General Chat

I thought last nights' prog was the best of the 3,
now I'm looking forward to the return of Larkrise
to Candleford a week on Sunday.

Emmax

Well, as one who didn't watch Downton, I enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs. Some bit were a bit concertinaed because of the limited time of three episodes but, like a good book, it left me wanting more, wondering what was going to happen to the various characters.

I think anybody who was asked about their own series versus another would say theirs was best, that is human nature when youa re trying to capture an audience.

We are thinking alike Rita - the oneliners for Maggie Smith are brilliant.

I think that where the head of the household was in the Foreign Office and high up he would well have been more than aware of the position of german jews at that time. So he gave a little one sanctuary. Her father had already been incarcerated and was possibly dead. Less than 3 years later the last kinder train left Gernmany.

Not sure if I enjoyed it or not to be honest.

It felt rushed and I did not have a chance to get to know the characters properly - the Jewish woman who died in yesterday's episode did not seem to have been in the household a long time but she obviously had as they all rallied round to bring up her daughter and it seemed as if they'd known her for years.

Would any household at that time, in that location, be so lenient? Maybe, but it did not seem "right" somehow.

Was it hurled together to compete with Downton Abbey I wonder or am I just an old cynic?

Jill

I thought tonight's episode was the best yet and most interesting. Cannot imagine Mr. Hudson delivering a baby!

Tried that -did not work Ann - had trouble with Chat and General just today.

Regarding your question Chris. I had that problem a couple of times but when I re-worded the heading of the thread it was OK.

Just googled and apparently the original verison spanned the years 1903-1930. To date Downton has the upper hand - the one liners given to Maggie Smith were pure magic!

I enjoyed it really, but kept thinking back to the oroginal series. I think they have tried to enclude too much in such a short space of time. Its hard to really know the characters in this "abridged" version
Judybinks

I have enjoyed the first 2 episodes. The sets and acting are fine.
Keeley Hawes, Eileen Atkins, Art Malik, Ann Reid and the ever brilliant Jean Marsh are doing a fine job and Adrian Scarborough is making a very suitable successor to Mister Hudson as the butler.

The media have tried to compare UD to Downton Abbey. Despite the knocks DA has had about TV ariels etc., Downton wins in my book.

We will just have to wait and see whether UD can develop into a series, three 1 hour viewings are not a lot to make a judgement on.

Thought I would try to hijack my own thread!! Anyone having trouble such as I am in trying to post a new thread? As soon as I enter topic up comes 'must be 3 to 50 characters' in red. Type my posting and it will not submit. Waiting to hear back from GR but as they still have not fixed the other error on boards not holding breath but it is annoying.

Set in 1936 cannot ignore King's death, his son's abdication, the Blackshirts, Moseley and Hitler. It looks as if all three parts are set in 1936 as tonight's episode is dealing with the abdication.

I wonder if they have put so much into the three parter to build a foundation for a possible series if it should be popular. Maybe having the violence etc of the black shirts encourages more males to watch it. If it were to become a series it would have to cover the war years so would need the background.

It went on for longer than that Rita - Lady Bellamy died on the Titanic. Some years later after WW1 I think Richard married a friend of Marjorie, she was a widow with a young son - Hannah Gordon played the part.

James served as an officer in WW1 and was wounded and suffered shell shock and went on to marry his father's secretary Hazel.

Think the original stopped about 1925 this began in 1936. Am watching it but do no think I would watch a repeat and enjoy as I did the orignal and have enjoyed it on Sky since.

I must admit I am enjoying it, but I keep referring back
to the original which was much better. Nostalgia drew
me in to watch even though I did not expect it to be on the same
par as the original one. Different times, different ideas.

Emmax

I found it strangely unengaging but perhaps I expected something of the calibre of the original. To see Jean Marsh shuffling around with her straggly hair and muttering incomprehensively, was just a step too far! Housekeeper? I think not! lol Yes, it kept to the period all right, but the acting and stereotypes were just a tad over the top, in my opinion. BCXX

I thought it was very good and it does reflect the times. Moseley and the black shirts were very much of the just pre second world war times. I thought the marches and Nazi salutes were chilling, a lot of violent scenes yes but life was not all sweetness and light then.

Oh dear and toots - so glad of the carol 'Hark the herald angels sing, Mrs Simpson pinched our King'!!!!! Thank heavens he abdicated and did us all a favour.