zpzjones How could anybody who has ever seen and loved the original Upstairs, Downstairs show not love Thomas & Sarah, the only spin-off series from the former show? In reading some of the other comments, viewers say T&S doesn't have this or didn't have that as opposed to what 'Updown' had. People!, it's not supposed to. If one remembers, the characters Thomas Watkins and Sarah Moffatt were the chauffeur and under-house on the original Updown having left at the death of Edward VII, in May 1910. This new show is about them and their adventures, or misadventures, depending on how you look at it. It takes place roughly 1910-1912, but certainly before WW1. In Updown Sarah and many of the other characters always talked about their adventures away from 165 Eaton Place, where they had been, ...for instance James Bellamy had taken Sarah to Paris near the end of series one or earlier when Sarah had first left she had been with a circus for two years. But we never see her and James at Paris, just talking about it. Here in T&S much more is played out. T&S has more location photography that only some Updown episodes had ie the trip to Scotland in the final series. In T&S we get to see the kinds of things Sarah always bragged about to Rose in Updown when they used to share the same bedroom in the first Updown series. The decision to do more adventurous stories and location work is a good extension or extrapolation from the original Updown which was more studio bound, but couldn't help to be with a much larger cast and more subplots. The decision to shoot Updown & T&S on videotape is why these two period pieces are quite viewable today.Alfred Shaughnessy(1916-2005) is the main producer/writer T&S and in 1990s commentaries on Updown, we learn he had grown up in large wealthy houses and knew about the era just preceding his 1916 birth, the prewar era in which T&S takes place. It seems the only person missing is Shaughnessy's writing partner from Updown, John Hawkesworth. On his own and right after Updown ended in 1975, Hawkesworth produced "The Duchess of Duke Street", with as much attention to period detail as Updown and T&S. When T&S began in 1978 Hawkesworth was about to produce the excellent WW2 series "Danger UXB", so his absence from T&S is understandable. The final episode has a 'Jules & Jim' nature to it joining Thomas and Sarah with a grieving landowner named Richard De Brassey whom Sarah falls for and wants to marry. Others have commented on how this episode ends and what was later to be contemplated with a second series. The finale ends ambiguously with Thomas and De Brassey going into a burning barn. We later see Sarah at a graveside attending the burial of one of them, the name is not on the wooden coffin or is surrounded by a wreath or laurel of flowers. Just my opinion Thomas faked his death in the fire and used the opportunity to flee Sarah, leaving her to marry De Brassey, and go to America as he always wanted to seek his fortune.

ShadeGrenade 'Thomas & Sarah' was the only spin-off from L.W.T.'s hugely popular period drama series 'Upstairs Downstairs', reuniting Pauline Collins as the perky 'Sarah' with ( her real-life husband ) John Alderton as ex-valet cum chauffeur/mechanic 'Thomas Watkins'.Contrary to what was established in 'Updown', Thomas and Sarah never married. As the series begins, they have been apart for some time. He ditched her while she was pregnant. She is now looking after a rich woman's child, while he has his own garage business, which does not appear to be doing too well. They meet up by chance when he almost runs into her as she is out pushing a pram. Naturally, she has a lot she wants to say to him.Over the coming weeks, the series evolved almost into a period version of 'Budgie', with Thomas seeking to make a fortune, and usually failing flat on his face. The title sequence neatly summarised the premise ( as they should do ) by featuring Thomas throwing a coin into the air to see what side it would fall on - it went down a drain! Harry Rabinowitz provided the excellent theme tune. In 'The Silver Ghost', Tom is entrusted with the job of selling Lord Bellamy's Rolls, and gets caught up in a jewel smuggling plot. 'The Vanishing Plot' has him and Sarah buying a Chinese magician's stage act, only to find it is worthless. 'Alma Mater', on the other hand, sees the pair coming to the aid of children being exploited by a greedy headmaster. 'Return To Gethyn' features them in Wales, where Tom is accused of fathering an illegitimate child. Probably the best of the bunch was 'The New Rich' in which they move into a house that looks uncannily like 165 Eaton Place, and come into conflict with a snobbish butler ( played superbly by the late Nigel Hawthorne ).Apart from 'T & S', no other characters from 'Updown' appeared. There were behind the scenes problems - Alderton kept sending back scripts for rewrites, and clashed with producer Christopher Hodson. The show was good overall, but never came close to rivalling its predecessor in terms of popularity. Only one season was made. A second got abandoned thanks to the infamous 1979 I.T.V. strike. The final episode - 'Love Into Three Won't Go' - ended on a cliffhanger, with Tom seemingly perishing when stables caught fire. Sarah is seen weeping over an unidentified grave.Given the staggering success of 'Updown' in America, it is surprising to hear that 'T & S' was not shown out there for many years.

AnnieCian I could not believe that anyone could reduce themselves to this mediocrity after the success of Upstairs Downstairs. What were the producers thinking of? I only watched it because someone had the bright idea to attach it to the Box set of Upstairs Downstairs. After few episodes I quit. It is the same oxymoron. Sarah and Thomas with their shameless and shady antiques which is so far fetched at times that it comes down as an insult to our intelligence rather than entertainment. I found Sarah's overacting, loud and ear scratching cockney diction quite irritating and Thomas' dishonesty and conniving superficial and borderline ridiculous. I strongly recommend that the fans of Upstairs Downstairs stay away from it not to diminish their uplifting enjoyment of UD. The fact that Thomas and Sarah only lasted a few episodes speaks in volumes.

Pipeman_Toronto To answer the first comment - They aren't making series like this anymore because they've forgotten how. They did recently try with "Berkeley Square" about a group of governesses/nannies in 1902 London. Even though that series manages to work on its own terms, it doesn't come close to having the kind of heart that "Thomas and Sarah", and its predecessor "Upstairs Downstairs" did.I've noticed a trend with recent historical programming from Britain. They're now more concerned with making the characters (of whatever era is being depicted) have a more modern EDGE to them. The recent series about Henry VIII is a prime example. Since when did Henry VIII have a cool East-end London accent anyway? They no longer care about accurate costuming and period detail either. Costumes and settings reflect this theme of appearing more modern/relatable to today's viewers - and it all comes off looking like rubbish.I think one of the most tragic aspects of the kind of historical drivel being churned out by English TV these days is that they've forgotten a key component that made both "Thomas & Sarah" and UD work so well - HUMOUR! Humour is sadly missing from these badly scripted dramas that take themselves so damned seriously. Someone at the BBC needs to re-visit the vaults and see what real historical drama is!!