I can't believe that the A to Z Challenge is 2 days away! One year I will be ahead of the game. The fun thing is I am going to try to wrap the Thursday Movie Picks with that letter on that day. I believe I have accomplished that. Now, this being the end of the month means we are doing TV editions. This week it is all about period drama and I had to think long and hard about what might fit. To find out what the others have chosen, head on over to the brain child of this event, Wandering Through The Shelves. Here are my 3....
1. THE WALTONS-1971-1981
ZZzzzzzzzzz. OK this was a big hit and many people love this show including my hubby but I found it a snore. It is well written and acted but I never got into it and wanted someone to say "Shut the F Up" when everyone was saying goodnight to everyone. It takes place from 1933 to 1946 on Walton's Mountain during the Great Depression and World War 2. It is narrated by a now, much older, John-Boy, played by Richard (Moley, moley, moley) Thomas (sorry but Austin Powers came out for a second) about his family and the struggles they faced. Zzzzzzz
2. LITTLE OUTHOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE-1974-1983
Ok ...ok...Charles Ingalls and his family did not live in an outhouse but, seriously, he is a lumberman who becomes highly respected in the community who lives in the worst house ever built. The kids sleep in a hay loft with a ladder to get up to. The parents' bedroom is under that. The livingroom/dining room with a shabby table and chairs is where they all sit and Caroline Ingalls disappears to another room to make the dinners. OK joking aside, I loved the books when I was young and I loved the series. It was a lot of fun seeing Laura Ingalls give it to the brat Nellie. There was real heart in this show and humour. I have to say 2 episodes I will never ever forget is the one show when the kids are caught in a blizzard after they are let out of school and the other is when Mary's baby and a family friend are killed in a fire. When she breaks the window trying to get out with the baby in her arms...it was all too realistic and heartbreaking. A great show that I love to watch.
3. DOWNTON ABBEY-2010-2015
OMG_Love it!!! Love this show!! It is well written and so well acted. It is far from boring (when the good looking young Turk dies in Mary's bedroom and she, with her mom and her maid, bring his body back to his room-way too funny) and has so much to deal with from the Titanic disaster at the beginning of the series through WW1 and into the decadent 1920's. The fashion, the style, even the place settings are done as they are supposed to be back in that day. It is meticulous in how a home like this would have functioned. They do take certain liberties because the staff and the upper crust would not have been that friendly but who cares. When season 3 ended, my mouth was agape along with my hubby and our brains exploded because we did not think what happened...happened. Love this show....this is my hubby's favourite show, his "soap opera" as he calls it.
Which period dramas would you choose.
Our family watched Little House on occasion. I appreciated Michael Landon, both as an actor and a person, and the values he stood by.
ReplyDeleteSo do I! I was so sad when he passed away so young actually. He was a good man
DeleteI have never seen either of the first two you mention, but love Downton Abbey. I guess my favorite would be Anne of Green Gables. Loved the 1985 series and am now watching the new version on CBC. Plus PBS has a few episodes coming up. I even went to Prince Edward Island just to see the home there.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you never saw the first 2. I could never get into Anne of Green Gables and still have to make it to PEI. I want to visit there and out east in the future
DeleteThe only one of these I know is Downton Abbey, which I gave up in the first season. After having it hyped so much, then actually going to watch it myself, it didn't live up for me.
ReplyDeleteOh what a bummer. I love it but hype can be quite negative
DeleteDidn't see Downtown Abby but heard it was good. Did watch the other two in my youth.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Downton is great so hope you see it one day
DeleteI have seen and loved all three series (Yup, even the "boring" Waltons! lol) I am only through season 2 on Downton Abbey though, so SHHHHhhh! lol. Nice list!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until you see season 3. My hubby liked the Waltons
DeleteOMGosh. I never saw ANY of these shows. I know my friend Sally watched Downton Abbey religiously, but I never got into it. The other two I've never seen and were before my TV watching days.
ReplyDeleteI have, however, gotten into Victoria, also shown on PBS. It is so recent, though, it might be too soon for you to consider. I loved the costumes, the drama, and the way it tried to be faithful to Victoria's life, first as a child, then taking the throne at age 18, then her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert.
Next season will be about having more children. If you haven't seen it, you can catch the episodes on the internet here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/victoria/
Oh, yes Victoria works for sure and I have to watch it. She was quite the spunky gal and her and Albert truly loved each other.
DeleteI never really was able to get into The Waltons either though I would watch an occasional ep. It was well put together but something just kept me at arms length.
ReplyDeleteI was a more frequent viewer of Little House but not a devoted one, most memorable storyline for me was Mary's descent into blindness, however I did read Alison Arngrim's (who played Nellie) marvelously fun biography "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" and went back and revisited the series afterwards.
LOVE Downton Abbey!! It was soapy but then most continuing series are over time. Both the period detail and the acting kept it worth coming back to week after week. No question Maggie Smith was the show's centerpiece but so many other great characters to love as well, my favs were Lady Isobel, Tom Branson, Edith-loved her slow emergence as the stronger sister over Mary, and the duplicitous but ultimately sympathetic Thomas Barrow.
When I think period drama I automatically think British BBC and so that's the direction I headed in.
Poldark (2015-present)-In the 1780’s Ross Poldark returns to his ancestral home on the Cornish Coast of England after fighting in the American Revolutionary War to discover in his absence the advent of several distressing facts. His father has died leaving their lands in disarray, he himself had been presumed dead and Elizabeth, the woman he loved in despair has married his cousin. Times are hard and Ross has to find a way to rise out of penury, resolve his feelings between the now out of reach Elizabeth and Demelza the woman he has turned to while dealing with a despicable and shameless foe. Brooding and frustrating at times but consistently interesting.
Call the Midwife (2012-present)-Wanting to help others young, well to do Jenny Lee becomes a midwife in London’s East End during the late 50’s and early 60’s. To do so she must live in a convent among sisters trained in midwifery as well and slowly loses her naiveté about the way the world really works. Terrific mix of pathos, joy, triumphs and sorrows played by a cast of great British actresses with nice period detail. Based on Jennifer Worth’s memoirs and narrated by Vanessa Redgrave.
The Grand (1997-1998)-As WWI comes to a close the Bannerman’s reopen the family’s hotel The Grand in London after a refurbishing done in hopes of revitalizing business in the postwar boom. They are also hoping to provide a comfortable return for their soldier son who has come back from war with what was then termed battle fatigue. However problems quickly arise forcing the inclusion of an unwanted partner. From here the series deals with the conflicts that arise within the family and the guests, some of whom are there for a day and others long term. The excellent ensemble includes the great Susan Hampshire and as the shell shocked son Stephen Moyer who is better known as Bill Compton from his years on True Blood.
I agree with what you said about The Waltons. I have to read that bio from Allison who is hilarious. I can't believe it but I almost picked Poldark! My hubby and I watch that show and enjoy it. Why he went back to have fun with Elizabeth when he has the enchanting Demelza, is beyond me. I haven't seen the other 2 but there is another show from the BBC that takes place around WW2 but I can't remember the name. Oh, and Downton is so good and I also love the same people you do-brilliant acting.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these but I've been meaning to start Downton Abbey for a while.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you start DA soon
DeleteMad Men
ReplyDeleteThe Americans
China Beach
Never watched DA, but watched the other two; Little House more than The Waltons.
Mad men is great but need to see all the episodes. I don't know The Americans and never got into China beach for some reason.
DeleteI've only seen a few random episodes of Little House and The Waltons. Neither ever got me interested enough to watch on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteI like Little House much more than the Waltons
DeleteMy mother loves The Waltons. I only have seen it in repeats fairly recently. I was too young for it when it was originally on. Little House on the Prairie was huge in my elementary school, but I never watched it.
ReplyDeleteLoved Downton Abbey. In its timeslot on PBS after its season was over was Mr. Selfridge, which was also fun. Starring Jeremy Piven, it was based on the life of the creator of the British department store.
I enjoy Little House and was so sad when Michael Landon passed away. I never watched Mr. Selfridge but need to one day
DeleteI've seen a few episodes of Little Outhouse haha but never got too into it. I've seen most of The Waltons, as my uncle was obsessed with it and had it on when I was growing up. Both were okay, but nothing I'd seek out.
ReplyDeleteThey are based more on the simple family life but Little House is much more interesting to me and had some pretty good stories
DeleteI watched and enjoyed Downton Abbey, but the other two I never saw, even though they were on for years.
ReplyDeleteDownton is great. Little House is much better, I think, than the Waltons
Delete1. Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth. 2. Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth. 3. Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth. The days when Darcymania swept the land.
ReplyDeleteI still have to see this version with Mr. Hubba Hubba
DeleteI had watched a lot of episodes of Little House on the Prairie but not religiously, so I don't recall the two you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI watched the first few episodes of Downton Abbey but couldn't get into it.
The snowstorm episode is early on when the girls are little but the one with the fire is way after Mary loses her eyesight and is married. Oh bummer that you couldn't get into Downton
DeleteI LOVED The Waltons and hated Little House on the Prairie because it didn't live up to the beloved books. Of course, I adore Downton Abbey, as did Willy Dunne Wooters.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yes, I knew you liked The Waltons and would feel a sense of pang when you read my anecdote. The books are so sweet and the show really has nothing really to do with the books. I miss DA
DeleteNo, it didn't bother me. My friends don't have to be in love with everything that I like.
DeleteWell, if "Period Drama" means anything from a bygone day, non-contemporary from when it was filmed, then I'm gonna mention (again) the early 1970s Western 'ALIAS SMITH AND JONES'. I just watched an episode last night called "Never Trust An Honest Man" which had more excellent plot twists in 45 minutes than the vast majority of 2-hour movies being made today possess.
ReplyDeleteIt was an awesome show, but was probably too smart for the average TV audience then, and DEFINITELY too smart for today's television viewers.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Now I am intrigued! I have heard about this show but know so little about it so I have to check it out when I get a chance
DeleteDid you see my comment on an earlier post, not long ago, where I said that the plot for the movie 'THE STING' was stolen from a single episode of 'ALIAS SMITH AND JONES'?
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Yes I did! This also intrigued me and I have this marked down to watch an episode...or episodes probably after the A to Z Challenge
DeleteFeedly plays funny tricks with posts sometimes, and somehow "The Waltons" heading appeared above the "Downton Abbey" description in my feed. Pretty funny stuff...
ReplyDeleteThat's weird...I had to double check to see if I did it right. That is funny to mix those 2 up actually
DeleteWow! You just brought some memories. I vaguely recall watching The Waltons and Little House. I don't recall liking either one or disliking them either. The only thing I remember is the good nights on The Waltons and Nellie from Little House...I think she was mean? Other than that, not much sticks in my head about the shows.
ReplyDeleteYes the Good Nights made me want to yell something bad like "Not now, having sex with grandma" I know...I'm really sick. Nellie was bad...such a little bitch
DeleteThe main thing I remember from The Waltons is everyone saying goodnight at the end of the episodes. At least I think they did it every episode. LOL my sister and I used to say "goodnight John Boy" and the rest when we were little.
ReplyDeleteI recently watched The Crown and it's on my list of period drama favorites now. Loved it.
Everyone seems to like those Goodnights...except me:) I have heard The Crown is excellent
DeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI have a bad case of carpal tunnel from having to scroll so far down the page to get to the end of the comments! :) That's why I like to be one of the first to comment on your posts and I usually am.
I agree with you that The Waltons series, the little I saw of it, was a snooze. I liked Little House more, but was not a regular follower of the series. I was a regular follower of Melissa Gilbert because she grew into a very alluring "it girl" of the 80s. By far my favorite of these three is Downton Abbey. The series never ran out of gas and ended far too soon. It's the mark of greatness when you leave the audience clamoring for more. The Countess Dowager was my favorite character and I loved her zingers.
TV period dramas that I could recommend would include Timeless, 11-22-63, The Wonder Years, The Goldbergs and Fresh Off The Boat, set in mid 1990s Orlando.
Thanks for your ongoing friendship and support, dear BB. I'll see you tomorrow as you kick-off your A-2-Z!
I am surprised by how many now leave a message which makes me happy. You are so right about Downton and I love her zingers as well..."with talk like that, I want to call your nanny and have you taken to your room without any supper" ...well, something like that. We shall see you tomorrow
DeleteI'm still pissed at Dan Stevens for leaving that show
ReplyDeleteI know....that was a shocker
DeleteGreat choices on all 3, I saw every episode of them all. See you tomorrow for the A-Z :)
ReplyDeleteThanks and yes see you for the Aa to Z
DeleteThe Waltons reminds me of where I work, gasp. Entertaining up to a point until sadly there are some folks who won't give it a rest I wish, believe me, that I could go to sleep!
ReplyDeleteThey don't all say good night like that do they? Yikes!
DeleteTo be honest, I've never seen any of these shows - not really my cup of tea. They certainly earned their place in TV history, though.
ReplyDeleteHow great that you're ready to go for the A to Z challenge! I've been hunkering down, trying to get all the posts finished, but still have six more to do. Oh well! See you on Saturday. Happy A to Z-ing!
You are so way ahead of me with the A to Z! I have to catch up and I will:)
DeleteNever saw the first two but Downton Abbey definitely. Never missed a show. I assume you meant the car crash. I didn't believe it would end that way and was quite surprised by the beginning of the next series. I loved the Dowager, Maggie Smith, she is a favourite of mine. But I loved all the characters, even the unpleasant ones.
ReplyDeleteNone of the above. I love where we, as a human species, are going too much. Hopefully we won't blow each other up in mushroom clouds in the process.
ReplyDeleteMy mind draws a blank for historical drama TV series, though I'm sure I've been hooked on some. I thought the Walton's was a zzzzz, too. I liked Little House on the Prairie when Laura and Almanzo were courting. Have yet to see Downtown Abbey. I'm sure I would like it, too.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, now these are my kind of 'relaxation watching' The first 2 series, we watched as a family. DA was my sole viewing, and thoroughly enjoyed the early series. The last couple got a bit on the 'sappy' side, but I watched for the Countess. Maggie was the best actor in that series...She kept me watching. TFS
ReplyDeleteAh yes The Waltons and Little House, used to watch bits of these on Channel 5 (notorious for playing sappy stuff). My aunt read the books.
ReplyDeleteI loved the first 2 series of Downton but my gad it lost its way after. if only it kept up the standards of the earlier series, its now a bit of joke in the UK.
Oh, wow! I love the movie theme! I have added you to the A-Z blogs I shall read each day - thank you. :)
ReplyDelete