Netflix SN #6 - PBS British TV on a Roll

During the past two years, my wife and I have really taken an interest in a slew of British TV series that have made it to American TV, specifically on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).  Four in particular have peaked our interest:  "Downton Abbey", "Doc Martin", "Sherlock" and "Mr. Selfridge".

Past seasons for each are available on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime instant streaming.  Here's a short write up of each:

Downton Abbey

Probably the most well-known of the four, Downton Abbey just concluded it's fourth season run on PBS this month.  Although a bit vanilla compared to the first three seasons (in particular season 2, which was my favorite), Abbey still features superb writing and top notch acting.

Downton Abby is a lavish Edwardian mansion and park nestled in the North Yorkshire landscape.  The story centers around the residents there, both the family and staff. The family is led by its patrioarch, Violet Crawley, Countess of Gratham, and her son Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. Robert is married to wealthy American Cora, and the two have three daughters. The staff of personal assistants, butlers and maids, and kitchen personnel are led by Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes. If you think this sounds similar to the "Upstairs, Downstairs" series from the 1970's, then you'd be correct. Same type of thing.

Season 1 takes place just before the start of World War 1, season 2 during WW1, season 3 just after WW1 ends, and season 4 in the early 1920's. Strange thing is that hardly anyone in the show ages during that time!  Regardless, the inter-goingson between and within the family and staff is entertaining to watch. Multiple, inter-twining story-lines abound, all equally intriguing. The choreography in the show is top notch. Unlike recent period piece big budget films, there is a definite feel that you're in the early 20th century. The actors/actresses look and fit right in to the era portrayed.

Doc Martin

This comedy is about one Dr. Martin Ellingham, a noted surgeon in London who suddenly and unexplainably contracts a phobia for blood. As a result, he decides to give up his successful practice and accept a position as a general practitioner in the small fictional seaside village of Port Wenn, England, where everyone knows everyone. The series follows the socially challenged Dr. Martin as he interacts with the friendly, and sometimes odd, villagers, while following in love with one of them, school teacher Louisa Glasson.

"Doc Martin" first premiered as a series in 2004, and just concluded it's sixth season earlier this year (on US television).  "Wait a minute, that was 10 years ago. How can it only be in its sixth season?" you ask?  The series actually ran annually it's first three seasons, then every other year after that. So season seven, if there is one, won't be broadcast until 2016.

In another interesting twist, the Doc Martin character actually began as two made-for-TV BBC movies in Britain beginning in 2001. That Doc Martin, although portrayed by the same actor (Martin Clunes), was the complete opposite of the one in the 2004 series. The original Doc Martin was funny and easy going.  However, when a British TV studio bought the rights to the show, they decided that Doc Martin would be more entertaining if he had a ruff, abrupt and intolerant personality with lack of bedside manners. And in a way, they were right. But it is fun watching both versions of Doc Martin, which you can do on Netflix and Amazon instant streaming. Then decide for yourself!

Like Downton Abby, the writing and acting is superb. In addition to Clunes' Doc Martin, the characters of Glasson, Bert Large, PC Penhale, and Mrs. Tishell are worth watching out for.

Sherlock

“Sherlock” is a modern day re-telling of A. Conan Doyle’s classic “Sherlock Holmes”.  Many of Doyle’s original stores are re-created in modern England.  Holmes’ trademark cap and crummy violin playing still exist; but gone is the trademark pipe, and his well-documented drug addiction has been replaced by a cigarette chain smoking vice. 

Portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch (most recently Khan in “Star Trek into Darkness”), this Holmes has all of the brains and wit of Basil Rathbone’s original Sherlock Holmes of the 1940’s, and the spunk of Robert Downey Jr.’s most recent portrayal.  Although he can hold his own, Cumberbatch’s Holmes isn’t quite the martial arts expect of Downey Jr.’s character (which never made sense to me).  One prize Cumberbatch can claim over his predecessors though is that of fastest talker.  When he’s trying to sort out a situation in his mind, Cumberbatch goes in into ultra-fast speaking mode. It’s so fast that I sometimes have to turn on the closed captioning just to figure out what he’s saying!  And frequently the closed-captioning can’t even keep up with him!

Of course Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t be Sherlock Holmes without his sidekick, Dr. John Watson.  In this rendition, Watson is portrayed by current "Hobbit" Martin Freeman.  Freeman is quite good, actually, and is someone I particularly enjoyed in the UK’s original “The Office” show with Ricky Gervais some 10 years back.  He and Cumberbatch are a good pairing and work very well together.

Lestrade, Moriarty, Irene Adler, and the Hounds of Baskerville are all here. Andrew Scott in particular plays a very creepy, psychotic Moriarty.  In fact he won a BAFTA (British equivalent to the Emmy’s) for his portrayal. Sherlock Holmes’ mysterious brother, Mycroft Holmes, plays a big role in this rendition. We're never quite sure whose side he’s on. In an interesting side note, Mycroft is played by Mark Gatiss, a co-creator of the show and one of its head writers.  Speaking of the writing, some of the storylines are quite addicting and well-told. Lots of mystery and crime solving to be had.

Like “Doc Martin”, “Sherlock” is on an every other year schedule, with season 3 having just ended in February. Thus, 2016 will be the next appearance of Holmes and Watson. Just as well if you haven’t watched any episodes yet.  The season ending cliff-hangers after the first two seasons left viewers hanging with a lot of unanswered questions and quite a bit of mystery.  Making viewers wait two years to find out what happened really bordered on cruelty!  The creators of “Sherlock” also elected to create three 90 minute “mini-movies” each season rather than the typical 8-10 30 or 60 minute episodes.

Mr. Selfridge

“Mr. Selfridge” is the newest of the shows, and is based on the real life Harry Selfridge, an American entrepreneur who sought to build London’s largest department store in the early 20th century.  The first season of the series, which began in 2013, focused on the birth of the store in 1909 and its first year of existence.  Season 2 just started in late March and is set some four years later beginning with the 5th year celebration of the store’s opening and a looming World War I.

Selfridge is well portrayed by Emmy award winner Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”), even though he is a good ten years younger than what the real Selfridge was. The supporting cast is just as solid.  Like “Downton Abbey”, the writers/makers of the series did a great job replicating the look and feel of early 20th century England (hmm, I wonder if the Downton Abbey folks shopped at Selfridges?).  Because there isn’t a whole lot of drama to be had in a department store, “Selfridge” relies heavily on the many relationships that develop throughout the show. This includes Selfridge himself, whose father issues, infidelity and resulting unstable marriage is one of the primary subplots to the main story. There are lots of love interests and love triangles featuring many of the principles of the show, which, as a result, gives this series more of a soap opera feel.  Still entertaining though, mainly for a couple of reasons.

First, Selfridge in reality was quite a visionary and trendsetter when it came to how a department store was set up and run. For example, in 1909 the most common mode of transportation was still horse and buggy.  This meant the streets of London were not the cleanest, if you know what I mean.  To eliminate the “odor” this problem caused, Selfridge decided to set up perfume and cosmetics at the front of the store, something actually frowned upon at that time, so the store would smell good when anyone entered.  This was just one of the many of Selfridge innovations that is portrayed in the show.

The second is that the writers of the show decided to have actual well-known personalities of the time visit the store.  This included the likes of the King of England, A. Conan Doyle, rival (and friend) Frank Woolworth, explorer Ernest Shackleton, and Russian ballerina Anna Pavolva. This was a particularly nice touch, I thought. Overall this is good viewing, although it did take a few episodes for both Piven and the show to grow on us.


So there you have it. Four currently active British shows definitely worth checking out. All are part of the PBS Masterpiece Classics or Masterpiece Mystery series on your local PBS station. Past seasons (except for the latest) for all are available on either Netflix Instant view or Amazon Prime.  Since the latest seasons are still relatively recent, they are currently available for a small price.  Won’t be long before they are free as well though.

“Mr. Selfridge” is currently running on PBS Sunday nights, while “Downton Abbey” will be back in January, 2015, “Sherlock” in January 2016, and Doc Martin in February 2016.  Which provides lots of time to catch up!