TV Tuesday: Upstairs Downstairs - Season 1; Episode 1 (2010)

 

Upstairs Downstairs - 2010

Coming up next on this edition of TV Tuesday is the first episode of 2010's BBC reboot of a classic television series "Upstairs Downstairs".  Here we find Sir Hallam Holland and his wife Lady Agnes as they and their staff navigate the tumultuous period before the Second World War.

The episode's cast includes Ed Stoppard, Keeley Hawes, Eileen Atkins, Jean Marsh, Claire Foy, Anne Reid, Adrian Scarborough, Art Malik, Neil Jackson, Nico Mirallegro, Ellie Kendrick, Blake Ritson, Anthony Calf, Emma Clifford, and Edward Baker-Duly.

Veteran housekeeper Miss Rose Buck has been approached by Lady Agnes Holland to get No. 165 Eaton Place in London into some sort of shape before she and her husband move in.  Miss Buck is tasked with finding a proper staff and getting things rolling with regards to renovations.

Lady Agnes is definitely unprepared when her mother-in-law Maud arrives and basically takes over the household, making all of the decisions.  She comes with her own secretary and a monkey named Solomon.  "Every morning, as soon as he sees me open my eyes, he applauds me.  I can't tell you how that boosts one's confidence," Maud says of the monkey.

Sir Hallam and Lady Agnes are definitely caught by surprise by old Lady Holland's arrival.  Though, they decide to keep the peace and give her a home with them.

And it won't be all bad.  Maud comes with a gift, a tiara belonging to the Holland family.  Lady Agnes has always aspired to one and proudly tries it on for size.

In quick order, Miss Buck secures a staff and gets the house in order.  There is a footman, a maid, and a cook.  There's also a chauffeur named Spargo.

Downstairs an egg has been discovered.  It is put into a warm, dry place in order to see if it will hatch.

The upstairs and downstairs worlds occasionally collide.  Those upstairs must venture downstairs in order to listen to the king's address on the radio.

The arrival of Agnes's sister, Lady Persie, throws the whole house into chaos.  This spoiled young lady is a bit pretentious, demanding, and prickly.

But for the sake of the household, everyone has to learn to get along together, including Solomon, who sits at the table as a member of the family.

Miss Buck is able to engage the services of a butler, Mr. Pritchard.  He's put to the test when he's got to organize the staff for a cocktail party for the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and, hopefully, King Edward VIII.

The party was organized by Maud.  It was she who invited the King's companion, Mrs. Wallis Simpson, in the hopes that the lady would bring the King to the party.

No one is more surprised than Maud when Mrs. Simpson's companion walks through the door.  It isn't the King.  It's Joachim von Ribbentrop, a key figure in Nazi Germany.  Everyone is shocked and scandalized.

Everyone, that is, except Lady Persie.  She takes to Ribbentrop very quickly.  They spend most of the party together enjoying one another's company.  Eyebrows are raised everywhere.

Lady Agnes is furious with Maud for putting her in the position of having to receive Mrs. Simpson and Ribbentrop.

Later, Maud confides to Miss Buck.  "We have experience, you and I.  We are what that house requires," she tells the housekeeper.

Elsewhere, the egg has hatched downstairs, and the fledgling is ready to leave the nest.

Cast rundown:

   Ed Stoppard................................Sir Hallam Holland

   Keeley Hawes..............................Lady Agnes Holland

   Eileen Atkins...............................Maud, Lady Holland

   Jean Marsh.................................Miss Rose Buck

   Claire Foy....................................Lady Persephone Towyn

   Anne Reid...................................Mrs. Clarice Thackeray

   Adrian Scarborough......................Mr. Warwick Pritchard

   Art Malik.....................................Mr. Amanjit Singh

   Nico Mirallegro.............................Johnny Proude

   Ellie Kendrick...............................Ivy Morris

   Blake Ritson.................................The Duke of Kent

   Anthony Calf................................Anthony Eden

   Emma Clifford..............................Wallis Simpson

   Edward Baker-Duly......................Joachim von Ribbentrop

And that's it for Upstairs Downstairs.  Eileen Atkins, one of the creators of the original show and one of this series' stars, appeared in only the first season.  She disliked the direction the scripts were taking and so decided not to participate in season two.  Her character was killed off.

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