I’m a prisoner in Downton Abbey! Neither my wife nor I watched Downton Abbey while it was in production but my wife is binge-watching it streaming now. I didn’t watch Upstairs Downstairs when it was in production, either, but enjoyed it very much when it was re-broadcast later. I’ve glanced at Downton Abbey. To my eye it appears to be Upstairs Downstairs with higher production values and, by and large, less appealing characters. I’m a republican who self-identifies as Irish (my observation has been that identity tends to run in the maternal line). I find it difficult to sympathize with the problems of the English aristocracy between the wars.
The best thing about the series appears to be Maggie Smith. Either the writers give her all the best lines or they’re the best lines because she delivers them. Something not adequately recognized by its fans: to all appearances Downton Abbey is a comedy portraying itself as a drama. Imagine it with a laugh track.
Some interesting oddities. In the opening credits of the show they pan across a single dinner plate—beaded gold rim, embossed family seal. With the exception of the embossed family seal which I assume to have been hand-applied after firing, the plate appears to be my mother’s china. Also, the rug in Downton Abbey’s front hall is a larger version of the one that’s in my living room.
Recently survived same, it does present a few interesting points about the decline of the landed gentry and rise of the Britain we see today. However, Life On Mars/Ashes to Ashes or Luther, its not.
You are on your own here. Good luck!
Steve