Upstairs Downstairs-Series 2 (2010)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	Main Menu Audio & Animation
Rating
Year Of Production	2010
Running Time	354:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Euros Lyn Anthony Byrne Marc Jobst Brendan Maher
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	None Given
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Dual
RPI	?	Music	Daniel Pemberton

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     One of the most loved English drama series of the 1970s was the original Upstairs, Downstairs. It told the story of the various people who lived at 165 Eaton Place, Belgravia including the aristocratic Bellamy family ('Upstairs') and the servants who looked after their day-to-day needs ('Downstairs'). The series ran over a number of years and told the story of those living in the house from 1903 to 1930. At the end of that series, the house was shut up. One of the main characters in the original series was Rose Buck (Jean Marsh), the upstairs maid.

     This new series (which started in 2010) is a sequel to the previous series with a new family buying the house and moving in, in 1936. The new family consists initially of Sir Hallam Holland (Ed Stoppard) and his wife Lady Agnes Holland (Keeley Hawes).

     The cast changes somewhat for this second (and now last series) with Maud (Eileen Atkins) leaving the series (due to the character’s death and the actresses decision to make herself unavailable) as does the maid, Ivy, and Rose Buck (Jean Marsh) is reduced to a minor character as she is sick and has been taken to a sanatorium. Lady Agnes' younger sister, Persephone or Persie (Claire Foy) as she is generally called continues into this new series as does Maud's former secretary, Mr Amanjit Singh (Art Malik). He remains part of the household and initially has quite a conflict with a new character, Maud's half-sister Dr Blanche Mottershead (Alex Kingston), who is an archaeologist and somewhat controversial. The downstairs staff still includes the butler, Mr Pritchard (Adrian Scarborough), the cook, Mrs Thackery (Anne Reid), the chauffeur, Spargo (Neil Jackson) and a footman, Johnny (Nico Mirallegro). There are also two new maids, Eunice (Ami Metcalf) and Beryl (Laura Haddock), who Spargo is interested in romantically, but she may not share his interest.

     This second series jumps forward to 1938 with war in Europe looming. Sir Hallam is becoming increasingly frustrated with the policy of appeasement being followed by the government and is certain that war is on the horizon. His marriage starts to suffer as a result. Persie continues to cause trouble especially due to her dalliances with Germans. There are a variety of other dramas and relationships which form during the six episodes of this second series.

     To my mind, the quality of this second series suffers when compared to the first, whilst still being a quality show.

     Recommended.

Video

     The video quality is good but a step back from Season 1. The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture was reasonably clear and sharp throughout, although a little softer than Series 1. Shadow detail was decent.

     The colour is quite good, but light colour bleeding is more obvious in this second season.

     Artefacts included some light grain, more pronounced motion blur and one spot of what seems like digital noise reduction at 6:50 in episode 2. There is a sort of wavy artefact across the screen at that point.

     There are subtitles in English which were clear and easy to read.

    There is no obvious layer change during the episodes.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is very good, a step up from Season 1.

     These discs contain an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound is much fuller and enveloping than the 2.0 in Season 1.

     Dialogue was generally easy to understand throughout although the subtitles were useful.

     The orchestral music sounds good and fits the show well. It utilises the original theme from the 1970s show.

     The surround speakers were used for the music and general atmosphere and subwoofer supported the music.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu featured music and motion.

    This show is available in the UK in the same format.

     A second and final season of the new Upstairs Downstairs.

    The video quality is good.

     The audio quality is very good.

     No extras, they ran off with Ribbentrop to Berlin.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall