I saw the movie because my sister didn’t want to go alone, but I hadn’t seen the series. I liked the movie so spent the next week or so binge watching the series on “Prime”. It was very good. A glitzy soap opera.
The dresses and gowns in the first three or four seasons were stunning.
Mrs. Mad loves DA. I watched out of respect for her. I enjoy the early seasons because of the clothes and the sets. I am not heavily invested in the story line but I also loathe Mary.
A couple of years ago there was a traveling exhibit held in museums of many of the clothes from Downton Abbey, including men's and servants' as well as the ladies' day and evening wear. It was amazing. Most of the dresses were entirely sewn or at least finished by hand. Some of the hand-beaded gowns were just incredible. The costumers had located real articles of the period and either restored them, coped them, or combined parts of several to make a finished creation. The menswear was also of very high quality -- tweeds as well as evening clothes were displayed. So glad I went. I also enjoyed the scenes in the series where the maids, footmen or valet were downstairs caring for the clothing and shoes.