Upstairs Downstairs

Having blogged about the goings-on at Downton Abbey, we had to comment on those at 165 Eaton Place.


It was rumoured that Eileen Atkins, one of the original creators who played Lady Holland in the Christmas 2010 episodes, had fallen out with the production team over the script, and Jean Marsh has apparently suffered health problems and appears in this series less than she intended.  A shame on both counts, because both have presence and passion for this drama of domestic life above and below stairs in a bygone era.  The 1970s series needs no introduction, but as we've said elsewhere, it covered the ground of 'Downton...' and  did it better.


So why has the reincarnation fared less well than the ITV upstart?  (The original 'Upstairs...' was ironically broadcast on ITV too).  Oddly, it may be the thing that should have given it a head start: the fact that it's a sequel.  Only the character of Rose and the nominal address link the viewer to the well-loved original, so there is little for nostalgics to wallow in, and while there were still households with servants in the late 1930s, it was no longer a way of life for the majority.  The grand era that it encapsulates was already past, and more-or-less ended in the years covered in the original, and in 'Downton Abbey'.


Heidi Thomas also scripted the 8.30pm programme, 'Call the Midwife', but with the guidance of the original memoirs.  The difference here is that the characters lack life.  With Eileen Atkins' departure, Lady Holland has apparently died, while Rose is in hospital, so we have a new 'Aunt' and a new maid.  For viewers who can't work out who is who, who is what to whom and how the War to End All Wars didn't quite come off, there are handy simple explanations in the dialogue: "She's your aunt!"  "We have two small children."  "We fought for our country!"  Unfair?  Maybe, but allied to the preponderance of sandbags, barrage balloons, blackout curtains and gas masks in 1938, and the out-of-nowhere smacker between Hallam Holland and his wayward sister-in-law (whom he'd hated in the previous episodes) this strained for dramatic impact without achieving it.  The monkey had a lucky escape....


P.S. We hear that a young JFK puts in an appearance in the next episode, along with his dad.  Why wouldn't Joe take Joe Jnr along, rather than the (at the time) also-ran John?  Because John became President!  We didn't think we'd be praising 'Downton...' but so far it has happily avoided flying visits from young Winston or Bertie Windsor.