Good stuff. But if watching this as a binge you'll notice a couple of themes that become repetitive: Who'll marry whom and the transactional value of women by contractual marriages, that and their schemes to manipulate their lot ... rinse & repeat, etc. However strong performances from a good cast keep it watchable. Of interest, Tom Cruise said this is where he found Rebecca Ferguson for "MI: Rogue" - where she almost stole the show and will be back for "MI: Fallout" (2018). Of add'l interest is "Poldark's" Eleanor Tomlinson, or Demelza; she's here, too! | ~ Norm de Guerre

Terrific, if a tad formulaic - a worthy Downton Abbey sequel (different characters) from Julian Fellowes - and with even more beautiful scenery exquisitely framed by Jan Jonaeus, a name not known heretofore. However, we don't need Fellowes hosting the episodes like Masterpiece's old Alistair What's-His-Name. Stefanie Martini makes a nice debut that will launch her career as a leading lady. Alison Brie plays something of the "Downton" Elizabeth McGovern role, an American in lords & ladies'land. She speaks an interesting Fellowes line: "I'd like a man who thinks like a gentleman, but whether he is one or not doesn't matter much to me." In the end, you'll see ... !!

+ Excellent. Equal to some of the BBC's best. Very well cast, especially Foy, Lithgow, Kirby, & Hamilton as the Queen Mum. One guesses the depictions of intra'familial, public duty, & personal needs competitions probably are pretty close to realistic from what we learned since Diana's death. And there are 4 royally entitled women, they think, vying for top-billing with only one, QE2, somewhat reluctant under the weight of the crown. + The only bad thing is Netflix's stream delivery if you were downshifted to the Standard Def 1-Device plan in their existing subscriber shakedown for more money. The picture quality on high-end SONY equipment is below standard DVD quality & glitchy with random short 1 to 3-sec freeze frames. Audio is OK. If you're having problems, call NETFLIX. They said after an hour on the phone with 2 20-somethings in Salt Lake City that NETFLIX app updates might not be fully compatible with SONY Bluray players or SONY Services (whatever that is) even when on stable high-speed fiber & all Cat 5E IP connections with no other devices online simultaneously - and with no problems with other services. A customer since near NETFLIX's beginnings, this may be the end for NETFLIX. + But the Series is excellent.

(A year later) Watched it again on DVD. Enjoyed the extra materials with the real stews now in their later years - still poised, sharp, & lovely - and the real stew who inspired SONY to do the Series. Easy to tell they were some of the best of good & interesting women. This is still a great Series with a lot to like - even love, having been a Wonder Years kid in '63, the year of the Series. The Cold War & spycraft elements are good, too. | (Review, 2016) Liked it; miss it (when it was own Sundays on ABC.). Own it on Amazon. Wish they or Netflix would revive it altho' the great cast may be hard to reassemble. Still, it's worth a shot.