Upstairs, Downstairs

First, I want to thank everyone for their advice and support regarding my last post. It is so comforting to know I am not the only one dealing with crazy relatives.

Now, on to my post. ;)

I often recommend television shows I fall in love with. Many of these shows are either hilarious, fabulous, or jaw-dropping.

I am now going to tell you about a television show that I can honestly say is the nearest and dearest to my heart. It is Upstairs, Downstairs.



About six months ago, Rian brought home this 1970s British television show from the library. The show focuses on the lives of the aristocratic Bellamy family and their endearing servants from the years 1903 to 1930. Don't let your eyes glaze over, the show is incredibly third-dimensional.



Sex scandals, dark secrets, romance, and tragedies embrace this household at every turn. It is also a captivating history lesson, showcasing the fashion and habits and hobbies and attitudes of the upper and lower social classes during the early 20th century.



Never before have I become so emotionally attached to each character in a show. The acting is phenomenal.



The storyline hooks the viewer. Vital characters suffer fatal consequences. Pivotal characters are brought in near the end. It is a soap opera without the cheese.



Rian and I watched the final episode last night. In celebration (or, I should say mourning) we made dinner using recipes from this amazing cookbook from the show.



We made Irish stew, Welsh rarebit, and spice cake. Oh, and we drank sherry before dinner and Earl Gray tea after dessert.

Upstairs, Downstairs was immensely popular, not just in the UK, but around the world. It has had ONE BILLION VIEWERS worldwide and garnered several Emmys and a Golden Globe.



I heard BBC recently created a sort of remake of Upstairs, Downstairs this past year, where a new family moves into 165 Eaton Place, starting in 1936. As a possessive fan of the original show, I was kind of taken aback. But, if the new show is even a pinch as good as the original, it might be worth checking out.



Rian and I are incredibly sad the show is over for us. I know this sounds cheesy, but it is almost as if we were a part of the show ourselves. It felt so real. It felt like we were part of the family.



But we will always keep this show close to our hearts. It is so special. Plus, a new boxed DVD set of the show, featuring loads of bonus material and restorations, came out last week. Rian and I are saving up money to purchase it!



It was quite an educational experience for us.

In memoriam, here are the top five things I learned from watching Upstairs, Downstairs:

5. There is no situation a nice cup of tea can't solve. Dog lost? Let Mrs. Bridges fix you a nice cup of tea. Feeling sick? Poor thing, let's fix you a nice cup of tea. Husband murdered? Oh, you simply MUST have a nice cup of tea.

4. World War I was a Big Fucking Deal. This show has taught me more about the Great War and how it truly affected the European public than any textbook or teacher in high school.

3. The butler knows best. Whether it is a minor household incident or an international crisis, the butler ALWAYS knows what to do.

2. Marrying a beautiful redhead can only end up in tragedy.

1. It's cute to be a heartless bitch when you're rich!



I really hope you watch this show sometime in the future. It is a gem.