deesestone

I found this to be an excellent adaptation of the book, something very rare when it comes to a good book. Of course the book gives more detail and more background to the characters, but nonetheless this series captures the essence of the book in a remarkable way. Very little of the plot is changed and even where it is changed it does not detract from the plot. The actors and their performances are memorable. I would even go as far as to say that in some respects, the series is better than the book because we don't have to wade through the extensive religious and socio-economic discussions and commentary that is often boring and distracting in the book even while providing context and background to the love story.

Being an avid and loyal Downtown Abby fan, of course I loved this excellent sequel that picks up just after A New Era, fantastic segue from the movie-making episode, so glad to see Thomas happy in his new life and all the other servants doing well, mostly married to each other, very satisfactory ending indeed. However did not like the return of Giametti a most unattractive and gross character as Lady Grantham's brother - ugh, did not like him the first time, even less the second time around. Such a pig! And now the cause of so much grief. Also what's with Mary's divorce? Although I am glad she did get divorce from Henry, another character I disliked from the get-go, supposed to be very attractive but to me a real pin-head, and now we find out what a phony he was, with his professions of eternal love and wanting so bad to be "worthy" of Mary! And we find out he was unfaithful to her! How gross. I wish it would have been Mary to have dumped him or that he came back for a cameo to be dumped and shunned. To me he was always a phony. I also would have liked to see Lucy again -- a most attractive and sympathetic character. Anyway this is nitpicking because over all quite a satisfying finale although I hope it is not a finale and that there is another movie, certainly there is plenty of plot lines still to be discovered. PLEASE LET'S HAVE ANOTHER ONE. (If there was only some way to bring back Matthew!!!!)

The Toronto Law and Order is pathetically bad, who could possibly think this is is good translation of the American series. First there is no law part -- no lawyers or courtroom drama to tie the criminal investigation by the cops together. So what is the point of of it all? To see this know-it-all detective with the irritating low key voice solve the crime, with the female partner doing all the grunt work, a poor man's Vincent d'Onofrio who was also super annoying so it says a lot that the Toronto version is even more so. And the captain with her bulging eyes that are so diverting it is impossible to concentrate on what she is saying or take her seriously, sorry that sounds mean. All in all boring and bad -- a lethal combination.