I don't want to give the impression that I am not enjoying this series because I am, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm not sure if it's the dialogue, script, and acting, but it seems stiff. Were people this formal and one-dimensional in the privacy of their own homes?
Perhaps it is unfair to compare this with Downton Abbey, and maybe an Americanized version of that period loses a bit of luster. Still, the characters aren't nuanced, and I am having difficulty caring about or rooting for any of them. The plotlines seem formulaic, and there are no surprises.
I will say that I am enjoying it more as the season progresses, and it's worth watching, but if you are expecting it to be anything like Downton Abbey, you will be disappointed.