Downton Abbey

It is hard to believe it has been 40 years since Masterpiece Theater broadcast Upstairs/Downstairs, the BBC series that followed the wealthy Bellamy family and their servants.  Well, this month a similar series is back on Sunday evenings - Downton Abbey - but this time it is the Earl of Grantham and his family.  The new series was created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, who also gave us Gosford Park.  Told in 1.5 hour episodes over four consecutive Sundays, I have thoroughly enjoyed the show to date.  The family in this story needs to deal with one large issue, the future of the family's wealth, as well as many small issues, including the role of women in the ever-changing society just prior to World War I.

One of the more interesting aspect of the show is the dedication to Downton Abbey itself.  You get the impression that the Earl is just as much a servant of the house as anyone else.  All of this is peculiarly British and fascinating to observe (in a time of housing problems of our own Stateside).

The original Upstairs/Downstairs program lasted for five seasons in the 1970s, and given the quality of this current production it would be nice to see a similar run for Downton Abbey.  The acting and setting is superb, as one comes to expect from the BBC.  I have already read that series will have a second season.  If you missed the first episodes, you can catch up on iTunes.

Update:  On April 10, a three-part sequel to the original Upstairs/Downstairs can be viewed on PBS' Masterpiece.  It includes Jean Marsh reprising the role of Rose Buck, who is helping the new owners of 165 Easton Place find the right mix of servants.  The setting is just before World War II and should offer some interesting insights into the period.  More episodes are expected to follow next year.