TV Gold

I think, like most male kids growing up in the 1970s, Upstairs Downstairs was always a programme I thought of as being a "mum's show" - something a bit twee, heartwarming and safe.

How wrong could I have been!

I was lucky enough to sit down and watch the whole run of UpDown this year for the very first time, and I was completely blown away by how sophisticated, intelligent and utterly non-patronising it is. No Heartbeat, this!

Although I'm not a particular fan of the character of Hazel, I think that the show really hits its peak during the last half of Season 3 and throughout all of Season 4. I think I nearly jumped off my seat when the Bellamy's house was bombed... (not saying which episode in case anyone reads this and doesn't know WHEN it happens!).

Sadly, despite the arrival of the fragrant Hannah Gordon, Season 5 just doesn't seem to have the same panache to me.

What does everyone else think?

Paully

<!--QuoteBegin-Paul Condon+Nov 25 2004, 12:57 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Paul Condon @ Nov 25 2004, 12:57 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think, like most male kids growing up in the 1970s, Upstairs Downstairs was always a programme I thought of as being a "mum's show" - something a bit twee, heartwarming and safe.

How wrong could I have been!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I couldn't agree more with that statement!

I fell in love with Upstairs Downstairs because of my interest in Victorian London, Jack the Ripper etc.. I love that time in History and also am facinated by the entire Domestic Service profession of the time.

I absolutely love the characters and feel very connected to them and the house, I don't think Secret Army is ever gonna sway me from claiming UpDown as being my all time favorite British drama series.

For anyone out there who hasn't experienced Upstairs Downstairs and perhaps still think of it as something their Mum used to watch then let me direct you to the following website for more information...

<a href='http://www.updown.org.uk' target='_blank'>Updown Website</a>

P.S Paul, did you ever watch Thomas & Sarah?

I've yet to watch the black and white episodes but, based on the rest of the series, I'm inclined to agree with Paul that the later episodes aren't quite as good as the earlier ones. There's something of a darker tone to them.

<!--QuoteBegin-Gully Foyle+Jan 5 2005, 04:26 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gully Foyle @ Jan 5 2005, 04:26 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I've yet to watch the black and white episodes but, based on the rest of the series, I'm inclined to agree with Paul that the later episodes aren't quite as good as the earlier ones. There's something of a darker tone to them.
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One Black & White episode I really enjoyed was 'Board Wages'. Definatley worth checking out if you haven't already done so.

I bought the complete DVD set for Christmas and have been slowly working my way through it since then. Just saw Guest of Honor (King comes to dinner, Sarah shows up to give birth) a few weeks ago -- I'd forgotten just how marvelous that episode was!

Season 1 had some lovely episodes, but also a few that seemed a bit "off." The Swedish Tiger particularly comes to mind. I fell asleep during it.

<!--QuoteBegin-TrentinaNE+May 19 2005, 07:44 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TrentinaNE @ May 19 2005, 07:44 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I bought the complete DVD set for Christmas and have been slowly working my way through it since then. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
On Jan. 1, 2006, my husband and I completed our year-long journey through the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants. Whew! Quite an achievement.

We both agree that Series 4 ("the Great War" years), is our favorite, even though (or perhaps because) some of the episodes were emotionally draining. Series 5 had some interesting episodes, but the lack of character-aging as 12 years sped by was a little annoying, and after the gravity of WWI, the lightness of the 1920s was sometimes a little hard to take. But it came to a very satisfying end, and the next time we're in London, a walk around Belgravia will mean a LOT more to my husband.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

TrentinaNE wrote:I bought the complete DVD set for Christmas and have been slowly working my way through it since then. Just saw Guest of Honor (King comes to dinner, Sarah shows up to give birth) a few weeks ago -- I'd forgotten just how marvelous that episode was!

Season 1 had some lovely episodes, but also a few that seemed a bit "off." The Swedish Tiger particularly comes to mind. I fell asleep during it.

Hello all...new here, but had to put in my two cents...I've been an UpDown fan since childhood (I have very vague early memories of a few episodes) and have to agree with the above comment that The Swedish Tiger is rather, well, slowly paced. I suppose this is because of the intricacies of the plot (the exact process of the thefts, the explanations and such,) but still a bit plodding. It was one of only a few episodes during which I found myself leaving the room at a recent viewing. Still, it had Pauline Collins as Sarah in it...and I've always adored that character, as well as the actress...

L