Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Seasons 1, 2 & 3 Deluxe Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive Season 4 Bonus Features) [Blu-ray]

There is a lot to like in this saga dominated by Robert Crawley, the current Lord Earl Grantham, who has no greater aim in life than to preserve the legacy he inherited from his father, the great (fictional) estate called Downton Abbey (the actual Highclere Castle located in the North Wessex Downs), but who faces profound challenges at the start of the 20th Century from powerful forces for change arising from, among other things, awareness of the exploited working underclasses, but most severely from the vast social changes to English society brought about by World War I. In this task, he has the support of his American wife (played perfectly by Elizabeth McGovern) and his three highly privileged adult daughters, along with the dedicated services of his top-level servants; viz., the butlers, valets, personal maids, head cooks and other resident domestic workers that form the ‘downstairs’ section of this ‘upstairs-downstairs’ melodrama. The stellar cast of actors, the very high production values, and the multiple romantic subplots all contribute to make this series compelling. Even the story’s villains are played by very skilled actors. What’s not to like?Well, for one thing, the entire production is subtly devoted to justifying the oppressive class-based privileges and prejudices adopted by the aristocracy toward their social inferiors. To mask this intent, the writers make Maggie Smith’s character (the elderly Dowager Countess Violet Crawley) the extreme example of such aristocratic prejudices, her feet firmly planted in the 19th Century’s class social structure and a vocal advocate for her class affiliation, and therefore the obvious target of more modern social criticisms of the aristocracy, but even Maggie Smith’s clever parody of such attitudes (often hilarious!) doesn’t mitigate this blind self-justifying apology for the existence of an inherited, landed upper class. All the pomp and rituals, all the fabulous artwork, all the expensive formal clothes, and all the gilded high-ceiling rooms with their chandeliers, their wall-to-wall bookshelves and their exquisite furniture, can’t substitute for the social dysfunctionality of an unproductive hereditary elite living ostentatiously off the hard work of the farmers and renters of the Earl Grantham’s landed estate.

Just to clarify, I am not rating the story or characters of Downton Abbey, I am rating the specific product and purchase experience.I am now having to return this Amazon Exclusive Blu-ray set for a third time. When I purchased the first set for my wife's birthday, we found that disc #3 would not load and gave an "invalid disc" error on each Blu-ray player that we have. This is a 9 disc set (some of the descriptions state that this contains 7 discs). Each of the seasons contain two discs of the show and a third disc with bonus content (discs 3, 6 and 9 are bonus materials) Bonus discs 6 and 9 both play without issue.When I contacted Amazon, I spoke with "Alvaro" who was friendly and very apologetic and provided me with a UPS return label and in addition to sending me a replacement, he also issued a $5 credit to my Amazon account for the inconvenience. I sent back that first set and received a replacement within a few days. Unfortunately, the second set also contained the same "invalid disc" error on disc #3. I notified Amazon and this time I spoke with "Melanie" who told me that they would temporarily remove this item from Amazon and research the error. She said that they would be reviewing their inventory because it seemed like there was a potential copying issue with that disc and she would call me back in 3-5 days with an update.A week and a half later (after no contact from "Melanie" or anyone else from Amazon) I spoke with "Yen". Yen issued the second UPS return label and said they were sending me a third set of Blu-ray discs. There was much confusion as to my dilemma when I tried to explain that I'd had the same problem twice before.When I mentioned that "Melanie" indicated that Amazon was going to verify if the disc #3 was working properly BEFORE they sent me a third set, Yen replied, "yes, when we receive the defective/damaged item, we check to see what's wrong". I spent a great deal of time trying to explain that I was told that someone was going to check that particular disc BEFORE sending it on to me, since I wasn't allowed to return a single disc, rather than the full set. Then suddenly Yen tells me, "I just did some checking and see that we have reviewed this disc for replacement..." I replied, "so you're saying that someone from Amazon HAS verified that Disc #3 is reading correctly?" Yen replied, "yes sir, let me go ahead and place the order."I've now received a third set - shrink-wrapped and unchecked. Disc# 3 does not read, although Yen had indicated it would have been verified. At least I had received that initial $5 credit for all the hassle. At this point, it looks like a refund is in order so that I can just purchase the individual seasons.

We found this show quite by accident while perusing channels to find something to watch one night. We caught the end of the show that night and watched the last 20 minutes or so. We liked it instantly and began watching it because it was just so well done. This program, down to the smallest detail is spot on for the time period it is set in which makes it so appealing. The show is written very well and makes you care about the characters and because of that, you have to watch it. The Brits seem to know how to do these time piece shows very well and it is probably why it has caught on here in the states. There are some things about the show that turned me off, especially how the Irish were cast in the show. Episodes involving that were very one sided. Being of Irish descent and still having family there, I have heard the other side. However, it is a British television program and they do as they please.All that being said, it is an excellent, well done program and very entertaining.

What more can you possibly say about Downton Abbey,that hasn’t already been said?! It’s a MUST have for any avid fan!! I sincerely recommend this high quality complete set on blue ray/ dvd & the price is a great deal & it comes with the bonus disc too! Happy viewing!😊🍿