Can we stop comparing Upstairs Downstairs to Downton now?
Jeez oh, you can barely go five posts in the UD tag without Downton being mentioned somewhere. I’m sick of seeing hate for Upstairs Downstairs on the likes of Twitter and comparing it to Downton all over the place. The media is just the same - I don’t think I’ve seen any of the stars promote the show without a mention of Downton by the interviewer.
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS.
Yes, they have similarities but it’s like comparing any period drama!
Now, don’t get me wrong, when Upstairs Downstair first came on in 2010 it was December and it had only been a month since I was in full on Downton mode. I watched UD and compared it to Downton and all together didn’t enjoy it as much. Then I gave it a rewatch during the summer last year and I enjoyed it so much more. I engaged with the characters better. I’m not saying I liked every character (can’t tell you how glad I am that that maid has gone the series) but I liked them more in general than my first viewing.
It’s also worth mentioning that we only got to see three episodes of Upstairs Downstairs! I don’t know about everyone else but it usually takes me at least three episodes to properly get into a show. I wasn’t what you could call a ‘fan’ of Downton until episode 4, Doctor Who took me until The Empty Child to get into, the same goes for Community, TVD, Merlin and many more of the shows I now obsess over!
Series 2 of Upstairs Downstairs is going to be better for the show, it gives people a better chance to connect with the characters and involve themselves in the plot. I’ve been really looking forward to it - I just wish they’d put it on an hour and a half earlier since it clashes with Being Human!
My point is, they’re both quality shows with quality casts and we should really be celebrating the fact we’ve got all this quality television to watch - nevermind that it’s period! I don’t know about you but I can’t get enough period dramas. We shouldn’t be comparing the two, saying one is better than the other. They are both equally as good. Yes we’re probably going to prefer one over the other - I know I do - but it doesn’t mean that the ‘non-favourite’ is bad and should be put down.
You know what, I’m tired of this post now and fandom dramas exhausts me. 9Come at me bro and all that jazz, I’m not fussed either way. I’m quite happy play in both fandoms spreading love and rainbows. I would just rather see some quality posts involving analysis/graphics/whatever on the UD tag rather than ‘SUCKS COMPARED TO DOWNTON THOUGH’.
