Upstairs Downstairs - Complete Series 1 and 2 Box Set [DVD] [2011]

Very good

I had glanced at the reviews so I didn't bring really high expectations for this and as usual in my life I am very late to the party when it comes to reviews but anyway.I have, as they say, several problems with these two series.1. There is what you might call "The Downton Abbey" factor. By this I mean that there is a very cozy relationship between the toffs and the staff. By all accounts, and there are LOADS of accounts from real-life, the people of the upper or middling sort barely recognized the existence and in-and-out breathing of those who shared the same roof but not the same quarters. The fantasy one big happy family thing is a Downton Abbey invention and please don't let anyone persuade you otherwise. If you managed the long days and scant time and material resources and creaked into your sixties you might be accorded lovable old labrador status and enjoy something of an old age. There’s far too much DA factor in these two outings.2. Deference and forelock-tugging are antique and have no place in the twenty-first century. In every way I can think of it is a good thing they have disappeared but again going by contemporary accounts, deference and forelock-tugging were the day-to-day normal way to behave in the thirties. Trying out a thought experiment I imagined a group of ordinary people from the thirties transported in a time machine to watch these series. Obviously, leaving aside all the techno-shock of, omg what’s that, it’s a colour television thing, I do not believe our time-travellers would ‘get’ the interactions of the characters in Upstairs Downstairs where the deference bit is added on and looks like it. What we do get in these series is a twenty-first century TAKE on the thirties seen through our modern eyes. Good drama it can be, perhaps, but undaring drama it is, all the same.3. Speaking of which, there is lots of female assertiveness and lots of strong female characters. This is a BBC requirement if you’re going to get anything commissioned nowadays, of course. There’s nothing wrong with strong females standing up for themselves but the thirties, by and large with all too rare exceptions, just didn’t do female assertiveness. Please read some social histories (Juliet Gardiner is wholly reliable on this subject as she is on most), if you do not agree with this criticism. Lest there be any doubt. I am saying it ain’t the female assertiveness that’s the problem it’s the anachronism of it. A really daring producer would have told Upstairs Downstairs from a truly contemporary POV. That would be more interesting.4. And another thing, when did Upstairs Downstairs get into the world of Coronets and Kings? I always had the characters pitched around upper-class/lower nobility not hob-nobbing with the Royals as they are in these series.Three stars though from me anyway fwiw. Why?a) Beautifully filmed and staged.b) Notwithstanding all the above criticisms, well-acted by a good cast. I especially liked the real-sounding public school twang of the male leads. There is a little too much faux upper-crust about on telly these days.c) A beginning, middle and end and an entertaining enough story told.d) Keeley Hawes stunning in every way, as ever.

I must admit when first shown on TV I wasn't to much struck on it ..but watching it a second time on dvd. Iam hooked...the characters are great and believable..it's very colourful..give it a chance like me you will be pleasently surprised

Great value, quick delivery

I have mixed feelings about this new series of Upstairs Downstairs. I loved the original and recently bought the boxed set and watched them over the space of a couple of weeks. So when I saw this I ordered it straight away and sat down to watch. Maybe that was my mistake as the original was so fresh in my mind. The first disappointment is that the house bears little resemblance to the old Eton Place. The hall is suddenly enormous and the upstairs rooms aren't in their original place. Worst of all was the servants/ kitchen area which was totally different, even the outdoor steps and door were in a different position. And then we have Rose. Naturally Jean Marsh was now over 35 years older than when we last saw her in 1975, but in the series she should have been only 6 years older, and it showed. Plus the fact you could tell that the poor woman wasn't in the best of health ( she unfortunately had a stroke before the second series was recorded and only made a couple of guest appearances after that). I can see that the producers wanted some connection to the original, but as they didn't bother to stick to the original house, why bring Rose back?In the first series you have 2 families, the upstairs and the downstairs, and you really begin to feel involved and care about them.That is lacking in the new series, especially in the downstairs "family".There is also lots of annoying background music in every scene which is totally unnecessary.If you've never seen the original you'll probably enjoy this. The storyline struggles a little at times, but standing on it's own it's not bad. However if you're a fan of the original be prepared to be disappointed.

I loved it. Yes I did compare it to Downton Abbey but I loved the characters, the costumes, the settings - I know that I'll watch the DVD's a number of times. I'll watch them as I do other things then stop doing whatever I am doing to concentrate when it comes to an interesting part. i do remember the original series however I am comfortable with this series.It is fascinating to see the differences in social classes and I watch the breakfast meals with fascination. The importance of position in the class wars is so interesting. I look at the clothes, the styles, the hair, the small size of people - and yes they are actors but I notice things.Get it and enjoy - I did!

Delighted with the DVD. Didn't see it when it was shown in 2010. First watched it on Netflix. This edition has a lot of scenes missing which is a shame. Much prefer the DVD. I Think it was a shame that it clashed with Downton Abbey but I think it is as good. It cover a different period of history so comparisons shouldn't be made. It is also a shame that Jean Marsh was not well enough to be included in the second series. Also it would have been nice to see a third series following the stories of the characters during the war. Otherwise delighted with the DVDs.

Funny show, great to watch Alex Kingston.Brief appearance of Sarah Lancashire but totally worth it.