Downton Abbey: Season 6 (Masterpiece)

FULL REVIEW --- HOW DID THEY HANDLE CHALLENGE OF WRAPPING AN ICONIC SERIES? --- PLUS, A OVERVIEW OF THE EXTRAS --- (SDH SUBTITLES)***HOW DOES DISC VERSION DIFFER FROM PBS BROADCAST? -- EXACT SCRIPT COMPARISON FROM SIDE BY SIDE VIEWING LISTED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION AFTER REVIEW***NO SPOILERS***The last time we hear that sweeping intro music on new episodes. The last walk up the grass to Downton with that beautiful blonde Labrador dog in the opening credits. It's so happy to see a new season and so sad to see it end. It's a notoriously difficult challenge to end an iconic series in a way that pleases the most ardent fans. So many loose ends to be tied. So many ways to either triumph, or go astray, while tying loose ends in the few episodes remaining. I am sure many of us have experienced an awkward final season to a favorite show before. So I have to say I am impressed with how they navigated those difficult waters and gave us something wonderful here. I think this season shouldn't be judged by other seasons alone, but also favorably by that same challenge of concluding something we all love so dearly, yet by definition, hate to see end. It is fitting in this case they used a clever device to say goodbye, not just to the series, but to the entire era. More on that device later. I will also give some honest thoughts below on how I thought they handled this tremendous challenge of concluding an icon.SEASON 6 SYNOPSIS (no spoilers): This final season uses an interesting device to morph that period in history with what we know will eventually happen to these great houses and the people that inhabited them, both upstairs and downstairs. I am referring to these great houses opening to the public to generate revenue as a life line. As a small part of the total story, there is a charity open-house held at Downton Abbey on behalf of the local hospital. Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle hint at becoming one as we see people flow through and peek into the inhabitants' lives and history. The public (though of their time period of course) actually go through and interact with the family. It is some of the funnier and more poignant moments of season 6. The season as a whole is a farewell, not just to the show, but to that way of life. We see the new world of things like auto racing and career options coming into bloom. Conversely, less prepared estates near Downton are being sold off, piece by piece. We see the affects of these estate failures on both the aristocrats that held them and the servants or tenants that worked there. At Downton also, the staff delves further into their new career options while others, who are not adapting well to changing times, begin to worry about a world that has no place for them. Upstairs, both Lady Edith and Lady Mary take control of their lives and assert their place managing their own professional endeavors. They both entertain new loves and marriage possibilities. But Lady Edith still has to come to terms with the secret of her child Marigold. One of Lady Mary's new suitors is a gentleman race car driver (darkly ironic given the past). We are introduced to an interesting historical character Neville Chamberlain who is Minister of Health at the time. Violet throws a rather ironic line to him after a dinner party argument. But, I will leave that for the viewer to pick out and consider the foreshadowing of Chamberlain's future. Perhaps an ironic nod to future events. There is also lots of relationship anecdote provided by Carson and Hughes that is quite funny.OTHER THOUGHTS: I thought it was very fitting the way they used this season as a farewell or transition from that world, and not just a farewell to a series. It meshed well. The open house used as a device was brilliant! There are moments where the season has to cover open plot lines and check the boxes we all want resolved (perhaps more in the middle episodes). It's a sentimental season to be sure. Those who really desire to see where each subplot was going will be gratified, if we are patient for the ties. Those averse to a bit of ceremony might be cognizant of it at rare times. The show does have to take time here and there to check the boxes as necessary to wrap things up. However, just when you think they might follow too many strings, a little curve or conflict is thrown in to keep the season fresh. I admit, there are directions for one or two characters that had me concerned for a bit. For those confused over the mention of "The Holiday Special" from the UK, this is included on this release as the final episode as with previous seasons. The US does not delay the final episode to air over the holidays as they do in the UK, partly because the holidays are already over by the time the show begins airing here in the US.SOMETHING TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING: I confess I already bought the blu ray. But for those about to make a purchase consider this: You can bet they will make a complete box set at some point that should be pretty enticing. We just don't know how long they will make us wait. Let's hope it's soon. Let's hope it's spectacular. Let's hope it's not too expensive! If they do a Collector's Complete Downton Abbey ***with new extras!.*** I confess I would pony up again in a heartbeat.SPECIAL FEATURES: most are a few minutes to 15 minutes long. -----CARS OF DOWNTON ABBEY - This is mainly about the race cars shown at the track. I thought it was pretty interesting and it also serves as a sort of "making of" for that scene. The cars are so rare and expensive that their true owners had to drive them. Nice chance to mix with the cast! -----FAREWELL TO HIGHCLERE - Actors' and producers' impressions of filming at the site. A little about Highclere itself. This is not a repeat of "Secrets of Highclere Castle" and has a slightly different angle. Far less in-depth though. Very brief. -----CHANGING TIMES - An explanation of how that era was ending. A look back on the scene of the aristocrat selling his property. What these changes meant to everyone. The future of great houses surviving as tourist attractions. -----VISIT BRITAIN - This is just a little over a minute long commercial montage of interesting things to see in Britain with no dialog other than a graphic inviting us to come visit.NOT INCLUDED ON THIS U.S. RELEASE - -----MORE MANNERS OF DOWNTON ABBEY - As with the first Manners Of Downton Abbey, this extra was not carted over from the UK release just like the one for season 5. It is also one hour like the first "Manners" and is divided similarly. It was a great program, but not quite as detailed or gripping as the first one. I don't mention that as criticism, just mentioning as a comparison that it isn't AS compelling as the first installment.PLEASE SEE COMMENTS SECTION FOR COMPARISON OF DISCS TO WHAT WAS AIRED ON PBS (too long to include here)4th comment from the top

This was a very satisfying final season to the series, though I was thrilled to see they also made two movies and may create a season 7. If they do, I will be watching! Excellent writing, acting, costumes, music, you name it. Lovely and riveting series.

Love it

I haven't been on such suspenseful tenterhooks about what's going to happen next since the end of Season 2. (Do you still have your "Free Bates" t-shirt?) The writing in Season 6, with the 2015 Christmas Special, is extraordinary. It doesn't hurt that, knowing this is the last season, all the loose ends seem to be tidied up efficiently and satisfactorily.Humor reigns as well as drama. I did get a kick out of Mrs. Patmore's predicament, when her new rooming house is labeled as a "house of ill repute".As usual, Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess has the best and most tart one-liners. But she shines in Episode Eight when she shows her heart:Lady Violet: "I believe in rules and tradition and playing our part. But there is something else."Mary: "And what is that, pray?"Lady Violet: "I believe in love. I mean, brilliant careers, rich lives, are seldom lived without just an element of love."Mary: "Oh, Granny, you do surprise me."Lady Violet: "Oh, I am glad. So climbing all those stairs wasn't wasted."Season 6 has eight episodes. The BluRay and DVD sets also include the wrapping-it-all-up-nicely 2015 Christmas Special. That is almost 9 hours of extraordinary viewing. The BluRay/Dvds include 4 bonus features, though the last doesn't much count. English SDH subtitles are available on the TV show and the first 3 bonus extras.Bonus Features:....1. "Farewell to Highclere" (7 minutes) Commentators include Samantha Bond (plays Lady Rosmund Painswick), Phyllis Logan (plays Mrs. Hughes), Harry Hadden-Paton (plays Bertie Pelham), Jim Carter (plays Mr. Carson), Alastair Bruce (historical advisor), Donal Woods (production designer), Julian Fellowes (writer/creator), Matthew Goode (plays Henry Talbot), Chris Croucher (producer), Hugh Bonneville (plays Robert, Earl of Grantham) and Penelope Wilton (plays Isobel Crawley).Highclere Castle is one of the stars of Downton Abbey, and the show has made it world-famous. Bonneville says, "I was told by one of the staff that during our first year of filming they had ... 60 coachloads of visitors.... By the time we came back to film series two, they had 600. And now you can't get a ticket. I tried to get a ticket... I can't get a ticket for a friend!"....2. "The Cars of Downton" (11 minutes) Commentators include Julian Fellowes, Allen Leech (plays Tom Branson), Donal Woods, Chris Croucher, Liz Trubridge (executive producer), Sebastian Dunn (plays Charlie Rogers), Gareth Neame (executive producer), Mark Ellis (location manager), Caroline Barton (art department), Matthew Goode, Julia Baldanza (classic car collector) and James Medcalf (Bentley Driver's Club President).Croucher says, "Final season, we're going out with a bang." And that is the automobile race, a sport in its infancy in 1925. He continues: "We found very early on... we didn't want to go with stunt drivers. Because if you put a stunt driver in one of these cars [worth millions of pounds], he's gonna break it because he doesn't know how to drive it. So most of them are owner/drivers."Trivai: Bugatti's are well-represented in the classic cars used. Ettore Bugatti, a racing car expert by 1925, would be proud. To a Bugatti owner who complained that his car was difficult to start on cold mornings, he is said to have retorted, "Sir! If you can afford a Type 35, you can surely afford a heated garage!" (The Type 35 was sold in the 20's.)....3. "Changing Times at Downton" (15 minutes) Commentators include Hugh Bonneville, Julian Fellowes, Alastair Bruce, Chris Croucher, Jim Carter, Kevin Doyle (plays Molesley), Lesley Nicol (plays Mrs. Patmore), Robert James-Collier (plays Thomas), Michael Fox (plays Andy), Sophie McShera (plays Daisy), Michelle Dockery (plays Lady Mary), Elizabeth McGovern (plays Lady Cora), Laura Carmichael (plays Lady Edith) and Nic Collins (hair & makeup designer).The show has, from the beginning, done a good job of illustrating the sea changes that occurred in Britain after WWI. Bruce explains that by 1925, "People are discovering tat they can actually make a home for themselves and make money for themselves and make careers tat are theirs without requiring them to live in the aristocratic world and serving a family."....4. Visit Britain (1 minute) This is a tourism promo.Happy Reader

Comme toujours impeccable... Merci

Tolle Serie

Muy buena serie, lástima que ya era la última temporada. De no haber visto las temporadas anteriores en Netflix la hubiera comprado toda

I loved it. I wasn’t able to see the special edition that exists between Series 5 and Series 6. Can I purchase this through Amazon?

Un inizio in sordina nelle prime puntate di questa serie, sembravano blande senza mordente, poi via via il crescendo dell'attenzione per le vicende che si susseguivano e che provocavano in noi spettatori un livello di attenzione e apprensione sempre maggiore, fino all'apoteosi finale degli ultimi episodi dove storie e interpreti hanno dato il meglio di loro stessi, una su tutti Maggie Smith (scenicamente scomparsa per un brevissimo periodo ma che faceva sentire la sua mancanza), anche gli altri attori si sono superati dimostrandosi perfettamente integrati nei personaggi interpretati, infatti negli ultimi episodi, forse perché consapevoli della fine della serie, hanno recitato con una naturalezza incredibile e questo li ha resi "autentici", il finale è "col botto" FANTASTICO ed allo stesso tempo amaro in quanto ci si rende conto che la serie è finita e a noi non resterà altro che rivedere questo "capolavoro" di recitazione che ci ha permesso di viaggiare nel tempo, rendendoci partecipi di uno stile, ambienti e uno spaccato di vita che sono stati "il ponte del cambiamento" tra le vecchie concezioni di vita sociale, economico, culturale e lo sviluppo di metodologie economico commerciali che hanno stravolto la società, il pensiero, la famiglia, migliorando sicuramente le nostre condizioni di vita, rendendo accessibile a molti cure mediche, tutela sociale etc. etc., ma che sta avendo come rovescio della medaglia una FORTE crisi di valori e di punti di riferimento, come ad esempio la FAMIGLIA, grazie a questa fantastica serie possiamo fare una comparazione, pertanto giudico Downton Abbey una pietra miliare della cinematografia.