Rewind: Downton Abbey Season 1 Review

What a treat this show became for me.  I watched the first episode and came away very disappointed and not at all surprised that the show just wasn't doing it for me.  Gradually, each episode afterwards I became more and more invested.  While at first I was trying to space out my episodes, because I thought the episodes were too long and I was constantly checking to see when it would end, I ended up watching four episodes the past two days.

The beauty of a character drama show such as this (or Mad Men) is that each episode gradually builds the background and moral standing of each character.  By the last episode, you practically know the characters as real people.  

Downton Abbey has a LOT of characters and it seemingly took the time to flesh out each and every one of them.  It boggles the mind how Downton Abbey has created 20 different and interesting characters while Dexter has created virtually no one outside of Dexter, Doakes, and the villain of the season who is all that fleshed out.

The main storyline of the season was that Downton Abbey had no male heirs after two of the Crowley cousins died in the Titanic.  That is the date set at the first episode, which would be in April of 1912.  With the two men's death, the biggest problem was finding Lady Mary Crawley a husband to inherit the land.

Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley then appear to have a forbidden love for the rest of the season.  She doesn't like him, while Matthew is infatuated with her.  Then the tables turn when Mary ignores Matthew and finds she is growing to like him.  Basically, there is always something that gets in the way of the two just doing what is obvious and marrying.  

John Bates helps us get acquainted with the staff as his first day is also our first time watching the show.  The crew immediately dislikes him and try to secretly get him off the crew, using Bates' limp leg as the main reasoning.  Mr. Bates appears to be a great person, but it's clear there's a past haunting him.    The season gradually reveals that past.

Then there's Mr. Carson, who at first seems to be a conniving man, but later on it is revealed he just really wants to maintain the integrity of Downton Abbey.  Mrs. Obrien and Thomas provide the "villians" of the season as they constantly scheme to frame Bates for stealing.  Mrs. Patmore has declining vision that threatens her job.  Her constant yelling at her assistant Daisy is funny for the most part.  

Maggie Smith is just about the best part of the show.  She is nearly always hilarious.  An example: "I can't believe my maid is leaving to get married. She's so selfish."  Lady Edith seems constantly forgotten by the family (but not the writers) as she and Mary fight constantly over men mostly.  Lady Sybil spends the majority of her screen time fighting for the right for woman to vote, mostly to the chagrin to everyone else.

Anyway, there are, believe it or not, more characters that are explored.  Nearly all of them get a story line that reveals who they are.

Season 1 occurs over a two-year period.  It is established that the sinking of the Titanic was the beginning and in the end, World War I was just declared so it was July of 1914.  (They also added the telephone into the home, which of course leads to a comedic bit where someone plays around with it.)

I wholeheartedly recommend this to potential viewers.  

Next post: Unconventional Drama, which is already written, but I needed this post to be done immediately after I finished the series.