BBC Mania
Alrighty, wise people of the Internet.
I mentioned last week that Bart and I had started watching Downton Abbey. And then many of you commented on how much YOU liked that show too.
I love these kinds of shows (watching this one, with the Christmas tree lit, reminds me of watching Little Dorrit by the light of our (much larger) Christmas tree in Boston), and I’m pretty sure I need more of them in my life.
And since you all seem to be watching them, you should tell me what to check out after we finish Downton Abbey.
We’ve seen and loved North and South, Jane Eyre, Cranford, Wives and Daughters, Bleak House, and most Jane Austen adaptations.
What’s next?
Have you seen the House of Eliott? It's now relatively old, but still good. It's about two sisters setting up a clothing company in the 1920s.
You MUST watch Lark Rise to Candleford. There are four seasons, but I'm still sad that there will not be any more.
I really liked Daniel Deronda and The Aristocrats. Have you seen either of those miniseries?
Try the adaptation of Cold Comfort Farm with Kate Beckinsale.
I have no suggestions, but thanks to many internet recommendations, Downton Abbey is sitting in my Netflix queue waiting for Christmas break! I can't wait to watch it.
If you liked Downton Abbey you totally need to watch Upstairs Downstairs.
I've heard Lark Rise to Candleford is wonderful from blog mentions and reviews at Amazon. I haven't seen it yet myself but it's the big item on my Christmas wish list.
Have you seen Sherlock yet? It's brilliant.
Also second the vote for the Beckinsale Cold Comfort Farm.
Have you seen the new adaptation of Sherlock?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/sherlock/
A modern adaptation. I thought it was brilliant.
I just started the new "Upstairs, Downstairs", as well as a show called "The Hour." And the Masterpiece Theatre version of Sherlock Holmes is WONDERFUL!!!!
I really enjoyed Cranford and ended up listening to the audiobook as well. Very fun.
There is a great Anthony Trollope adaptation called The Way We Live Now. It's full of pure craziness and actors I love, and it's amazing. I also recommend the newish Tess of the D'Urbervilles if you don't hate Thomas Hardy. It's gorgeous and very well done. There's also a fabulous slightly older adaptation of Middlemarch with Refus Sewell in it. It makes my heart sing with joy, and I agree with whoever said Daniel Deronda, Cold Comfort, and Sherlock. All fantastic. (Also, I'm a tiny bit of a nut about all things BBC.)
I will definitely be checking back to get more suggestions from the comments. I second votes for Sherlock, Upstairs Downstairs, and Tess.
I have really enjoyed some of the Masterpiece Mystery shows. I'm not sure if they're still available online, but maybe you could find them from Netflix or YouTube. My favorites are Poirot, Miss Marple, and Inspector Lewis.
I also really love the series All Creatures Great and Small. It was made in the 70s or 80s, and I was able to find it at the pubic library. The audio books are great too.
Also, I watched the Manor House reality show on YouTube. There are a bunch of house reality shows where people live as if they are in a different time period. Manor House was fascinating.
I loved Jane Austen's sense and sensibility and also most of the Charles Dickens adaptations from 2008 or 2009, although Little Dorrit was my favorite. Jane Eyre, the 2008 Masterpiece classic is by far the best one and even though I hated "withering heights, the book" the movie was compelling. Have fun!
Oh my gravy girl. Period films are my deep deep rooted love, as you well know.
Lark Rise to Candelford- you can watch them all on youtube, delicious
Nicholas Nickleby
Cold Comfort Farm
Daniel Deronda
Middlemarch- I LOVE Rufus Sewell.
The Age of Innocence
The Way We Live Now
Ethan Frome- because I love Liam Neeson too.
The Woodlanders
The Buccaneers
Victoria and Albert
The Ideal Husband
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Loved the new Sherlock, and ditto the Daniel Deronda and Lark Rise suggestions. (Note: I have not seen those last two things because I know they are long and addicting, and I just can't get sucked into something long and addicting at the moment.)
Other winners: Our Mutual Friend (that's Pushing Daisies' Anna Friel as the heroine–and, while we're at it, just check out Pushing Daisies too if you haven't seen it)
The ShakespeaRetold series is fun, especially the two comedies and the Macbeth starring James McAvoy.
Cranford, duh.
Oh, I love BBC and A&E movies. Sometimes I just go to the library check out a whole bunch and watch for days. I've never watched Downtown Abbey, though. Daniel Deronda is kind of interesting and so is The House of Mirth, though the ending ticked me off!
Those are all so great! Now I'm just jealous that your husband Bart actually enjoys watching them with you.