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Downton Abbey (PBS 2010-2015)

Huntn said:
I‘m finishing up Season 6 and poor Barrow, he was a villain for most of the series, but now they have me feeling sorry for him. The wicked writers! ;)
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I loved the double act of cackling, conniving, plotting, and smoking - that partnership of pure evil on the part of both Thomas (Barrow) and O'Brien in the earlier seasons.
 
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Spoiler
Great ending for this series, but it’s not the end. There is a movie to watch and rumors of a second movie in the works. I was happy for Barrow, Mary & Edith, no one being arrested, no one dying, Isobel and Dickey finally an official couple with the help of Violet, basically a positive story arc for all of the characters. I could not ask for more. I think most of us like happy endings. :)

Read about the series final: https://ew.com/recap/downton-abbey-series-finale/

What is true is that good writing in a story especially a tv show/movie with flesh and blood actors creates an emotional bond with the audience. It feels like you are watching the lives of real people. I know I’m hooked when I can listen fairly average conversations and be captivated. :)
 
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Huntn said:
Spoiler
Great ending for this series, but it’s not the end. There is a movie to watch...
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Keep your expectations low for the movie.

I absolutely loved the series, but the movie was a bitter disappointment - - trying to cram storylines for all the characters into too tight a running time. I hope that if there is a second movie, Fellowes focuses on three storylines instead of twenty-three.
 
bobob said:
Keep your expectations low for the movie.

I absolutely loved the series, but the movie was a bitter disappointment - - trying to cram storylines for all the characters into too tight a running time. I hope that if there is a second movie, Fellowes focuses on three storylines instead of twenty-three.
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I had already seen it, it was ok, but after watching 6 seasons of a show, I know when they change to a movie format, I have to be disappointed because they don’t have the time, therefore possible change in cadence, or it just becomes a glorified 2 hr episode. so when you are used to a 10-12 hour season, then they want you to buy a ticket to see another episode, it has to suffer, at least a bit.
 
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Downtown Abbey is available on Netflix. Of course my wife is binge watching this again (I watched it in its entirety on PBS), just watched the episode where a major character dies and it’s tough to watch, although I still love the series. :)
 
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The movie was just okay. That didn't dissuade them from making a second film which will be out by the end of the year.
 
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Silencio said:
The movie was just okay. That didn't dissuade them from making a second film which will be out by the end of the year.
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Clix Pix said:
I have the entire TV series on DVD as well as the film, but haven't rewatched the series in quite a while now. Yeah, the movie was OK, but didn't have quite the same impact as the episodes week after week on television.
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If you are used to 10+ hrs of content, a movie in comparison feels like your being short changed.
 
Exactly! The movie really just didn't have the same impact at all, and I felt as though all the characters and their various story arcs were quickly reviewed, updated, resolved, done and dusted all in the blink of an eye. There wasn't an opportunity for the viewer to really become deeply involved the way there was during the television series. I don't imagine that there were too many people who watched the "Downton Abbey" movie who had not already been fans and thus familiar with all of the beloved characters and their stories, but if there were, I'll bet they were left a bit confused and dissatisfied and wondering what all the fuss about the television series had been about!
 
Huntn said:
If you are used to 10+ hrs of content, a movie in comparison feels like your being short changed.
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It's not that a two hour movie can never work for Downton Abbey, it's the fact that Julian Fellowes attempted and failed to jam an entire season of storylines into 2 hours. I hope that with the 2nd movie, he regains his senses and tells a single story fully.
 
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bobob said:
It's not that a two hour movie can never work for Downton Abbey, it's the fact that Julian Fellowes attempted and failed to jam an entire season of storylines into 2 hours. I hope that with the 2nd movie, he regains his senses and tells a single story fully.
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As I said earlier, as the consumer of a series, you are used to a flow and tempo of story which is just not possible in a movie imo. That is not to say that a satisfying story can’t be produced in a movie, but compared to a series, it will have to feel like you just getting a little instead of a lot.

I’m not watching every episode with my wife, but the tempo of the story in the series hits a sweet spot that is unimaginably good and covers a wide spectrum of goings on most satisfyingly. :)
 
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I just love this show and character dynamics. It really is magical, artistry story telling. :D

Mr. Carson and Mrs Hughes are planning on marrying and Mrs Hughes enlists Mrs Patmore to basically ask Mr Carson if he expects her to perform her wifely duties, but Patmore beats around the bush asking about sharing their lives. Carson says yes I expect to share our lives, but Mrs Patmore can’t bring herself to say it and Carson has no idea what the topic is supposed to be. It takes a second attempt to get the message across. :)

I also love Dankar and Spratt, the Dowager’s help. :D
 
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Huntn said:
I just love this show and character dynamics. It really is magical, artistry story telling. :D

Mr. Carson and Mrs Hughes are planning on marrying and Mrs Hughes enlists Mrs Patmore to basically ask Mr Carson if he expects her to perform her wifely duties, but Patmore beats around the bush asking about sharing their lives. Carson says yes I expect to share our lives, but Mrs Patmore can’t bring herself to say it and Carson has no idea what the topic is supposed to be. It takes a second attempt to get the message across. :)

I also love Dankar and Spratt, the Dowager’s help. :D
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Among a hundred things, I also love that part about clarifying the expectations when they get married. It’s so tender, sweet and funny.

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s fun to watch Jeremy Swift as Spratt and then watch him as Higgins in Ted Lasso (particulary the bass playing goateed scene … and so many others).
 
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