User Reviews

After finishing first season of alias series on 13221, i am here. I watch series season by season.

I chose this series because time of episodes are long, around 47 minutes as far i saw and it is historic.

I hope i can enjoy. I will edit here after watching episodes i hope. I will copy this to also episode 1 review.

EPISODE REVIEW Interesting things. Seeing the first usages of electricity at home. Daily newspapers that brought to home, then they are ironned to make ink dry.

Seeing class relations are hurting some. There is a sharp edge between masters and slaves, officially they are not slaves according to laws but they feel like it.

It was good robert did not let bates leave.

Bates did not tell why he felt. Thomas did it but probably bates could not understand it. I am not sure.

And i could not get why daisy cant go somewhere. Because of rank?

Any way, i like opening. Too much characters but in time i will learn.

Laura Carmichael and Michelle Dockery are riviting in the introductory to their characters in the premiere of this series which became an instant smash hit all over the world. It sets up the plot with the sinking of the Titanic and the death of the heir to the Downton Abbey estate. The arrival of the lame valet Mr. Bates creates tension downstairs, especially with the scheming O'Brien and Thomas, squabbling sisters Edith and Mary, sardonic Lady Violet, the dowager countess of Grantham, her son and daughter-in-law and the cameo at the end by Isabel Crawley and her son, the new heir Matthew.

Moving at a slow but appropriate pace, this is a great way to start the series. It's obvious that this was destined to be an instant hit, showing the dealings of the upstairs and downstairs in full detail. The cruelties of Thomas and O'Brien towards Mr. Bates are deplorable with an impact that will be felt for years. Of course, much amusement comes from the fantastic line delivery of Dame Maggie Smith who could flip pancakes while reading the phone book and get laughs.

Really enjoyed the first episode. I love the music and the interior design of the home.

We are introduced to the head of the house - a kind-looking husband and a wife who has a sense of humour. They have three daughters and no sons.

The servants are busily working in the background. A young servant girl quick on her feet is not allowed to make appearances in front of the family while she is disheveled-looking from working on the fires. A man with a cane enters the home while overhearing three women gossiping. One of them is the head of the maids and very kind. One of them serves the wife herself directly. This man is named Bates and the servants are not welcoming of his arrival due to politics and their own agendas. They want him out. The footman wants to become a valet and makes comments about Bates constantly to taint his reputation.

News of the Titanic sinking gets around and the husband realizes in horror that the heirs to his home as he has no sons have most likely died. They are his cousins. The daughters enter the dining room looking beautiful in their outfits. Mary who was to marry one of the cousins doesn't show any grief for the probable death of her fiancé.

A duke is to come to the home and the daughters sit in their dressing room. A maid is doing one's hair. Mary is to meet the duke and hopefully get along with him. The duke convinces Mary to go with him to the "secret passageways". They go to the servants' quarters. Mary explains there is the women's quarters and men's quarters that are divided with a lock that only one woman can open. The duke enters a male servant's room and begins rummaging through his belongings.

Later we see the footman tending to the duke and then they kiss. The duke explained while he was being tended to that he will definitely need an heiress even if he has to go to New York. Turns out he is gay. The duke betrays his lover by showing the letters he has stolen from his room and throws it onto the fire after the footman gets angry.

After hearing displeasure from his wife of his valet being disabled and comments from the staff, the husband fires Bates firmly and friendly. Bates is to leave in the carriage with the duke the next morning. Bates sits in the carriage and they take off but the husband runs to stop it. He takes Bates out with his luggage and tells Bates to go inside. They will speak no more of it.