Downton Abbey
This UK drama may have the outward appearance of another Cranford or Pride and Prejudice but its twists and turns are closer to Dynasty.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Programming, Reviews
How the Poms love their tales about class. The ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, the keeping up of said-appearances, and speaking only when one is spoken to.
Lucky for us they do, so that we too can be amused at arms-length distance at the fussing inside the walls of English estates.
Downton Abbey follows a rich tradition of English period dramas (and for that matter, Merchant Ivory films). Set in 1912 in a fictional estate, it has a lavish backdrop with manicured lawns, an historic mansion, sprawling interiors, antique furnishings. And oh the costumes. Money on the screen? It’s positively brimming in the stuff.
At the heart of the 7-episode story is the aristocratic Crawley family, headed by Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), his American wife Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), their daughters Mary (Michelle Dockery), Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay). The esteemed Maggie Smith plays Robert’s mother, Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.
Working deep in the bowels of the Abbey are the numerous staff, headed up by butler Charles Carson (Jim Carter). They oversee the kitchen, serving, laundry, cleaning, motor cars and associated trappings.
Having the two classes under the one roof gives draws similarities to Upstairs Downstairs, but central to the style of this piece is an ability to add melodramatic plot points that are often absent from the genre.
The series begins with the news of the sinking of the Titanic, and the arrival of a new valet, John Bates (Brendan Cowle). Bates is aided by a walking stick, which immediately sees him frowned upon by his peers who want him ousted.
Lord Grantham’s first cousin, the sole (male) heir to the estate, perished on the Titanic. It means a third cousin must be groomed to become an aristocrat, but the cantankerous Dowager Countess will do her level best to undermine plans for a lesser member of the family to usurp the name and fortune.
And thus we have an array of chess pieces all wonderfully loaded to twist and turn under the penmanship of actor and writer Julian Fellowes.
Fellowes may have acted in Monarch of the Glen and The Scarlet Pimpernel, but it is his screenplay for Gosford Park that is more relevant here. He displays an understanding of British society, manners and graces and has drawn refined characters who are expert at attempting to keep their emotions in check.
So while the series may have the outward appearance of another Cranford or Pride and Prejudice its twists and turns are closer to Dynasty. There is deception, passion, manipulation, threats, power, backstabbing, and mystery -and that’s just in the first episode. This is one to watch closely, there are clues everywhere….
Maggie Smith is a sheer delight as the Dowager Countess, incensed at the possibility of Downton to be inherited by an ‘outsider.’ Brendan Cowle brings a quiet respectability to his role as the imperfect valet Bates. Elizabeth McGovern adds emotion to her role as Cora contrasting the more restrained British roles. The ensemble cast, regardless of their class of character, are all splendid.
It’s hard not to ignore that this ITV production really belongs on the ABC or Pay Television. Seven’s promos with pop music (and even some with AFL players endorsing it) belie the quality of the piece. Scheduled after Dancing with the Stars it will doubtless be subject to shifting start-times, commercials and no sign of high-definition. Don’t let that put you off.
Downton Abbey looks set to get better and better.
It’s sheer class.
Downton Abbey airs 8:30pm Sunday on Seven.
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- Tagged with AFL, Dancing with the Stars, Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs
43 Responses
had downton abbey stopped playing in tassie or something?it hasn’t been on for the last couple of weeks.im so shattered!
and nsw- where has it gone tonight?
Why is Downton Abbey not appearing after Dancing with the Stars tonight – Sunday, July 10, in Tasmania? I am so disappointed.
@TV tonight
“It’s hard not to ignore that this ITV production really belongs on the ABC or Pay Television. Seven’s promos with pop music (and even some with AFL players endorsing it) belie the quality of the piece.”
Firstly…what a load of nonsense! This was Made by a commercial network in the UK – Always intended to have commercial breaks. How on earth do you think they paid for such an expensive production?. No more of less ads than what we normally get on TV or indeed what is legal. So commercial networks arent allowed to make quality TV and sell it?
And Hard not to ignore that those promos worked!…1,800,000 Australians…no less, for a period drama in prime time…astonishing really. Like them or hate them…people were sucked in, in there droves…and this tiem…the show backed up the promise….it’s good.
Buy the DVD on ebay – have watched it sans ads…simply brilliant. Can’t wait for series two!
I loved this, great TV. What a treat to see a show where we don’t have to sit through the participants being voted off! Pure entertainment.
Downton Abbey replays Saturday, June 4 at 3pm in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and at 4pm in Adelaide.
Firstly: There is no way most of those “talking heads” in the promo would have lasted past the first 15 minutes … what a con!
Secondly: Tampon adds need to be restricted to daytimes and after 9:30pm … it is Revolting to have them in our faces every add break!!!!
Thirdly: It was a very slow first hour and I think they would have lost a lot of viewers very quickly, I will stay, but that is because I love British drama shows …
I watched what felt like a million ads interspersed with very short segments of Downton Abbey (first episode) on Channel 7 tonight. 7 has lost me – I’m not going to be assaulted by an army of ads like that again. I’ll wait until the DVD becomes available.
I know Australia has lots of ads compared to the UK but we dont pay TV licences like they do which are very expensive , will stick with the ads as opposed to paying for watching TV
Southern Cross has changed its mind and will show Downton Abbey in NT and Tasmania this Sunday at 8.30pm.
Haven’t seen the footy player endorsements or MKR contestants. That is my biggest gripe with 7 (and to a lesser extent with 9 & 10) is the silly over the top dumb down promotions that they use for marketing their own shows, along with the latest pop song attached to it. Why on earth do I need to put up with Lady Gagga or Kei$ha songs with the volume turned up high over the promo. This is set in 1912 not 2011 so how is modern day pop relevant to the show? I thought it was ITV not BBC produced as the promos appeared to have more sexed up acting and storylines than what the BBC normally produces (not that I’m complaining), as well as 7 doesn’t normally touch BBC produced shows.
Also, BHG last Friday had a a cross promo for the amazing race with contestants with a gardening maekover challenge! I may have a sneak peak of DA on Sunday night, but when I get constant annoying channel promos about a new show I normally don’t end up bothering watch to it! I reckon it hinders more than helps a new show with tacky promos (maybe I’m the exception!).
Due to AFL coverage on Sunday, Downton Abbey screens at 9pm in Adelaide (with Dancing with the Stars at 7pm).
As an Aussie living in the UK I really enjoyed it – strangely though, people upset over the fact it will be on Seven also need to realise that it was broadcast on ITV in the UK not BBC so there were also ads. But anyway, watch and enjoy! Can’t wait for series 2!
Just watched first 2 eps on flight to Paris. Brilliant – particulalry ep 2 once all the characters have been introduced. First episode is 70 mins without ads, so not sure how 7 will deal with that. Commercial tv in Oz always stuffs up this sort of thing, so will wait until it airs on UKTV to watch the rest – or will buy on DVD in UK this week.
I’m really looking forward to to it and wish it was on ABC or UKTV first. Then I was considering buying the DVD as its quite cheap on Amazon but maybe if i record it and edit the ad breaks it will only be the annoying pop ups that spoil it.
@Marc: I think Southern Cross not showing Downton Abbey in Tasmania (and NT) has more to do with its AFL coverage. SC shows matches covered by Seven and Ten, even though it’s an affiliate of Seven. The Thursday night match between West Coast and Melbourne in Round 6 and the Monday night game between St Kilda and Carlton in Round 7 caused major disruptions across SC’s schedule, as SC had to give preference to the football over its regular programs (e.g. Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives). These regular programs then had to be shown across several nights, so that NT and Tasmanian viewers will be up to date with other states.
At least three repeat episodes of Bones were not shown (on Sunday and Monday nights) as the timeslots were used to catch up on episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and No Ordinary Family. So while SC in Tasmania and NT is up to date with new episodes of Bones, I believe it wants to show those repeats of Bones first before screening Downton Abbey.
I was getting so frustrated seeing the ads every night saying ‘Coming Soon’ and was elated when the first two eps were added to the inflight entertainment on a flight home earlier this month.
I immediately fell in love with it and am glad all the hype was worth it.
Im so excited for this to start and really hope Seven don’t mess around with it. It’s too good to be treated that way.
I actually don’t even mind Seven putting Castle on the back bench for a while to allow for DA to blossom.