Downton Abbey

A few weeks ago, Joe and I came home early from something (I think from the Christmas party) and we decided to watch something on Netflix. Joe suggested watching a TV series called Downton Abbey. He said that it had some really good reviews. So we started watching it...I however, fell asleep half way through the first episode which was a huge mistake! Downton Abbey is a fantastic show which is well written with a deeply complex cast and story line. I ended up catching up to where Joe was and then together we finished the first season to catch up for Season Two which had already started airing on PBS. Of course, last weekend, just as the show was starting, I got an emergency call-my greatest fear-and missed all but the last half hour of a three hour marathon. I'm all caught up now and ready to do some spoiling for you. So I suggest if you want to catch up, don't read this blog!

So the characters-
Lord Grantham
Lady Grantham-a rich American married to the Lord
Violet (Dowager Countess of Grantham)-Lord Grantham's mpother
Lady Mary-the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Grantham
Lady Ethel-the often forgotten about middle daughter
Lady Sybil-the youngest daughter; nieve and kind
Mrs. Hughes-the head maid
Carson-head butler
Thomas-first footman, a huge jerk and close friend of Mrs. O'Brien
Mrs. O'Brien-Lady Grantham's personal maid
Gwen and Anna-maids, servants to the daughters
Bates-valet to Lord Gratham; served with him in the army during the Boer War and is handicapped-bad leg
Mrs. Parthmore-head cook, becomes blind by cateracts which the Lord had fixed
Daisy-kitchen help in love with Thomas
William-second footman
Branson-an Irish rebel; the chauffer
Matthew-cousin of the family; middle class lawyer
Isobel-Matthew's mother

Season One opens up just after the sinking of the Titanic. Unfortunately, the next two heirs to the Grantham estate are aboard and die in the sinking. Lady Mary was to marry the youngest of the two heirs thus keeing the family's fortune (actually belonging to her mother) in the family. There becomes a lot of focus on finding Mary a suitable husband while maintaining the wealth that her mother brought to the family. No one seems to be interested. The first Lord actually had an affair with Thomas, the next is uninterested but brings with him a Turkish gentleman who woos Lady Mary. The Turkish gentleman unfortunately dies in Lady Mary's bed forcing Anna, Lady Mary and Lady Grantham to move him back to his own bed to protect Lady Mary's name. On the side of the servants, Bates comes to become Lord Grantham's valet but there is a question that he will be able to do his job because he walks with a severe limp and cane. Thomas was looking to become the valet and this causes him and Mrs. O'Brien to plot against Bates. Bates loses his job at the end of the first episode but the Lord welcomes him back. There is some suspicion surrounding the Turkish man's death. Lady Edith gets out of Daisy what she saw and writes to the Turkish Ambassador which sullies Lady Mary's name all over London. The next heir to the estate is found and it is Matthew, a middle class lawyer who doesn't immediately warm up to servants or the family. He brings his mother, Isobel to live nearby the estate. Isobel becomes actively involved in the hospital despite Violet's protests. Lady Sybil becomes actively involved in politics and ends up in the middle of a riot where she has to be rescued by Matthew and Branson. Lady Sybil also tries to help Gwen gain a secretarial job. Lady Edith becomes interested in a neighbor and he the like. However, Lady Mary wants to get back at Lady Edith and tells the neighbor (Sir Anthony) that Lady Edith is not interested in his proposal. Lady Mary and Matthew are getting rather close but Lady Mary distances herself from him when it is found out that her mother is pregnant. If her mother has a boy, then the heir is the son. However, O'Brien overhears Violet and Lady Grantham talking regarding hiring a new maid and gets very jelaous because she thinks she is going to get fired. However, the new maid is for Violet. O'Brien leaves a piece of soap in Lady Grantham's path while she bathes and the Lady slips on it when she gets out of the tub. The fall causes her to lose the baby which was a boy. Lady Mary tries to reconsile to Matthew but its too late.  Thomas and O'Brien frame Bates regarding stealing from the Lord but Anna and Bates get them back. Then the pair frame Bates again about stealing the wine (which Thomas has been doing all along). The truth comes out to Carson regarding Bates and Thomas and the wine and Thomas is going to be fired. Thomas however quits first by joining the military medical corps. The season ends with World War I starting.

I recommend catching up with Season Two on PBS.