When Upstairs Downstairs was not included in last spring’s Masterpiece Classic line up I worried that we would not have an opportunity to see the series this year. Not to worry. The first installment of six of Season Two will air this Sunday ,October 7 and end November 11, 2012.
Will sandbags protect Eaton Place?
In 2010, Upstairs Downstairs aired just after the wildly popular Downton Abbey, suffering in comparison. To begin with, Downton’s budget was astronomical compared to UpDown’s. And UpDown’s script needed to find a way to tie in to the classic and unforgettable 70’s series with Jean Marsh as Rose and Gordon Jackson as Mr. Hudson. That series was a hard act to follow.
Mr. Pritchard is in charge of bomb siren warnings and other dangers. What is his secret?
This year UpDown suffered unanticipated setbacks: Jean Marsh suffered a stroke and could not continue to play Rose full time (she appears in two episodes) and Eileen Atkins (Maud, Lady Holland) decided not to return. Frankly, Eileen was the only comedic respite in Series One and the closest that UpDown came to challenging Maggie Smith’s unforgettable Violet.
The new baby hardly plays a role in the plot, except to point out Lady Holland’s depression and long road back to health.
Season Two’s UpDown is a somber series compared to Downton, even with that show’s foray into WW1. At the beginning of Season 2 in UpDown, World War II is about to break wide open. Air raid drills are a fact of life. Houses are sandbagged and Londoners are preparing for war, even practicing wearing gas masks indoors.
The cook and new maid, Eunice
Nothing isquite the same at 165 Eaton Place.
Mrs. Thackeray, Mr. Amanjit, and Mr. Pritchard. After Maude’s absence, Mr. Amanjit’s role is severely curtailed.
Elie Kendrick as Ivy is gone, replaced by two new maids: Eunice and Beryl.
Laurel Haddock as Beryl
Alex Kingston has come on board as Maude’s sister, Dr. Blanceh Mottershead, an unwanted addition as far as Hallam Holland is concerend. Hallam is conerned 24/7 with diplomacy and making sure that the Brits aren’t totally bowled over by oily German diplomacy.
Hallam beset at all fronts
Then there’s Lady Holland’s story arc. Episode One starts with the birth of the Holland’s second child and Lady Holland’s struggle to regain her health after a difficult birth, which has resulted in post partum depression (or has it?)
A family tableau: Agnes, Blance, and baby. A happy famoly?
A handsome Hollywood producer appreciates her charms, even as Hallam is consumed by averting the war. Agnes’s sister Persey is ankle deep in Nazis, living abroad and living the high life until Kristalnacht, when she realizes that Nazi German politics is uber false and dirty and bent on annihilating innocent Jews.
Alex Kingston as Dr Blanche Mottershead
Fans of the original series know that UpDown was never ever a precursor of Downton Abbey. It always had a rather serious bent, with comedic elements toned down or nonexistent.
Sarah Gordy as Pamela Holland, Hallam’s long lost sister.
Downton Abby, which I adore, is in my opinion a phenomenon of our times – history mixed with rather outrageous elements that reflect our 21st century sensibilities. We cannot fault UpDown for staying true to its origins.
Claire Foy’s role as Lady Persey is dark this season. Who can love a mistress of the Nazis?
I watched all six episodes back to back, wanting to know how the story ends. It is sad to know that this intelligently written series was not renewed for a third season. Knowing this, I backpedaled, not allowing myself to get too invested in the story line, so that I would not be disappointed that the cliff hanger would not be resolved.
Blake Ritson as the Duke of Kent. His portrayal is highly stylized. I’m not sure I like this direction in his acting. Let me know what you think!
True to form, UpDown reverted to 1970s ways, not making a brouhaha at the end of the season, and almost tying up the story lines in a neat bow . Is Season 2 worth watching knowing that the series is at an edn? Absolutely. Click here to go to PBSs site.
Jane Austen's World 
I caught season 1 last weekend by chance, after Call the Midwife. I’ve never seen the original Upstairs Downstairs, but it’s been on my must see list. I enjoyed the 2010 series 1, but just read a negative review of season 2, so I’m glad to hear you think it was worth watching, though Eileen Atkins will be sorely missed. Really, though, I’m most anticipating Downton & the Dowager. :)
Having strong memories of growing up in London before and during WWII I’m sorry to say that I’m going to disagree with you, I was going to say it’s a load of codswallop (which it is) except that expression has been getting somewhat of a bashing of late,
Any resemblance to the the truth and facts is purely coincidental, I was delighted to note that Dame Edith Atkins felt the same way and withdrew from the cast.
I happened upon the latter part of an episode from season II and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in shame.
Anyway I’m happy you are enjoying the program but please, please do not accept it as anything but fantasy
;o
Upstairs Downstairs’s only problem is that the most of the main characters are really boring, mainly Hallam and Agnes. And when it comes to period drama shouldn’t the characters be somehow likeable and something you could relate to? Ed Stoppard’s okay, but his character is a complete douche. He was okay, a bit dull maybe, and then became an idiot. Agnes was like a wooden doll right from the start – don’t know if it’s only the way she was written or Keeley Hawes’ acting. For example the moment she said “Kome kiss our children goodnight, they’re the future” was just painful – who talks like that? All the downstairs folk were nice and well acted, but I don’t really like how they reminded mostly comic in character, especially Pritchard. Maybe there was a bit too many characters for so little episodes, especially in the first series.
I don’t know how can you not like Duke of Kent or Blake Ritson’s acting though? He outcharms everyone else. Of course when you play a 30’s bisexual, quite possibly drug-addicted (I actually noticed him mixing some strange pills into his drink while chatting with Hallam), hedonistic royalty you have to be a bit stylized. Blake is a very talented actor and extremely gorgeous. I wish he could get more recognition and roles.
Most of the period dramas are naturally somewhat similar and still get no comparisons like Downton and Upstairs. It shouldn’t be a vs. battle between the two. Downton’s lovely but so was Upstairs on it’s own right. A third season would be a great choice – there have been shows much worse that have lasted longer. I don’t feel like the storyline’s complete yet, and at least it’s glamorous and interesting to watch because of the history.
“Stoppard’s okay, but his character is a complete douche.”
LOL! Well, let’s not beat around the bush!
I also rather liked Blake Ritson’s portrayal of the Duke of Kent. As an actor he is always so entrancing. He even made stick in the mud Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park seem dishy.
I do agree with many of your concerns. I have not been able to connect with any of the characters like I did in the original series. I was quite shocked to learn the series had been canceled. The loss of Eileen Atkins was the end of it I fear. So sad.
Dame Eileen has too much class to be associated with this load of codswallop; you may recall she created the original series back in the 70’s which was a first class program.
Unfortunately the only thing the new series has in common with the original is the name.
Is this the same Upstairs Downstairs that appeared years ago?
Since most people think Vic and I are the same person, I will be cheeky and answer in her absence. Yes, this is a sequel series to the 1971-1974 series.
I could never get into this reboot because even within each episode, there were too many little scenes that did nothing to advance the plot or reveal the characters. I was left flabbergasted by the time wasted on a particularly distasteful and unfunny sub-plot in episode 1 of the second season. Worse was the horrible “love” story between two of the characters that came out of nowhere, and was just…jaw-dropping in how OOC it was. There were glimmers of warmth and brilliance here and there, but with the History 101 crammed awkwardly into the dialogue, the unlikable characters, and the time wasted on the oddest plot points at the expense of truly interesting bits, UpDown 2k11-12 was a great, great disappointment. The only thing it had going for it were the sets and costumes.
This is a great post about a terrific show. Thanks!
This new Updown is a lightweight compared to the original and is completely eclipsed by Downton Abbey and the new “Call the Midwife”. I have to agree with all the negative comments here.
I do enjoy the depictions of Britain in the run-up to WWII, that I missed in real lfe …since I was busy being born in the original. (‘Midwife’ has great depictions of the London that I do vaguely remember as a snotty kid.) I’d like to have a list of the Codswallop, LordBear mentions— the plot does seem fairly representative of the history books I’ve read. eg, the terrible gas-proof pram that I heard about from my mother…I seem to recall her telling me that I might have been in one once.
Now to serious matters—when can we expect someone to find and produce a new Regency drama?
I’m enjoying it so far, perhaps for wrong reasons. I like Ed Stoppard. Even if he’s playing a douche he’s doing it well. I also would have paid money to watch Blake Ritson mix a drink, walk across the room and sit down in those magnificent white pants. God bless costumers with a good eye, DVR’s and rewind buttons on remote controls. I try to avoid ‘contrast and compare’ when watching television and movies unless driven to it, and I haven’t been with this. I think it stands well enough on its own; not great, but good enough
Your review captures the series very well. My only problem with Blake is that at moments I “saw” him acting, which might become problematic in the future if he depends on actors tricks to define a character. I prefer inner motivation over the affected gestures he at times assumed to define the Duke of Kent.
I honestly preferred Upstairs Downstairs to Downtown Abbey. I originally enjoyed the first season of Downtown, but then it just became a schmaltzy love story *yawn* Upstairs Downstairs, on the other hand, actually showed the life of real people amidst changing times.
At the risk of offending your Grace it actually shows no such thing, it’s a load of codswallop cobbled together by some silly people trying to capitalize on a once great English production; and they fail! Dismally!
No offence taken ;)
I was just referring to the difference between the two shows. Is there an original Upstairs Downstairs show? I’d love to watch. Which year?
The original ran from 1971 til 1975 and was popular in just about every English speaking country, The BBC have the boxed set for £99.99 (not much change from the ton). The link below will take you to the order form etc… Hope you enjoy the experience
http://www.bbcshop.com/drama+arts/upstairs-downstairs-series-1-5-box-set-dvd/invt/7952841/
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
I am surprised by LordBeariOfBow’snegative opinion. I am a 67-year-old well educated Englishman: I found this new UpDOwn credible enough to hold my interest and let me suspend disbelif. The Kindertransport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindertransport story I though particularly well done.
Lady Persey is loosely based on Unity Mitford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Mitford, who tried but failed to kill herself with a pistol when war broke out.
Downton #3 is a sad disappointment: it has degenerated into a costume soap opera with minimal links to the actual period in which it is set. However it is doing well enough for 2 more series to be commissioned.
I was surprised at how I enjoyed Season Two of “UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS”. Not only did I find it an improvement over the first season, I also felt it was ten times better than Season Two of “DOWNTON ABBEY”, which struck me as a load of crap.