Even in the midst of the “‘Merica” frenzy during the past few months, I still have a love for all things British. Who does not love Harry Potter? Kate Middleton? The Queen? The 2012 Olympics? The ‘Keep Calm’ posters? And finally, my personal favorite, who does not love the critically acclaimed television drama “Downton Abbey?”
In case you have given up cable for the past two years or refuse to watch anything but “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” I will give you a brief synopsis of the show.
“Downton Abbey” is a British period drama, set on a country estate, that depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Great events in history, such as the sinking of the RMS Titanic and World War I, play a part shaping the lives of the Crawley family.
This show contains every theme imaginable to keep you on the edge of your seats waiting for the next episode to air. Love, betrayal, family strife – it has it all.
Some of the more interesting dynamics occur between the Crawleys and their servants, who seem like a part of the family, especially during times of crisis such as the announcement of World War I. No matter how close they seem, the class hierarchy system was very much still in effect in Britain. There are many spin-off parody videos such as “Uptown Downstairs Abbey” which highlight the downstairs versus upstairs world.
If for some reason British period dramas are not your cup of tea, give “Downton Abbey” a try for the sole reason that Maggie Smith (aka Professor McGonagall from “Harry Potter”) plays the role of Dowager Countess flawlessly. She has the scheming mother-in-law role down to an art.
“Downton Abbey” won four Primetime Emmy awards in 2011 and is nominated for 16 awards this year, including Best Drama Series. Michelle Dockery is nominated for best actress for her role as Lady Mary Crawley and Hugh Bonneville is nominated for best actor for his role as the Earl of Grantham. Unfortunately, Maggie Smith was the only one to walk away with an award.
The third season premiered in the UK last week and unfortunately those of us across the pond will have to wait until Jan. 6 to catch up on all of the drama that surrounds the Crawley family. Midterms and finals week should provide ample time to watch all sixteen episodes of seasons one and two in preparation for the new season.
Until then, I will have to keep my excitement up by watching the season three trailer over and over again.
