From the early, unexpected death of the good-looking visitor during a raunchy night right at the beginning through to the sweet cook's eye problems, the little maid's pretend love for the serviceman out of pity, Matthew's awful "war injury" and all that that implies and the political intrigue of the times and angst of the valet's prison term to the skullduggery upstairs and downstairs, the plot clips along and the characters are fascinating for one reason or another. You care about these people - you either love them or love to hate them. And the unbelievable almost caste system and the acceptance of those in the various social strata of their lot in life is amazing. The underlings treat the lords and ladies almost as kings to be respected and obeyed as an accepted matter of course and practically never seem to question. One of the most interesting series ever.
I saw the actor who plays the lord of Downtown Abbey - can't recall his name - in the PBS Masterpiece Murder On The Orient Express the other day. Had long forgotten he was in it and of course he was younger then.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |