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January 29, 2013 6:59 PM Subscribe
So, I have never seen a single episode of this show. All the fawning press I have read says it is an above average BBC period drama, more or less what they have always been best at.. I enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs quite a bit, would I like this? And also, why is this program specifically.. As opposed to other British costume dramas.. So popular in the US? I have read a few snarky reviews that calls Downton akin to lowest common denominator entertainment, saying that for this reason it is unsurprisingly popular with the yanks.
posted by mediocre at 7:16 PM on January 29, 2013
posted by mediocre at 7:16 PM on January 29, 2013
why is this program specifically.. So popular in the US
My theory is that, like the movie Gosford Park, a lot of the story comes from the interaction of the upper class with the domestic class. Not having such clear distinctions between social stratas, Americans (and Canadians) find DA to be a relatively fresh source of drama.
posted by fatbird at 7:18 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
My theory is that, like the movie Gosford Park, a lot of the story comes from the interaction of the upper class with the domestic class. Not having such clear distinctions between social stratas, Americans (and Canadians) find DA to be a relatively fresh source of drama.
posted by fatbird at 7:18 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
The final boss should be a giant dog butt.
posted by oulipian at 7:24 PM on January 29, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by oulipian at 7:24 PM on January 29, 2013 [11 favorites]
Seems to have more of an Amiga aesthetic than SNES, but what do I know...
ALSO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST SPOILERS HERE, PLEASE WARN US BEFOREHAND. I've been told to plug my ears for the next few days until I'm caught up with the current episode. Consider yourselves warned.
posted by schmod at 7:25 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
ALSO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST SPOILERS HERE, PLEASE WARN US BEFOREHAND. I've been told to plug my ears for the next few days until I'm caught up with the current episode. Consider yourselves warned.
posted by schmod at 7:25 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you enter the Konami code, it breaks the iron-clad entail.
posted by Rhomboid at 7:33 PM on January 29, 2013 [12 favorites]
posted by Rhomboid at 7:33 PM on January 29, 2013 [12 favorites]
My theory is that, like the movie Gosford Park, a lot of the story comes from the interaction of the upper class with the domestic class. Not having such clear distinctions between social stratas, Americans (and Canadians) find DA to be a relatively fresh source of drama.
Also, Maggie Smith.
posted by oinopaponton at 7:58 PM on January 29, 2013
Also, Maggie Smith.
posted by oinopaponton at 7:58 PM on January 29, 2013
Seems to have more of an Amiga aesthetic than SNES, but what do I know...
Yeah, I missed the SNES years so I don't have a really good handle on what that system was capable of. One of the youtube commenters noted that the music sounds more 8-bit than 16-bit.
posted by gamera at 8:04 PM on January 29, 2013
Yeah, I missed the SNES years so I don't have a really good handle on what that system was capable of. One of the youtube commenters noted that the music sounds more 8-bit than 16-bit.
posted by gamera at 8:04 PM on January 29, 2013
Yes. the music is pretty not SNES like but the graphics couldn't be more spot on.
posted by Our Ship Of The Imagination! at 8:20 PM on January 29, 2013
posted by Our Ship Of The Imagination! at 8:20 PM on January 29, 2013
Yeah, the music totally doesn't fit. The SNES had a pretty decent audio processor developed by Sony, of all people. It also looks like the backgrounds were taken from the game SOS or something (for a minute, I thought Clock Tower, but both games were by the same developer -- this looks like a game Human would have developed).
posted by Redfield at 8:35 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Redfield at 8:35 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
The series is beautifully videographed. I just watched the first season on Netflix and was surprised just how much I enjoyed it.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:38 PM on January 29, 2013
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:38 PM on January 29, 2013
Not that I'm gonna be a huge jerk about spoiling plots, but Season 3 ended on November 4th (Christmas Special on December 25th, naturally). I'm pretty sure that the window of not expecting spoilers has expired.
Was the ending of the Christmas Special necessary? Really? :(
posted by explosion at 9:03 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
Was the ending of the Christmas Special necessary? Really? :(
posted by explosion at 9:03 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
oh god SOS was so fun and interesting.
posted by Our Ship Of The Imagination! at 9:03 PM on January 29, 2013
posted by Our Ship Of The Imagination! at 9:03 PM on January 29, 2013
Season 3 is only now airing in the US; I think that's what people are referring to, explosion.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:19 PM on January 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:19 PM on January 29, 2013 [3 favorites]
I must admit, I would totally buy that. Maybe the aim of the game would be that you would work your way up to the top and become head footman. There would also be mini games - cook with Mrs Padmore Cooking Mama style! Also there would be a dating element (like Harvest Moon) to try and woo a house maid or one of the Crawley daughters - marry one and get a super secret ending!
posted by littlesq at 9:59 PM on January 29, 2013
posted by littlesq at 9:59 PM on January 29, 2013
I think a reason why Downton Abbey is popular here is because it's fantastic escapism during hard times...and because most of our TV shows just suck - DA is pretty much better than 95% of what's currently airing here. (It's kinda sad having to watch the BBC channels for quality history programs because the US History channel just airs shows about aliens and end of the world crap).
I personally love Downton Abbey because of the characters (except Matthew...my god hes's boring)- some of the plots have been silly but I still love it.
Also Maggie Smith of course.
posted by littlesq at 10:16 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
I personally love Downton Abbey because of the characters (except Matthew...my god hes's boring)- some of the plots have been silly but I still love it.
Also Maggie Smith of course.
posted by littlesq at 10:16 PM on January 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
This cannot be unseen: in the early episodes at least, Mrs. Patmore is the Swedish Chef from The Muppets.
posted by oulipian at 10:17 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by oulipian at 10:17 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh man, I would play that game so restrained.
posted by PlusDistance at 2:46 AM on January 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 2:46 AM on January 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
That, friends, is a labour of love.
As for DA...I can't help but love watching it, but they need to either get Bates out of jail and back at DA, or have him killed in his cell. Resolve this distraction one way or another, but, please...enough already.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:35 AM on January 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
As for DA...I can't help but love watching it, but they need to either get Bates out of jail and back at DA, or have him killed in his cell. Resolve this distraction one way or another, but, please...enough already.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:35 AM on January 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
All the fawning press I have read says it is an above average BBC period drama, more or less what they have always been best at.. I enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs quite a bit, would I like this?
Downton Abbey is an engaging show with fantastic cinematography and incredible sets and costumes.
Plot-wise, it's basically Degrassi, but with rich adults instead of kids in high school. Good things happen, bad things happen unexpectedly, people react to those bad things, and issues of the day are confronted. Any given episode follows a lot of storylines, so none of them are dragged out long enough to become too boring (except Bates, which is pretty tedious).
It's well-shot, and the music does a good job of telling you what to feel and when.
For context, I'm not even particularly fond of the show but I find myself paying attention to it when I'm in the room and others are watching it. So yeah, it's engaging, and if you like period dramas you will probably like it.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:10 AM on January 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
Downton Abbey is an engaging show with fantastic cinematography and incredible sets and costumes.
Plot-wise, it's basically Degrassi, but with rich adults instead of kids in high school. Good things happen, bad things happen unexpectedly, people react to those bad things, and issues of the day are confronted. Any given episode follows a lot of storylines, so none of them are dragged out long enough to become too boring (except Bates, which is pretty tedious).
It's well-shot, and the music does a good job of telling you what to feel and when.
For context, I'm not even particularly fond of the show but I find myself paying attention to it when I'm in the room and others are watching it. So yeah, it's engaging, and if you like period dramas you will probably like it.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 6:10 AM on January 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
why is this program specifically.. As opposed to other British costume dramas.. So popular in the US?
My understanding is it's also hugely popular in the UK, and throughout the world for that matter. William and Kate are reportedly big fans.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 7:30 AM on January 30, 2013
My understanding is it's also hugely popular in the UK, and throughout the world for that matter. William and Kate are reportedly big fans.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 7:30 AM on January 30, 2013
Downton is well acted and filmed, and well written, at least in dialogue. One could certainly entertain arguments that the plots are not well written (certainly some of them go way off the rails), but then it's essentially a well acted soap, so all of the plots being on the rails might not be to its benefit.
posted by haveanicesummer at 8:57 AM on January 30, 2013
posted by haveanicesummer at 8:57 AM on January 30, 2013
I see Downton as more of an Animal Crossing sort of game though. You play young Matthew Crawley, newly inherited of a great manor house, and all its responsibilities and debts (whether you asked for it or not). You must proceed with cajoling and social bribery to get everyone to assist you.
Also Animal Crossing's game mechanic of time passing when you aren't playing would fit with Downton's unpredictable habit of time jumps.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:03 AM on January 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also Animal Crossing's game mechanic of time passing when you aren't playing would fit with Downton's unpredictable habit of time jumps.
posted by haveanicesummer at 9:03 AM on January 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
It's a soap opera. But also, surprisingly snarky for a period drama involving servants and nobility. If you like soap operas and old timey ways of thinking, this is up your alley.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:36 PM on January 30, 2013
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:36 PM on January 30, 2013
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