Dowton Abbey, Poldark, and The Crimson Field

by | Jul 22, 2015 | Downton Abbey, Uncategorized | 13 comments

Downton AbbeyHi Friends,

Are you missing Downton Abbey? Fans of the popular British TV Series have found some new, exciting programs to enjoy while we wait for the sixth and final (snif-snif) season of Downton.

I’ve enjoyed Poldark and The Crimson Field, both of which are airing on PBS now. I wanted to recommend them to you, and give you a little more information about them so you can decide if you’d like to tune in.

 

Aidan Turner - PoldarkPoldark

Aidan Turner stars as Ross Poldark, a redcoat who returns to Cornwall, England, after fighting in the American Revolutionary War to discover that his father is dead, his lands are ruined, and his true love is about to marry his first cousin. Also starring is Eleanor Tomlinson as the fiery servant Demelza, a strong-willed miner’s daughter who runs away from home and finds refuge in Poldark’s household.

I’ve enjoyed the family drama, romance, adventure, and learning more about Cornwall, England, in the late 1700s.

DemelzaPoldark is based on a beloved series of novels by Winston Graham. The first, Ross Poldark, was published in 1945; the last, Bella Poldark, appeared in 2002, a year before Graham’s death.

There will be 8 episodes, and 2 – 5  are available free on the PBS websites. The DVD is also for sale there and at other online sites.

The Crimson Field

Crimson Field

In a tented field hospital on the coast of France, a team of doctors, nurses and women volunteers work together to heal the bodies and souls of men wounded in the trenches during World War One. The hospital is a frontier: between the battlefield and homefront, but also between the old rules, hierarchies, class distinctions and a new way of thinking.

Kitty (Oona Chaplin), Rosalie (Marianne Oldham) and Flora (Alice St Clair) arrive as the hospital’s first volunteer nurses and struggle to be accepted by the established medical team. The girls are flung head first into a world for which nothing and nobody could have prepared them, but it is also an opportunity to break free of the constraints and limitations of their lives back home.

Sarah Phelps, one of British television’s most exciting and original writers, tells this story of World War One’s front line medics — their hopes, fears, triumphs and tragedies.

Episodes 1 – 5 are available to watch on the PBS website now.

Lady MaryLady Edith

And now take a look back at a video of the 50 most memorable moments of Downton Abbey.

Have you watched either of these new series? What did you think?

Until next time, Happy Reading and Happy Viewing,

Carrie

13 Comments

  1. .

    I have tuned in to Poldark and have enjoyed the series because you told me about this program.
    .I have not tuned into Crimson Field. Perhaps
    I will

    Reply
    • Carrie Turansky

      Hi Mom, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed seeing Poldark. If you missed any episodes you can catch them online at PBS, although I think episode one expired this week.

      Reply
  2. Victoria

    I have been watching Poldark on PBS online! I have absolutely fallen in love with the series! I went to my library and ordered in the first book because I was so fascinated by the first 2 episodes I wanted to read more, Ross and Damelza are such captivating characters, and that’s when I found out there are 10-12 books in the whole series! I can’t wait to finish it on PBS and then read the books to fill in all the rest and then some. 🙂

    I got my mom to watch it over the weekend just before the first episode expired, now she is hooked!

    I’m glad to see you sharing about such wonderful shows! BBC Theatre has been making such wonderful shows, they are better than what comes on many other TV stations in America nowadays. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Carrie Turansky

      Hi Victoria, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed Poldark. I’d love to hear what you think about the books when you read them.

      Reply
      • Victoria

        Of course! I might just blog about them too. 😉

        Reply
  3. Jenny

    I have been enjoying Poldark online. The episodes have followed the books more faithfully than the original series. The story in the books, unfortunately goes downhill in many ways, so I am enjoying these episodes and the beauty of the area and costumes. I read the books back in High School, and then watched the first series when I was in college.

    Reply
    • Carrie Turansky

      Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your thoughts about he series and the books. I haven’t read them, and I wondered if I would like them.

      Reply
      • Jenny

        If you are enjoying the series, then you will enjoy the books. They are very enjoyable, we used to read them on Summer vacation and pass them around between the family. It is later in the series as poor choices are made, and they are not so happy.

        Reply
        • Carrie Turansky

          Good to know, Jenny! thanks.

          Reply
  4. Pam Halter

    Ooooh! Thanks for sharing this, Carrie! They both look great! I’ll check them out … when I have some free time. It’s conference season for me right now, so maybe closer to September. 🙂

    Reply
    • Carrie Turansky

      You’re welcome, Pam. I hope you enjoy Poldark and The Crimson Field. Also – I hope all goes well with the conferences.

      Reply
  5. Anita Smith

    I’ve been tuning in to Crimson Field, and really love it. I encourage folks who like Call the Midwife to watch this show. No babies (yet), but it is an experience from the past, and transports you to another time in which young ladies were called on to fill important positions to help the rest of the world. It is fabulous. And a little fun to see actors we know from Downton show up!

    Reply
    • Carrie Turansky

      Hi Anita, I first saw a few episodes of The Crimson Field when I was in England in 2014. I’m glad we can see the series here in the US!

      Reply

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