Downton Abbey
 

Can someone explain the apparent popularity of this program ?
My wife is obsessed with this show, which to me is about the most boring thing I have recently seen on TV.
My Frau has not been able to explain to me why this Downton Abbey is so appealing.

Isn't it 'downtoWn' abbey?

It is a little slow but acting is good and I think for my wife the appeal is the storybook lifestyle. I've watched it since season one with her. At the risk of losing my man card..... It's not that bad, actually pretty decent.

It's like a classic American 'soap opera.'

Either you love it and you're in, or you can't even stand 30 seconds. Like Night Rider.

It's a British production and is very well done. It reflects the reality of the time and the changes in life over time. Being an ex Brit I can identify with the series. I can understand though if you have no patience with it - a glorified soap. Some would agree with Shakespeare "much ado about nothing".

Nope. Downton is the name of the house. The expression "downtown" I suspect did not exist when houses like that were built.

Downtown

Downtown is strictly an American expression. If you asked a Brit in the UK where downtown was they would know what you mean though.

Downton Abbey is in reality, Highclere Castle. My wife intends to take a tour of it someday, it's tourable mostly all year to offset costs I suppose.

We're watching season four final episode(8) tonight. My daughter managed to download
the entire season, so we will be up to date.

I like it a lot, didn't at first, now I do. Dame Maggie Smith is a fantastic actor, and fun to watch. Nice old cars, and good character actors.

I agree that it is very "soap like", but it's the acting and production value that captivated me. Seems to be a fairly accurate depiction of a bygone era. Additionally, I enjoyed all of the character development. I agree in that you either get it or you'd rather hang yourself from boredom....I must be getting old!

If the choice is Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo Boo or Downton Abbey . Downton Abbey wins for me (But I have never/would never actually watch an episode of DD or HBB.)

I've been watching it and actually like it. The insights into the issues of the period, costuming and decor are fantastic. Better than 99% of the tripe on television.

No one can pull off the double take like Maggie Smith. She steals every scene she's in.

The appeal of Downton might lie in the fact that it comes off as real. The nobility actually cares (almost always) for their servants and want the best for them. This is counter to almost every show I can think of.

Capitalism is also presented fairly. Without good management at Downton everyone suffers, even in the village.

Lastly, the people must live and die by their decisions both good and bad, rich or poor, fair or unfair.

I thought Petula Clark was a Brit?

Good point yes...

Many of the Masterpiece Theatre productions from BBC are really well done. Thirty years or so ago a BBC production "Upstairs - Downstairs" drew huge (for PBS) ratings here in the US and won all kinds of awards. Similar to Downton Abbey but based on an upper class family's relations with the "downstairs" help during the transition from Victorian England to the aftermath of WWI. It was set in London, not an castle / estate.

I remember that one...watched it with my grandparents.

Great show!
I may have been one of their younger demographic viewers, 20? At the time.

I still think it's funny how many people can't handle someone saying 'downtown' instead of 'downton'.

But, in this case I'm a troll.


Downtown.

I guess you would also say Comptown, CA, Trentown, NJ etc. ? A little weird I suppose.

I don't really care how you pronounce it I just thought you genuinely believed it had a 'W' in it.