The Gilded Age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

Yeah that was not believable. In fact none of the characters are believable. The dialogue sounds too modern, and there are too many separate storylines. There is a limit to the amount of story arcs that one show can reasonably do well. Downton did it well, and focused on the differences between upstairs/downstairs. But going from Alabama to a union strike then back to 5th Ave upstairs/downstairs is too jarring. Yet I am still watching it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

Yeah that was not believable. In fact none of the characters are believable. The dialogue sounds too modern, and there are too many separate storylines. There is a limit to the amount of story arcs that one show can reasonably do well. Downton did it well, and focused on the differences between upstairs/downstairs. But going from Alabama to a union strike then back to 5th Ave upstairs/downstairs is too jarring. Yet I am still watching it.

This show is my guilty pleasure I can’t look away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

Yeah that was not believable. In fact none of the characters are believable. The dialogue sounds too modern, and there are too many separate storylines. There is a limit to the amount of story arcs that one show can reasonably do well. Downton did it well, and focused on the differences between upstairs/downstairs. But going from Alabama to a union strike then back to 5th Ave upstairs/downstairs is too jarring. Yet I am still watching it.

This show is my guilty pleasure I can’t look away.

My husband and I were hate-watching last season, but this season we've upgraded it to "guilty-pleasure." Pretty people in gaudy clothes with ridiculous plot lines and stilted dialogue=best show on television.

[Anonymous]

Ya’ll must’ve forgotten Edith wallowing over her bastard daughter and the father, and worst still the Bates’ story line that seemed would never end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ya’ll must’ve forgotten Edith wallowing over her bastard daughter and the father, and worst still the Bates’ story line that seemed would never end.

True, the Bates storyline was tiresome. But at least all the main characters all interacted at Downtown Abbey. The Gilded Age characters are very, very loosely affiliated by proximity. Also I'm not a fan of bringing in famous people (Booker T Washington! Oscar Wilde!) to interact with the main characters. But I suppose they already went that route with Mrs. Astor, which I don't mind as much as she's a recurring character.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

I doubt that a woman of that class level would ever, ever travel alone with a married man, let alone a rich Black girl to Alabama. No way. It’s a ridiculous storyline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I continue to hate-watch this show. Honestly, it amazes me that Julian Fellowes created both this AND Downton Abbey. There is just no comparison. Downton Abbey was filmed in real places, not just large, very obvious sets - and it had real dialogue, not whatever it is they're doing on the Gilded Age. It annoys me SO MUCH, and yet I will continue watching.

Only the first season of Downton was truly good. Fellows quickly sacrificed accuracy for $$$$.

He's never been able to capture Americans well, which we also see on Downton. He has no natural feeling for what makes Americans Americans, let alone the gilded age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

Well yes, that part didn't happen haha. But its Julian Fellowes, and you if you are familiar with his work, you come to expect a bit of ridiculousness.

[Anonymous]

Why why WHY can't Ada be happy for more than an hour in her lifetime?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I continue to hate-watch this show. Honestly, it amazes me that Julian Fellowes created both this AND Downton Abbey. There is just no comparison. Downton Abbey was filmed in real places, not just large, very obvious sets - and it had real dialogue, not whatever it is they're doing on the Gilded Age. It annoys me SO MUCH, and yet I will continue watching.

It’s okay. Definitely watchable. Some actors are horrible though:
- the interim lady’s maid
- Streep’s daughter
- the female news reporter
- the one-time drunk head butler
- the Duke
- Cynthia Nixon


Some are good:
- clock fixing servant
- grouchy servant who doesn’t like the news reporter or the clock fixer
- the gay son/banker
- the minister

I find the clock fixing servant to be SO annoying! Mainly it's his pursed lips and horrific Brooklyn accent. And you left out Nathan Lane's aka Foghorn Leghorn's character. He is appallingly bad, accent and all. I can't believe they have allowed him to continue in the role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

+1
Not to mentioned, an unmarried woman and man travelling together - NO WAY would that have happened. Have they even shown Mr. Fortune's wife yet? As if she'd allow her husband to travel alone with a single woman. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Alabama plot is just ridiculous.

Is it? I am from Alabama and the older generations in my family can tell you many stories of similar interactions.

No doubt. But I doubt they hid in a barn and then kissed rapturously while a lynch mob was on the way.

Yeah that was not believable. In fact none of the characters are believable. The dialogue sounds too modern, and there are too many separate storylines. There is a limit to the amount of story arcs that one show can reasonably do well. Downton did it well, and focused on the differences between upstairs/downstairs. But going from Alabama to a union strike then back to 5th Ave upstairs/downstairs is too jarring. Yet I am still watching it.

+1
Also, the dialogue on Downton was 100% better. I can't fathom why this script is so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I continue to hate-watch this show. Honestly, it amazes me that Julian Fellowes created both this AND Downton Abbey. There is just no comparison. Downton Abbey was filmed in real places, not just large, very obvious sets - and it had real dialogue, not whatever it is they're doing on the Gilded Age. It annoys me SO MUCH, and yet I will continue watching.

Only the first season of Downton was truly good. Fellows quickly sacrificed accuracy for $$$$.

He's never been able to capture Americans well, which we also see on Downton. He has no natural feeling for what makes Americans Americans, let alone the gilded age.

DP. I think you've nailed it, right here. His American characters are always caricatures - though Cora on Downton was a great character and "normal."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why why WHY can't Ada be happy for more than an hour in her lifetime?!

+1
I know. I was so sad for her. But at least she'll have something of her own when Luke dies (assuming he has any money at all?). Agnes is such a horrific witch to Ada. But then she redeems herself in other ways - like being so kind to Peggy. But why on earth can't she show Ada some support and kindness - and not just when Ada is told her husband is going to die?!

[Anonymous]

Also - Aurora Fane's husband looks way too young for her. I do love her character.