★★ There are works (series, movies, etc.) whose design seems to be above themselves. Here the design is based on a production premise: “the creator of Downton Abbey portrays the New York of The Age of Innocence”. And yes, it is a luxurious design, although the story (a country girl must integrate into the society of railroad tycoons in turn-of-the-century Manhattan) seems like a mere frame for the script to accumulate witty and acid moments, plus some all’use comments from the time on relevant issues. That would be all, but what we really have is something else: spectacular costumes, sideways glances, spectacular tableware, sidelong glances, fascinating architecture and sideways glances. Like a toothpaste the same as yesterday whose packaging was changed and we discovered that it no longer whitens as before.
