Royal Upstairs Downstairs

Despite the title, this is not a BBC period miniseries dealing with the monarchy, but rather a chatty 10-hour, 20-episode documentary series that takes viewers to 19 of the stately English homes that Queen Victoria visited over the course of her long reign (the tour actually begins with an aristocratic estate she spent an evening at while she was still a teen princess), progressing through trips made after her accession, with her husband Albert, and during her widowhood following his untimely demise. The opportunity to glimpse the impeccable gardens, grounds, and lush interiors of these opulent residences—including Chatsworth House, Blair Castle, Burghley House, and Waddeson Manor—will appeal to many inquiring minds; but for most, the pleasure will be marred by hosts Tim Wonnacott and Rosemary Shrager, who come across as near caricatures of Englishness. Wonnacott, a mustachioed antiques expert, exudes a Monty Python-esque air as he roams through the paneled halls and lavish dining rooms, while Shrager exults over the kitchens (the “downstairs” part of the series), where she exuberantly watches cooks prepare dishes served to Victoria more than a century ago. Both are quick with humorous anecdotes—usually related to commoners' adoration of her royal majesty and the queen's quite proper sense of protocol—as they serve up a stream of uncritical gosh-and-golly observations about the monarch. Ultimately, however, the gushing grows tiresome, so that by journey's end (the last episode is a highlights reel), many will be more than happy to disembark. Still, dyed-in-the-wool Anglophiles will likely want to see, so consider this a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)