Okay, been in the middle of a couple of binges.
During the pandemic, my wife discovered "Downton Abbey." A friend told her about it. It turned out to be one of those shows where she said "How did I not know about this show?" I was aware of it, thanks to Saturday Night Live parodies, but I hadn't actually seen it. So, now we were off to find it. I had to sign up for PBS streaming. Then it dropped off there and popped up on Netflix. Oh, and then there was a movie, so I had to sign up for HBO to see that. And when she wanted to see it again later on during the pandemic? Peacock. Then the new movie came out and that's on Amazon Prime. Oy.
During the pandemic, my wife discovered "Downton Abbey." A friend told her about it. It turned out to be one of those shows where she said "How did I not know about this show?" I was aware of it, thanks to Saturday Night Live parodies, but I hadn't actually seen it. So, now we were off to find it. I had to sign up for PBS streaming. Then it dropped off there and popped up on Netflix. Oh, and then there was a movie, so I had to sign up for HBO to see that. And when she wanted to see it again later on during the pandemic? Peacock. Then the new movie came out and that's on Amazon Prime. Oy.
Then the wife got wind of a show called "Poldark." This was 18th England, so more than 100 years before Downton. Every show we now watch is judged to be BC or AD (Before Crowley or After Downton). This was a rough show, because it takes a former nobleman and then just proceeds to pile on him with more and more ill luck and misfortunate. And a running opponent (villain) who is obsessed with defeating Poldark in the...mining business? Oh, an people stand on a lot of sea cliffs gazing out onto the ocean. It's a real theme with this show.
We made it through the whole series, but probably will not watch again (unlike "Downton Abbey" or "Grey's Anatomy" which she keeps on re-watching). It's just all a downer.
We made it through the whole series, but probably will not watch again (unlike "Downton Abbey" or "Grey's Anatomy" which she keeps on re-watching). It's just all a downer.
Then she discovers a new British show, "Hotel Portofino." Again, on PBS. It's a new show, but I had to go to the website to catch the first few chapters. It takes place around the same time as "Downton Abbey" era, the 1920s, only it takes place in Italy. It's a hotel run by British, so they can be all brim and proper in the scandalous country of Italy. Which is now run by fascists.
Here are my problems with it: a) it's tone is decidedly dour. Infidelity. Heartache. Vile Americans. PTSD. Blackmail. Art theft and forgery. Oh, and fascists. Downton Abbey had all that too, but there was a lightness to it, and the family was essentially decent. And they had small cakes and scones. Yes, Downton would have a sex scandal, but then they'd have a "caper episode" where the family had to retrieve a stolen royal letter from a ne'er-do-well. b) the fascists. I mean, the owners of the hotel are being blackmailed and extorted by the petty fascist mayor and his goons. Sure, they may seem to outwit him, but, this is Italy in the 1920s. You know the fascists are going to win and keep winning until 1945, so it's hard to feel any relieve if the Count gets the mayor to tear up the trumped-up health code violations.
We completed the season and now wait to see if there's a season two.
Here are my problems with it: a) it's tone is decidedly dour. Infidelity. Heartache. Vile Americans. PTSD. Blackmail. Art theft and forgery. Oh, and fascists. Downton Abbey had all that too, but there was a lightness to it, and the family was essentially decent. And they had small cakes and scones. Yes, Downton would have a sex scandal, but then they'd have a "caper episode" where the family had to retrieve a stolen royal letter from a ne'er-do-well. b) the fascists. I mean, the owners of the hotel are being blackmailed and extorted by the petty fascist mayor and his goons. Sure, they may seem to outwit him, but, this is Italy in the 1920s. You know the fascists are going to win and keep winning until 1945, so it's hard to feel any relieve if the Count gets the mayor to tear up the trumped-up health code violations.
We completed the season and now wait to see if there's a season two.
