There is nothing cozier than a star-studded period drama about the scandalous happenings in a high-society home where the walls have ears. If you have already binge-watched Belgravia, The Forsyte Saga, and The Gilded Age, you are in luck, as Netflix has just added a hidden gem that ended before its time.
The Return of Upstairs Downstairs
The BBC show Upstairs Downstairs, which aired between 2010 and 2012, was a reboot of the 1970s ITV series of the same name. Set in the iconic London townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in the 1930s, the series explores how the lives of the landed gentry and the working class intertwine in all their messy glory.
The show features several major British actors, including Keeley Hawes, Claire Foy, Alex Kingston, and Ed Stoppard, as well as Jean Marsh reprising her role as Rose Buck.
Netflix Addition and Immediate Popularity
Whether you have watched it before or are enjoying it for the first time, the series has already made quite an impression on the streaming service, reaching number seven in the charts.
Unfortunately, its run was short-lived at the time, getting cancelled after only two seasons due to dwindling viewing figures. According to The Guardian, the show was overshadowed by rivals like Downton Abbey.
Fan Reactions and Critical Acclaim
Its premature end on the small screen has been a sore point for fans but has not diminished their enjoyment. On IMDb, user fufairytoo said: 'I found this series over ten years after the fact but enjoyed it immensely. I am a huge fan of period dramas, and this one was done incredibly well. The writing and acting were superb. My only real complaint is that it came to an end way too soon… It should have been given the chance and seasons it very much deserved!'
Bobby9976 called it 'one of the best British TV series ever seen,' while hunkystud agreed it was 'a shame it only had two seasons.'
The New York Times praised the show, stating: 'Upstairs Downstairs sticks to the rules established by the original and defies the odds by being as good, and in some ways, even better.'
Although only nine episodes long, it is an easy binge for those wanting to dip into the period drama world. And if you truly love it, the 1970s original is also available to add to your repertoire.
Upstairs Downstairs is now streaming on Netflix.
