Posted on 01/17/2012 7:37:19 PM PST by Steelfish
JANUARY 17, 2012 1 Yes to Downton Abbey Americans don’t secretly long for aristocracy; they appreciate a good story. By Mona Charen
Simon Schama holds a place of honor in our home. Preparing for a trip to London in 2005, we watched his video series “A History of Britain,” over the course of several weeks. Our boys loved it so much that they would chant “Britain! Britain!” after dinner. His history of the French Revolution, Citizens, was masterful.
So it’s with the greatest respect that I disagree with him about Downton Abbey, the first television series to keep my interest since, well, The Sopranos.
Schama thinks he detects the “clammy delirium” of nostalgia in the Tea Party’s “ache for a tricorny country,” “radio ranters” selling Americans on a false paradise of pre–Social Security and Medicare America, and now viewers racing to their TV sets on Sunday nights to catch Downton Abbey, — a “steaming, silvered tureen of snobbery.”
Americans, Schama scolds, “desperate for something, anything, to take [their] mind off the perplexities of the present” are gobbling up this newest Edwardian-era story because of our secret longing to be members of a defunct aristocracy.
Who is being the snob here? Schama, an Englishman, proposes to elevate our taste. The series irritates him because he still recalls the sting of being “put in his place” by the “toffs” in the 1950s and 1960s. We credulous Americans are too easily swept off our feet, he protests, by these country-house tales.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
It’s a story. I love a story told well, with wonderful characters and a plot I can follow. Plus, I love Highclere and really enjoy looking at the castle.
It’s a high point of our week around here. Sunday night on PBS Masterpiece, Downton Abbey is a wonderfully made series with superb character development and a riveting story line.
Well worth watching!
I forgot to add: and excellent actors. Maggie Smith as the snobby dowager is wonderful!
Count the days til Sunday night to watch this wonderful series fireside with a good dinner and my dog by my side! Heaven!
Don’t forget Penelope Wilton (Harriet Jones MP-Flydale North and later Prime Minister) in the re-vamped Doctor Who.
“Yes, we know who you are....”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTZjXSPChg0&feature=related
Don’t forget Penelope Wilton (Harriet Jones MP-Flydale North and later Prime Minister) in the re-vamped Doctor Who.
“Yes, we know who you are....”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTZjXSPChg0&feature=related
Don’t forget Penelope Wilton (Harriet Jones MP-Flydale North and later Prime Minister) in the re-vamped Doctor Who.
“Yes, we know who you are....”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTZjXSPChg0&feature=related
Downton Abbey was just recently added to Netflix streaming.
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Masterpiece_Classic_Downton_Abbey/70213223?trkid=2361637
Sorry for the triple post.
I like Mona Charen and I like that she likes DA.
Found this on Netflix streaming last Spring. Became hopelessly addicted after the first 5 minutes. I was sorry when the last episode ended.
Got Season 1 DVD set for Christmas and am watching one episode a night. Will watch the final episode of Season 1 tomorrow night.
Season 2 is going to the DVR and I’ll pick that up when I finish the DVDs.
I’m not the type to care for TV series, but I love this program. I hope it goes to season 3, then 4, then 5, etc.
Season 3 is already in the works. I read one review that says Season 2 gets really boring about the 6th episode and the writer said that you want to scream at the TV over the plot and stupidity of the characters. I hope not...LOVE this series!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5dMlXentLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3YYo_5rxFE&feature=relmfu
Lady Violet: Oh, my dears. Is it really true? I can’t believe it. Last night, he looked so well. ‘Course, it would happen to a foreigner. It’s typical.
Lady Mary: Don’t be ridiculous!
Lady Violet: I’m not being ridiculous. No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else’s house. Especially someone they didn’t even know.
Pure gem!
Oh, good, I’ll be able to watch it now!
Schama can’t seem to distinguish the unclassy versus the classy
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