After binge-watching season 2 and 3 of this show, I've become obsessed with it just like I am with Downton Abbey. The show gets better with each season and Julian Fellowes ups his storytelling and filming style in these seasons. It starts almost like a soap opera in the first season then the stakes are raised in the continuing seasons.
The show's main focus is new money families at popularity war with old money families and who rules the city of New York. The Russell family arrives in season 1 as new money and the high class society has a bit of difficulty accepting them. Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) works her charm as a leading lady and before the season was over, she started gaining some footing. Her husband, George Russell (Morgan Spector), takes over banking and the labour force. They are an ambitious couple and one of my favourite characters in the show.
Season 2 sheds more light on this couple as Bertha Russell goes into an all-out art war with grande dame Caroline Astor (Donna Murphy) to completely take the lead in the opera and New York. The Van Rhijns are still the formidable old money family living directly opposite the Russells and try to avoid their paths crossing with the latter. Their niece, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) after a broken engagement tries to get a job as a teacher and maintain her prospects as a marriageable young woman.
I enjoy the development of her character and her relationship with Peggy Scott (Den茅e Benton). Through this relationship and Benton's character, Fellowes tells the story of the elite black upper class in the US with clarity and authenticity. There are few mentions of the past鈥攕egregation and slavery鈥攚hich is alright because we can't detached the past from the history of a race.
I like that Fellowes gives Ada Van Rhijn (Cynthia Nixon) more screen time and attention in season 2. The focus is usually on her sister, Agnes (Christine Baranski), but in this season, Ada falls in love and marries. Sadly, her story doesn't end well at the season's finale.
Season 3 begins in the Van Rhijn鈥檚 household where the leadership shifts from Agnes who lost her fortune at the end of season 2 to fraudsters to Ada. The season is particularly interesting and filled with funny moments as the two women grapple for power while the staff are caught in the middle of this domestic battle.
The Russell family is not without their ambitions as Bertha Russell gets more ferocious in this season. She uses her affluence to ensure her daughter marries Hector, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb). This strains her relationship with her husband and son. George on the other hand attempts to build a cross-country railroad in a recession. He fights and beats other top business men in the race. This almost cost him his life.
Julian Fellowes got better with these two seasons, especially the third. The plots are richer, the stakes higher and the characters more developed than the first season. The power shifts and ambitions make the series more thrilling.
Carrie Coon is magnetic as always and her performance is outstanding. Her character gets more complex in season 3. She's soft hearted when it comes to her family yet carries the steely resolve of a woman driven by ambition. Her chemistry with Morgan Spector gives this series a unique spark. There are other couples but I like this two together.
Morgan Spector's character becomes more arrogant as he pursues more endeavours while struggling to keep his home together. Season 3 displays both his strength as a brilliant businessman and his weakness as love-struck husband and father.
I also like that Julian Fellowes pays better attention to other storylines in the series centred around race, segregation, politics and queerness. These makes the two seasons more compelling, sparking anticipation of what season 4 will bring.
The cinematography is smoother and the visuals are better. Their costumes are colourful and appealing as always.
Rating the two seasons, I'd give it 8.5 star out of 10. The show keeps getting better and we finally have one that rivals Downton Abbey. I can't wait to watch season 4.
All images above are screenshots from the series
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