MovieChat Forums > Upstairs, Downstairs (1974) Discussion > Episodes that are difficult to watch

Episodes that are difficult to watch

posted 13 years ago by tiderolls
88 replies | jump to latest

I’m not referring to the ones that have, shall we say, dubious entertainment value (like The Swedish Tiger). I mean the episodes in which the characters behave badly, or a difficult point in history is revealed.

For example, one of my choices would be A Special Mischief. Of all the Elizabeth episodes, this one really makes me dislike her. She bullies Rose into joining her by threatening Rose's job. She behaves like a coward—telling Edward & Ruby not to say a word to anyone *and* going to Julius to get her out of the mess she’s gotten herself into (how could she possibly explain to her parents-or Sir Geoffrey-the reason for Rose being in prison?).

And then at the end: Elizabeth knows that Rose has been utterly humiliated by her prison experience, yet when Rose asks Elizabeth to never do anything like that again, Elizabeth hesitates.

It’s a well done yet difficult episode for me to watch because of the prison scenes and because Elizabeth never truly learns to appreciate Rose, in the manner she deserved.

Comments? Which episode would you choose?

[–] !!!deleted!!! (64897046) 9 years ago

I've only seen the first DVD series/season, but the episode where the elder housemaid (can't think of her name just now) hiding the baby was disturbing, and was it because Emily had just died? It's been awhile since I've seen it but I know she felt responsible for Emily's death because she had been so hard on her and needed something to love. Very sad all around.

Moonlighter Curfew

[–] tgrrrsss 9 years ago

Seymour if you havent read it or heared of it, check out Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey. It mentions the family to which Kathleen Kit Kennedy was connected and is a fascinating read.

[–] crlnrgbrght5 9 years ago

The episode where Rose's love interest, whom she had intended on marrying, was killed, and her emotional outburst was hard to watch. Also, the way James treated his wife at times, made me cringe.

[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

The Beastly Hun. Painful parallels with the post-9/11 suspicio, hatred, and treatment of Muslims in America. Changed my opinion of Hudson as being a thoughtful, intelligent man.