MovieChat Forums > Upstairs Downstairs (2011) Discussion > Should I quit while I'm ahead?

Should I quit while I'm ahead?

posted 10 years ago by SueDeeNim
7 replies | jump to latest

A die hard fan of the original UD since the '70s, I avoided watching this when it first aired.

I've spent the past few days binge-watching the original on Netflix and was halfway through series 5 when Netflix saw fit to pull the rug out from under me and remove it from their streaming selections. In the throes of withdrawal, I turned to Amazon and rented the first series of the 'new' UD.

The first episode was as painful to watch as I expected it to be. The second allowed me to relax and get to know the characters, and I was solidly in love well before the third episode ended.

I wanted to know why there were only two series, so I read this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2133318/Upstairs-Downstai rs-axed-BBC-admits-defeat-battle-Sunday-night-dramas.html. It put me off, especially the part about Dame Eileen and Jean Marsh leaving the show. I can hardly bear the thought of continuing to fall in love only to have the rude awakening, in series 2, that my love has feet of clay and is in fact a horrid troll. I'm equally appalled by the idea of giving up on it just when I've become enthralled by some of the characters and storylines.

So ... should I keep watching and save myself the disappointment, or stop now while the memories are still warm and fuzzy, yet still have the disappointment of not knowing what happens to my favorite characters?

[–] Old_Fashioned_Sense 10 years ago

It's an "ok" series but falls short of the original. I'd say it's worth continuing watching though.

[–] SueDeeNim 10 years ago

Thanks.

[–] rdavies23 10 years ago

It was inferior to the original but not too bad IMO. My main issue was with the lead male, who lacked gravitas. The over-abundance of storylines was a problem also, for me.

[–] Suki_Weeks 10 years ago

Keeley Hawes. That is all.

[–] Annabelle2918 9 years ago

I don't know. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and was actually surprised by all the negativity...

[–] BritishFilms1 9 years ago

Eileen Atkins's departure and Jean Marsh's ill health didn't help ratings for the second series. It was dropped by the BBC soon afterwards.

[–] CharWoman 9 years ago

I just finished watching the whole thing and while I'm definitely sad there isn't more, I am not sorry I watched. No, calling it Upstairs Downstairs might not have been the best idea but I didn't have specific expectations due to that, though I liked the original. I guess they needed a premise for the show they had in mind and didn't want to just pull a random title out of the air.

I thought it was nicely done and came to really appreciate the actors. Somehow missed this 'reboot' coming around when it happened, and found it while looking for more Blake Ritson content (enjoyed him as the Duke of Kent).

Wish I knew what happened after, but that's what imagination is for.