You either like historical dramas, or you don't. If you don't nothing I say will change your mind. But if you like shows like this, you won't be disappointed. Right from the opening scenes, the series sets up the 2 different worlds living under one roof. The servants work from pre dawn till whenever the family decides to go to sleep. The family, due to living so close to their staff almost feel as if they are part of the family. But the servants know otherwise and that they can be dismissed at the whim of only 1 person (or even a guest). As for the rest, the meticulous attention to even minor details from wardrobe to tea service to etequitte are great. As for plot, well there is a plot as such dealing with a very distant cousin who through some archaic law with get the estate and title. So-so, but it is the characters, all of them, whom my focus is on. Great series and looking forward to season 2.

love the outfits, love the characters, such a great show! so excited to start season 2!

What can I say.. the best series ever! Can't wait to watch the 3 season!!

Character drama, with a touch of period costume. As has been noted elsewhere, a kind of "Upstairs/Downstairs" with the addition of Maggie Smith. Mostly good acting, although some of the characters (especially Daisy) are inconsistent. (That's the fault of the writing, not the actors.) Maggie Smith does get the best lines. Sir Richard: Lady Violet, I doubt we'll see each other again. Lady Violet: Promise?

Must embarrassingly admit that I did not withdraw this from the library, but purchased both Series One and Two at a really great price from amazon, as the series is so spectacularly well done I could not conceive of letting it go! Had to purchase to keep. There are no words to describe this superlative and superb production: acting, writing, direction, production, all meticulously brilliant. To add anything more would be gilding the lily. I strongly suggest checking it out (of the library before committing to buy) for yourself. There have been innumerable comparisons to PBS other masterpiece, Upstairs Downstairs, of which I am a strong and fond aficionado, but, Downton wins hands down, merely for the fact that, forty years later, television production has become so sophisticated and technologically top notch it far exceeds former limitations, adding to a magnificent television viewing experience. Indeed, the "idiot box" has come of age.

This is lovely to look at. And the details of life in a English country house are fascinating. But the plots are utterly riduculous.

Wow! What a terrific mini-series! Gorgeous costumes & sets, great acting & engaging plot lines. This one has it all. I even learned some history while being entertained!

This series was very enjoyable to watch; the cast is spectacular, the dialogue is amusing, there are many unpredictable plot twists, and the writers make relatively ordinary events seem interesting. As an added bonus for Corrie fans, Rob James-Collier plays the spectacularly arrogant and self-serving Thomas Barrow. It has become Amazon.com's best-selling DVD box set of all time for a reason!

Just an outstanding series by Julian Fellowes, the writer on Gosford Park, he also wrote the script for Young Victoria, all great productions. Downton Abbey tells the story of an aristocratic family who inhabit Downton Abbey. The story is made more interesting by showing how the underbelly of this mansion is populated by staff who keep the place going and the inter-relations between both classes.

watched it twice!

Golden Globe Winner for Best TV Series or Made for TV Movie 2011!.... should watch it then!

This series captured my attention years ago on PBS & I still love it! I'm waiting for Bates to come back & not leave Anna brokenhearted...

This is a great series and quickly becoming a cult. The acting is good and the story lines are interesting. Who will Mary take as a husband? Will Edith find true love? Does Thomas ever change? And when will Lady grantham finally clue in to O'Brien's true nature? I can't wait for the next series.

This is on Netflix Streaming if you don't want to wait. And the first episodes are streaming on PBS for a limited period of time

pbs broadcasting second series on jan 8 - march 23. very good story. i watched it in one take too

I thought I was going to take my time and watch the show over a week's time. Instead, I started to watch one and had to continue. I watched them all in a row! The costumes and sets were splendid, and the acting top notch. I do so love a period drama!

Very corny, artificial, superficial and predictable. Utterly poor script--one of the worse aspects is that people in 1914 talk EXACTLY like in 2011. Example: the servants are quite emancipated and "have the right to express opinions." (We wish!) Recommended for Sunday afternoon cold winter days when you iron (if you really don't feel like listening to music) for the beautiful British English accent. Why Two stars? Well, for Maggie Smith's presence. (What on earth is she doing here??)

You’ll need lots of spare time to savour the three disks in this set, comprising series one of a posh, made-for-TV period soap opera. Conceived along the same lines as “Upstairs Downstairs”, it dramatizes the lives of an aristocratic English family and their servants from the 1912 sinking of the Titanic to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Between the richness of the production’s script, ensemble cast, performances, and characters, I found myself almost instantly and totally addicted. And although the late-Edwardian costumes are understated, they’re utterly ravishing--especially those worn by the Countess of Grantham, her daughters, and her mother-in-law, the Dowager Countess--the latter wonderfully played by Dame Maggie Smith, who also delivers many of the screenplay’s funniest lines. In my excessive fondness for this production it seems I’m not alone: Today London’s "Daily Mail" reports that yesterday series two of "Downton Abbey" broke records for the biggest drama audience in a decade after 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the finale. (Don’t click on the following link if you dislike spoilers: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2058628/Downton-Abbey-breaks-record-biggest-drama-audience-decade.html?ito=feeds-newsxml) http://calicojack1.blogspot.com/2011/11/downton-abbey-tv-series-2010-12.html

sooo wonderful and addicting!

Wonderful series written by the peerless Julian Fellowes and with the dignified Hugh Bonneville as the onscreen lynchpin. It's really a complex (and historically accurate) period soap, the plot of which has enough intrigue and romantic tension to keep all but the most obdurate, cynical or jaded viewer riveted. At least, I was.

I thought this was a Brilliant movie. The acting, costumes, scenery, story were all wonderful. I saw one episode on tv recently. Look forward to a continuation of the story soon.

Not only is this a beautifully filmed Edwardian piece, the characters are superb. My husband does not like British Historical pieces BUT this one had him hooked. We can't wait for the next series.

Beautifully directed, richly costumed, perfectly acted, luxurious landscapes..didn't see much rain!..this is a gem that starts out with the sinking of the Titanic and ends with the declaration of war in 1914..Maggie Smith is wonderful.

It was good but not nearly as good as the 4 year TV series, Upstairs Downstairs from the 70s which you can watch for free on you tube.

I'm not big on drama but this series is really quite fabulous.

awesome!!! this upstairs/downstairs tale from the bbc features amazing actors (maggie smith, hugh bonneville), gorgeous set and costume design, and a witty and engaging script, written by julian fellowes. if you're looking for similar titles, check out the original upstairs/downstairs, the new version now available, or the 1997 miniseries berkeley square. for us "anglophiles and nostalgic folk," or just people who enjoy a good story, you can't get much better.

Pure tedium for anglophiles and nostalgic folk. Welcome to Dullsville Abbey, where the rich get richer and the poor feel sorry for them.

Delicious!

Simply superb. The Brits DID put Masterpiece in Masterpiece Theatre

This is great! Written by Julian Fellowes (Godsford Park), it has great wit (Maggie Smith is awesome) while still examining the Upstairs/Downstairs world of the Edwardians.

Upstairs Downstairs in a great English country house in the golden Edwardian years just before WW I brought it all to an end. An engrossing meaty family saga, with Dame Maggie Smith resisting change every step of the way. Marvelous.