she had all the funny lines, really....when she was in the swivel chair at Matthew's office- 'i was always a good sailor...' once she got her balance....hot Turk, Kemal Parmuk and the goregous hairy chest of the Duke....neither of them are listed on the IMBD page- anyone know who played them????

[jackmanor]

favorite moments...have to agree- Maggie Smith's 'What's a weekend' was priceless- she had all the funny lines, really....when she was in the swivel chair at Matthew's office- 'i was always a good sailor...' once she got her balance....hot Turk, Kemal Parmuk and the goregous hairy chest of the Duke....neither of them are listed on the IMBD page- anyone know who played them????

The Duke of Crowborough is played by Charlie Cox; Ottoman Empire embassy attache Kemal Pamuk is played by Theo James.

[Spensed]

Which, ironically, is one of the more natural, realistic aspects of the show.
I don't think the polished "Playgirl"-type models are suitable for this particular ensemble (although Theo James as Mr. Pamuk came pretty close!).
Besides, the real hot actors are more suitable for shows with nudity in it, like Spartacus, OZ, Footballer's Wives and True Blood.

However (to contradict myself here) I do hope Henry Cavill will join the cast in future episodes since I had a big crush on him when he played Charles Branson in The Tudors.

Finally, may I suggest the movie "Up The Aristocracy", featuring The Ultimate Gayporn Couple, Daniel & Pedro? Some of the cumshots are very compelling and impactful and will certainly get you glued to the screen

LOL. I don't think one needs to go that far. But, just as an aside, it would be a pleasant surprise, if they showed a constructive gay relationship (I'm sure there must have been one or two during the period, despite the legal prohibitions). As it is, being gay is just associated with being a defective character. Who'd have thunk it?

[aagold76]

Don't see Henry Cavill joining the cast of any TV show in the near future- considering he has 2 HUGE movies coming out...Immortals and Superman

[josher]

I've been on vacation and just got to see this.

Ram, thanks so much for posting it.

I thought last year's Red Nose mashup/satire of Coronation Street and Eastenders was the funniest thing I'd ever seen, but these sketches are sensational. Jennifer Saunders as Dame Maggie Smith - hilarious.

The budget for this must have been phenominal by British TV standards.

Was Dawn French the cook? She had no lines, but I would think she'd be part of something like this.

And Simon Callow (it was him wasn't it?) as Julian Fellowes, Mr. Pomposity personified, was magnificent.

I know I've seen many of the others in British TV programs and films. Is there a list anywhere of who played whom?

Anyway, thanks again Ram. This was just a spectacular satire of both the plot and the backstage elements of Downton Abbey.

[goldenmoth]

Here you go...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1867525/

[josher]

Here you go...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1867525/

You are my hero! Thanks so much. I thought about imdb, but couldn't figure out what title to search for.

I didn't recognize Victoria Wood at all.

Interestting that Aidrian Edmondson directed. (Which explains the Jennifer S. casting.) Those "Young Ones" have kept pretty busy.

Thanks again.

[Ram]

Josher, you're welcome! Good satire should always be shared!

Was Dawn French the cook? She had no lines, but I would think she'd be part of something like this.

Oh no. I don't think so. If she had appeared in the clip, she would definitely have more lines to say.

Anyway for Upstairs Downstairs and Doctor Who fans:

Dr. River Song will be traveling back in time...

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/26/alex...rs-downstairs/

[pat grimshaw]

My favourite line and it's probably true to the days when workers worked a six day week and Sunday was the Sabbath.

[josher]

^^She doesn't know what a week-end is because every day is the "week-end" for her. She lives a live of luxury and every day is just like any other.

[sokker]

not enough Thomas in this latest episode

[thatgirl]

I started watching it a few days ago. I'm almost caught up. It's not exactly profound stuff but it's basically like a well written soap opera.

My Favourite Characters:

1) I LOVE Lady Grantham for her general badassery & for her hilarious comments like “You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look." I'm going to use this line in real life. Too funny.

2) Thomas is so beautiful to look at but I wish they'd develop him more. He's really intriguing but rather one-dimensional a lot of the time. Why are both gay characters on this show evil/duplicitous? That's kind of weird to me.

Also, I don't care that much about the rich girls and their marriage problems. I'm more interested in the staff/servants.

Fun stuff. I'm glad I gave it a chance. I thought the premise would bore me but it didn't.

[nondescript]

Poor Matthew... I wonder if his cock is as beautiful as his eyes... such a shame it will never function correctly... ever again.

[pat grimshaw]

^

[braex27]

He was soooo young in Line of Beauty.

[pat grimshaw]

^
(He WAS the most satisfying part in that TV version of Alan Hollinghurst's story )

[aagold76]

THAT'S where I've seen him before- he looked familiar!! The book was much better, however.

[thatgirl]

All caught up.

S2 season does not have enough Thomas. I'm annoyed by that, tbh.

Man, I was so bummed out when they killed off Beautiful Blind Soldier Guy.

As for William's death, I honestly don't care. lol Harsh, I know. but I hated that Daisy & William weirdness.

Can Matthew Crowley get any more bland? Maybe his war injury will make him a bit more interesting. I doubt it, though. Ugh. zzzzz

Also, I don't know how this happened by I think I love the whole Beautiful Empowered Sybil & The Chauffeur storyline. Mostly tho I think it's because Tom is hot. Like, the only other hot guy on the show aside from Thomas. Yay shallowness.

<-- so hot right now

[pat grimshaw]

^
BEWARE of spoilers! (I looked through half-closed eyes)

[thatgirl]

^ Wait, after an episode has aired, isn't it fair game to discuss it in this thread? I mean that's the way it goes in the other TV show threads.

If not, LOL. Oops. Sorry y'all. ~

[pat grimshaw]

^



fair enough, TG


(I'm down in Australia)

[thatgirl]

^ Gotcha.

I didn't take that into consideration, tbh. In the future, I think I'll spoiler tag things to be considerate. I watch it online and so I sometimes forget that people don't all have access to an episode right away after it airs in the UK. lol

[Ram]

Yeah, thatgirl! Join the awesome club for awesome people in love with this awesome show.

[aagold76]

New episodes haven't aired in the US- series 2 doesn't start here until January, 2012

[braex27]

I am not sure they've started in Australia either...

Boo.

[sokker]

My biggest pet peeve about this show is that the most boring, god awful storylines take up like 90 % of the episodes.. Sybil and Branson are definitely the most interesting AND most popular couple on the show. They have the most fan made music vids on yt too.. lol. Sybil is such a great character, an empowered woman, which was very unusual back then, especially in the upper class. Also, Branson has such an interesting history too.

Anyway, back to my point.. Mary and Matthew bore me to tears, and they get 90 % of the screen time every episode, while Sybil and Matthew, who are both much more more interesting, either alone or together got a whole of 1 minute screen time last episode. It pisses me off. I also love O'Brien and Thomas, and what they get up to together, yes, they are kinda mean, but at least they make the show more exciting, they also only get a few svcenes each episode. And I also think Thomas needs a bf soon.

OK, sorry about that.. rant over now, lol. To sum it up: not enough Branson, Sybil, Thomas and O'Brien.. too much Mary and Matthew.

[GregK]

All caught up.

S2 season does not have enough Thomas. I'm annoyed by that, tbh.

Man, I was so bummed out when they killed off Beautiful Blind Soldier Guy.

As for William's death, I honestly don't care. lol Harsh, I know. but I hated that Daisy & William weirdness.

Can Matthew Crowley get any more bland? Maybe his war injury will make him a bit more interesting. I doubt it, though. Ugh. zzzzz

Also, I don't know how this happened by I think I love the whole Beautiful Empowered Sybil & The Chauffeur storyline. Mostly tho I think it's because Tom is hot. Like, the only other hot guy on the show aside from Thomas. Yay shallowness.

<-- so hot right now

Aghhhh i hateyou!!! Lol Not really, but Im a tad upset because ssn: 2 isnt airing in America yet, so YOU DID ruin somethings for me! but oh well lol

[nondescript]

Mary and Matthew bore me to tears, and they get 90 % of the screen time every episode...

I must be getting old, because I actually enjoy the Matthew Mary thing.

[rareboy]

I can't read this thread yet because part II hasn't aired in Canuckistan yet.......*sobs*

[thatgirl]

Yeah, thatgirl! Join the awesome club for awesome people in love with this awesome show.

LOL. I feel like I'm in some kind of exclusive JUB Club. ~

Honestly tho, I know you and braex27 have awesome taste in tv shows so I kept seeing this thread and it sort of tempted me to give the show a try. I tend not to watch British period dramas but that's basically why I gave it a chance.

OK, sorry about that.. rant over now, lol. To sum it up: not enough Branson, Sybil, Thomas and O'Brien.. too much Mary and Matthew.

YESSSS. THIS. I loved your rant. Don't be sorry.

This is exactly how I feel.

Unfortunately for us, I don't think Mary and Matthew's story will ever take a backseat. Ugh.

[sokker]

Branson and Sybil.. wow.. finally!

[TrailofTears]

Oh yeah, I love this show. I can't wait until it airs here in America.

[pat grimshaw]

OK, this show may be high-budget mindless soap but, please!

NO SPOILERS

[suck poppet]

Just watched the first episode of the second series and it was fantastic.
I'm so glad it's back on tv.
Won't be coming back to this thread very often as I hate to read spoilers.
Maybe, after this season has finished...

[thatgirl]

So, finished the S2 finale. It was meh.

S1 > S2, tbh.

[Pyramus11]

The Season 2 finale made me sad.

[braex27]

Well, I've just finished Season 2 and I have to say, it was rather anti-climactic.

Maggie Smith, still superb - lots of wonderful humour. Not sure what other projects Penelope Wilton had going on but could have done with more screen time for her.

Edith's character has developed well, though the story concerning the burn victim seemed to fizzle and went nowhere.

I know a few people have said they Sibyl/Branson arc was the most interesting - and it's true to an extent but Branson just got so insufferably self-righteous. Couldn't stand him towards the end.

I don't know - this season was quite hit and miss for me.

[Just: Mills]

I haven't actually read any of this thread, as I'm worried there may be some spoilers buried within.. I'm on Season 2 - I do believe I've seen up to Episode 3. I've been busy so not had chance to catch-up, but it awaits my on my hard drive..

Think it's a fantastic programme - I was talking to my parents (who also enjoy it) a few days ago, and my grandpa would have been a small boy when during the period it's set around..

[pat grimshaw]

Has anyone read this novel and can you recommend it?



It's been praised by Stephen Fry and lady Antonia Fraser.

[thatgirl]

i had no idea there was going to be a xmas special for downton abbey until i found out last week. anyway, bumping for the trailer. ~

[braex27]

I'd completely forgotten about them going a Christmas special!

[suck poppet]

I was surprised to read here that people found the last episode an anti-climax!
But I didn't realize you hadn't seen the Xmas episode yet, which btw is available on dvd seperately.
I don't understand why because it's not a stand-alone episode (like we had on Little House On The Prairie for example).
This was the continuation of the previous episode and therefore should be included in the S2 DVD boxset.

[Tadaa]

Downton is back tonight @9pm on PBS.

[Duigi-Luigi]

I watched this show for the first time tonight. The WWI scenes were cool.

[aagold76]

can't read the above- too many spoilers- series 2 started last night here in US.....pretty good episode, but 1 thing really bothered me- how all the characters kept talking about how the world had changed, things would never be the same....in hindsight- yes, but during the war nobody th...ought all the social conventions would be torn apart/monacrhies would fall, etc. Everyone expected the sacrifices during, but all planned to pick up after and go back to normal....Something tells me the Publisher guy has the dirt on Matthews fiancee that will conviently end that engagement.....

[Tadaa]

I watched this show for the first time tonight. The WWI scenes were cool.

Well, you have to catch up:

Go to PBS.org or click the links below to watch the first season. You only have until January 17th before they pull it.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4


Enjoy