Royal Upstairs Downstairs

Could be stellar, but is deeply flawed
I watched every episode of this series and have come to the conclusion that it could have been great were it not so flawed. The concept is a good one. Take the viewers to twenty great houses and castles visited by Queen Victoria, and in each episode and show both the upstairs and downstairs while making use of Queen Victoria's diaries, the accounts of others and menus, account books etc. from the period. Add to each episode a complex dish prepared downstairs for the Queen. With this concept lies the first big problem of this show. How do you introduce viewers to a country house, show them the upstairs, add period narrative and cook a dish all in half an hour, of which several minutes are wasted at the end watching the two hosts eat and fawn all over the dish that was prepared? The result is that the show is reduced to a number of soundbites, three minutes upstairs, then three minutes downstairs, then back upstairs, and so on. The viewer is left with just bits of information. With a...

A unique history of Queen Victoria
These videos take you around the country to visit the houses where Victoria stayed. Commentators cover the history of the home and furnishings as well as the food she would have been served. The Queen's diary entries are included so you know how she felt about her visit. They also utilize documents which record what food purchased during her visit. It's lively and interesting.

Magnificent series!
This is a truly magnificent series from Great Britian. I expected merely a cooking series. What I got was a history and cultural presentation into the life and times of Queen Victoria, a tour of the great estates she visited,as well as a re-creation of the recipes that were served to her. The hosts were delightful...they reminded by of the late, great Jennifer Patterson and her associate the equally expert chef Clarissa Dickson Wright in the 1997-1999 BBC cooking show "Two Fat Ladies"
I recommend this dvd "Royal Upstairs/Downstairs" to anyone who is fascinated with the great British estates and with the British monarchy...as well as those who love great food.
I rate this series an A+++ !!

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