Downton Abbey continues Sunday!

Well I'm sure it's no surprise that I can't WAIT for Part Two of Downton Abbey to air on Masterpiece Classic this Sunday! Here's a brief teaser about what we have to look forward to in this series' second installment:

The hit series Downton Abbey continues Sunday, January 16, 2011 on MASTERPIECE CLASSIC. Mary entertains three suitors, including a bold Turkish diplomat. Meanwhile, the former life of Carson, the butler, is revealed, and Bates risks his health to remain valet.

Hmm, Mary is headed for trouble, I just know it. And I don't know how I'm going to take more of Bates's heartache! Those scenes just tore me up in Part One. If you need a refresher, or you haven't decided whether or not to watch Downton, check out my reviews of Part One:

• Downton Abbey, Part One (The Crawleys)
• Downton Abbey, Part Two (The Servants)

Downton Abbey, Part One (The Servants)

Downton Abbey is so broad and epic in scope that I just couldn't squeeze a review of all of the characters and plot lines found in Part One into one blog post. (There are worse problems I could have, I know. LOL!) My first review of Part One focused on the Crawleys, the wealthy family who calls Downton Abbey their home, and the succession crisis they face when the heir is lost when the Titanic sinks. As a refresher, here is the portion of the Part One summary that focuses on the plot points specific to the servants who keep Downton running:

As the drama unfolds among the aristocrats of Downton Abbey, changes are happening amidst the servants as well. John Bates has arrived as a new valet for Robert, but he has a pronounced limp, potentially making him unfit to perform his duties. Also, Bates seems to have some previous link to Robert, and a murky past. And, someone else in the servant's quarters is darkly entangled with the fortunes of the family he serves.



Bates

Thus far my favorite "downstairs" character is John Bates, played by the wonderful, marvelous actor Brendan Coyle. Coyle really excels at playing middle class characters (for lack of a better term) who are hard-working, good men, full of heart and nobility. One of Coyle's most famous roles is probably as mill worker Nicholas Higgins in North and South (Oh those scenes with Richard Armitage! I loved their unlikely friendship!). He's also appeared in Lark Rise to Candleford and the Masterpiece Mystery series Jericho (sadly playing a villain in the latter!). Bates is going to be a fascinating character. He suffered a debilitating injury in the Boer War, and thanks to the Earl's willingness to take him on as a valet he is fiercely loyal and heart-breakingly long-suffering. Because of his preferential status with the Earl, despite the fact that his war wound limits some of the duties he can perform, Bates's presence causes instant division below stairs. 


Anna

Bates has one ally in the form of Anna, the head housemaid played by Joanne Froggatt. Longtime blog readers may remember my rants against Froggatt when she appeared in the final season of Robin Hood, but I'm happy to report that so far I love Froggatt's character in Downton Abbey. Not only does Anna have the good sense to develop feelings for Bates, but Froggatt portrays her character with a real warmth and appealing vulnerability. I hope, I do so hope that whatever secrets lie hidden in Bates's past don't prevent a romance with Anna from developing below stairs, because Coyle and Froggatt have the makings of an adorable on-screen couple.


Mr. Carson



Mrs. Hughes

It would be easy to assume that Downton Abbey's servants would care little for the social machinations of the aristocrats they serve. But during this time period, servants often felt a fierce loyalty towards the families they served - often for their entire adult lives - and there was as much competition for primacy of place among the servants as among their upper-class counterparts. This quality is perhaps best embodied by Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), the butler, and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan), the housekeeper. Carson has been in service at Downton since his youth, longs for the way things were prior to the entailment issue, and he places a high emphasis on order and tradition. The Crawleys, though they would never recognize it, are his family, a sacrifice he has determined is worth an price to his personal life. Carter should be quite familiar to Masterpiece fans - he played Captain Brown in both series of Cranford. Mrs. Hughes embodies everything I'd imagine a housekeeper of the period to be - she's highly competent, moral, and seems fair. She and Carson share a fascinating exchange when she essentially asks him if he believes a life in service is "worth it." Though she would most likely never admit to possessing doubts, it's a telling moment that hints at the resolve and sacrifice necessary to rise through the ranks in service at a great estate like Downton.

Daisy

O'Brien

Among the serving members of Downton's household, there's bound to be "troublemakers" - servants who are either bitter and dissatisfied with their lot, power-hungry, or outright mean. Chief among the latter is Lady Cora's maid O'Brien, played by Siobhan Finneran. O'Brien is, I suppose, the equivalent of an Edwardian "career woman." She sacrified all to rise through the ranks and achieve the coveted post of ladies' maid to a countess. She'll flatter her mistresses as needed in order to get her way, and drop poisonous barbs disguised as concerns into the ears of any and all who will listen. There were moments in Part One when I thought Finneran was quite chilling her performance was so convincing. O'Brien is fast becoming one of those filmic villains you love to hate. *wink*

Thomas

Gwen

Her main ally is Thomas, the first footman played by Rob James-Collier. Thomas's chief faults appear to be pride and self-importance, and he's bitterly resentful of losing the valet position to Bates, a lame war veteran. Thomas and O'Briens schemes to cast Bates as an incompetent had my blood boiling at various points throughout Part One, proving the world below stairs is every bit as cutthroat and intrigue-filled as the world above. Thomas's naked ambition masks the fact that he is a closet homosexual, who had a brief fling with a duke. Whether this fling involved genuine emotional attachment on his part or was a calculated power grab is not specified, but the crushing emotion Thomas exhibits in the scene when the duke rejects him hints at the forces that have molded Thomas into the cold, hard servant he is today. Personally I could've done without "the scene" between the duke and Thomas, and I do hope the series doesn't get more explicit than what was shown in Part One. I do think Thomas's character and the secrets he keeps may perhaps turn into one of Downton Abbey's strongest examples of the price of secrecy and lies - of course only time will tell if I'm correct. :)



Mrs. Patmore



William

The balance of Downton's staff is peopled with other characters who, while they may not have the main plot lines in Part One, are every bit as colorful and fascinating as their fellow servants. Mrs. Patmore, the cook, is played by Lesley Nichol. She is an absolute delight - outgoing and high strung, the woman appears to be a veritable whirlwind of activity. Nichol's face wasn't familiar to me, but when I looked her up on the IMDB I was delighted to discover that she played Mrs. Beaver in the old 1988 production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that I grew up watching on TV. The brunt of Mrs. Patmore's *ahem* stress is directed towards Daisy the scullery maid, played by Sophie McShera. Poor Daisy is well-meaning but quite the scatterbrain, a humorous but sympathetic character. I feel so bad for her because she's naively developing a crush on Thomas, and after the scene with the duke it's abundantly clear that crush is gong to go nowhere. So far she's completely blind to the fact that William, the second footman, has a crush on her. William is a bit of a goofball, but he seems like a sweet guy - he just seems a little too willing to be a doormat for the likes of Thomas. William is played by actor Thomas Howes, and this is poised to be a breakout role for him. I'm anxious to see where his character goes throughout this series. Finally, Gwen the housemaid, played by Rose Leslie is introduced. Her character gets relatively little screentime in Part One, but it's clear she's ambitious and has secrets that I look forward to discovering in the subsequent installments of Downton.

Once again I have to stress that the editing and writing for this series is brilliantly done (bravo, Julian Fellowes!). The way script and scenes cut back and forth between the Crawleys and their servants is seamlessly, resulting in a fast-paced, thoroughly engaging viewing experience. It drives home like no other movie I can think of at the moment the intricate balance and connection between wealthy families and the servants who make their lifestyle possible. The entailment issue that throws the Crawley family into turmoil does not exist in some sort of aristocratic vacuum. Anything that impacts the Crawleys matters deeply, to some degree or another, to each member of their household - and the servants are not shy about taking sides or forming their own alliances. The result is riveting television. I cannot WAIT for Part Two this weekend!

• Click to read Amber's thoughts on Downton Abbey.
• Click to read Renee's thoughts on Downton Abbey.
• Read Laurel Ann's review of Part One of Downton Abbey at Austenprose.
• Read my review Downton Abbey, Part One (The Crawleys).

Downton Abbey, Part One (The Crawleys)

The premiere of Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Classic this past Sunday was an absolute joy to watch from start to finish. The show, with its sprawling cast and attention to historical detail, is completely enthralling. It is drama at its finest, the kind that makes my period film loving heart sing with joy. Here is the summary of episode one from the Masterpiece website:

It's 1912, and life in the Edwardian country house of Downton Abbey is idyllic and bustling for the Crawley family, aided by their cadre of servants. Robert, Earl of Grantham, his American heiress wife Cora, and their three daughters, along with Robert's mother Violet, have lived largely uncomplicated lives. But the sinking of the Titanic hits home in an unexpected and dramatic way — Lord Grantham's heir, James Crawley, and his son Patrick have perished. It's personally agonizing (momentarily) for daughter Mary who was supposed to marry Patrick. On a grander scale, suddenly all the predictable succession plans have gone terribly awry, and unheard of questions now loom large — Who will be the new heir to the earldom? And what will happen to this distinguished estate, now in jeopardy? Mary's grief is short lived as she sets her sights on another suitor, the Duke of Crowborough.

As the drama unfolds among the aristocrats of Downton Abbey, changes are happening amidst the servants as well. John Bates has arrived as a new valet for Robert, but he has a pronounced limp, potentially making him unfit to perform his duties. Also, Bates seems to have some previous link to Robert, and a murky past. And, someone else in the servant's quarters is darkly entangled with the fortunes of the family he serves.

Despite much angling and consternation, the course of action emerges — a new heir presumptive will soon arrive at Downton. As Matthew Crawley, the heir presumptive, and his mother Isobel arrive, the emotions of the onlookers range from anxiety to outright antagonism. But in crisis there may be opportunity, and Matthew is considered as a suitor for Mary. Yet, nothing is quite as it seems in the changing landscape and shifting fortunes of Downton Abbey.

Robert Crawley

I have never seen the original Upstairs Downstairs, but that remains one of my mother’s favorite shows. And her description of that classic drama is the closest thing I can think to liken Downton to – with the Upstairs Downstairs reboot coming in April, comparisons will be unavoidable in the coming months, I’m sure. With the sharp class distinctions between Downton’s aristocrats and the resident servants, I feel like this type of show almost delivers two films in one. The differing perspectives and lifestyles represented in the two classes that call Downton home are absolutely fascinating, there’s no other word for it.

The show opens with the arrival of the news of the Titanic’s sinking, and with the “death” of that great ship the Earl of Grantham, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) sees his hopes of smooth succession plans for Downton Abbey destroyed as well. Since the estate is entailed, and the Earl has only three daughters, Downton must go to the nearest male relative. Prior to the Titanic tragedy, the heir presumptive was the Earl’s cousin, whose son Patrick was slated to wed the Earl’s eldest daughter Mary (Michelle Dockery). Two choices remain for the family – attempt to break the entail and declare Mary the heiress, something the Earl is loathe to do and could likely fail, or accept the new heir, a distant third cousin, and through him attempt to salvage Downton’s future.

Cora Crawley

The Crawley family patriarch is played by a long-time favorite of mine – Hugh Bonneville, a Masterpiece veteran. He’s appeared in everything from an Inspector in Miss Marple to a villainous aristocrat in Daniel Deronda to a kindly Mr. Bennet in Lost in Austen. Bonneville brings a real kindness to his turn as the Earl of Grantham, principally evident in his character’s relationship with his new valet and former army comrade, John Bates (Brendan Coyle). Every inch the aristocrat, Robert bears the burden of responsibility for Downton and its history heavily following the death of his close heir. It would be easy to view the Earl as a perfect, Edwardian “ideal,” but the script and Bonneville’s wonderfully nuanced performance turns Robert into an unforgettable, sympathetic character who has allowed not only the circumstances of his birth but also his regrets to refine his character. One of the most touching aspects of Robert’s personality is his relationship with his wife, Cora, played by Elizabeth McGovern. McGovern became one of my favorite actresses following her performance as Lady Marguerite Blakeney in the three part The Scarlet Pimpernel miniseries. She just screams “class” in my mind, and since she’s American she’s the perfect choice to play Cora, daughter of an American millionaire whose dowry saved Downton from financial ruin. Robert openly admits to marrying Cora for her money, and didn’t fall in love with his wife until after their marriage. I just loved witnessing the mutual warmth and affection in their relationship in spite of their different perspectives on societal position and the entail (and for the record, if I was Cora I would be ticked that all of my money would go to a virtual stranger instead of my own children!).

Lady Mary

The Crawley daughters are Mary (Michelle Dockery), the eldest, Edith (Laura Carmichael), and Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay). As the eldest and the heiress, should the entail be broken, Mary gets the bulk of screentime and character development in this episode. Dockery appeared in Return to Cranford on Masterpiece last year, as Erminia, cousin of William, the series’ romantic lead. I'm afraid I took an almost instant dislike to Mary - from the moment her father breaks the news to her that her presumptive fiance is dead, her lack of feeling was almost chilling. But as the episode progresses, it becomes gradually clearer that Mary is much more than a "snooty" aristocrat - as a woman during this time she was privileged and blessed, certainly, but she was still a pawn to be bartered on the marriage market for the benefit of family and estate. The weight of bearing the burden that one's choices in the end are not entirely your own must be crushing, and Mary's public demeanor is clearly in part a defense mechanism designed to protect and keep her hopes in check. With the exception of Edith, whose frustration with the deference given to her older sister is abundantly clear, the character and motivations of the younger Crawley daughters remain to be revealed.

Violet, Dowager Countess

The dowager countess, Violet, is played by the inimitable Maggie Smith, and her character is an absolute delight. Violet would have been a fearsome woman to cross. She has a formidable will and a passionate devotion to Downton Abbey and the illustrious legacy she fears is in jeopardy following the Titanic sinking. I found Smith's scenes opposite on-screen daughter-in-law McGovern to be absolutely priceless. When it comes to saving Downton, she's clear that her untitled daughter-in-law isn't her "friend," but an ally out of necessity. Violet has clear ideas about the way things should be done - it's basically her way or the highway, as the saying goes. When she first meets the new heir Matthew (Dan Stevens) and his mother (Penelope Wilton), their rather middle class sensibilities - especially Matthew's, since he's a lawyer - rock her carefully ordered world. That her beloved Downton should be inherited by a man who speaks of things like "jobs" and "weekends" is utterly insupportable! *wink* As always Maggie Smith's performance is a scene-stealer, and I look forward to Violet's future appearances in the balance of this series.

Matthew Crawley

The new heir, Matthew, should be a familiar face to fans of Masterpiece Classic. Dan Stevens's break-out role was as Edward Ferrars in the 2008 version of Sense and Sensibility. Matthew is a character whose personality and values are in many respects completely alien to his aristocratic relations. He is determined to continue practicing law, and has little patience or understanding for the traditions that govern Downton Abbey. I think Dan Stevens is going to be the perfect actor to play Matthew with his fierce independent streak, determined not to allow his new status as heir to change him. I think it will be interesting, though, to possibly see Matthew grow in understanding and empathy towards the Crawleys and the people who make serving that family their pride and livelihood. Resented as an interloper, Matthew's world is going to be rocked when Cora and Violet unite in their efforts to make the best of an untenable situation by determining that the best course of action for Downton's future is to secure a marriage between Matthew and Mary - and a more unlikely pair you're never likely to see.

Isobel Crawley

Matthew's mother, Isobel, is played by the wonderful Penelope Wilton. Wilton is another familiar face to fans of British drama. She's appeared in Wives and Daughters, the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, and Doctor Who, to just name a few of the film credits in her illustrious career. The push-and-pull between Isobel, her son Matthew, and the Crawleys is fascinating to witness. The daughter and widow of doctors, she is highly intelligent and possesses a worldview that is perhaps best described as broader in scope than that of her female counterparts resident at the Abbey. She's also quite proud of Matthew, and while I think it's apparent he inherited his independent streak from her, she also knows how to play the game better than her son. A once in a lifetime opportunity has been set before him, and she would not see it squandered out of foolish pride. I look forward to seeing more social sparring between Isobel and Violet in future episodes.

Now, I'm going to do something I've never done with a Masterpiece production - I'm dividing my review of Part One of Downton Abbey in two. Not only is this post probably long enough (LOL), but intricacies and machinations that occur below stairs in Downton are every bit as worthy of their own post and examination as that of the servants' upper-class counterparts.

I realize we still have three weeks of Downton Abbey episodes to look forward to on Masterpiece Classic, but I'm going to go ahead and go out on a limb here and state that at this pace, Downton is likely to be my favorite Masterpiece production since Bleak House. With the sprawl and scope of Dickens and the intimate understanding of social mores found in Austen, Downton Abbey is an absolute jewel of television drama. And while I would be among the first to argue for the benefits of adapting classic novels to the screen, I love the fact that Downton Abbey is a original - there's no book to compare it to. Created and scripted by Julian Fellowes (who may begin to rival Andrew Davies as my favorite screenwriter), Downton delivers drama in spades. Fellowes is responsible for scripting several movies I love, including The Young Victoria and most recently The Tourist, as well as Gosford Park (and with the benefit of hindsight, one must consider Gosford a dry run for Downton).

The costumes and sets for this miniseries are absolutely scrumptious! When watching Downton, I couldn't help but liken the Crawleys to the Vanderbilts - and my desire to visit the Biltmore Estate again has grown tenfold. The direction and editing of this miniseries is superb, the cuts between the drama of the Crawleys and that of their servants seamlessly done. I also adored the score, supplied by John Lunn. Lunn worked on Little Dorrit and Bleak House, so while the music here had a vaguely familiar "sound," it was completely and utterly captivating in its own right.

Look for my post on the servants of Downton Abbey soon! But in the meantime, please chime in with your thoughts on Part One and the Crawleys. There's little I like better than discussing British drama. :)

• Click to read Laurel Ann's thoughts on Part One at Austenprose

Review: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Jane Austen Mysteries #1)
By: Stephanie Barron
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57593-7

About the book:

On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy. Isobel's husband - a gentleman of mature years - is felled by a mysterious and agonizing ailment. The Earl's death seems a cruel blow of fate for the newly married Isobel. Yet the bereaved widow soon finds that it's only the beginning of her misfortune...as she receives a sinister missive accusing her and the Earl's nephew of adultery - and murder. Desperately afraid that the letter will expose her to the worst sort of scandal, Isobel begs Jane for help. And Jane finds herself embroiled in a perilous investigation that will soon have her following a trail of clues that leads all the way to Newgate Prison and the House of Lords - a trail that may well place Jane's own person in the gravest jeopardy.

Review:

The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor is the first in a series of novels that purports to be based on "long lost" Austen journals -- journals where, shockingly enough, Jane is revealed to have an aptitude for solving crimes. Perhaps even more shocking is how well the concept works in Barron's execution of the story. Through novels like Pride and Prejudice and Emma, Austen revealed herself possess a masterful understanding of human nature and all its foibles, and this skill lends itself well to casting Austen as an unconventional investigator with a flair for understanding the criminal mind.

Since relatively little is known of Austen's life, there's plenty of opportunity for an Barron's imagination to fill in the gaps. She grounds her stories in what little is known of Austen's life. In the case of Scargrave Manor, the fact that Austen had once received and refused a proposal from a Harris Bigg-Wither serves as the impetus that allows Barron to send Jane to the home of a beloved -- but entirely fictitious -- friend in order to recover. Soon after her arrival, Jane finds herself embroiled in not one, but two cases of murder most foul, with her beloved friend Isobel standing accused of murdering her husband. Isobel begs Jane to employ her acute powers of observation in order to discover the truth of the matter, and so the chase is on for Jane to discover the truth before Isobel is brought to trial before the House of Lords.

Barron's first novel featuring Jane Austen in the role of sleuth succeeds on all fronts -- it's an incredibly engaging, fast-paced read, rich with historical detail (supplemented by select footnotes which aid in giving credence to the assertion that the story is an edited "journal"). Most enjoyable of all is the experience of seeing inside Jane Austen's head, albeit a fictitious Austen. The story's prose is rich with the language and customs of the early nineteenth century, and it's an enjoyable escape to read a novel that pretends to flesh out the character of one of the most beloved, but mysterious, novelists of all time. All in all it's a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing read.
 
***
 
This review was written back in 2007 on my old blog - that is how long I've been "meaning" to officially review all of Stephanie Barron's delightful Jane Austen mysteries (sad, I know, but such is the state of my TBR pile). This is the fourth or fifth time (honestly I've lost count) I've read Jane and the Unpleasantness as Scargrave Manor, and revisiting Jane's first case for the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge and and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge has proven to be just as delightful and absorbing an experience as the first time I delved into the novel's pages, completely unaware of the treat that awaited me there. That, my friends, is the mark of an enduringly good read. :)
 
Click to visit author Stephanie Barron's blog and read her thoughts on Scargrave Manor. And if you haven't read the book for yourself, well, what are you waiting for?!
 
P.S.: I'd forgotten (shocking!) how much I adore Lord Harold Trowbridge. Yowzers.

Well this is a dream come true...

Well this is a dream come true that I didn't even know I had. David Tennant and Catherine Tate in my favorite Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing?! Oh. My. WORD. This is going to be brilliant. And someone needs to film this for posterity's sake. Tennant's Hamlet made it to DVD, why not a brilliant Shakespearan comedy as well?

David Tennant as Benedick? DAVID TENNANT AS BENEDICK?! I am so happy right now. :)

Primeval 4.1

If you've been around this blog for a while, you might remember - or even share - my enthusiasm for a brilliant little British science fiction show called Primeval. The show has quite a tumultuous history - in the middle of series three, which ended on a creative high note in my opinion, it was announced that the show was canceled, and then it was resurrected thanks to an innovative co-production deal just a few months later. Unfortunately, the months it took to negotiate a new production deal made it impossible to bring the show back in 2010. But the wait was worth it, and the show exploded back on my very happy TV screen last Saturday night. If you haven't made time to watch the "prequel" videos, filling in the gaps between the end of series three and the beginning of season four, you can do so here. I highly recommend it - not only do these short videos briefly introduce the new characters, but they serve as a great refresher since the show's been off the air for well over a year.  

At the end of series three, the core team was absolutely decimated. Connor (Andrew Lee Potts), Abby (Hannah Spearritt) and team leader Danny (Jason Flemyng) were stranded in the past when the anomaly through which they'd followed their nemesis Helen closed. This threw the entire ARC team in turmoil. Lester's (Ben Miller) leadership is called into question, and Becker (Ben Mansfield) and Sarah (Laila Rouass) are devasted by the loss of their friends. Becker vows to never give up the hope that his lost friends will one day return - especially after Sarah is killed on one of the ARC's search missions for the remaining team members. Sarah was an incredibly under-used character in series three, so I can't say I was surprised that the writers quickly dispatched her during the show's hiatus. Poor Laila Rouass never really got a fair shake in the world of Primeval. *sigh*

So, in the intervening time between series three and four, the entire ARC operation gets a major makeover. Now only 50% government-run, Lester finds himself answering to both the government and Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig), the wealthy scientist responsible for privately-funded 50% portion of the ARC's operations. I don't have a clear read on Philip's character yet, except to say that in keeping with the best tradition of this show I'm sure there's definitely more to him than meets the eye. And since he's sure to lock horns with Lester, I'm sure to enjoy his tenure on the show. :) With Connor and Abby's return in question, new team members have also been brought on board. Jess (Ruth Kearney) has taken on Connor's role as resident techie, and between that, her "airy" personality, and her oh-so-obvious infatuation with Becker, she's already on my last nerve. It will be interesting to see if the showrunners can "save" her character for me (but I'm not holding my breath). The most exciting addition to the cast for me is new team leader Matt, played by Ciarán McMenamin. I've been a fan of McMenamin since I first took notice of him in the Masterpiece Mystery series Jericho. As Matt, McMenamin is quite frankly hotter than I've ever seen him on-screen, and the character also has a delicious air of mystery about him. Matt is clearly qualified to step into the role of team leader, but his motivations are highly suspect when we see him reporting to Gideon, played by Anton Lesser, who apparently has nothing better to do than sit around and stare at plants. Lesser's character is obviously the "new Helen," the only question being is he as crazy as his villainous predecessor, and does he share similar goals? The pull between Matt's undercover activities and his developing loyalty to his ARC teammates is going to be interesting to watch play out - my only concern is that his divided loyalties are setting Matt up to become Stephen 2.0 (see series one asap if you don't get that reference *wink*).

Becker, especially, has taken the loss of Danny, Connor, and Abby hard. There is little better I like in my TV shows than heaping helpings of British angst, and Mansfield delivers on that score better than I ever thought possible, alternating angst with moments of unexpected humor. :) Becker is quite resistant to change, and it was a lot of fun watching him clash with Matt's new leadership style (LOVED the moment when Matt tased him, that was hilarious). Lester also had plenty of great scenes in this episode. Not only do we get to see *hints* of the character's deeply buried compassionate side (HA!), his sarcasm was also out in full force when watching his office trashed by a dinosaur. As much as I love Andrew Lee Potts, Ben Miller's Lester may just be my favorite character on the show. They can never kill him off, I really think I will quit watching if that *shudder* ever occurs.

I love that Connor and Abby are finally in a relationship (as Potts and Spearitt are in real life!) - after all, being stuck in the Cretaceous period for a year would probably create a pretty strong bond, no? *wink* Connor has grown up and matured a lot over the course of the show (I love the slightly scruffy look...and shirtless Andrew Lee Potts at the end of the ep? Didn't expect that but thank you ITV... *wink*), but I was really relieved to see that he hasn't lost all of his trademark, adorable penchant for goof-ups even after making like Indiana Jones in the wild for a year. I nearly cheered when he screwed up and re-opened the anomaly  into present-day London - the ARC may be updated, but some things need to never change. I loved Abby's protectiveness of Connor (their on-screen chemistry is, unsurprisingly, off-the-charts!), but most of all I loved the fact that it's the old team members that "save the day" in the end. Their methods may not be quite as polished but Connor and Abby still get the job done. :)

The special effects in this episode were terrific, well up to the show's best standards. It was a lot of fun watching a giant Spinosaurus rampage through London. The only think lacking in those scenes were more terrified crowds...the streets were way too empty to be "realistic," but if lack of extras was a budget cut that helped bring the show back, I can live with that.

Looking ahead, I'm anxious for Connor and Abby to be re-instated as full members of the ARC team. The new rule about field agents having military experience is quite the insult to the pair's history, never mind the fact that they survived for a year in the Cretaceous period, which in my book is all the field experience someone could need. *rollseyes* However, I do think it was a great story idea to force Connor and Abby to question their place with the ARC - it's going to be quite interesting to see how the old members integrate with the new. I'm also anxious to learn more about Gideon and Philip's role with the ARC (because frankly, Alexander Siddig is gorgeous!) and if Jess will prove less annoying as time goes on (though I'm not holding my breath on that score).

Also, going forward, I don't anticipate that all of my episode reviews of this season will be quite this long. Though one never knows. *wink* In many respects this episode was a set up for (hopefully) awesome things to come, and since the show has been off the air for over a year it was fun for me to spend some liesurely time revisiting old friends. So, if you watched the episode what did you think? And if you didn't and you're intrigued, if you are a Comcast subscriber BBC America has the episode available On Demand. For those of you who stuck with me through this long post, here's a little Becker present for you:

You're welcome. :)

Downton Abbey begins SUNDAY!

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.

Merlin returns!

I realize I'm hopelessly behind in posting about this, but better short notice than no notice, right? :) Merlin returns to SyFy with its third season tomorrow night! I can't wait!