The future of TV bingeing and cliffhangers

Cliffhanger fans: As a group we've discussed the effect of bingeing (or marathoning) on our viewership of lengthy TV dramas--using DVDs, streaming sites, or DVRs. You may be interested to hear about new developments in media delivery and consumption, which even more specifically encourage these practices. As The New York Times reports, Netflix will be releasing--at once--all 13 episodes of a new political thriller entitled "House of Cards". The program was produced expressly for Netflix and lacks the usual serial breaks and analepses (recaps/flashbacks). The article ends, however, by claiming, "The traditional TV cliffhanger is far from dead." We shall see...

Social Class and Downton Abbey

Apart from the events surrounding Lady Sybil, the birth of her child, and her death, Season 3 Episode 5 (or 4 on PBS) starts to bring up the issues with the deterioration of the aristocracy and the push of the middle class into the foreground.  This is best played out with the tension between Matthew and Mary Crawley as well as between Sir Philip Tapsel and Dr. Clarkson.

Since Matthew’s investment into Downton, he is trying his best to become acquainted with how things are run, but also seeks to make them better.  During the process, he butts heads with Mary, who seems to genuinely want Matthew to be involved with Downton but still defers to her father, and with Lord Grantham who is used to running Downton his way.  I would argue that Matthew looks at Downton and sees potential.  This is expressed as he walks about an abandoned farm with Mary and discusses how the land should be used again to make money.  Lord Grantham, however, is mired in the tradition of Downton and isn’t as forward looking.

The upper and middle classes also clash when Sybil is going through her delivery.  Sir Philip Tapsel is brought in to help Sybil deliver because he has aided in the births of many lords, ladies, and royals.  He is meant to be a doctor of a different class and because of his higher status he is given more credit and accountability than Dr. Clarkson.  It is left up in the air whether or not Sybil might have survived childbirth had the family (mostly Lord Grantham) not been too proud to trust and listen to Dr. Clarkson.

I have to wonder how class is going to continue to factor into upcoming episodes of Downton Abbey, especially with Matthew and Mary since Matthew continues to distinguish himself as middle class.

Thoughts?

For those of you who missed the airing of Downton on Monday, you may stream Episode 4 (Season 3) here:   http://video.wpt2.org/video/2327802054 . I realize we're facing some setup snafus this week, but I hope we can still hear from our bloggers and some commenters before class tomorrow at 2 pm!

The scene between Mary and Sybil is filmed in an interesting way. It uses the shot/reverse shot technique used for conversations but strays from the usual format slightly. Many times when Mary is speaking, the part was filmed not directly towards her but rather from off to the side. This angle allows for Sybil to continue to be in the shot and pull focus as she rubs her belly and reminds the viewer none-too-subtlely of the impending birth. Looking back on the scene from the end of the episode, I think this was done partially because Sybil was the focus of the entire plot of the episode but also to keep our mind on the baby itself rather than the birth. Her conversation with Mary begins with a focus on the birth itself, "her not reccomending it to anyone," but moves onto the baby and the christening and Sybil's desire to have the ceremony at home instead of in Dublin. This was clearly to get the viewer to be thinking of the future just as Sybil is lost to childbirth. Just when the viewers think they know what's going on, the writers changed directions without warning. Even up until that final moment when she was pronounced dead I was sure she was going to pull through! She had plans! It's cruel, yes, but entirely effective in creating the drama that inspires viewers to keep watching.

Welcome, serial drama and Downton Abbey fanciers!

We are excited to inaugurate our blog this Sunday with responses to the fourth episode of Downton Abbey, Season 3! Will the series succeed in maintaining our suspense and interest--or perhaps it has other attractions? Which plot lines will intensify and which will peter out? How will Downton address our sense of narrative through (and against) time? Most importantly, what will happen to the house? Tune in at 8 pm CST...