Downton Abbey

[cantthinkofanything]

yeah...I went there.

First of all, I rarely watch English period movies or shows. Not the slightest bit interested. But recently, I've heard so many positive comments about Downton Abbey. And these are from people who've liked many of the same shows I do. Breaking Bad, Sopranos, The Wire. So I finally decided to watch the first episode last night without any expectations of wanting to see more. And to my surprise, I really liked it. Looks like it's going to have several interesting sub-stories revolving around one major plot.

Anyone else willing to admit they're watching this?

[mrsmaalox]

I've admitted it several times in several threads here ;)

[ChumpDumper]

Some of the plot development seems a bit contrived as the series goes on, but that's the nature of the beast, I suppose. Just extremely well made otherwise.

[cantthinkofanything]

I've admitted it several times in several threads here ;)

Sorry, I meant to direct my question to Manly Men.

[mrsmaalox]

****SPOILER ALERT****


Yea it can be corny soapy----as in "paralyzed man falls out of wheelchair only to catch himself and miraculously walk again" soapy, but I love it ;)

[mrsmaalox]

Sorry, I meant to direct my question to Manly Men.

I believe they are all duking it out in the CD/CF thread at this time :)

[ChumpDumper]

Yea it can be corny soapy----
You should spoiler alert that one.

[cantthinkofanything]

Bloody hell Maalox. I just only watched the first episode.

[leemajors]

It's pretty awesome. Ser Jorah is really good in it. And poor, poor Bates.

[Spurminator]

Ser Jorah is really good in it.

Never noticed that was him. So that makes two along with Ygritte.

[mrsmaalox]

Bloody hell Maalox. I just only watched the first episode.

D'oh!!!

Not to worry, you have quite a way to go til Season 2 Christmas Special. Most the manly men I know will have easily forgotten any such reference by then ;)

[ChumpDumper]

Another pretty good recent British piece set in that period is Birdsong, though like most WWI dramas, it can't capture the ridiculous scale of a battle like the Somme.

[cantthinkofanything]

D'oh!!!

Not to worry, you have quite a way to go til Season 2 Christmas Special. Most the manly men I know will have easily forgotten any such reference by then ;)

LALALALALALALALALLALALALALALA!!!!!!!
Quit talking about it! Now I know when it's going to come up. Now, every episode, I'll be watching and waiting for someone to show up in a wheelchair. Or wondering which character gets paralyzed. It's going to screw up the whole thing.

[leemajors]

Outside of the stiff they cast as teenage Pip in Great Expectations, it was good too.

[cantthinkofanything]

What about Foyle's War or Inspector Lewis?

[mrsmaalox]

They are all good. I enjoyed "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders", probably the first time I took notice of Daniel Craig.

[leemajors]

yjekoUqesmo

[cantthinkofanything]

I think the first thing I remember Elizabeth McGovern from was Once Upon a Time in America. Was just looking at this on IMDB. Did not realize that the girl that played her character as a child was Jennifer Connelly.

[Jacob1983]

Watched 10 minutes then retired from watching it.

[mrsmaalox]

Did anyone watch Season 3? I thought it was better than Season 2, but the finale last night may have put me off for Season 4.

SPOILERS below!!!

I had looked forward to Shirley MacLaine's appearance but that was kinda flat. I couldn't believe Lady Sybil's death, but it led to a pretty good transformation of Tom, who was too uptight and I never liked. Poor Edith and her shitty life, now she's getting involved with another man with "issues". The Ethel the Maid storyline was useless and boring. I liked snarky Mary, but too bad she only showed up last episode. Got pretty tired of Robert's grumbling and stupid pompous ass but he got better last night. Oh and that new girl cousin Rose, not really interested in her. And then Matthew----damn! I was ready to write him off early this season when he was in the perpetual bad mood and had that scowl pasted on his mug 24/7. Then he saved Downton and was all in a good mood and adorable again, so of course----whack! I dunno, I kept watching Boardwalk Empire after they killed Jimmy and it really threw the show off for a while, not sure I like Downton enough to stick with it.

[leemajors]

Matthew may have been the worst actor on the show, right up there with Mary. Love the show though!

[mrsmaalox]

Matthew may have been the worst actor on the show, right up there with Mary. Love the show though!

:lol Yup. During Lady Sybil's death scene, when I was sitting there mouth hanging open, not believing what was happening, I'd catch Matthew's face and his anguished expressions and have to crack up.

[leemajors]

Holyshit

[mrsmaalox]

Holyshit What?! Did something happen?

[cantthinkofanything]

What?! Did something happen?

Fucking A maalox...fucking Nazis killed Hank

[mrsmaalox]

What a sec, this is a thread about Downton right? But damn, Hank is dead and I'm PISSED!! I still have the last 2 episodes to see; I hope hope hope Jessie kills Walt. If I was Marie I'd definitely try to kill him! He's an evil SOB and he needs to be exterminated.

[leemajors]

I just watched the third ep of season 4, and it was pretty shocking.

[cantthinkofanything]

What a sec, this is a thread about Downton right? But damn, Hank is dead and I'm PISSED!! I still have the last 2 episodes to see; I hope hope hope Jessie kills Walt. If I was Marie I'd definitely try to kill him! He's an evil SOB and he needs to be exterminated.

Snap...you'll be shocked then...Jerry, Kramer, George, and Gwendolyn all end up in jail. But it turns out to be a dream. Spoiler Alert though.

[vander]

damn I thought this was going to be mostly history and a little soap. but it's freaking all soap with just some historical references thrown in here and there. almost through season 2 and my eyes have about rolled out of their sockets

[cantthinkofanything]

damn I thought this was going to be mostly history and a little soap. but it's freaking all soap with just some historical references thrown in here and there. almost through season 2 and my eyes have about rolled out of their sockets

put your tampon back in and enjoy the show

[mrsmaalox]

Loved the season 4 premiere! They really poured on the soap :lol

[leemajors]

I've seen em all already but I do enjoy Patton Oswalt live tweeting the PBS run.