It's 1920, will it be roaring? The family has got through the First World War in record time and now it's time for a new era, but pretty much the same questionable dialogue ("Have you done something jolly with your hair?") and lingering acting. So, it's the build up to Lady Mary and Matthew's wedding, and we have much flirty dialogue between the two, though he should be careful, the last guy she took to bed snuffed it, be careful there me lad.
Lord Grantham meanwhile is still doing his someone-has-just-farted-and-I'm-trying-not-to-sniff-it acting. Still wearing the same starchy suits, still puffing his chest out a lot. The middle sister (whose name I think is Edith) still has all the rubbish story lines, and still appears to be banging on the door of opportunity with that bumbling older guy Sir Anthony (who last series I remember told her it was a no no.) Maybe they are waiting until series 22 (I predict there will be that many) for her to get a story, by which point she will be a bitter and twisted old gal who just sits in a red velvet chair and tries to be as good with the one liners as granny was.
Some things never change at Downton, formuliac is the word of choice:
- The little maid Daisy (who would be great in Coronation Street) still moans about her role in the kitchen (shut up and do that wiping up)
- Thomas is still a brillo-creamed pantomine baddie, but now he gets to choose what pants the Lord wears every day
- Maggie Smith as Granny Downton (or the Dowager Countess if you wish to be posh about it) still gets the funniest and most observant lines "When I'm with her I'm reminded of the virtues of the English."
- The other servant woman, Miss O'Brien, the female version of Thomas, is still resentful of almost everything in life and has still failed to register a smile in this, or any previous episodes
- Bates looking moody and incarcerated. Yawn.
The most interesting storyline for me has been the return of Sybil and her new husband (the lovely) Tom Branson (or Branon Pickle the former chauffeur.) He's a very staunch Irish Republican, much to the awkwardness of the stiff family, he's all down with the monarchy and all that, which caused some interesting scenes over the dinner table. There was real tension at some points, and a few of them downstairs were a bit peeved that he was mingling upstairs. Daddy Downton wasn't best welcoming on the subject of what Tom should call him now "He can call me Lord Grantham." Oh Hugh, I bet he calls you a few other names behind your back! I'm really intrigued to see how this story progresses, and I think Tom is going to provide some good political entertainment, way better than charades after dinner. Sybil I think is pregnant, although it was only mentioned one or two times, anyway she looks bloody tired, so she must be pregnant (they didn't hang around did they!) She is certainly going to have some testing times between loyalties.
This series we get the much anticipated introduction of Cora's mother, Martha (played by Shirley Maclaine.) Her and granny don't get on, funny that. She is what the English would refer to as a typical American. I predict some comedy lines between the two old ladies. Funny to watch, but not a great deal in the way of storyline, but by golly a lot of wrinkly skin.
It was most amusing (already getting into Downton sounding talk) reading the official Downton Twitter page, during the programme (all for research you must understand.) They were just essentially quoting lines from the show as they happened. Eh? Now, what I think would make much better Twitter following would be some live Tweets from the characters themselves (they had iPads in 1920 right?) For example: @cousinmatthew Bloody collar won't fit, too many game pies during last night's banquet. Bugger! or @TomBranson This suit is too fecking hot. Lordy keeps on giving me evils. Or @Granny Downton Maclaine will never be as good as me. I'm a Dame you know, so back of bitch. Tea anyone?
One part of the plot which annoyed me, was the silly 'oh no Lord Grantham has lost all of Cora's money by investing it in some dodgy Canadian rail road business' and in the same breath,oh hang on a tick, what a coincidence, cousin Matthew has just inherited a stack of cash. Woop. This reminded me of last series with the storyline of 'oh no, Matthew can't walk' oh, stop a second there, 'oh wait, he can walk, he's practically running to the gin cabinet. Hurrah old chap!'
As usual, the dialogue goes a bit modern sometimes, as Sir Anthony displayed when he asked Edith about the wedding "How's it going?" Really, would he have said that, in 1920?!? Anyway, some would argue that it's just artistic licence, and too much jolly this and spiffing that would get boring, why not inject some street slang too? Just a thought Julian. This opening episode did it's usual Downton-esque thing of speeding through one storyline to the other, in a race to get to the end of the episode having tried to fit in as much as possible.
Downton is familiar and safe, and easy viewing, perfect for Sunday night, and it's great going back in time watching how sumptuous society was (well, a small part of society then, let's face it!) I am, however, itching to see some more in the way of testing story lines (but as a heads up my next thinking is that Mary and Matthew will have problem conceiving and will get one of the random maids to carry a baby for them.) But failing this, I'm sure the Anglo-American rivalry between the two batty old birds will keep me amused for now. One thing though, watching Downton just makes me wish that French and Saunders were still in their parody business, they would do a fine job of sending up Downton, Dawn as the Lord...I can just see it now.....
No comments:
Post a Comment