Downton Abbey (2010– )

Beginning in the years leading up to World War I, the drama centers on the Crawley family and their servants.

Creator:

Julian Fellowes

Stars:

Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 26 wins & 72 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (28 episodes, 2010-2013)
Lesley Nicol	...	Mrs. Patmore (28 episodes, 2010-2013)
Hugh Bonneville	...	Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Laura Carmichael	...	Lady Edith Crawley (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Jim Carter	...	Charles Carson (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Brendan Coyle	...	John Bates (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Michelle Dockery	...	Lady Mary Crawley (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Siobhan Finneran	...	Sarah O'Brien (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Joanne Froggatt	...	Anna Smith (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Rob James-Collier	...	Thomas Barrow (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Phyllis Logan	...	Mrs. Hughes (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Sophie McShera	...	Daisy Mason (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Maggie Smith	...	Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (27 episodes, 2010-2013)
Dan Stevens	...	Matthew Crawley (25 episodes, 2010-2012)
Penelope Wilton	...	Isobel Crawley (25 episodes, 2010-2012)
Allen Leech	...	Tom Branson (22 episodes, 2010-2013)
Jessica Brown Findlay	...	Lady Sybil Crawley (20 episodes, 2010-2012)
Kevin Doyle	...	Joseph Molesley (20 episodes, 2010-2013)
David Robb	...	Dr. Clarkson (17 episodes, 2010-2012)
Amy Nuttall	...	Ethel Parks (16 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ed Speleers	...	Jimmy Kent (14 episodes, 2012-2013)
Thomas Howes	...	William Mason (12 episodes, 2010-2011)
Matt Milne	...	Alfred Nugent (12 episodes, 2012-2013)

Storyline

Lord Crawley sees his family heritage, especially the grand country home Downton Abbey, as his mission in life. The death of his heir aboard the Titanic means distant cousin Matthew Crawley, a Manchester lawyer, suddenly is next in line and accepts moving onto the vast estate with his even more modernist, socially engaged mother, who clashes with his lordship's domineering, conservative mother, the dowager. Marrying off the daughters is another concern. Meanwhile, the butler presides over a staff which serves the family, but also lead most of their entire lives in the servants' quarters, intriguing amongst themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

servant | estate | heir | lawyer | butler | 

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Taglines:

War changes everything

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

ITV [uk] Masterpiece Downton Abbey PBS [usa]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Masterpiece Classic

Filming Locations:

The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min 65 min 48 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Initially some British viewers accused creator Julian Fellowes of plagiarism - borrowing ideas from Louisa May Alcott's classic novel 'Little Women.' The BBC even produced a spoof of the show starring Kim Cattrall.

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Goofs

Although Robert and Cora Crawley both have blue eyes, their daughter, Mary, has brown eyes. This was thought biologically impossible in the Davenport Model (1907), although not very common, two blue-eyed parents can produce children with brown eyes. Eye color is a complex trait that depends on the state of several interacting genes. The gene that usually decides the issue (blue eyes or brown eyes) is the OCA2 gene on chromosome 15. But it comes in different strengths. A person with a weak form of the OCA2 gene will have blue eyes. Likewise a person with a strong form will have brown eyes, but individuals also have other eye-color genes that each has a say in the final eye-color outcome. For example, if one of these lesser genes is strong, it can make the weak form (blue) of OCA2 work much more effectively - almost like the strong form (brown). Then the eye color may be brown. In fact, the resulting color can be any shade of brown, hazel, green or blue depending on the interactions.

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Connections

Featured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #16.32 (2011)

User Reviews

Outstanding series, leaves you to want for more...

I remember the '70s and another Series which was cut more or less in the same parameters as this one, and that was "Usptairs, Downstairs".

This too was a masterpiece of a social study, of the times at the turn between the 19th and early 20th Century.

The only difference was that it was set in a City based household, while "Downton Abbey" is set in the very elegant English countryside.

Both series display the best of British Theatre and Cinema, in terms of production teams, actors, technicians and general staff.

It is absolutely to be considered high quality movie-making, even though meant for the home screen.

Everyone, but everyone, in this series, knows his business and does portray his own character with honesty and truth.

There is no dull moment, due to a skillful editing of scenes that are almost put together like in an elegant dance sequence.

It is a very intelligent show that explores every facet of Society as it was structured (so far, in season 1 and 2), before, during and right after World War I, and as people behaved and felt back on the Homefront, being so detached, yet totally involved with the destinies of those men sent abroad to fight.

It is no melodrama in the classic sense of the word. It is an honest depiction of what people "downstairs and upstairs" went through during those years. The conventions, the rigid rules, the traditions, all changing just in a ten year period and being uprooted and twisted by the new winds of war.

There is something for everybody here. You want a thrilling story? Check! You've got it. You want love and romance? Check! You've got it. You want a social drama? Check! You've got it. You want a war drama? Check! You've got it too.

It's a very human story of all characters on board of this static ship that is "Downton Abbey". As firm as the Rock of Gibraltar one might say. And yet, not so static after all... Lots is happening here, and this, day by day.

Just think of the nightmare to have a sudden dinner invitation. The kitchen is in uproar, serving hands are missing, the masters are nervous, and everything seems to be doomed from the beginning, but then, somehow, everything comes together beautifully, like by magic... Magic? Let's say blood and a lot of sweat...

I started this saying that it was addictive, and indeed it is. AFter an episode is over you immediately want to jump back in and watch the next to see how it goes on.

I only have Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and I am already asking for the 3rd Season to appear, just to know what happens next.

I simply can't wait... I hope it pops up soon.