Downton Abbey January 9, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Fiction, Humor, People.trackback
Downton Abbey kicked off Season 3 (in the U.S.) on Sunday.
I missed it.
After waiting six months (since applauding the last episode of Season 2 on DVD), I didn’t think to tune in until the wedding party started to walk down the aisle.
Grantham!
I’d missed the first hour of the 2-hour season première.
Using our handy on-screen guide (to 7139 programs I don’t want to watch), I scrolled and scrolled and scrolled to find the ONE program I did want to watch.
There! A repeat airing at . . . 2 o’clock in the morning?
Seriously?
Scrolling . . . scrolling . . . scrolling . . .
Huzzah! A repeat airing at . . . 4 o’clock in the morning?
WTF?
Scrolling . . . scrolling . . . scrolling . . .
Found it! A broadcast at 1-3 pm Wednesday afternoon. (Today.)
Grantham!
We have a prior commitment at just that hour.
After my fingers went numb from scrolling, I gave up.
I exited the handy on-screen guide (to 7139 programs I don’t want to want), pried loose the remote from cramped fingers, and sat at my writing desk to watch the ONE program I did want to watch.
On my much smaller computer screen.
Downton Abbey did not disappoint . . . despite its shrunken Lilliputian state.
The war is over. Beloved characters enter the Roaring 20’s amid change and crumbling class distinctions to face challenges, resolve dilemmas, and seek rewards. We step into scenes and experience the spectrum of human emotion, conflict, and motivation.
No cardboard cut-outs here.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 
What is the hubbabaloo about with this program? Is it one of these shows that’s really addicting?
It’s the best period drama I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch, Irene. Stellar cast, characters, dialogue, setting, costumes, etc.
Every episode has pulled me into the scenes unfolding.
It’s just a wonderful, wonderful series. I’ve enjoyed it immensely.
Definitely a Masterpiece Classic! 😀
I’m intrigued. Care to show the link so that we experience this spectrum of human emotions?
If you’re intrigued, your best bet is to start with Season One ~ available on Netflix and elsewhere.
I have got to watch this show. I’ve been reading and hearing about it everywhere!
Everyone is talking about it for good reason . . . it’s good. 😀
Oh I feel your frustration, Nancy! I’m so hooked on this show. Our PBS station is airing it again next Sunday right before the second episode, so if you want to watch it on “the big screen” you could have a delightful feeding frenzy next Sunday! I’m quite sure this isn’t just local programming. I loved the “American-British” dueling between Shirley Mclaine and Maggie Smith. It should be a very spirited season! 🙂
thanks, Debra. I’ll check to see if Sunday involves a replay of the first before the airing of the second. Lots of “dueling” going on in the season premiere ~ Maggie vs. Shirley, Branson vs. the English Aristocracy, Mary vs. Matthew, etc.
I’d argue about the best period drama (the original Forsyte Saga, in 1967 when everything stopped all over England, and even choir practice had to be postponed) but Downton runs it pretty close.
This is the best period drama I’ve seen . . . I’ve never seen the Forsythe Saga. Sounds like a real “life stopper.” 😀
I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never seen it, Nancy. We don’t have a tv, and I need to stream it on my computer or something. I know I would love it.
When I got Disc One Season One, I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity. Instead, my curiosity insisted on knowing “the rest of the story.” It’s a grand dance . . . above and below stairs.
I never watch TV, and my computer as we know is the slowest in the history of mankind, I am in love with period dramas though and this one has such a good reputation.. ah well.. c
We rented the first two seasons from Netflix . . . and loved every episode. But I’m too impatient to wait for Season 3 to be released on DVD.
ah, netflix, thank you! c
You wonderful folks have not heard of DVR? I’m actually relieved to know I’m not the least technologically advanced human on the planet.
I’m steering all the people who make fun of my backward ways to this post!
Yes . . . send them over here to make fun of us! Actually, we used to record shows all the time . . . but (at the moment) we have nothing on which to record them.
It’s rarely an issue since I only want to watch 1 show in 7,139.
If you want to laugh at me, here’s a bit of trivia: I’ve never sent a text message. Ever.
Haha! I’ve sent less than 10 text messages in my life . . . decided they were more trouble than their worth . . . and blocked my phone from receiving any more. 😀
I’ve never seen a single episode, Nancy, but it sounds excellent by all accounts. Perhaps one day I’ll sit and watch an episode or two…
Good luck stopping at just an episode or two . . . the story draws most viewers into the fold at first glance.
Glad you finally got to see it, Nancy 😀
We saw a few highlights on PBS a month ago . . . just enough to whet our appetites. 😀
I got started just last month watching season 1 on Netflix and I saw the last two episodes of season 2 on PBS in Decenber in preparation for season 3
My friend and daughter watched it with me in our PJ’s on Sunday and I watched it again last night. I have them all set for taping
So excited for this season but I missed WWI episodes
They are such a delight to watch . . . crisp dialogue, the story never stalls, and the characters stay “in character.”
Now that I know it’s airing on Sunday nights, I’ll catch the episodes as they air. Maybe I’ll even wear my pj’s. 😉
Very witty as always! As an aside, I got onto to Ancestry.com over the Christmas period and discovered that my 3xGreat grandfather (Moses Lucas) came from Downton in Wiltshire UK 🙂
What a FUN discovery, Lorraine.
Highclere Castle (photo above), the main filming location for Downtown Abbey, is in Hampshire, England, about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Newbury ~ not sure how close it is to Downton in Wiltshire.
Nancy you make me feel like I am missing something! I haven’t watched it!!
It’s probably the best thing I watched in 2012 . . . and it’s likely to top the list in 2013 as well.
Netflix has Season 1 & 2 available now and Season 3 will be available at the end of January. I’ve just added it to my queue.
I can’t wait for Season 3 to start in Oz, I think it’s next month.
It’s funny how it’s debut is staggered across the globe . . . even in the digital age of instantaneous transmissions.
Ah, well, it gives us something to look forward to, eh? 😀
I’ve never seen this show, but I can relate to the frustration of trying catch it on TV. It’s even more fun now that we don’t have cable (or the onscreen TV Guide that came with it.) And of course, we don’t have a DVR or anything like that. We do have a VCR, though 🙂
I’m glad you got to see your show, even if it was in miniature.
As it turns out (thanks for the heads up, Debra!), PBS plans to re-broadcast Episode 1 from 7-9 before airing Episode 2 at 9 pm . . . I guess someone figured I wouldn’t be the only one to miss it. 😉
When we moved here 4 years ago, we donated our VCR (and all of our VHS tapes). We haven’t replaced the VCR with a DVR. Since missing a show is rarely an issue with us, we won’t buy a DVR until our DVD player conks out.
Recording shows to watch later can be as great a TIME SUCK as surfing the web or . . . *gasp!* . . . blogging.
My goodness, looks like I am missing a good program. Will check it out!
If you like period dramas, or “all things British,” Downton Abbey is definitely a series to check out.
The cast of characters is varied . . . and the characters cast never step out of character. Maggie Smith is a treat to watch.
I watched that the other night and it was fantastic! No pee breaks though 😦
I plan to enjoy a mini-marathon this Sunday . . . Episode 1 (7-9 pm) and Episode 2 (9-10 pm). I am sure I will have to take a bathroom break at some point during that 3 hour span. 😉
I kept on telling the dogs to wait just a few more minutes. And me.
Poor pups . . . having to cross their paws. 😀
Dare I admit that I’ve been watching Masterpiece Theater on PBS every Sunday night since the late 1970’s?
Downton Abbey is great. I love Maggie Smith and her meeting with Shirley MacLaine was so hilarious I nearly wet my pants.
Perhaps you can explain why, when they say “valet” they pronounce the “T”. Isnt it supposed to be a silent “t”?
I expect it’s a pronunciation variation between British English and American English . . . rather like tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto.
I won’t miss Shirley Maclaine’s character when she returns to America. She’s snarky. 🙄
Didn’t you love their first meeting. Shirley says something about the passing years and Maggie Smith says “Oh not me. I dont go in the sun!”
I adore Maggie Smith’s character on the show . . . that line especially. I’m excited about my mini-marathon tonight.
I’m so looking forward to downloading the next season and watching it all in one decadent go!
That will take a pile of popcorn! 😀
Julian Fellows certainly has the knack of spinning a good story. His books are impressive, too. I recently read Past Imperfect, which is a fascinating comparison of two vastly different eras.
Thanks for the recommendation, Col. I honed in on his name during Sunday’s mini-marathon and thought I should discover what else he’s written.
Did you happen to see him as Kilwillie in Monarch of the Glen?
I did not. Something else to investigate.