The show changes from Season 1 to Season 6 and not for the better. It gradually takes on more progressive themes, but by then, the viewer is invested in the characters. Overall, it’s one of the better television efforts of the last 20 years. It declined a lot more slowly than say Game of Thrones, and never really descended into vulgarity or cheap plot devices. That’s rare.
Interestingly, the same was said of summers 25 years later in England:
I have memories of a glorious summer in 1939, and an absolutely brilliant summer in 1940, the latter being distinctly dry, but no recollection of water shortage problems.
Source: LETTER : Weather we remember, 1939
The Dunkirk rescue took place between 27 May and 4 June, 1940; The Battle of Britain commenced 10 July 1940.
Love Downton Abbey! Excellent series. If you can access (Amazon Video), the UK-released version has extra footage vs. that shown on PBS. Great series!
I loved this show-—was prepared to hate it-—and the genius of starting it with the Titanic really set the stage. You really do grow to love many of these characters.
It was pretty good. My wife and I have to compromise if we’re going to spend any evenings watching tv together. I watched this with her as well as the Crown, she watched Bosch and the Night Manager with me. It worked out.
Shows we both agreed to watch together but gave up on or never finished:
Sneaky Pete (decided we didn’t care what happened to Pete. watched 3 or 4 episodes)
Ozark - unlikable characters, unnecessary homosexual scenes. Gave up after 3 episodes
Mindhunter - watched first season. It was ok. No interest in continuing
Mozart in the Jungle - terrible. watched 2 episodes somehow
Afterlife - Ricky Gervais dark comedy. I liked it, my wife was not as impressed. She won’t watch Derek (his other show)
Jack Ryan - Decent. We watched both seasons. Popcorn fare
Downton was about intrigue, lust and tragic death. The Dallas series, with keener accents.
I recently started watching on Britbox. I am a bit disappointed. Maybe it was all the hype. I am half way through Season 2. I just do not like Lady Mary or find her sympathetic. I do enjoy the costumes and period pieces. I wish the theme was based on period music. The theme is too modern.
I’ve seen the entire series and truly enjoyed it. My favorite line from one episode was the Dowager Countess asking “What is a weekend?” Priceless.