TV: Downton Abbey

"I take that as a complement."

"I must've said it wrong."

In the 1910s, the Crawley family is in turmoil.  Robert Crawley (Bonneville), the 7th Earl of Grantham, does not have any sons and upon his death, the beloved estate and the title will go to the next male relative.  The heir presumptive was killed when the Titanic sank, leaving the family wondering what will happen next.

The next available heir is Matthew Crawley (Stevens) is a solicitor that has never met the family.  He and his mother, Isobel (Wilton), move to town to meet the family.  Isobel immediately clashes with Robert's mother, Violet Crawley (Smith), the Dowager Countess of Grantham.  While the Crawley's get used to Matthew and Isobel, Robert and his wife Cora (McGovern), Countess of Grantham, are thinking of their daughters' futures.  Headstrong oldest daughter, Lady Mary (Dockery), has a connection with Matthew, but they also clash from the beginning.  Middle daughter Lady Edith (Carmichael), is often overlooked in the family and is trying to find her own.  Youngest daughter Lady Sybil (Brown Findlay) wants more from life than a country estate and the life of a lady.

The family servants are also concerned about the future.  Led by traditional butler Mr. Carson (Carter) and thoughtful housekeeper Mrs. Hughes (Logan), they try to keep life running smoothly while supporting the family they serve.  With the world changing around them, can Downton Abbey survive?

The show was inspired by the 2001 film Gosford Park written by Julian Fellowes.  Fellowes originally wanted to spin-off from the film, but ultimately decided to create a new story.  Three of the cast members from the film, also appear in the film: Maggie Smith (Constances, Countess of Trentham in the film and Violet, Dowager Countess of Gratham in the show), Jeremy Swift (Arthur in the film and Spratt in the show), and Richard E. Grant (George in the film and Simon Bricker in the show).

The 6 series of the show take place between 1912 and 1926.  The costumes are fantastic, and historically accurate.  The estate, Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, is beautiful.  The cast is great, with Maggie Smith as the clear stand-out.  Smith steals every scene as the Dowager Countess.  She gets the best lines and you can't help but love her character.  Her scenes with Penelope Wilton, especially their arguments are always entertaining exchanges.  The rest of the cast is great as well.  Over the 6 seasons (and 14 years they cover), the characters grow and change.  Some characters I did not like from the beginning, grew on me by the end of the show.  Each season introduces new characters, both upstairs and downstairs.  The seasons are short, just 7-9 episodes per season, including annual Christmas episodes with a longer running time.

The show was popular and received numerous awards including Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie in 2011, Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film in 2011, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

The series finale gave audiences a satisfying conclusion to the lives of the Crawley family and their servants.  It tied up loose ends and left the characters in believe-able places.  It ends in a place of hope and joy for the characters, as you want all stories to end.

Fellowes and the cast will reunite for the 2019 film Downton Abbey.  The film will continue the story of the Crawley family a few years after their last episode.

Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

Creator: Julian Fellowes

Starring: Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley
Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley
Jim Carter as Mr. Carson
Raquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter
Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates
Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley
Siobhan Finneran as Miss O'Brien
Michael C. Fox as Andy Parker
Joanne Froggatt as Anna
Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot
Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham
Thomas Howes as William Mason
Lily James as Lady Rose MacClare
Rob James-Collier as Mr. Barrow
Allen Leech as Tom Branson
Rose Leslie as Gwen Dawson
Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Sophie McShera as Daisy
Matt Milne as Alfred Nugent
Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore
Amy Nuttall as Ethel Parks
Julian Ovenden as Charles Blake
David Robb as Dr. Clarkson
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Ed Speleers as James Kent
Dan Steven as as Matthew Crawley
Cara Theobold as Ivy Stuart
Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley