Episode #1.1

(I'll edit this review as I see more episodes. There are seven.) It's 'Upstairs Downstairs' all over again! The new series, Downton Abbey, is bound to draw parallels from its' almost 40 year old inspiration but has so far proved itself worthy of the challenge.

Writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) has created interesting and likable characters without the need to submerge them into over emotional dialog and performances. Much of what is 'said' is done with body language alone.

Much of the first episode gets some of the family history, legal status and staff hierarchy details out of the way.

As you can expect the cast and acting is first rate and the photography, scenery and attention to detail is perfect. The script (so far) is not insulting or annoying... which is a pleasant surprise.

After being continually disappointed by the quality of British TV drama over the last few years with it's insipid devotion to a teenage audience it's very satisfying to be able to report that this one finally seems to be headed for an intelligent, discerning and adult audience.

Get your best china out, cut the crusts off those cucumber sandwiches, relax into the Chesterfield and enjoy! Sunday nights in front of the box are back!

A terrific drama that explores the different and difficult relationships between the servants and the upper-classes. Julian takes care to make sure that the servants have just as an important part as their masters and balances it beautifully! There's treachery, love, and plenty more to look forward to. Julian shows us that there is more to a stately home than meets the eye, and pays careful attention to show that what you see on the outside is not necessarily what you get on the inside. There's plenty of conniving going on between Miss O'Brian and footman Thomas to make sure that you are never bored for a single second. So tear yourself away from the day to day life of the twenty-first century and plunge into the early twentieth, I promise you, you won't regret it!!!!!!

Now that the recent Downton Abbey movie came out a few months ago, I'll be reviewing the entire show starting with the 1st season now that I've watched the entirety of it. The whole idea of the show exploring the relationships between the servants and the upper classes at Downton Abbey got me interested. Considering I adored Game of Thrones for doing the same thing when it came to establishing the characters of that show (up until Season 8), this show does a masterful job in giving a detailed look into the early 20th century while providing some intriguing characters and some thought-provoking drama.

This first episode succeeds in establishing not only the setting, but also the servants and the upper classes working at the abbey. The acting from everyone involved is perfect and provide some excellent performances especially from Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, and Laura Carmichael. The production design and sets along with the costumes compliment the setting, the pacing is very good and takes it time to provide the characters' interactions perfectly. Even the music score is really good with a memorable theme opening.

To those who haven't seen the show yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. This deserves a gold medal.

The opening episode of a series is always a fact-finding mission for me. Introduction to characters and motivations are key, and Fellowes gives us a great hook, the entail. Readers of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice will be well aware of this legal term. The Bennet family of five daughters and no son is bound to it also in the early 1800's. The heroine Elizabeth Bennet's father has inherited his estate and it can only pass to a male heir, the odious Mr. Collins. This is part of the English primogeniture law, "the right, by law or custom, of the first born to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings." This of course, even in 1912, still means that only males can inherit property. Since the Earl and Countess of Grantham had three daughters and no son, the estate must pass to the next male in line, which is the Earl's first cousin James Crawley and then to his son Patrick who is also Mary's fiancé. When they both perished with the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the family is thrown into crisis. When the Earl married American heiress Cora Levinson in 1889, she brought with her a great dowry that was absorbed into the estate at her father-in-law's insistence. This cash infusion saved Downton and ensured its future. Now that the estate must pass to a complete stranger, Cora would like the money from her marriage settlement separated from the estate, and sides with her mother-in-law Violet, the Dowager Countess, for the entail to be broken so that her daughter Mary can inherit. Robert, the Earl of Grantham is hesitant and defensive when his mother question his motives and incredulously asks if he cares about Downton?

After years of praise and cultural references, I've finally started Downton Abbey, and Ep 1 makes a strong case for the hype. It opens with the Titanic disaster, not shown but deeply felt, triggering an inheritance crisis for the aristocratic Crawley family. From the first scene, it's clear this isn't just about pretty costumes... it's about legacy, class, and quiet power struggles.

The upstairs-downstairs dynamic is instantly compelling. Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) is dignified but torn, his American wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) keeps her cards close, and eldest daughter Mary simmers with entitlement and frustration. But the standout, unsurprisingly, is Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess: every line a withering, witty masterclass in social warfare.

Below stairs, the arrival of Mr. Bates ruffles feathers. The staff's dynamics feel just as layered and political as the family's, perhaps more so. There's no heavy exposition; the writing trusts you to observe and absorb.

Visually, it's sumptuous but not overindulgent. The pacing is deliberate, with enough hooks to keep you invested. It doesn't shout for attention... it assumes you'll come to it, and you do.

If you're expecting fireworks in the first episode, you might find it slow. But if you enjoy layered characters, social nuance, and stories that unfold like a game of chess, you'll find this a very promising start.