Sunday Viewing: The New Series of “Upstairs, Downstairs”

When I heard that Upstairs, Downstairs was going to be resurrected after nearly forty years, I worried that the new version of the show would undo the greatness of the original. My concerns were assuaged when I discovered that while new characters and circumstances would be introduced, this was more of a continuation of the program than a re-make.

When last we saw 165 Eaton Place, the Bellamy’s were forced to sell the house and move away. In a touching final scene, head house parlor-maid, Rose Buck, emotionally and silently bids farewell to the townhouse which had been her home most of her life.

The new series picks up in 1936 as England was in a period of change with the rise of Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists. King George V’s impending death would cause further change in the Empire as his son, Edward, was set to take the throne amidst much controversy.

As much as things have changed, some things remained the same. Rose Buck (played by the lovely Jean Marsh) is running a domestic placement service and finds herself in charge of assembling the staff for a familiar location—165 Eaton Place. Rose’s first entrance into the house after many years is quite beautiful and the producers of the show treat us to fantastic visuals.

The house is soon to be the home of Sir Hallam Holland, his wife, Lady Agnes and his mother (played by series co-creator Eileen Atkins). While somewhat dilapidated and in disrepair, the familiar views of the sets of the original series are recognizable and very much appreciated. The house is soon restored. This was a very clever way to introduce differences between the original sets and the new ones.

Without giving too much away, Rose finds herself once again a key member of the household as the drama continues both below-stairs and above.

The new series is stunning and beautifully acted with a cast which includes Keeley Hawes and Ed Stoppard. I was thrilled when my parents recently treated me to an advanced preview of the series which has yet to be released in the U.S. It debuted on Christmas Eve in the U.K. American audiences will be able to see the program on PBS on April 10, 17 and 24. Check your local listings. At the end of April, the first three episodes of the new series will be available in the U.S.

Any lover of “UpDown” will be mesmerized by the program. I can’t recommend it highly enough.