I agree with most of your critique, and I still love it for all your reasons. The most difficult for me is Lady Mary.... A very unsympathetic charecter, IMO. Still, I can overlook all it's deficiencies, just keep them coming!

I watched all of the episodes in just a few days last week and found that I got most frustrated when a big idea is introduced and then dismissed almost immediately like the Patrick/Peter Gordon character or Edith's dalliance with the farmer. The only stories with a multiple episode arc seems to be the Mary/Matthew relationship, the fate of Mr. Bates, and to a lesser degree, that of Sybil/Branson.

I agree that the dowager countess gets all of the best lines and Maggie Smith makes the most of them.

Which season is this? I just stumbled onto it a month ago and started DVRing. Haven't watched any yet. I didn't DVR the first episode of this season so will have to catch that and previous seasons somehow (Netflix?).

The only stories with a multiple episode arc seems to be the Mary/Matthew relationship, the fate of Mr. Bates, and to a lesser degree, that of Sybil/Branson.

And don't forget Ethel. She has taken up more screen time than she warrants, IMO. I really didn't get Lord Grantham's dalliance with Jane. It just seemed so contradictory to the character that had been created.

Spoiler Alert for those who haven't seen the episodes.

When Robert kissed Jane I felt that the show had 'jumped the shark'.

And you are so right about introducing themes and then just dumping them. Now if Peter/Patrick Gordon reappears then perhaps that idea can be salvaged. But there are too many other leitmotifs that have vanished into thin air.

However I thoroughly enjoyed Thomas getting his comeuppance and then his near groveling behavior to find a place in Downton. O'Brien has developed into an interesting character.

I could watch the show just for the scenery, architecture, sets and clothes. And Maggie Smith is a treasure.

I think Lord Grantham's turning to Jane for comfort reflected his need to be needed by someone. He wasn't needed as a soldier, his daughters were grown and his wife was busy running Downton as a rehabilitation hospital. Along comes a pretty woman who is deeply interested in him and has a young son who has "prospects" that he can further when he has no son of his own. I was just happy that they didn't make it a full blown affair, but rather a moment or two of weakness.

Terriks, I had forgotten Ethel. I wonder if we will see any more of that story or if it will be dropped at this point with her disappearing from the village.

I was so happy to see this thread. I skipped the Grammys to watch DA last night and after it was over I was sorry I'd made that choice. Last night's episode really made me think of All My Children or any other sappy soap opera.

Lavinia catching Mary and Matthew dancing and kissing. Richard chases the housemaid. Lavinia conveniently dying. Sybil in love with the chauffeur. Mary nearly dying of the flu. and so on and so on. I sure hope things get better because I have enjoyed DA up until now.

The servants are still kind of interesting. I'm not giving up on the show yet. It's still better than most of what's on.

Jumped the shark -- perfect description.

I think Lord Grantham's turning to Jane for comfort reflected his need to be needed by someone.

I understand the motivation, but the execution of this storyline was very poor, and unbelievable.

Terriks said, "I understand the motivation, but the execution of this storyline was very poor and unbelievable."

I agree with you. Again, it seems like we only get glimpses of these story lines. It's almost as if there are three or four episodes missing between each aired episode. I know there aren't, but that's sort of the way it feels because of the hopscotch method of story development.

I had completely forgotten about the editing until your comment about missing episodes. The original UK version of season 1 is longer than what we saw on PBS.

If you look on Amazon's listings for the DVD you'll notice some of them explicitly stated "original, uncut version".

Then I checked the reviews and found this one which helps explain things.

.........."Do not buy the so-called "dumbed down" PBS version of the outstanding British ITV series Downton Abbey. We watched the entire series with great joy while in the UK last year, and after excitedly telling our American friends to watch Downton Abbey on PBS, my husband and I looked at each other in horror and confusion as we watched one butchered scene after another. Don't be misled by those who recalculate the running time to account for the removal of commercials (from the ITV version) or the reformatting to shorten the series by increasing episode length (7 episodes in the UK, 4 longer episodes in the US). The fact is, SCENES WERE OMITTED AND OR TRUNCATED because as PBS Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton shamefully admitted, "American audiences demand a `different speed' to their shows." She also claimed that American audiences would have trouble understanding the complicated inheritance issues. Wow. This is an extraordinary admission from a PBS executive. Don't people turn to PBS for an intelligent alternative to the idiocy of American commercial television? I submit it is Rebecca Eaton who is dumb, not the PBS viewership.

There is apparently a Region 2 version of the unedited ITV series on Amazon (EDIT: and now we see there is an "unedited UK" version provided by PBS though I have not seen it and cannot attest that it's the actual ITV version), so just check your tech specs before buying or search elsewhere. And for the much anticipated season two of Downton Abbey when it premieres later this year, get a UK VPN and stream it from the ITV Player. Each episode remains available for streaming for several weeks after it airs. Note: Many inadvertently refer to this as a BBC series. It is in fact an ITV production....."

Oh I thoroughly enjoyed the final episode of this season. It was very satisfying - predictable but still an emotional 'feel good' moment.

javachik, I just watched the entire first season on Netflix last week. Netflix did not have season 2 yet. However, I downloaded the PBS app on my iPad and was able to watch all of season 2 on my iPad by streaming the show from their website.

I must admit that I'd heard a lot about DA and never thought to watch it until I saw someone here on a different thread mention that they watched it on Netflix. I was addicted to it last week - that's the problem with streaming as you don't have to wait week to week to watch episodes! :) I did thoroughly enjoy the series so far but agree with much of what has been said here. Some of the plot lines were a bit ridiculous but all in all, I've enjoyed it.

I had to laugh to myself as I was listening to the Masterpiece Theatre theme music last week. When I was growing up, my parents watched Masterpiece Theatre shows ALL the time and I thought them to be soooooo boring (in my youth). That's what OLD people watch. Oh my, here I am now in my early 40s and really enjoying the programming. I've already set several other British shows up in my queue on netflix (thanks to the other thread someone posted about TV shows) and can't wait to watch them. I don't watch much TV, and I've always enjoyed all the British movies based the classic novels, but never thought to check out Masterpiece Theatre.

I normally don't lurk on this side of Home Decorating, but I peeked in and saw this thread. It gives me a chance to vent about this series. I'm a die-hard Upstairs/Downstairs fan and I tried watching Downton Abbey when it first aired but did not enjoy it. Almost every scenario they came up with was done and done much better in Up/Dwnstrs. After saying this I continue to tune in now and then and am amazed at how the writers think that staff would be interacting with the upstairs as much as they do in this series. Maids being asked for and having their advice taken? Staff conversing and engaged with family members so casually? I don't think so.

Besides, Richard is such a weak version of Mr. Bellamy. lol
I do have one question for avid fans - who did Mary have her indiscretion with that caused all the scandal?

Schoolhouse asked, "I do have one question for avid fans - who did Mary have her indiscretion with that caused all the scandal?" A young Turkish diplomat, Kemal Pamuk, who died in her bed. Mary, Cora and Anna carried the body from Mary's room back to the guest room. Daisy saw them do it.

Maggie Smith is such a gem.

Here is a link that might be useful: cute litle video

That's a cute little video, Chickadee2. Thanks for posting the link. My favorite Maggie moment is when Lady Violet is in Cousin Matthew's office and almost falls out of a swivel chair. Here's the link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Lady Violet and the Swivel Chair

After my disappointment with last week's episode,I was tickled pink with this week's episode. I am so sad they are going away for awhile. I was only hoping that Mary would go to America, go West and marry a cowboy.

I haven't commented because I'm still watching Season 2 but I do have a quick question. Does the story end with season 2 or will there be a season 3 (and beyond)?

Most of Maggie Smith's lines are histerical, love her character! I never tire of dry British humor.

They announced about a month ago that there will be a Season 3.

Forgot to add- Shirley MacLaine will play Cora's American mother.

Glad to see there is another season to look forward to. Now the question is...when this will end?!....I guess as long as the ratings hold up.

Shirley MacLaine? That will be fabulous! Won't it be fun if Shirley and Maggie go head to head?

Guess that means the scandal hits the fan and Mary heads off to New York...