I Was Wrong About…Downton Abbey

Have you ever noticed that there’s an influx of articles about people showing off their knowledge about stuff, but very few where somebody admits that they were wrong about something? I tend to especially get annoyed by all of the obnoxious list articles with titles like “10 Movies You’ve Never Heard Of!” Don’t tell me what I haven’t heard of, dude. You don’t know me! Anyway, my point is that we rarely see something where someone admits to being wrong, and I think there’s value to that. It can give insight into preconceived notions, and perhaps even lead someone else to realize they were wrong about the same thing. So, without further ado, here is the first edition of what will hopefully become a recurring series here in the hallowed pages of BTSB. It’s called “I Was Wrong About…”

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This time, I was wrong about Downton Abbey. Yes, the incredibly famous and really quite popular British television show set during the early 1900s. As an English student who still can’t stand an ounce of Jane Austen type literature, I had always assumed that Downton Abbey would have nothing of interest to me. I was adamant that it was nothing but a dry, dull, and soap-operaish show where rich British people say stuff like “oh dear” and “quite.” I was sure of that despite having never actually seen an episode. But I was convinced that I didn’t need to watch it because it looked like Jane Austen-style stuff. Back in my high school days, I was a good and obedient student, yet I never was able to finish reading Pride & Prejudice. That’s how much I disliked it. It was the only assigned book that I never finished for my English course (if you’re reading this, Glyn, sorry!).

Needless to say, I was perfectly content with the idea that I would go through my life without ever watching a single episode of Downton Abbey. However, during some post-BTSB meeting drinks in late 2015, a fellow editor started telling me about Downton Abbey. She described a show full of twists and turns with incredible surprises that made her relate to shocked watchers of Game of Thrones whenever that series kills a beloved character. Now, I’m not even a watcher of Game of Thrones (yet another show that I think will not appeal to me…), but the comparison surprised me. By the end of the evening, I was convinced that I should watch at least one episode especially considering how easy it was for me to just stream them from Netflix. So, a day or two later, as I found myself with a night off, I decided to start streaming the first episode.

A few months later, I’m already on the fourth season, and will fully admit to loving Downton Abbey. Yes, I love this show! One of the things that I was most wrong about was the notion that the show was dry and dull. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Admittedly, the first episode is a bit slow and possibly even daunting, with so many new characters to be introduced to. The Crawley family alone includes Robert Crawley and his wife Cora, plus their three daughters, Mary, Edith, and Sybil, not to mention cousin Matthew and his mother Isobel, plus Robert’s mother, Lady Grantham. Joining them as part of the core cast is their servant staff made up of Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Bates, Mrs. O’Brien, Anna, William, Thomas, Gwen, Mrs. Patmore, and Daisy. It’s enough to make your head spin.

Yet one of the things that makes Downton Abbey so fantastic is that it manages to make you invested in each and every single one of these characters. It’s a feat for any show to develop a character that you can become emotionally invested in, yet this show manages to do that with over twenty characters. By the end of the first season, I was completely in love with several of these characters, while totally hating a couple of them. That’s one of the things that I love about Downton Abbey. The characters are so lovable and charming, that it feels comforting to watch the show. It’s like curling up beside a warm fireplace. Don’t get me wrong, though. This is not a show that is content to just coddle you. As the show has progressed, there have been several moments where I’ve found myself audibly saying “oh no…” as I start to see where a scene is headed. I have no qualms admitting that this show has left me heartbroken multiple times.

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Of course, drama was something I expected from Downton Abbey in any case, but something I was quite surprised by was how funny the show actually is. Maggie Smith’s Lady Grantham had me laughing out loud the very minute that she showed up. I’ve noticed that laughing out loud is a reaction that occurs significantly more easily when in the company of others, yet Downton Abbey has managed to make me laugh on multiple occasions. To me, that’s saying something significant.

On the topic of Lady Grantham, another thing the show does really well is that it naturally develops the characters. Using her as an example, she appears, at first glance, to be the sour matriarch figure, quick to make a sharp disapproving comment about kids these days. However, as the series develops, they will continue to peel back layers, revealing things about the characters that may surprise you and go against your preconceived notions about them. Yet, best of all, this never feels forced or unnatural. Even when you’re surprised by a character’s actions, you still can’t help but feel that, in retrospect, they make total sense.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t quickly mention the setting of the show. For history buffs (which I humbly count myself amongst), the early 1900s setting is wonderfully recreated and detailed. Actual events, such as the sinking of the Titanic and World War I, are woven into the story in significant ways. There are also more superficial references, scenes to make us laugh at how far we’ve come (or how much remains the same). Yet for the most part, the series does a really great job making full use of that “the times they are a-changin’” mentality of the period.

There is much more that I could say about this show, but to do so would venture into spoiler territories, which I will adamantly avoid in order to let you experience the show as I did. And that’s what I hope to have accomplished with this piece… That is, if you found yourself relating to me at the beginning of this piece, I hope you will brush aside your preconceived notions and give Downton Abbey a chance. After all, there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you were wrong about something…