Is It Worth the Watch?

I decided to catch up with almost everybody else in the world and watched all six seasons of Downton Abbey in a span of two months. I think my overall reaction is my own fault, I had huge expectations. It was so beloved, so talked about, so exalted I expected knockout, industry-changing television, like House of Cards or The Crown.

What I got was a pretty standard soap opera, albeit sumptuously produced and extremely well acted, but still plot points you might see any afternoon on All My Children or General Hospital. One of the series’ huge strengths, however, is it never pretends to be anything else.

Not really a remake of Upstairs, Downstairs (more of an homage, maybe?), the plot and themes are basically those of Fiddler on the Roof: a man struggles to retain his home and lifelong traditions while his three daughters defy them in romantic entanglements, all starting in 1912.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not sorry I committed so many hours to it. It’s compelling and often fun and, other than the surprisingly absurd, eye-rolling, logic-defying second season, retains its footing and tone perfectly. 

Is It Worth The Watch? It knows exactly what its audience wants: characters you fall in love with and want to follow even when the plot is improbably melodramatic.

2010 – 2015

Seasons – 6

Episodes – 52

Running time – 47–93 minutes per episode

Starring – Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Phyllis Logan, Brendan Coyle, Robert James-Collier, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech

Creator – Julian Fellowes

Screenplay – Julian Fellowes, Shelagh Stephenson, Tina Pepler