My friends, I cannot wait for this. The premiere of Downton Abbey is almost upon us! Here's a bit about the miniseries - and you can bet I will be reviewing this on the blog. *wink*
MASTERPIECE's 40th-anniversary season premieres with Downton Abbey on Sunday, January 9, 2011. A stately country house, a noble family and a succession crisis are the backdrop for this epic drama by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) starring Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and others.
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23 comments:
I am soooooo excited about this miniseries!!! It looks wonderful!!! Did you see the clips they have on the website? :)
~Amber
I'm excited about this, too. I didn't know anything about it until I saw the previews last Sunday night. It looks really good!
~Krisitn
Seriously gorgeous costumes!
@Amber S. - I've watched some of the clips - but with the premiere so close, I've tried to "go dark" on clips...I want to be as surprised as possible. But the suspense is killing me! LOL!
@Kristin - It's been getting rave reviews on all of the costume/period drama blogs I follow...I'm so excited!
@Juju - I KNOW! I adore the 1930s and these clothes are just scrumptious!
I'll be right there watching along with everyone! It looks marvelous!
It's not 1930s, it's 1912-1914, so not far off. Think you'll like it. It's a really good show! Have fun! :)
This sounds very cool! I'm always looking for a nice period drama and this looks like a good one :) Maggie Smith is a wonderful actress and her son, Toby Stephens, is so handsome!! Wish he was in this *swoon* And, is the man to the far right Nicholas Higgins from North & South?? He was my FAVORITE supporting actor! Now I just have to see this! Thank you so much, Ruth, for posting this and I look forward to your review :)
Blessings,
Amanda
@Joanne - Yay! Can't wait to hear your thoughts too!
@Traxy - DUH!!! Thanks for setting me straight, LOL! I knew that, sigh...not thinking this morning...I think I got confused with the new Upstairs Downstairs which opens in 1936, right? Or maybe I'm just making stuff up at this point?! LOL!!
@Amanda - Oh goodness, I ADORE Toby Stephens, he is such a handsome guy! :) And good eye, yes that is Nicholas Higgins from North & South! I have enjoyed him in every period drama I've seen him in, so I'm really looking forward to see what type of character he plays in Downton. You are welcome, of course, Amanda, and thanks for dropping by! :)
@Amanda - P.S., speaking of Toby Stephens you have seen him in the Jane Eyre miniseries from just a few years ago, right? LOVE him as Mr. Rochester! :)
I can't wait for this- the Masterpiece Classic season is really shaping up to be great! And they start filming series 2 of Downton Abbey in March...
@Roving Reader - Oooohhh, that's awesome news about series 2 of Downton...Masterpiece 2012 already has something good lined up, no? :)
YES! I have indeed and that is where I fell in love with him :D He played Mr. Rochester SO well! That was my favorite adaptation of Jane Eyre, and aside from a couple of unnecessary scenes, it was period perfect!! IMO anyway ;)
Oh, and SO happy that was Higgins!
Blessings,
Amanda
@Amanda - I wondered if JE was were you fell for Toby Stephens. :) I adore that miniseries, but I confess I am getting excited about the new film adaptation due in theaters in March. Don't know how it could possibly compare to the miniseries, though...Toby was SUCH a perfect Rochester! Gonna go swoon now... *wink*
And happy to meet another Higgins fan. :)
How cool--I didn't even notice that was Higgins, Amanda! Now I'm even more excited! ;)
BTW, Ruth, do you know if they'll be playing the episodes online for a while? Because I don't know if I'll be able to watch it on Sunday... :(
~Amber
@Amber S. - This cast is just awesome - a real "who's who" of British acting talent! And no worries...you'll be able to watch episodes here (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/watch.html) January 10 - February 22. Episode one should go live on the website the Monday after it airs.
Ruth! Thank you so much for sharing that gem! You are an (ink)well of period drama knowledge, my friend ;) I had no idea that a new version of JE was coming to theaters this year! Oh, I must go Google who's playing who! Though, you're right, who could top Toby?! *sigh*
Amber, I know, right? Total bonus! :D
Blessings,
Amanda
@Amanda - You might be interested in this post: http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2010/11/jane-eyre-2011-trailer.html (I also left it as a comment on your GoodReads wall.) The idea of Michael Fassbender as Rochester is growing on me...there's this really great pic of him in character floating around the blogosphere that I need to find... :)
Oh my, that was... well, a bit darker than I'd imagined... but intriguing none the less :) At the moment I think I like Toby's cast better (except I'd totally switch for Judi Dench playing Mrs. Fairfax!) but that could change ;) I think once you've seen and fallen in love with certain actors in certain roles (like Richard Armitgae as John Thorton ;) ) it's hard to imagine anyone else playing "them" you know? Like that girl from Alice in Wonderland as Jane? I'm sure she's very talented but I preferred Ruth Wilson's (I believe her name is- who played opposite Toby) "poor, plain, obscure and little" scene. Again, maybe it's just because these are the faces I put to the characters :)
Thank you so much for the news and the link, Ruth- and for posting it here and on my Goodreads page to make sure I got it! You are so thoughtful :) I'm looking forward to seeing this new version and I promise I will try to do it with an unbiased eye ;)
Blessings,
Amanda
@Amanda - Oh, I completely understand. If I was told another actor was going to try and take on the role of Mr. Thornton, well I don't think I could stand it. I mean Richard Armitage OWNS that role. But for some reason, as much as I adore Toby as Rochester, I'm warming to the idea of a new take on the story. I think it was this picture & Fassbender's quote that started to change my mind - http://www.focusfeatures.com/splashpage/michael_fassbender - the bit about Byron and then THE PICTURE...oh my goodness. I'm keeping my options open. Or trying to. :)
Oh alright, I suppose he does look rather handsome as Rochester- that pic nearly screams rogue: good girls beware! ;) I haven't seen him in anything before, but from the trailer he seems like he'd do the part justice. So I guess I can keep my options open, too... but I think he through in the bit about Byron just to make us like him more ;D
Blessings,
Amanda
Ruth,
I'm so excited for you to see it! I was hooked from the opening clicks of the telegraph and the clickety-clack of the train carrying Brendan Coyle to his new job. Ah, but it's the Lord of the Manor and his mother that made this just sublime!
@Amanda - I haven't seen Michael Fassbender in anything else either, so I'm really looking forward to Jane Eyre to see if he lives up to that picture. And the Byron reference was just genius...if that move was calculated it was brilliant. :)
@Charleybrown - LOL, I was hooked from the opening clicks of the telegraph as well! Downton is SO good, thanks again for all of the work you did to publicize it on your site prior to its debut in the US. And I agree, Maggie Smith is a GEM in this show!
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