It’s commonly said better late than never, right? Well, I couldn’t agree more.
I’m a known and outspoken fangirl of things that fangirls between the ages of 16-25 typically fangirl about: Harry Potter, Glee, The Hunger Games, you name it. So when it came to the PBS sensation known as Downton Abbey, I knew it was only a matter of time before I could add it to my fangirl list. And boy, let me just say here, it was totally worth the wait.
Before starting season 1 of Downton Abbey, my Twitter feed was often filled with excitement around this show, but I had also heard from the nay sayers that it was some sort of period soap opera. I was a little hesistant with those statements simply because I like to think that soap operas are only for sappy chicks. And I’m not one of those chicks, thank you very much.
Thankfully, though, after watching the first two seasons, I’m happy to say that I completely disagree with the nay sayers’ consensus on Downton Abbey. Here’s why:
1- Good Writing
No matter what kind of novel, script or story a person pens, whether it’s a comedy, action packed thriller, or drama, they key factor for success both by critics and revenues is good writing. A good plot is only a good plot if it contains consistency– in characters’ actions, dialogue, and motives. Everything is blended and when things that happen to and between characters don’t match up to their characterizations, as is too often the case in movies, television shows, etc., credibility is lost. With Downton Abbey, though, I’ve never been let down by the writing. Creator of the show Julian Fellowes is brilliant when it comes to the screenplays of this show. And it’s all the more impressive that he’s been able to hold the consistency of Downton Abbey together with an ensemble cast of approximately 20 main characters. Fellowes does his thing, and can then let the cast shine doing theirs.
2- Costumes
When I watch anything on screen, like most humans, I’m drawn to the visual presentation of what I’m watching. Whether it’s the background settings in every scene or the cinematography, colors stand out– espeically in HD. But more than anything, costumes are, I think, one of the most underrated aspects of storytelling on screen. They emphasize a character’s traits and are always vibrant. And since Downton Abbey is a period piece, it just makes the costumes that much more exciting. From watching this show, all I can say is that I’ve gained a lot more respect for the way society dressed then. No one, not even the servants, is afraid of being fashion forward. The hats, the dresses, the British Army uniforms, the tuxes, everything. Even the uniforms of the servants are perfect. Overall, everyone on Downton Abbey takes their physical presentation seriously. Something of which we don’t have enough of in this century.
3- Social Statuses
When we grow up, we hear in our history classes that the separation between upper and lower classes in previous centuries has been an ongoing issue, and still persists today. There’s nothing as good on Downton Abbey, though, than watching this history lesson play a role in every episode. And it’s not just shown in how wealthy the Crawley family is. It’s in the little things: the mannerisms, expectations, fears, and objections the servants experience when dealing with the Crawleys and other upper class members. The way they panic if they may be caught doing or saying something they shouldn’t be, and the relief they feel when they’re complimented by Lord Grantham or anyone of his family. It’s pure brilliance. And it’s even better that over the course of season 2, the ongoing World War I shakes everything up when it comes to the strain between classes. It makes the plots of the episodes more believeable, and opens the door for the future of this show to endless possibilities.
