beresfordjd I loved this series the first time around and last watched it a few years ago when I bought it on VHS. I have since replaced the VHS tapes with DVD but have not yet gotten around to watching once more. This morning I caught most of the episode when the King came to dinner and it has me hooked all over again. When one knows a series, it's stories and it's characters so well there are lots of other things which catch one's attention. The superlative script and acting are brilliant - no-one can deliver a line like Gordon Jackson could. Everyone involved was perfectly cast as far as I could see, there was note an actor who did not completely inhabit their part. it is a lesson on how to make television - even though it was almost entirely studio-bound the viewer still got a feeling for the outside world and the events taking place there. The remake of this series had much higher production values but the casting was not always right and there were PC values applied which jarred with the viewer and a need to inject 21st century values to an Edwardian drama so it was not successful. If only the quality writing and acting could be applied to today's TV drama series then there would be success achieved that the original UD attained. TV studio bean counters take note. There is no substitute for quality.

johnstonjames I grew up watching 'Upstairs, Downstairs'. Even as a kid I always thought the show was entertaining and involving. I always really liked the character of 'Rose' the maid played by the extremely wonderful Jean Marsh. Some children growing up during the 70's watched 'Brady Bunch' or 'Starsky and Hutch', I saw those shows too, but the one that my brother and I really respected when we were kids was 'Upstairs, Downstairs'.Our father was educated in England so we have a lot of the English in us which is why I think two kids got so interested in it. My brother was always well read and liked the erudition. I think I always liked it because it always sort of made me think of 'Mary Poppins' which was my favorite film back then.My brother and I both had the chance to revisit 165 Eaton Place the other night for the first time in 30 years and were delighted to find that it was just as much fun as we remembered it. We even discovered a new character for us in 'Sarah' since we were too young when the show first started and never saw the first season.This was always one of my favorite shows growing up and is still one of my favorite shows today. Some might find it too English or dull, but I think it's a involving show with involving characters you grow to love. As far as I'm concerned 165 Eaton Place rocks the house!

lewis-51 My wife and I are just starting the fifth and last season. Last fall we started going through all the episodes on DVD in order. We do around 3 per week. I never saw the series in the 1970s, though I heard of it. Some time in the mid 80s the local PBS station in New York showed most of them in order, a couple per week. I was absolutely enthralled. It's been about 20 years so we decided to have another look.They absolutely stand up well. Better than well. I will emphatically repeat the judgment I made twenty years ago: this series is the finest thing that has ever been on television.Yes, I know, you can't compare "apples and oranges" like that. I suppose the single ONE best thing that's ever been on television (in the sense of a one day or briefer event) in my experience was the moon landing in July 1969. Still, in spite of that, all in all, if I had to pick, Upstairs-Downstairs is the best PROGRAM that has ever been on television. Far and away. If you are new to it, I envy you. I am already mourning the last episode, which I will see again in a few weeks at most. My only consolation is that in twenty years, I can watch it all again.

sumersolstyce I would just like to say that Upstairs Downstairs has got to be one of my most favorite British Soaps of all time. It's such a shame that it had to end. The era is fascinating to me, and I really enjoyed the way the servants interacted with each other and the occupants of the household.The story lines were believable, as were the characters. And when the Titanic was mentioned as the cause of death to the first Mrs. Bellamy, it brought a sense of reality to the show.The whole premise of the show was brilliant, because I'm sure that was the ways it really was in those days. What with the class distinctions and all.Over all I truly enjoyed the entire production.