1. The Cynical, Critical Streak
Lets be honest, one of the reasons period drama is generally tosh is because the upper class are boring, and we hate them now just as much as we did then (Im no socialist, but come on, its always fun to have a greedy, obvious scapegoat). Ford, White, Cumberbatch and Stoppard completely understand this. Yes, it is all about the troubles and turmoils of aristocrats with large houses, and yes, parts of it take place during the great war. But part of its appeal is that is agrees with the viewer how ridiculous it all is- both the very existence of The Great War (nice one, Kitchener and Haig) and the stuffy conventions of a class stuck in the Edwardian era. It criticises itself, its characters actions and the events happening around them just as much as you are. How many of its ilk will do that, instead of practically ordering you sit down, shut up and watch the lives of your superiors?