Downton Abbey has jumped the shark in terms of overplotting and caricaturization.
I adored Season 1. Season 2 has turned into a Saturday Night Live satire of itself I was shocked to discover after viewing Episode 6 yesterday.
When I heard some of my coworkers comparing it to a Brit historical soap opera as Season 2 unfolded I found myself getting defensive. For a long time I have cherished the quality and sensibility of British dramas, especially those that make it to pbs.
British TV or movie productions seem to respect the emotional intelligence of their audience FAR MORE than action-oriented, titillating American productions. The British seem to trust that good characterization drives the plot. That the plot shouldn’t drive characterization. The viewing soul should be stirred, rather than the viewing sensibility titillated.
In Season 1 it was like sipping a fine wine watching Downton. Now we are swigging American Kool-Aid.
The Americans embraced Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey, in my humble and cynical opinion, has embraced American shallowness!
Upon finishing Episode 6, I easily and emphatically declare it is a REALLY POOR soap opera. I won’t be watching the finale of Episode 7 and I’d advise Shirley MacLaine to try to escape her contract for the next season.
Let me take on another timely, beloved sacred cow of a production. “The Descendants.”
I don’t think “The Descendants” is such a hot movie. Sure, entertaining, and Clooney is always fun to watch. The fact that it is heralded as such a strong Academy Award contender says a lot about the weak critical thinking of America, including and especially American movie critics. Perhaps also reveals the lack of quality of at least some of its contenders.
Let me just ask, what if the dying wife of “The Descendants” movie had had an affair with a non-jerk?
Seriously.
That would have set up the makings of a mature and intriguing movie. A hit American movie? No way. It would have changed it over to a foreign movie sensibility. Too disturbingly unpredictable. But maybe a fine wine of a movie, instead of a kool-aidy, emotionally lazy-assed one. A movie without an author’s heavy thumb on the hero’s side of the scale.
What if Clooney’s character really had used the two or so hours of screen time to do some SERIOUS introspection and engagement with others as a troubled husband and father. As a human being. What if he had to SERIOUSLY contend with his guilt and anger and hurt. Seriously, I say. Not distract himself and the surviving daughters and the audience to settle a social gamesmanship macho score -- and easily win -- with the cuckholder.
Big whoop. Something happened. American viewers are satisfied. Well, expected to be satisfied. The other guy was a real “dick” with his how many seconds on the screen? Exhale your shallow sigh, America. That was about all the emotional work you could handle or were expected to handle, apparently.
The entertainment masters of the American universe sure don’t produce mature productions that seriously morally, emotionally and even intellectually challenge their viewers. Do you blame the viewers or the producers? I blame both, but that is blogging, blaming me. Wait until the bull shit Academy Award congratulations start on the emotional depth of this movie. I think I’ll sit out that show, too.
Clooney starts out with a compelling dilemma. He was betrayed by his wife. No, he wasn’t perfect but how quickly that is skated over as he and his daughter, primarily, go on the Americanized quest to stick it to the cuckholder.
Hmmmmm. Inner struggle exploration and American viewing public? Doesn’t happen. Get out the pablum. After all, the one percent movie makers want masses of lazy lemming Americans for their profit. Sure classic movies have been phenomenally successful in the past. But they are financially risky. Go for the celebrity and keep it lazy and easy. Good enough. Titillate, don’t seriously move. Or the American pragmatic bullshit slogan of our decade, “let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good.”
Oh dear, now I’ve got that “lesser of two evils” shit in my head, too! Okay, I’ll go there. Obama as president has profoundly betrayed Americans for over 3 excruciating years but defiant support of him prevails. Americans want Obama, or Clooney in this movie, or whomever with a white hat to be seen from a myopic viewing stance.
Final “The Descendants” scene, Clooney sitting down with his daughters giving them ice cream and watching the tube. I’lll give it to you. You don’t get more of an American ending than that. BUT THAT IS AS DEEP AS IT GETS? That is interpreted as cathartic bonding? Yeah, in America. That should give us pause, not self-congratulation. The fact that that pulled at America’s heartstrings gives me great concern for the real state of America’s heart.
Want to see a movie that really takes the brave approach? “The Other Man.” Eerily similar to “The Descendants'” starting plot but lightyears more compelling in follow-thru. Liam Niessen discovers that his late wife who died of cancer, Laurie Linney, cheated on him with Antonio Banderas. He is near-deranged. Near-homicidal. With anguished pride as well as the compulsion and courage to explore what happened to his marriage he sets out to know his rival and thus his wife and HIMSELF. As the story UNPREDICTABLY unfolds we even see flashbacks of Linney, which would have been a way to go if “The Descendants” were willing to flesh out the character of the wife and trust the audience to emotionally handle knowing more about her. To more fully appreciate her and the confused feelings the daughters and Clooney have about her. But that would have dangerously interfered with their manipulated enthrallment of Clooney?
In “The Other Man” Banderas is not a schmucky guy, and Niessen has to face down what was missing from himself as an adequate husband for his wife. He wants to hate Banderas, and Banderas is no hero, nor is Niessen. But they exhibit courage. Humanness. They LEARN something by engaging with each other and we as an audience learn, too.
In “The Descendants,” Clooney is the status quo hero of a lazy plot. An American lazy plot.
The actors are good, granted. Clooney is really good at sustaining a look of pain in his eyes. The final scene in Syriana gave him a taste for “eyes” acting. Ahem. But c’mon, guys!
Was it Bill Maher who said that only in America could the “chewy” chocolate chip cookie have been invented so Americans don’t have to work so hard while enjoying it?
Turning to Downton Abbey, finally, and briefly.
What was it going into Season 2? Greed? Speed writing? A story that was brilliant and had too many demands put on it to keep on stretching and entertaining and explaining the way of the world, the way of history since the sinking of the Titanic and thereafter?
I don’t have the stomach to really do a full-out analysis of Downton. I am still mourning it from last night. Let me just throw a few plot scenarios out that made me reach for the vomit bucket.
Spoiler alert.
Lord Grantham after all these episodes of noble and mature restraint would suddenly grab a maid in the middle of the library or wherever and plant a passionless kiss on her? Especially when there was no heat seriously established between them previously. And his distancing from Lady Grantham given so little attention and focus during Episode 2?
Soulful and noble Bates ONCE AGAIN threatened with wrongful vilification? More prison time maybe ONCE AGAIN for something he didn’t do? Yeah, I know, character is destiny. But don’t recycle Season 1 in Season 2 SO BLATANTLY. We deserve better.
Lady Sybil and the chauffeur? Speaking of lack of heat. Let’s take a cliche romance relationship and not even try to give it credibility. Lord Grantham ultimately going with the times as well as cousin Violet Maggie Smith and accepting it? REALLY? How comfortable but unrealistic for us viewers.
Matthews tingling sensations? Geeeeeeezzzzz Louise. Too many other plot twists going on to give that sudden miracle any sustained and serious literary attention? Don’t blink during these later episodes. You won’t keep up and miss a few “miracle” shark jumps. A few?
The death scene with Lavinia? Her whispering to Matthew that it is more convenient for him if she dies. I mean, there is codependency, and then there is STOP, YOU'RE KILLING ME, CODEPENDENCY!!! And the bug-eyed Mother Crowley watching in the death room. I felt so sorry for her as witness actress. How the mighty have fallen.
The tease of maybe Patrick rising from the Titanic dead? Something to keep Lady Edith busy, I suppose.
Ex-maid Ethel bursting into the Grantham dining room with her baby to demand support from the baby’s father’s parents? How many seconds was that given?
The Lucy and the chocolate factory zooming ramp plotting to presumably bigger and madder (as in anti-sense of truth) things. Something for everyone? Reminds me of the guy who used to juggle all those plates simultaneously on the Ed Sullivan show.
Too too too too much. Too too too too much titillation in place of thoughtfully solid writing and characterization with a sense of truth and a believable arcing of the plot.
Oh, God, I could and should go on, there is so much more, but I don’t want to relive it. I guess I, too, am going to be a lazy American and just declare the damn show JUMPED THE SHARK. The height of the jump, MAGNIFICENT.
American critical thinking is an oxymoron. Is that what Downton Abbey is now counting on? Titillation-appeal in place of emotional maturity?
I know, it is a Brit production and I should be going after the Brits who are writing and producing it instead of my “American-citizenry as morally-lazy” blog ax-grinding. Okay, I’ll go there. I’ll proclaim that the entire world seems to be getting emotionally shallow. The whole damn global village is going down in terms of critical thinking in our DARK, Post-Morality Age.
And what passes today for great movies? The lesser of shallow ones.
Wow, Libby…that was quite a stretch to include some shots at Obama, but you did admirably.
I also did not think The Descendents was an Acadamy Award pic. It was good…and the plot was fun to follow…but it really should not be a nominee, and definitely not a favorite.
I have not watched Downtown Abbey, although it has been recommended by several people.
If I may…I would like to recommend two of the best series (in my opinion) on television right now.
HOMELAND on SHO…is absolutely superb. Best “terrorist” “CIA” genre series I’ve ever seen. The acting is terrific…and the performance by the female lead, Claire Danes, is beyond terrific by miles.
GAME OF THRONES is fantasy at its best. Puts stuff like Harry Potter or the Pirates movies to shame. Fabulous acting, settings, costumes, dialogue, plot…and everything else.
HOMELAND first…GAME OF THRONES next.
If you can get the first season on DVD (should be out soon) or see the series in order in reruns…it will be well worth it.
I also did not think The Descendents was an Acadamy Award pic. It was good…and the plot was fun to follow…but it really should not be a nominee, and definitely not a favorite.
I have not watched Downtown Abbey, although it has been recommended by several people.
If I may…I would like to recommend two of the best series (in my opinion) on television right now.
HOMELAND on SHO…is absolutely superb. Best “terrorist” “CIA” genre series I’ve ever seen. The acting is terrific…and the performance by the female lead, Claire Danes, is beyond terrific by miles.
GAME OF THRONES is fantasy at its best. Puts stuff like Harry Potter or the Pirates movies to shame. Fabulous acting, settings, costumes, dialogue, plot…and everything else.
HOMELAND first…GAME OF THRONES next.
If you can get the first season on DVD (should be out soon) or see the series in order in reruns…it will be well worth it.
You are right about seasons one and two. I got them at the advice of Erica K. My wife and I are almost done with season one, and we love it. Some great dialog, great historical background, and of course the hilarious lines of Maggie Smith. I have not seen season two or three yet. The fact that there are Americans watching Downton Abbey is by itself progress. I understand your criticism but what else is there to watch? Since Deadwood (the greatest literary work ever enacted on screen), and may be The Tudors we fill the time The Borgias, Dexter, True Blood and yes Homeland and Game of Thrones are good. I have tried to watch some of the stuff on Network TV, but most of it is really sad. You still have a point. R
I agree totally with your sentiments about Downton Abbey. In New Zealand they are playing repeats of the first series because Kiwis seem to like it better than series 2. Downton Abbey is made by ITV, the commercial British TV network. I have always found ITV programming superficial just like American TV. The really high caliber British drama and comedy rebroadcast in the US has always been produced by the BBC.
As Cora would say, "I have to agree."
All season long I was comparing Season 2 to NYPD Blue, and in Milch fashion episode 7 ends with Bates and Anna naked between the sheets sharing pillow talk. I was snow blinded.
During season 2 I found myself paying more attention to the decor than the silly plots. As in America they threw everything against the wall and hoped that something would stick.
I love Lady Mary and am transfixed by her gravity defying eyebrows. Matthew is insufferable and I hope Lady Mary chooses to crash and burn before plighting her troth to him. She can move to New York and work for Condé Nast.
All season long I was comparing Season 2 to NYPD Blue, and in Milch fashion episode 7 ends with Bates and Anna naked between the sheets sharing pillow talk. I was snow blinded.
During season 2 I found myself paying more attention to the decor than the silly plots. As in America they threw everything against the wall and hoped that something would stick.
I love Lady Mary and am transfixed by her gravity defying eyebrows. Matthew is insufferable and I hope Lady Mary chooses to crash and burn before plighting her troth to him. She can move to New York and work for Condé Nast.
I am in total agreement about last week's e
I am in total agreement about Sunday's episode, absurd and melodramatic to say the least. I disliked the Lord Grantham mini midlife crisis intensely, and am tired of seeing Bates as victim. Also did not believe Violet would go along with Sybils betrothal. The most ghastly part was the graveyard scene between Mary and Matthew. Is it just me or did they both have a corpse / vampiric pallor? Is this the writers' way of unsubtly saying they are both as good as dead? Egad!!
Frank, thanks for the visit. Glad to get the validation re The Descendants. I had seen "The Other Man" shortly before and The Descendants just struck me as so shallow compared to it. Downton was so good for so long, and then the quality just dropped off so dramatically ... melodramatically!!! I will try to catch Homeland and Game of Thrones. Thanks for the recommendations. I have heard of Homeland, but not Game. Will explore!
Thoth, yes I raved, too, on Erica K's blog, about Downton and then wham what a disappointment as it continued on. Not enough time, energy and creativity invested clearly in Season 2. Downton Abbey Season 1 was well honed, and Downton Abbey Season 2 seemed like a first draft! Yes the viewer has invested in the actors, but with all the hype there is responsibility for keeping it real and thoughtful. Deadwood I am not familiar with. I thought I Claudius and Lonesome Dove were awesome and the chick flick of all times, Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth. Upstairs Downstairs rocked long ago and Brideshead and Prime Suspect. It is startling when something starts out so brilliantly and then the quality drops off so startingly you wonder what gives. Did success somehow spoil Downton Abbey??? I remember the guy who wrote Die Hard, it took so many years, and then a lot of money was thrown at him to do a sequel FAST and ka-BOOOOOOM. A bomb.
Stuart, thanks for explaining re BBC and ITV. Downton was so splendidly cast and took its classy time for the first season and even during season two I kept trying to trust it though it was bothersome, so many discordant notes and then episode six was almost farcical in over-the-topness. I felt like an audience member of "Springtime for Hitler!"
Harryann, you crack me up re Mary's gravity-defying eyebrows! Her eyebrows are indeed awesome, as I think back on Mary's strong performances. I liked Matthew and his character, but then he got so stridently self-pitying, admittedly with motivation, but the injury and Lavinia's death, it was too much too soon. The same looping over and over. PLEASE STOP. I also like your spaghetti against the wall metaphor! That certainly seems like what is happening. Every time it introduces something melodramatically outlandish one feels betrayed. I was thinking about Stephen King's Misery. How crazed Kathy Bates' character got when M. Caan character decided to bump off Misery in the novel. How devoted people can get to creative works, especially sustained creations. You know I was angry at the finale of Prime Suspect when Helen Mirren's character had become a lonely and short-tempered alcoholic. I thought, WTF, I thought she had been a role model for women? I used her like that. Ooopsie. What is going on with her author? I felt a bit punked! Ah well.
Erica K, thank you for writing! I thought of you as I watched, wondering how you were doing with it all! Absurd and melodramatic. That says it so concisely. I can't believe I never used the word melodramatic in my blog above. That is totally it. That graveyard scene with Matthew and Mary was torturous with Rex escorting Mary away. The dialogue, it is like the author has lost his sense of what is slice of life reality and writing out what should be subtext between the characters. No mystique, just blurting out non-real commentary, even for modern times. "We are cursed, etc., etc." I'm thinking that is better assumed by an audience than having the character declare it so vehemently. Watching him, I began to think, maybe William is lucky he got out as a character while the getting was good! Really agree about Bates, too. His story originally was so serious, do they really want to re-do it and re-do it off camera to such an enormous extent with ex-wifey's death, maybe murder? I mean the author seems to be proverbially "phoning it in!" ... titillation and first draftness, not mature and profound writing. :)
Thoth, yes I raved, too, on Erica K's blog, about Downton and then wham what a disappointment as it continued on. Not enough time, energy and creativity invested clearly in Season 2. Downton Abbey Season 1 was well honed, and Downton Abbey Season 2 seemed like a first draft! Yes the viewer has invested in the actors, but with all the hype there is responsibility for keeping it real and thoughtful. Deadwood I am not familiar with. I thought I Claudius and Lonesome Dove were awesome and the chick flick of all times, Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth. Upstairs Downstairs rocked long ago and Brideshead and Prime Suspect. It is startling when something starts out so brilliantly and then the quality drops off so startingly you wonder what gives. Did success somehow spoil Downton Abbey??? I remember the guy who wrote Die Hard, it took so many years, and then a lot of money was thrown at him to do a sequel FAST and ka-BOOOOOOM. A bomb.
Stuart, thanks for explaining re BBC and ITV. Downton was so splendidly cast and took its classy time for the first season and even during season two I kept trying to trust it though it was bothersome, so many discordant notes and then episode six was almost farcical in over-the-topness. I felt like an audience member of "Springtime for Hitler!"
Harryann, you crack me up re Mary's gravity-defying eyebrows! Her eyebrows are indeed awesome, as I think back on Mary's strong performances. I liked Matthew and his character, but then he got so stridently self-pitying, admittedly with motivation, but the injury and Lavinia's death, it was too much too soon. The same looping over and over. PLEASE STOP. I also like your spaghetti against the wall metaphor! That certainly seems like what is happening. Every time it introduces something melodramatically outlandish one feels betrayed. I was thinking about Stephen King's Misery. How crazed Kathy Bates' character got when M. Caan character decided to bump off Misery in the novel. How devoted people can get to creative works, especially sustained creations. You know I was angry at the finale of Prime Suspect when Helen Mirren's character had become a lonely and short-tempered alcoholic. I thought, WTF, I thought she had been a role model for women? I used her like that. Ooopsie. What is going on with her author? I felt a bit punked! Ah well.
Erica K, thank you for writing! I thought of you as I watched, wondering how you were doing with it all! Absurd and melodramatic. That says it so concisely. I can't believe I never used the word melodramatic in my blog above. That is totally it. That graveyard scene with Matthew and Mary was torturous with Rex escorting Mary away. The dialogue, it is like the author has lost his sense of what is slice of life reality and writing out what should be subtext between the characters. No mystique, just blurting out non-real commentary, even for modern times. "We are cursed, etc., etc." I'm thinking that is better assumed by an audience than having the character declare it so vehemently. Watching him, I began to think, maybe William is lucky he got out as a character while the getting was good! Really agree about Bates, too. His story originally was so serious, do they really want to re-do it and re-do it off camera to such an enormous extent with ex-wifey's death, maybe murder? I mean the author seems to be proverbially "phoning it in!" ... titillation and first draftness, not mature and profound writing. :)
Libby, I discussed the episode with a friend at work, another die hard fan, and she agreed. She thought the scene where Lord Grantham summons them into the room to "celebrate" the end of the war was utterly unrealistic. I hope the final episode is better.
I'll be back to read your article, promise, but based on the title alone I can say that I agree with you to some extent. I still love the show and wouldn't miss a moment of it going forward, but you're right, they've overdone it a bit this season. They should stick to fewer threads and make them more meaningful. Somebody needs to start writing outside the box.
My 92-year-old aunt loves Downton and encouraged me to give it a try, but I couldn't get past Maggie Smith who looked like a wax museum caricature of herself. I usually love her, but I was so frightened by her appearance I had to switch to Law and Order.
Ah, at last something we all agree on. I watched the whole of Season 2 of Downton and also choked on the soap in that episode. But the Christmas Special tied together most of the (very) loose plot ends, and hopefully a new team of writers will hew to the fine path set in Season 1. (Actually I only care that Maggie Smith will carry on!)
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