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Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 12:51
by pete9012S
Well,I watched my first ever episode with my good wife last night-The Christmas special.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.

They have done a really good job with this show.My wife said last nights episode wasn't even one of the best,but I thought it was really entertaining all the same.

I can now go back to the very beginning and start watching them all from series one! :D

Anyone else hooked on it? Its like watching the time period when Agatha Christie wrote her first novel 'The Mysterious Affair At Styles-I think the producers have done an amazing job in bringing this time period so accurately to life.
It also reminds me of the Christmases Agatha said she enjoyed Immensely at her sisters Mansion in Abney Hall Cheshire.

Regards

Pete

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 12:55
by Lucky Star
I also watched it for the first ever time last night. You're right Pete it was very good. I'm not sure I could be bothered going back to the beginning though. The period atmosphere was what I enjoyed the most. I think I'm much more interested in the wealth of Dickens material which is about to start arriving on our screens.

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 13:08
by Julie2owlsdene
Yes, it certainly is an excellent series, and really worth starting at the beginning for anyone who hasn't seen it from then. You'll get to know more about the characters that way, why Thomas the footman is disliked and why poor Mr. Bates is in prison, how Matthew first came into the family, etc. It's such a brilliant series.

You're lucky to have the pleasure of getting to know all the characters from the very beginning again Pete. :)

I thoroughly recommend the series. :D

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Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 15:33
by Icecream342
I saw it(Yes I did stay up till 23:05pm!!!!)

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 16:42
by Anita Bensoussane
I haven't watched Downton Abbey at all yet but I've just picked up Series 1 on DVD for a bargain price - looks as though I'm in for a treat! :D

Like you, John, I enjoy films/series based on Charles Dickens' books and I'm looking forward to the new adaptation of Great Expectations.

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 26 Dec 2011, 20:10
by pete9012S
Julie2owlsdene wrote:
You're lucky to have the pleasure of getting to know all the characters from the very beginning again Pete. :)

I thoroughly recommend the series. :D

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Thats exactly how I feel about it Julie-It was the best thing I've watched over Xmas.(although the first Sherlock Holmes film from Robert Downey jnr (2009) was quite a hoot!)

And to think I only watched Downton out of politeness to my wife in appreciation for all the guff she watches with me....(Nigel Slaters Simple Suppers,Frasier,The Snooker,Saturday Kitchen,the Sky At Night,etc etc! :D )

Regards

Pete

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 09:15
by lizzie farrel
Reading all the posts I decided to download the first episode of Downton Abbey and watched it last night, seems like I'll be hooked. As Pete said, for anyone who grew up reading Agatha Christie it's such a feast to see the workings of a country estate with all the upstairs/downstairs intrigues. Reminded me of the opening paragraph of Body in the Library, where we are given a short description of the duties of the staff as the day begins.
Love the little kitchen maid - and don't tell me Mr. Bates winds up in prison...oh dear me

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 15:25
by number 6
The splendid Downton Abbey was filmed at Highclere Castle near Newbury, Berkshire. I had the good fortune to visit earlier this year. I had to book my tickets in advance of my visit, though, but it was well worth the effort. The building is very impressive and is absolutely beautiful inside. The gardens are also a joy to walk round as well. :D

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 28 Dec 2011, 17:48
by Julie2owlsdene
How smashing, number 6. I believe their visiting figures have risen considerably since Downton was filmed there. :)

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Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 02 Jan 2012, 17:39
by 70s-child
My local public broadcasting station had a New Year's Day marathon showing of season 1 yesterday - all the episodes and no commercial breaks - and now I am a fan! :D Thanks Julie and Pete for the recommendation. I am now recommending it to all my family and friends. It is a really good series, and not surprisingly it won 6 prime-time Emmy awards, and has been nominated for a slew of Golden Globes and SAGs. My favorite character, hands down, was Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess - and yes she got an Emmy for her performance.

Looking forward to season 2, which begins next week here.

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 03 Jan 2012, 13:19
by Moonraker
We only watched the Christmas Special (hope the capital S is all right :roll: ) last night. Wow! Not a dry eye in the house!

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 03 Jan 2012, 14:28
by poddys
If you enjoyed the Christmas Special, I definitely recommend watching series 1 of Downton Abbey and then Series 2, and then the Christmas Special again, as they all form part of the same storyline.

Period Dramas are something that British television does extremely well, and this is one of the best for sure.

When you have watched all the episodes, I recommend the spoofs from Red Nose Day which you can find on YouTube. They are brilliantly funny.

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 03 Jan 2012, 15:53
by Moonraker
poddys wrote:If you enjoyed the Christmas Special, I definitely recommend watching series 1 of Downton Abbey and then Series 2, and then the Christmas Special again, as they all form part of the same storyline.

I have! (Or was that a general remark?) :D

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 03 Jan 2012, 18:00
by Tony Summerfield
I think if you were watching that Christmas Episode of Downton Abbey before anything else, you wouldn't have any idea as to why some of the things were happening. One of the reasons why I always like to read a series of books in the right order is so that you don't miss the relationship between the various characters.

Julian Fellowes is a busy boy as he has a new period series starting this year - Titanic.

Re: Downton Abbey!

Posted: 03 Jan 2012, 22:38
by Julie2owlsdene
Tony Summerfield wrote:
Julian Fellowes is a busy boy as he has a new period series starting this year - Titanic.
Yes, I'll be watching that too. I'm sure it will be just as good as Downton.

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