The Film
The times they are a changing, was as much true in the 1920s as the 1960s, and these changes in the social order, fashion and daily life is very much the focus of season five of the British drama Downton Abbey. The "war" - that would be the "Great War" to the characters and "World War I" to the viewer - is becoming a sad but increasingly distant memory, while the period of mourning for dearly departed Matthew and Sybil has passed as well.
Life goes on at the stately Downton Abbey as Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) considers her options with suitors and life, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) continues to despair while seeking happiness, Tom Branson (Allen Leech) remains torn between two worlds and head butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) hates every bit of change. Suspense remains as the police, along with Scotland Yard, investigate the mysterious death from last season; characters from both upstairs and downstairs begin to expand away from accepted norms and what they can do in life; and the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) continues to fire off classic - if not classy - one liners throughout.
The Picture
Downton Abbey continues to score big for looking the part of a stately English country estate that has changed very little over the ages. This series has the visuals that may make one feel classier just for watching, and it is almost like a trip back in time via the 1080i presentation. As with most modern TV productions the HD picture is good, but still a step down from a full-blown theatrical production.
The colors are for the most part vibrant, but some of the details are softer and not as crisp as one might expect. In most cases this is hardly worthy of mention, so as the Dowager Countess might say, "let's leave it at that."
The Sound
It could almost be said that costume dramas are like children in the era of Downton Abbey and should be seen but not heard; and at the very least beyond dialog there isn't much of an earful in this type of story. The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack won't exactly rock the room or blow out the doors, but it is more than adequate for a dialog-heavy presentation. The dialog is front and center and easy to follow - even with a variety of non-American accents, while the background noises of the big house are ever present. All this is accompanied by a reliable if not entirely memorable music score.
The Extras
The changing times, as well as the old traditions are presented in this set's bonus features. This includes the featurettes "Behind the Scenes - Day 100," "Roaring Twenties" and "A Day with Lady Rose." These are enough to help fill the void when the season is wrapped up and already have viewers looking forward to the next outing at the Abbey (which, rumour has it, may be the last).
Final Thoughts
Through each of its seasons Downton Abbey has offered a peak into how the other half lives, and season five is filled with drama, yet, as noted, has moved past the time of mourning and sadness. While there are still life's ups and downs with those upstairs and downstairs this season shows that no matter what happens, life goes on for rich men and poor alike.
Product Details
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