I have just finished watching the first season of Downton Abbey and can't wait for the next episodes. It's easy to see why it has proved so popular: a closed, hierarchical world; fine acting and casting; lavish production and sumptuous décor, etc. When all the ingredients are in place, we will always be suckers for this kind of period drama. Part of us yearns for a world in which everyone knew, and was happy, in their place, even though such a world probably never fully existed and we wouldn't necessarily be happy in it even if it did (after all, we can't all be the Earl of Grantham!).
Although I think the series could be improved if the many short scenes were from time to time interspersed with longer sequences, the fact is we come to care about the characters and what happens to them. At heart Downton Abbey may indeed be soap opera, the television equivalent of comfort reading, but it is very high-class soap opera.
Although I think the series could be improved if the many short scenes were from time to time interspersed with longer sequences, the fact is we come to care about the characters and what happens to them. At heart Downton Abbey may indeed be soap opera, the television equivalent of comfort reading, but it is very high-class soap opera.
And perhaps it helps to actually "care" what becomes of the characters? They are believable.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. It's when you start wondering about the past and future of the characters that you realise that you are well and truly hooked!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Barnaby (and East Anglian)
ReplyDeleteThe BBC is to compete head to head with Downton Abbey by broadcasting the final series of "Spooks" at the same time.
I am not sure that the characters in Spooks are really believeable but enjoy the escapism of both programmes so will probably record one for later viewing and watch the other live.
Mrs maytress is not at all keen on Spooks but shares the views of you both so there is little doubt as to which we will watch live.
I've never seen Spooks, Jerry, but will now look at the older episodes on my iPlayer (now available in France for a fee) and report back to you. Unfortunately, I can't get ITV so will have to wait until the DVD comes out for the new season of Downton Abbey.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Spooks Barnaby.
ReplyDeleteJohn Le Carre who knows a thing or two about spies and spying and whose books make for great reads, is quite scathing in today's Evening Standard about the BBC Spooks series.
However as his main criticism appears to be that real spooks are not like those depicted on the BBC he rather misses the point.
EG I doubt that the film Titanic accurately depicted much beyond the fact of the liner sinking but that did not prevent many enjoying the film as a somewhat weepy but watchable escapism spectacle.