Time Theft Nation

REVIEW: Downton Abbey - Series 1

I wasn’t that big a fan of how this whole series started off, but sure enough, by the 7th episodes I saw why everyone was hooked. I enjoyed that in the first episode they opened with the tragedy of the Titanic and that they didn’t come state the name of the ship in any of the dialogue, assuming the viewer to be intelligent.

The camera work in the first episode is also very well done and right from the start you can see inklings of relationships that will affect the entire series. There’s definitely intrigue, showing the servant class working within a royal family, however the whole setting and general premise of the first few episodes didn’t really grab me. In fact, I feel as though each episode were better than the last as they moved along (only because you start to understand the characters more).

There are very strong performances by all cast members throughout. What makes this truly great TV is the ability of the director to have you feel a different way towards a single character over the course of each of the 7 episodes.

This is also one of the first series I’ve seen where a season takes place over a few years, and they achieve this slyly, by establishing the timeline in dialogue when appropriate.

Although this isn’t my favorite show on TV, it’s definitely a show that allows you to lose yourself in their world for an hour at a time. I think most people would enjoy it and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

It’s available right now on Netflix instant and series two just began on PBS, airing Sunday’s at 9 p.m. EST

Oh yeah, look for the jaw-dropping Jessica Brown-Findlay, to take the international screen by storm in 2012 and beyond.