Welcome to Downtown Abbey: the year is 1912 and the Titanic’s legendary sinking is the opening event as the Crawley family seeks out a new heir, the previous sinking in the boat, as they try to maintain their ever-changing lives.
Recently, the second season has only just begun its showing across the Atlantic on PBS, but the successful doesn’t need America to already be a huge hit. With Emmys plus BAFTAs under their belt, Downtown Abbey has the snappy drama we look to for in period dramas, the scandal and betrayal pocketed in these tailored suits. It could actually even have the last word for television shows of the time period. Rising with enough speed in its greatness, Downtown Abbey, if it might need saying, could well be the greatest television show since The Sopranos.
Downtown isn’t what we’re used to in part of the British invasion of entertainment. Unlike boy wizards and time traveling doctors, but slightly hinting Jane Austen romance, the show focuses heavily on the Crawley family, especially the daughters, Mary, Edith and Sybil, Edwardian beauties, supported by the aristos they dance with at their country house and the servants who help them lavish up flaunt their etiquette skills while managing their lives. On they outside look like fancy period tacky romances but have enough of modern scandal underneath those fancy jewels.
In short, the show is a study and exposé on higher class and the dangerous secrets the servants whisper with the potentiality to ruin the already endangered Downtown, as desires grow strong and relationships dwindle. Shows like this have a unique way of exploiting our emotions and playing with our heartstrings: the characters romantic dilemmas and social obstacles are just as relevant today as they were in the days of corsets and carriage rides through the village.
The days without telephones and fear of German wartime was still lingering as things become saucy. Brewing with its incredible cast of stars (some familiar to the American viewers, such as Maggie Smith from the Harry Potter series) that lead the large plot forward in episodes documenting the show displays, such a fragile time in history in a powerful light.
This is the time of change, a stretch of life that has enough dash of importance to catch some eyes, as well as the compelling performances of its cast. The rules of society and roles of men and women are at their heights. Britain is on the edge of war with Germany. Women are learning how to drive and are attending political lectures. Servants dream of having a better life. But the underlying drama is the fact that, while all the romance is overlapping each other in such inopportune times, all must be settled with the fact that Downtown faces the trouble of not having an heir for the property.
You can take Downtown Abbey how you want: historical drama, political tragedy, an early rise in the women’s movement, or just complete fun as enormously great television. But there is no hiding the fact that this show has perhaps the greatest cast working on television at the moment for any dramatic series, and is entirely compelling down to a point where it’s pointblank addicting. It now seems synonymous with a delectable fruit: slowly peel away at this show and enjoy this visionary portrayal of fragile lives caught in one of the most captivating times in history.