Trellismay We just watched the last episode and we were thoroughly charmed by the series. Each episode stands alone, but it's helpful to have watched Upstairs, Downstairs to have a bit of context. Settings, costumes, staging are all authentic and the scripts are witty and and plots are clever, if sometimes far-fetched. That said, each story is diverting and the relationships between Sarah and Thomas and their casts are well drawn and believable. You really care about the people and their predicaments.After leaving the Bellamy's, Sarah and Thomas have become equals, they push and pull and the plot lines seem to give each character equal worth. The idea that a woman could choose to simply travel and work and live with a man she's not married to is a surprise for that era. And the idea that a woman of that era not only challenges but succeeds in knocking back polite snobbish society is fun to watch.These period pieces are enjoyable and interesting, and Pauline and John are exceptional actors who've worked in theatre, TV, movies. They are attractive and adept in building their characters.If you're tired of screeching car chases, exploding body parts, pathologically abusive relationships that get more graphic with each episode... then you'll enjoy Thomas and Sarah.Give it a try!

ShadeGrenade 'Thomas & Sarah' was the only spin-off from L.W.T.'s hugely popular period drama series 'Upstairs Downstairs', reuniting Pauline Collins as the perky 'Sarah' with ( her real-life husband ) John Alderton as ex-valet cum chauffeur/mechanic 'Thomas Watkins'.Contrary to what was established in 'Updown', Thomas and Sarah never married. As the series begins, they have been apart for some time. He ditched her while she was pregnant. She is now looking after a rich woman's child, while he has his own garage business, which does not appear to be doing too well. They meet up by chance when he almost runs into her as she is out pushing a pram. Naturally, she has a lot she wants to say to him.Over the coming weeks, the series evolved almost into a period version of 'Budgie', with Thomas seeking to make a fortune, and usually failing flat on his face. The title sequence neatly summarised the premise ( as they should do ) by featuring Thomas throwing a coin into the air to see what side it would fall on - it went down a drain! Harry Rabinowitz provided the excellent theme tune. In 'The Silver Ghost', Tom is entrusted with the job of selling Lord Bellamy's Rolls, and gets caught up in a jewel smuggling plot. 'The Vanishing Plot' has him and Sarah buying a Chinese magician's stage act, only to find it is worthless. 'Alma Mater', on the other hand, sees the pair coming to the aid of children being exploited by a greedy headmaster. 'Return To Gethyn' features them in Wales, where Tom is accused of fathering an illegitimate child. Probably the best of the bunch was 'The New Rich' in which they move into a house that looks uncannily like 165 Eaton Place, and come into conflict with a snobbish butler ( played superbly by the late Nigel Hawthorne ).Apart from 'T & S', no other characters from 'Updown' appeared. There were behind the scenes problems - Alderton kept sending back scripts for rewrites, and clashed with producer Christopher Hodson. The show was good overall, but never came close to rivalling its predecessor in terms of popularity. Only one season was made. A second got abandoned thanks to the infamous 1979 I.T.V. strike. The final episode - 'Love Into Three Won't Go' - ended on a cliffhanger, with Tom seemingly perishing when stables caught fire. Sarah is seen weeping over an unidentified grave.Given the staggering success of 'Updown' in America, it is surprising to hear that 'T & S' was not shown out there for many years.

Historess Although the time frame covered a number of years and started in 1910, World War I seems to have been skipped altogether and Thomas would have been prime cannon fodder. Although the stories seemed to cover the time during the money making on Wall Street, they skipped the war. The plots seemed to shift Thomas from being just a rogue looking for an opening to get ahead and to America to a man with a really ugly soul, at least as far as Sarah was concerned. Sarah's character seemed always to think things would sort themselves out for the better even on the gloomiest day. The title for the finale was very apt. After doing some research, I think I know whose funeral it was or at least whose funeral I hope it was.In some episodes Ms Collins seemed uncomfortable, as though she'd rather have been doing something else.Perhaps Thomas'attitude was wearing thin. I'm a fan of both Ms Collins and Mr. Alderton and saw them on the stage in London in 1980 when we lived in England.

Pipeman_Toronto To answer the first comment - They aren't making series like this anymore because they've forgotten how. They did recently try with "Berkeley Square" about a group of governesses/nannies in 1902 London. Even though that series manages to work on its own terms, it doesn't come close to having the kind of heart that "Thomas and Sarah", and its predecessor "Upstairs Downstairs" did.I've noticed a trend with recent historical programming from Britain. They're now more concerned with making the characters (of whatever era is being depicted) have a more modern EDGE to them. The recent series about Henry VIII is a prime example. Since when did Henry VIII have a cool East-end London accent anyway? They no longer care about accurate costuming and period detail either. Costumes and settings reflect this theme of appearing more modern/relatable to today's viewers - and it all comes off looking like rubbish.I think one of the most tragic aspects of the kind of historical drivel being churned out by English TV these days is that they've forgotten a key component that made both "Thomas & Sarah" and UD work so well - HUMOUR! Humour is sadly missing from these badly scripted dramas that take themselves so damned seriously. Someone at the BBC needs to re-visit the vaults and see what real historical drama is!!