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My wife and I got into this recently, and finally finished the first two seasons. The third season is already airing in the UK, but the first episode premiers here in the US this Sunday at 9pm on PBS stations. The first two seasons are available on amazon prime and hulu+, and netflix has the first season.

You can also get a free 6 minute overview of the first two seasons on amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00APPJELG

It has a lot of Jane Austin feel to it, but set in the early 1900's and covering the events surrounding an old english manor and the family that inhabits it as well as their servants as major events occur (titanic, WW1, etc) and they adapt to changes in society.

The writing and acting is fantastic, and you should consider watching an episode or two even if you don't usually like period pieces.

Besides, you can't go wrong with Maggie Smith as a crotchety old matriarch.

Watching the final episodes of Season 3, and agreeing wholeheartedly. For me, the closest reference is Upstairs Downstairs, but done better. And yes, Maggie Smith delivers with every single line of dialogue.

It's surprisingly entertaining. We are on season 3 right now.

I really want to make a show called Downtown Abby, about a lawyer lady who is just trying to make it in a mans world.

Espy said:

It's surprisingly entertaining. We are on season 3 right now.

I really want to make a show called Downtown Abby, about a lawyer lady who is just trying to make it in a mans world.

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Grats, you just conceptualized Ally McBeal.

Yeah, Downton Abbey is freakin addicting.

Espy said:

I really want to make a show called Downtown Abby, about a lawyer lady who is just trying to make it in a mans world.

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I would have expected it was an advice columnist who's common sense advice and newspaper audience find declining readership, and thus she has to learn how to promote herself online and change her "common sense" so as to attract new readership.

Oooh, maybe a video blog musical!

I'd watch it.

As Gas said, it'd be called Downtown Ally and it's been done.

how would you sell this to someone (for example me) that hasn't watched this yet since it seems like it's boring as shit?

Charlie Don't Surf said:

how would you sell this to someone (for example me) that hasn't watched this yet since it seems like it's boring as shit?

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It's full of white people to hate?

You're going to love season 3. It was much better than season 2. Really just more consistent, I don't know season 2 felt like the writing was a bit more rushed.

Charlie Don't Surf said:

how would you sell this to someone (for example me) that hasn't watched this yet since it seems like it's boring as shit?

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It's the best written show on television. Characters are extremely well developed, the time period is presented in a way that it affects the story while not dominating it (unlike a certain AMC show it uses the irony provided from being viewed in the present for more than cheap jokes and ridicule).

Gilgamesh said:

It's full of white people to hate?

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The same can be said of every single television show on television[DOUBLEPOST=1357320452][/DOUBLEPOST]

Covar said:

(unlike a certain AMC show it uses the irony provided from being viewed in the present for more than cheap jokes and ridicule).

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Did you only watch the first three episodes or so of Mad Men?

Charlie Don't Surf said:

how would you sell this to someone (for example me) that hasn't watched this yet since it seems like it's boring as shit?

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I'd tell you how critically acclaimed it is, which ought to at least make you wonder why so many love it:

Downton Abbey has received critical acclaim from television critics and won numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries. It was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011, and became the international television series to receive the largest number of nominations in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, with twenty-seven in total.[2] It was the most watched television series on both ITV and PBS, and subsequently became the most successful British costume drama series since the 1981 television serial of Brideshead Revisited.

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(source)

I don't yet understand why I like it. I just can't stand soap operas - too many characters and interwoven plots, and really really stupid people making stupid decisions.

This has many characters, but for the most part they make rational decisions for their character. It doesn't seem like the writers are trying to force the characters into a plot.

It has a lot to love if you appreciate dry wit. Tons of little bits here and there that are hilarious if you catch it, and while they don't hide them, they don't telegraph it either. (it would be hilarious if someone took an episode and added a laugh track and put it up on youtube! Terrible and glorious)

There are clearly characters that are bad, some clearly good, and some that just are trying to get by. Sometimes you hate the good characters and sometimes you love the bad characters. No one is perfect. Sometimes the bad character gets away with their scheme, and sometimes the good character loses in a situation they should have won.

While there are clear stereotypes at play helping us to understand the characters, particularly at the beginning, the main characters have depth, and develop and change over time.

The pacing feels pretty good. It's not a thoughtful plodding documentary, nor is it a race to get to the point of the story.

But I don't know that I could sell it to you based on anything I might say. Watch an episode or two - it's only a few hours of your time - and see if it grabs you. If it doesn't, don't watch it. If it does, maybe you can figure out how to sell it to a person such as yourself.

I love this show! I absolutely cannot wait for season 3 to come out on Hulu. I enjoy historical fiction and this is very well written.

Charlie Don't Surf said:

how would you sell this to someone (for example me) that hasn't watched this yet since it seems like it's boring as shit?

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It's a surprisingly entertaining. It's not Mad Men and it's not Breaking Bad but it is a very entertaining and reasonably well written soap. I would guess you will enjoy it.[DOUBLEPOST=1357322686][/DOUBLEPOST]Also: Downtown Abby could also be a hooker trying to make it in a mans world instead of a lawyer lady. It would be surprisingly similar show but it would have to be on HBO instead of CBS. Because of the butt sex.

Watch it or don't. I don't give a flying shit if you miss out on good TV. It's good TV, I get to watch it and you can go fuck yourself.

GasBandit said:

Watch it or don't. I don't give a flying shit if you miss out on good TV. It's good TV, I get to watch it and you can go fuck yourself.

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lol

/like a BAWSS

Let's see now... well-written, with interesting characters whose motivations and actions are realistic, loyalty to the depiction of the time period, the constant play between the upstairs (the family) and the downstairs (the servants), interesting plot developments, Maggie Smith deadpan snarking awesomeness with every line, beautiful score, complete and total lack of annoying and artificial characters, the depiction of a societal status quo slowly changing, and a professional cast that you can only find in British productions.

What's not to love? Also, I reserve the right to pimp slap Charlie for calling this show "boring as shit".

I can't begin to tell you how pissed I was that every damn news site on the Internet was revealing who was getting killed off this season. They literally told the cast to burn scripts after memorizing them, yet the biggest shocker so far gets plastered all over. There really is no way to keep a secret nowadays, is there?

Zappit said:

I can't begin to tell you how pissed I was that every damn news site on the Internet was revealing who was getting killed off this season. They literally told the cast to burn scripts after memorizing them, yet the biggest shocker so far gets plastered all over. There really is no way to keep a secret nowadays, is there?

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I know. I never realized the magnitude of the dire weasel infestation in Edwardian Britain...

Zappit said:

I can't begin to tell you how pissed I was that every damn news site on the Internet was revealing who was getting killed off this season. They literally told the cast to burn scripts after memorizing them, yet the biggest shocker so far gets plastered all over. There really is no way to keep a secret nowadays, is there?

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I suppose that's how people outside the US sometimes feel about shows that make it overseas a year late whereas the internet has spoiled the major points already.

Honestly these don't bother me that much, since I don't also find out how, when, and why, and the important issues are how people around them act and change as a result. I learned about the death in Harry Potter the day before I got the book and read it, and it didn't detract from the experience. If anything, it made it more intense because I knew it was going to happen, but not when or how, and everything seemed to build up because of that. Still, I avoid spoilers when I can.

North_Ranger said:

...complete and total lack of annoying...characters.

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I'd love to slap the taste right out of O'Brien's mouth. I despise her more than any character in any book, tv show, or movie I have ever watched.

Zappit said:

I can't begin to tell you how pissed I was that every damn news site on the Internet was revealing who was getting killed off this season. They literally told the cast to burn scripts after memorizing them, yet the biggest shocker so far gets plastered all over. There really is no way to keep a secret nowadays, is there?

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Screw your enjoyment, we need pageviews, peasant!

WasabiPoptart said:

I'd love to slap the taste right out of O'Brien's mouth. I despise her more than any character in any book, tv show, or movie I have ever watched.

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Have fun with season 3 [DOUBLEPOST=1357335181][/DOUBLEPOST]

North_Ranger said:

What's not to love? Also, I reserve the right to pimp slap Charlie for calling this show "boring as shit".

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In Charlie's defense he said it looked boring as shit. If he had watched it, I'd probably be getting in the queue.

stienman said:

I suppose that's how people outside the US sometimes feel about shows that make it overseas a year late whereas the internet has spoiled the major points already.

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This man speaks the truth.[DOUBLEPOST=1357335642][/DOUBLEPOST]

WasabiPoptart said:

I'd love to slap the taste right out of O'Brien's mouth. I despise her more than any character in any book, tv show, or movie I have ever watched.

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Yes, she is a despicable character. But she's despicable because what her character is like, not because she is just there to annoy people - like Joey from Friends.

When I saw my wife watching it and only caught a few random bits I thought it looked super boring as well.

Downton Abbey is incredibly awesome. Once you're done with it, looking back it has its issues, but I swear you don't notice them as you're watching since you're so fucking gripped since the second you start watching and that dog's ass comes on screen. The damned show grabs you by the throat and pulls you along until you find yourself giggling like a schoogirl at remarks done at a dinner table or clenching your fists in outrage at aristocratic machinations. It really is something you should see if only to witness it's impact on the current zeitgeist. I'll bet you'll end up inexplicably hooked like the rest of us.

I, er... procured season 3 including the christmas special and wow. They do not pull their punches.

stienman said:

I, er... procured season 3 including the christmas special and wow. They do not pull their punches.

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I hated the Xmas special. I'm gonna spoil why, so if you haven't seen the 2012 Xmas special DO NOT READ. You've been warned.

Calleja said:

I hated the Xmas special. I'm gonna spoil why, so if you haven't seen the 2012 Xmas special DO NOT READ. You've been warned.

Spoiler

FUCKING DAN STEVENS!! That fucker decided to leave pretty much at the last moment, which is why the special feels so... rushed. I read an interview the fucker did after we knew his character died and he's pretty smug about the whole thing, like the show was beneath him. Fucker. I feel that's why Fellowes made sure we were SURE Matthew was dead, so the fucker couldn't later change his mind. I really hated what his big-headedness did to Downton Abbey, Fellowes was not plannng for this. At least he's got time to figure out where to go from here. I'm thinking Mary is going to go Full Evil.

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Espy said:

Spoiler

Yeah, it was a weird ending. It felt very, very forced.

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Consider my "Like" an "Agree", cause for some reason we STILL DON'T HAVE THAT

Like is agree for all intents and purposes. On the rare occasion when you agree but don't like something or vice versa a reply is fine. Otherwise you can assume they are one and the same.

Re: Christmas special

stienman said:

Like is agree for all intents and purposes. On the rare occasion when you agree but don't like something or vice versa a reply is fine. Otherwise you can assume they are one and the same.

Re: Christmas special

Spoiler

Yeah, it was a shocker to my wife and I. It certainly did put a damper on the whole "special" but as things go it wasn't a bad cliff hanger, and the reality is that all it does is open the show up to many more possibilities. It was very symmetrical - daughter lost, replaced with granddaughter. Son in law lost replaced with grandson. Of course they had to have the child prior to his leaving the show so there was one obvious heir, but now everyone's going to be on pins and needles because once he's gone they have no claim to downton - which matthew obviously saved.

Thinking back, though, it was a little over the top how lovey dovey Mary and Mathew were being. I'm now going to worry about any episode where one pair has a completely perfect relationship the entire episode.

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stienman said:

Like is agree for all intents and purposes. On the rare occasion when you agree but don't like something or vice versa a reply is fine. Otherwise you can assume they are one and the same.

Re: Christmas special

Spoiler

Yeah, it was a shocker to my wife and I. It certainly did put a damper on the whole "special" but as things go it wasn't a bad cliff hanger, and the reality is that all it does is open the show up to many more possibilities. It was very symmetrical - daughter lost, replaced with granddaughter. Son in law lost replaced with grandson. Of course they had to have the child prior to his leaving the show so there was one obvious heir, but now everyone's going to be on pins and needles because once he's gone they have no claim to downton - which matthew obviously saved.

Thinking back, though, it was a little over the top how lovey dovey Mary and Mathew were being. I'm now going to worry about any episode where one pair has a completely perfect relationship the entire episode.

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Espy said:

Spoiler

I have no problem with him dead, I think he's rather boorish to be honest, more the kind of heavy handed way he died. Felt very out of place for how the show is normally written.

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WHY ISN'T IT ON HULU YET!?!?!

Episodes 1 and 2 are already streaming on amazon for free for amazon prime members.

You can also pay $2 per episode to watch it now if you aren't an amzon prime subscriber.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXVIFSA

Or just do like I did and get them via, erm, other means. The whole season is over in the UK, y'know?

stienman said:

Episodes 1 and 2 are already streaming on amazon for free for amazon prime members.

You can also pay $2 per episode to watch it now if you aren't an amzon prime subscriber.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXVIFSA

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I am an Amazon Prime member! I just didn't check there since I watched the first two seasons on Hulu. Thank you!![DOUBLEPOST=1357678010][/DOUBLEPOST]

Calleja said:

Or just do like I did and get them via, erm, other means. The whole season is over in the UK, y'know?

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Yeah I know. When the 3rd season started a few months ago I was debating whether to use other means or just wait. I decided to wait since my husband and I were getting through Grimm and also a few anime series.

Covar said:

You're going to love season 3. It was much better than season 2. Really just more consistent, I don't know season 2 felt like the writing was a bit more rushed.

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I'm actually stopped watching season 3 when it was on BBC because I couldn't get into it. Recently, I started up again and that shit is awesome. I'm more than 1/2 way done and loving it. I have to say I hate Mary with fiery passion, which is probably why I didn't want to give season 3 a shot. I really wish they'd focus less on the upstairs and more on downstairs, but that's just me.

Also, these other means can be easily attained via online streaming. There are TONS of UK and premium channel goodies out there free to stream.

You can also stream season 3 on PBS after they air.

stienman said:

Episodes 1 and 2 are already streaming on amazon for free for amazon prime members.

You can also pay $2 per episode to watch it now if you aren't an amzon prime subscriber.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXVIFSA

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Actually, I just looked and it's not free. The review of past seasons and the preview are, but the episodes are $1.99 each. Seasons 1 and 2 are free to stream though.

drawn_inward said:

You can also stream season 3 on PBS after they air.

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If you are signed into your amazon prime account, you can click "watch now" to watch them for free. I as confused at first as well, but they are in fact free for streaming for amazon primes.

D'oh!

Just finished the Christmas special.

Yeah, me too bro.

Just finished episode 2 of season 3. I am so happy for Edith! (I do know what happens next because I have read a spoiler, but for right now I want to be happy for her.)

WasabiPoptart said:

Just finished episode 2 of season 3. I am so happy for Edith! (I do know what happens next because I have read a spoiler, but for right now I want to be happy for her.)

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WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?

Because I was looking for episode 3 and found something about it that I just couldn't stop myself from reading. It doesn't matter to me as much as it does to some people. I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.

Let's not spoil things. Switch it up.

Carson vs. Alfred. Who's the best butler?

Zappit said:

Let's not spoil things. Switch it up.

Carson vs. Alfred. Who's the best butler?

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Well that's unfair, Alfred washes the GODDAMN BATMAN'S underwear, stitches him up, picks him up when he's wounded, helps him with logistics and info sometimes, and protects his identity. Not to mention he was a bad ass british secret agent before all that.

Carson has an awesome voice and knows how to set a table. Y'know... as much as I love him.

Zappit said:

Carson vs. Alfred. Who's the best butler?

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There's a few people over here who would like to discuss your... um... choice of candidates for this bout.

[DOUBLEPOST=1358011307][/DOUBLEPOST]

Can someone explain to me why I just can't get into this show when everyone around me is seemingly enthralled by it?

Maybe you're not a fan of British humor?

stienman said:

Maybe you're not a fan of British humor?

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Isn't that the same as being dead?

North_Ranger said:

Isn't that the same as being dead?

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Perhaps surprisingly, no. It's worse. Much, much worse.

Agreed.

North_Ranger said:

There's a few people over here who would like to discuss your... um... choice of candidates for this bout.

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Not to nitpick, but Jeeves is a valet, not a butler. A butler serves as the head of a whole house and its workstaff, while a valet serves a single individual (hence why a valet is also known as a gentleman's gentleman). Jeeves didn't work for the entirety of the Wooster family and any other workers therein, he directly served just Bertie.

filmfanatic said:

Not to nitpick, but Jeeves is a valet, not a butler. A butler serves as the head of a whole house and its workstaff, while a valet serves a single individual (hence why a valet is also known as a gentleman's gentleman). Jeeves didn't work for the entirety of the Wooster family and any other workers therein, he directly served just Bertie.

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Technically you could say the same thing about Alfred, seeing how he seems to be THE ONLY GODDANG PERSON working in the Wayne Manor

Besides, you can't have this kind of a discussion without Jeeves. It is simply against all laws of humanity and nature.

North_Ranger said:

Technically you could say the same thing about Alfred, seeing how he seems to be THE ONLY GODDANG PERSON working in the Wayne Manor

Besides, you can't have this kind of a discussion without Jeeves. It is simply against all laws of humanity and nature.

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I suppose there is truth to that. Besides, most people when they think of butlers, they most likely think of Jeeves.

Better question, then: Alfred or Jeeves? One is a former secret agent/medic/information provider/secret identity protector, while the other is a master manipulator that possesses a virtually encyclopaedic knowledge of the world.

Jeeves, hands down.

Fiiiiiiine. Nitpick away.

Let's try it a different way.

Carson's eyebrows vs. Alfred's mustache. Go.

Carson's eyebrows. Alfred looks too much like David Niven, while Carson's are hard to imitate.

Just finished episode 5.

I finished series 2 this morning. I love how even Mathew would call Mary out on her nastiness. God, she's a bitch.

Finished season 3 including the Christmas episode. All I'm going to say about it is that this season has made me love Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Patmore more than the past 2 seasons.

And slap the taste out of O'Brien's mouth.

That's a given.

I have to admit, I was more than a little cheesed-off with the early-in-the-season mini-storyline about Mrs Hughes's... condition. I remember being like "What?! Are you f***in' serious?!? Even in GODDAMN DOWNTON ABBEY?!! F*** YOU, MODERN TELEVISION, F*** YOU IN THE NECK!!! AAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!"

Luckily they didn't continue that storyline.

North_Ranger said:

I have to admit, I was more than a little cheesed-off with the early-in-the-season mini-storyline about Mrs Hughes's... condition. I remember being like "What?! Are you f***in' serious?!? Even in GODDAMN DOWNTON ABBEY?!! F*** YOU, MODERN TELEVISION, F*** YOU IN THE NECK!!! AAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!"

Luckily they didn't continue that storyline.

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That was one of the reasons why I tuned out of the show. I wish they'd stop doing that crap.

You should get back, they stopped that after two episodes.

North_Ranger said:

You should get back, they stopped that after two episodes.

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I finished the season two days ago.

dill616 said:

That was one of the reasons why I tuned out of the show. I wish they'd stop doing that crap.

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Wait, why is it crap? Cancer was a big scary thing back then, too, probably even scarier than it is today. And it's not like 1 person in a household of dozens getting a cancer scare is unrealistic. Why does it bother you enough to tune out?

Calleja said:

Wait, why is it crap? Cancer was a big scary thing back then, too, probably even scarier than it is today. And it's not like 1 person in a household of dozens getting a cancer scare is unrealistic. Why does it bother you enough to tune out?

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It's not the topic of cancer that was crap. It was how the show's writers had a crisis-of-the-week thing going on. It's a cheap ploy to keep people watching. I really wanted the main plot to keep moving.

dill616 said:

It's not the topic of cancer that was crap. It was how the show's writers had a crisis-of-the-week thing going on. It's a cheap ploy to keep people watching. I really wanted the main plot to keep moving.

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Ah, I see. I guess I can see that, but I've never really found Downton to have a "main plot", at least not just one. Every character is important to me, I guess.

Spoilers ahead, watch your step!

Manufactured crisis is the basis of the show.

stienman said:

Spoilers ahead, watch your step!

Manufactured crisis is the basis of the show.

Spoiler

The cancer subplot is not more or less "crisis" than the blindness subplot, the death-by-sex subplot, the prison subplot, the terrible wife subplot, the miscarriage subplot, etc, etc, etc.

Cancer is serious, though, and I respect that it may seem as though it's treated very lightly by someone who has had cancer or has had a loved one die due to the disease. I'm sure the miscarriage affected those who have had to deal with that personal tragedy in a similar manner.

The show is all about "how do these people react and adapt - or not - to changing society, circumstances, events, and crisis, and how does their reaction help or hurt them in the long run."

The nice valet helps the hated servant, and then that servant gets a position above the nice valet. He didn't mean to help him that much, but that's how the chips fell due to external circumstances he didn't fully comprehend. How does that change their relationship? Does it make the valet less likely to help next time, does he give up on ousting the bad guy? Does the bad guy turn over a new leaf?

That's what's interesting to me. Without crisis, no one would change, and without change, there's no point in watching more than an episode or two because after that you understand everyone's personality, motives, and relationships.

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Well I'm certainly not going to tell you to feel differently about it. It's been thirteen years since we experienced a miscarriage and we don't have a problem watching them portrayed in shows now, but I'm certain we would have hated it and turned it off anywhere around the time we were going through it ourselves.

We can't watch shows about birth problems close to the delivery of a new baby either. Dr Quinn is right out at the end of a pregnancy...

stienman said:

Well I'm certainly not going to tell you to feel differently about it. It's been thirteen years since we experienced a miscarriage and we don't have a problem watching them portrayed in shows now, but I'm certain we would have hated it and turned it off anywhere around the time we were going through it ourselves.

We can't watch shows about birth problems close to the delivery of a new baby either. Dr Quinn is right out at the end of a pregnancy...

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So you just' don't watch Dr. Quinn like... ever?

Calleja said:

So you just' don't watch Dr. Quinn like... ever?

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Sesame Street presents: Upside Downton Abbey

Just saw that O'Brien will be leaving next season.

As much as I dislike the character I can't imagine the show without her.