Downton Abbey

Do you love Downton Abbey too? 

(Note: this post was written in 2011.  The 2013 showing of Downton Abbey, Season 3 starts January 6, 2013 on PBS! Yippee!)

Set your televisions to record!  I just noticed that PBS will be airing the mini-series "Downton Abbey" on Sunday nights this month - starting tomorrow night!  It looks wonderful - a portrait of Victorian life with the clothes, characters and secrets that makes it a must see in my book. 

When I wrote earlier about my love of the British series, Foyle's War (you can read my post here) a lovely reader named Lillian thought that I would enjoy watching Downton Abbey.  I haven't had a chance to find it on YouTube as she suggested, and just happened to find it being broadcast on American television this week.  What luck. 

And won't the cold month of January be more fun with a mini-series to look forward to.  Everyone light the fire, get a cup of tea and meet me in front of the telly tomorrow night!

*P.S. This is a photo I took of Blemheim Palace in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.  I took a guess that it would be a fitting image for this series and I was tickled to see that looks perfect!

Foyle's War

I subscribe to Netflix, a mail-order movie rental service that let's you manage an online account of the movies/shows you want to watch.  After you watch a movie, you mail the DVD back and the next item in your queue is automatically sent to you.  I love it, mostly because I can get Independent Films and British movies/shows that aren't readily available at a video store.

Last night I was happily watching the latest DVD of the British television series, Foyle's War.  I have loved this gentle World War II drama for ages.  It has wonderful loving characters, fun detective work and the  beautiful scenery of rural England.  It revolves around a police station on the southern coast of England and the issues and crimes that happen in small towns everywhere.  The war and its effect on the homefront also features prominently.

So imagine my shock last night when the characters started "shutting down the precinct" because Winston Churchill was about to announce VE Day.  What?

The loyal driver was looking for a new job.  The steadfast Sergent was promoted.  The main character (and father figure to all) was retiring.  Good grief - what was going on?  It finally occurred to me that this must be the final episode!  I was reeling.  I actually had to pause the show and collect my thoughts.  I decided right then and there that Foyle's War would be today's blog post.  I have come to love this show (and its characters) and I want you to too.

And then as I was finding the links to write this post - oh joy!  The original series ended back in 2007 (who knew?) and fans devotion to the show caused them to write 3 new episodes this year!  They aired in England in Spring 2010.  I found out that PBS' Masterpiece Theater also aired Foyle's War.  Woosh!  So now I have another 3 episodes to enjoy and you can start the series from the beginning.  I know it will bring you delight.

Cranford

I absolutely loved Cranford, a British mini-series about a small village in the English countryside in the 1840's. It has fabulous characters (Judi Dench as Matty Jenkyns), great acting - love, humor, honor and a cow in knit pajamas. What more could you want?

When I first saw Cranford last year, I was happily watching the end of Disc 2 (via Netflix) and promotional advertisements about other PBS series started to roll. What? Disc 3, I want Disc 3! I truly didn't want the story to end, in fact I double checked online to make sure I wasn't missing Disc 3 somehow.

Great news! Return to Cranford (with the original cast) will be broadcast on PBS Masterpiece Theater starting January 10th (Part 1) and January 17 (Part 2) at 9pm!

Now, I realize that many of you have not seen Cranford yet (gasp), but you can watch it online (for free!) at Masterpiece Theater only through January 10th. Isn't that wonderful? So no matter where you are, you can watch this charming series online and be ready to watch the sequel with me on the 10th.

No pressure, but suddenly this is what you could do Tues/Weds/Thurs night this week. There are 3 episodes to catch up with - each lasts 2 hours. Make a cup of tea and enjoy!