Downton Abbey is not for grandmas

I have been a die-hard Downton fan since 2020, and honestly, it changed my life. Deep into my third run through, I can’t but worship the exceptional plot, scenery and cast that make this show so visceral and immersive. Downton has collected its fair share of awards over the years, but it’s not just the formal recognition but the cult following that has highlighted its excellence. Countless Instagram accounts still frequently post edits and discussions 16 years after the first season was released. So don’t let the six seasons and three movies put you off, not one episode is disappointing, and in fact, the further it goes the better it gets.

Most people would recognise some of the stellar ensemble cast, Hugh Bonnevile (Paddington), Maggie Smith (Harry Potter) and Lily James (Cinderella) – talent is showcased here. They transform what is an already beautiful script by their exceptional delivery of witty and sometimes devastating lines. No cast member is subpar, and nobody outacts another. Instead, they work together to bring out each other’s very best, meaning a show that so dangerously handles so many characters, shines in its complexity. One cannot forget to mention the incredible cameos, from Paul Giametti (The Holdovers) and Shirley Maclaine (Terms of Endearment) as Cora’s eccentric American family to Theo James (Divergent) as the seductive Turkish diplomat whose untimely death changes the course of the inhabitants of Downton Abbey irrevocably.

The costume designers do not fail to provide the most magnificent array of costumes. Some dresses are now just as recognisable as the events themselves: Sybil’s trousers in series one, Edith’s strapless green peacock number in series four, Mary’s countless halter necks and almost all of Rose’s gorgeous numbers. The obvious care in the transformations between seasons and even during series, to reflect the great changes in fashion in the early twentieth century are a feast to the eyes, especially when backgrounded by the imposing but magnificent Downton Abbey or the luxury of the London season.

For the history nerds (like me), Julian Fellowes has conducted deep research into the social and political climate of every era the show progresses through, opening with the tragedy of the titanic, wrestling through the disaster of the first world war and emerging into the transformed 1920s. The Dowager’s distain for David Lloyd George, Isobel’s proud middle-class mindset and the clashes between aristocratic Robert and socialist Tom, provide a fascinating panorama of views from the early part of the previous century. Parred with the incredible one-liners, frequently dotted with literary and classical references, those with a deep-rooted passion for history will be enthralled by the golden nuggets Fellowes drops. Those with little knowledge of the early 20^th century do not be put off, the general scenery, conversations and costume changes highlight the historical context superbly and therefore all watchers are submerged into what feels like another world. The timeless struggle between the old and the new is emphasised impeccably by the often-tense discussions over the management of the landed estate and Robert’s frequent head scratchings over his progressive daughters’ mayhem.

 The viewer is provided with just the right number of personal storylines and interwoven dramas to mimic what a real landed estate would have felt like. The Crawley family rivalries, particularly between the eldest, icy and headstrong Mary Crawley and the younger, snobbish and insecure Edith Crawley provide all the tension and backstabbing to keep a true crime fan engaged (even if they don’t actually murder each other). One shouldn’t fall into categorising these characters purely as foils of each other, as the further one progresses with the show, their personalities flesh out to reveal both resilient and ambitious young women, products of their circumstance and each with equal flaws. The Dowager and Mrs Crawley’s incessant battles of wit, even when they become the closest of friends (not that they would admit to it), provide endless humour as does the downstairs staff perpetual rivalries as to who becomes senior footman and who kisses who. The apex of tension comes from footman Thomas and valet Bates’s furious disdain for each other, providing an edge to the sometimes-silly rivalries, ever heightened by the moments of fleeting and doomed truce between them.

Romance is everywhere within Downton Abbey, and of every kind. Whilst Robert’s love might be strongest for his dogs, his gradual love for his buccaneer wife Cora is charming. Whilst Sybil, Mary and Edith have their fair share of tense and whirlwind romances, the most touching love stories come from their staff. Anna and Bates ever blighted, but deeply passionate, love contains both some of the most beautiful, heart wrenching and tender moments of the show. The oldies, both upstairs and down, also find their share of love, but with who and when, I will leave for you to find out. Oh, and rest assured, Thomas Barrow (the scheming, cunning but deeply troubled footman) does find happiness in the end, thank goodness.

Those who crave the drama will be highly satisfied, the series jam packed with scandal, fights and extraordinarily tense dinner scenes, which make our twenty first century pub brawls look tame. Fellowes constructs the perfect villains: Nanny West, Larry Gray, and O’Brian to name the most wicked. With a handful of weddings, six seasons, a cottage hospital and a billion prying and nosy servants who know way more about the Crawley’s lives then they could ever know theirs, what possibly could go wrong? Whilst by the end of the series the sight of the policeman is enough to send Carson, and us, the viewers, into cardiac arrest, the drama is carefully balanced with the humour, stunning shots of Highclere and the touching moments of, both blood and chosen, family.

So, go on, give it a go. If you love the backstabbing in The Traitors, the historicalness of Bridgeton and the drama of Eastenders, Downton Abbey is right down your street. Plus, watching and loving Downton Abbey is not just a grandma hobby – trust in some of your favourite celebrities; Taylor Swift, Shakira, Harrison Ford and Michella Obama are all notable fans.

Brew yourself a cuppa tea and try it. You won’t ever regret it.