The Americans have their Downton Abbey, their PBS Masterpiece Theatre for the lumpen masses. The Brits, meanwhile, have a show that has been running for six years and counting — and not without its fair share of controversy. Here’s your crash course before heading back to Highclere Castle for Downton Abbey Season Six!
When one is talking about the upper class and who inhabits it, there’s a good chance an American story will be involved. You see, Downton Abbey is a story that mainly revolves around the British aristocracy, with much of its plot taking place on country estates. But Downton is also about money, family, class and Britain’s elite at large.
Storyline of ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’
The show is set in 1918. That was the year before the end of World War I, when Britain was trying to recover from what would later be called “the war to end all wars.”
And it’s also right around the time when the aristocracy was on its way out, as some of its members were worried they’d never get a shot at reclaiming their wealth and social standing. They were also concerned their private lives would become a public spectacle.
Enter the new “Regency” style. This was a time and place when the English upper class realised the world had changed, and they no longer could hide behind their friends, money and titles. They also realised that with so much of their fortune gone, having a “family name” was no longer nearly as important as it once was.
Cast and Crew of the series
- Hugh Bonneville
- Laura Carmichael
- Jim Carter
- Brendan Coyle
- Michelle Dockery
- Joanne Froggatt
- Sophie McShera
- Elizabeth McGovern
- Phyllis Logan
- Robert James-Collier
- Lesley Nicol
Why is Downton Abbey so popular?
The show has become one of the most popular dramas in Britain — and the world, for that matter. It’s the show people talk about at work, on public transportation and wherever they get together to watch television.
And while it’s certainly a class commentary, this is not a soap box for left-wing politics. No, Downton Abbey is meant to make people feel better about their own lives — even if we are talking about the British upper class.
This is a show that says there’s always something to look forward to. Even if you are born into an aristocratic family, and have never worked a day in your life, you can still learn to be humble.
Is Downton Abbey a true story?
“Downton Abbey” is a British historical period drama television series set in the early 20th century, beginning just before the First World War and continuing until the late 1920s. The series centres on the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey. It was created by Julian Fellowes and written by Fellowes and his wife, Emma.
It is widely perceived as a cautionary tale about the British class system and for the most part it is accurate but there are some plot holes
The season finale of Downton Abbey left us with a death, a vanish and an engagement. And that’s just for starters in the series’ third season!
Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) was killed in an automobile accident after his wife, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), gave birth to their child. He was survived by their infant son.
