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An addictive blend of suds and social commentary, ITV's Downton Abbey brings a microcosm of Edwardian society together under one roof. Lord Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) and his family live a life of leisure, while a fleet of servants, including butler Carson (Jim Carter), attend to their every need, but two events conspire to shake things up: the sinking of the Titanic, which claims Crawley's heirs, and the return of his valet, Bates (Brendan Coyle). Since Crawley and Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) have three daughters, his distant solicitor cousin, Matthew (Dan Stevens), becomes heir to the estate. With that, the scheming begins, since Thomas the footman (Rob James-Collier) views Bates as an interloper and Crawley's mother, Violet (Maggie Smith), feels the same way about Matthew's mother, Isobel (Penelope Wilton).
In the tradition of the BBC's Upstairs Downstairs and Robert Altman's Gosford Park, for which writer-creator Julian Fellowes received an Academy Award, the royals, servants, and middle-class relations struggle to get along. Sniffs uptight maid Miss O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), "Gentlemen don't work," but that doesn't stop Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) from competing for Matthew's affections. Though it takes awhile to warm up to the tightest-wound characters, most everyone reveals their more vulnerable side before the first season comes to an end, and a new small-screen classic is born.
The entire sprawling cast is quite wonderful, particularly Bonneville, Carter, and James-Collier, who provide a fascinating study in contrasts (the latter is downright dastardly). Unlike the version that aired on PBS's Masterpiece Classic, this set offers seven parts rather than four. Extras include a featurette, in which cast and crew discuss the production, and an introduction to Hampshire's Highclere Castle, which doubles for Downton Abbey. The first season was a phenomenon in the United Kingdom, and Fellowes has promised a second season set during World War I. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Description
Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, Downton Abbey portrays the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them. Downton is the home of the Crawleys, who have been the earls of Grantham since 1772. In the drawing rooms, library and beautiful bedrooms, with their tall windows looking across the park, lives the family, but below stairs are other residents – the servants, as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above. Some of them are loyal to the family and are committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the lookout for new opportunities, love or just adventure.
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Most helpful customer reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I hope this one runs for years!,
By Jenny Allworthy (WATERLOO, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey - The Complete First Season (Original UK Edition) (DVD)
If you can imagine Upstairs, Downstairs meets The Buccaneers, you will pretty much have this gem from ITV. Surprisingly, not from the BBC (which is doing an update of Upstairs, Downstairs set in the 1930s) it is every bit as good as a BBC production and much prettier than the new Up/Down.Maggie Smith will definitely get a BAFTA for this if not an Emmy. "What is a week-end?" Bwahahahah! Season one starts with the sinking of the Titanic and ends just as war has been declared in 1914. Season two is now in the works and I hope it goes even longer. Makes me want to go back to England to see the filming location, Highclere Castle. Deep sigh! N.B. Just a note about the editing by PBS. The reason that the ITV episodes were longer was mostly due to commercials (2 hours worth). PBS has edited their version a little but not much was removed. In any case, this version is the original UK version, so fear not!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real masterpiece,
This review is from: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey - The Complete First Season (Original UK Edition) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)
One of the best series I've seen in years. Superb cast and acting, witty dialogues, wonderful setting, gripping story. Can't wait for season two
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of British,
This review is from: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey - The Complete First Season (Original UK Edition) (DVD)
Downton Abbey is one of the most engaging and charming TV dramas to come out of the UK in a long time. It took the audience in the UK by storm. It was the talk in every office as everyone anticipated the next episode. It left the British public begging for more and with luck, there will be a second series!
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