Hello-Hello, happy new week to everyone.
Last night presented quite the conundrum for those of us living in the dark ages without a DVR. Downton Abbey or the Closing Ceremonies? Fortunately there was some divine intervention, we were able to watch the Closing Ceremonies live on CBC. Did you enjoy them?
The Rachmaninov was outstanding.
©2014 XXII Olympic Winter Games
It was fun seeing the nod to that little glitch with the five rings in the Opening Ceremony…
©NBC Olympics Facebook
…before all five opened fully.
©2014 XXII Olympic Winter Games
The evening was as vibrant as the Opening Ceremony.
Ralph Lauren Facebook
It was certainly as colorful.
Sochi 2014 Facebook
Julie Chu (hockey) carried our flag.
Ralph Lauren Facebook
Then it was time to change directions and look toward PyeongChang in 2018.
©2014 XXII Olympic Winter Games
The flame that had been burning for 2-1/2 weeks…
Sochi 2014 Facebook
Was put out.
©2014 XXII Winter Olympic Games
The fireworks were spectacular.
Sochi 2014 Facebook
And Sochi Bear said goodbye.
NBC Olympics Facebook
It was also time to start thinking about March.
US Olympic Committee
The Paralympic Games get underway in Sochi on March 7; to see NBC’s broadcast schedule for the click here.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Also today, good news for everyone who enjoyed the Olympic figure skating commentary of Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir.
Today Show Facebook Page
It turns out the duo will be back on TV in less than a week. More from the Washington Post’s Early Lead blog:
The Olympics may be over, but nobody — nobody — is ready to quit Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, the former Olympic figure skaters who were NBC’s dynamic duo with their commentary from Sochi.
They’ll be back next week to talk fashion for “Access Hollywood” this weekend at the Academy Awards. It’ll be tough for anyone on the red carpet to top Weir, whose Olympic outfits were a daily amazement.
Johnny Weir Instagram
This should be an enormous ratings boost for Access Hollywood.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Then it was time for Downton Abbey.
Carnival Film Television/PBS
SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals information of a ‘spoiler’ nature.
From a visual perspective it was a feast. There were pretty party frocks.
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film Television/PBS
And royalty.
Nick Briggs/ITV
From HuffPo:
The finale began almost like a season première: Eight months have passed since last week’s bazaar, and the entire Downton clan has packed up and shipped out to the spectacular Grantham House in London to prepare for Lady Rose’s ball and a visit to THE Buckingham Palace.
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film Television/PBS
Not everyone (understatement of the century) was positively impressed with the finale. This was how People magazine’s review opened:
Sunday’s Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece brought a nice, gentle close to a difficult, unsatisfactory season.
Kevin Fallon at the Daily Beast really didn’t care for the finale or most of the season.
That was quite a ridiculous season of Downton Abbey, now wasn’t it? What happened to the formerly addictive, splendid, elegant costume drama?
Season four of Downton Abbey, which concluded Sunday night, was all about acceptance. It was about accepting the death of two major characters and the need—for us and the residents of Downton—to move on. Accepting the budding love between a white heiress and a black singer. Accepting the conception of a child out of love—and out of wedlock. And, most of all, accepting the fact that Downton Abbey is a shell of the seductively elegant costume soap opera we all became so addicted to four years ago.
Ouch.
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
TV Guide wasn’t tickled about things either.
As finales go, it wasn’t as sad as last season’s tragic shocker. So, yay for not offing another beloved character. Points also for finally giving Edith her autonomy back, Daisy her pride and Mr. Sampson another lesson. Other than those very satisfying events, the whole was just a continuation of the baffling and disjointed trend of this season.
Overall, the season felt muddled and like it was laying groundwork for more (i.e. Mary’s suitors). It’s clear that this was a transitional season, which wasn’t completely satisfying, but at least it gives us hope for Season 5.
There was also intrigue. (That was really just silly IMO.) As the HuffPo review asks, “When did “Downton” suddenly become an episode of Nancy Drew?”
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
There were elements of the season that TV Guide also liked.
To end on a positive note, here are some points that felt natural to us this season: the introduction of new technology in the kitchen, Mary taking an interest in the estate, Lady Edith’s fashions and mothering instinct, the return of Branson’s political interests, Mrs. Crawley’s heartbreaking struggle with grief for Matthew and Molesley dealing with job security.
Overall, the season felt muddled and like it was laying groundwork for more (i.e. Mary’s suitors). It’s clear that this was a transitional season, which wasn’t completely satisfying, but at least it gives us hope for Season 5.
The Huffington Post has hope for next year:
“Some of you have complained about Downton having devolved into a predictable cycle of soap-operatic clichés in Season 4, but the 90-minute finale, with its gorgeous gowns and magical ball and the arrival of some very special American guests, has surely restored faith again in our beloved British series.”
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
From TIME’s review:
Carson is charged with organizing an outing for the staff. All of his suggestions are boring, but eventually they decide to go to the beach. At the beach, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes go wading together and hold hands! Gah! Is this a romance brewing? Is this cute, or disappointing because it implies no platonic male-female friendships? It’s unclear.
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited
G’bye until next time.