I enjoyed Downton, but I don't know if it was the best thing ever on Masterpiece Theatre. It felt more like Masterpiece Lite, all the things you love about great adaptations of classic literature, half the calories! (And no actual book!) Of course, if you asked me what The Best Thing Ever was, I probably wouldn't be able to answer. I'm awfully fond of North & South. (The Elizabeth Gaskell one, not Patrick Swayze, though that one is also fun.)

But the reason I'm writing is because I remember we once had a conversation about writing romance. And I told you that one of the things that's really sexy is the extension of tension. Which is to say it's the part where stuff doesn't happen that makes things really hot. Do you remember this conversation? I think I expressed myself better then than now... but the whole reason I'm bringing it up is That's What I'm Talking About. The stuff not happening in Downton. That's what good romantic (heck suspenseful) writing feels like. Grok? It doesn't even have to be romance, it just has to be this kind of nuance, so that stuff not happening becomes very important.

This not-happening is frequently in Jane Austen, which is why people love her. But when I was into Westerns I realized it had a similar kind of nuance. As I joked once I finally got the nuance and the 'hand' that is always being played in these films, "It's like Jane Austen for men!"

I've also heard Downton described as a "trussed-up Edwardian telenovela", so yeah, it's not exactly canonical Masterpiece.

I totally remember that conversation, and Downton is an excellent example. In fact, last night had a really fantastic scene that was all about one character not being able to say "I love you" because it wouldn't be right... and they couldn't even say *why* it wasn't right, which made it doubly extended tension and yeah, it leans on the "OMG I WANT THEM TO GET TOGETHER SO BAD" button like nobody's business. Hearts a-flutter!

Mom and I are also enjoying S1 Downton for the first time, and I agree with you and zalena that it's all about the subtext. In fact, I'll have to go back and watch it again, because I have a terrible habit of not really watching TV--- I listen to it while I do something else, and if I happen to be in the right place to do so, I'll look up when something noteworthy sounds like it's happening. It doesn't work great with Downton, because there's so much going unsaid.