Downton Abbey - Review

Period dramas are hit or miss for me. I love history, and I quite enjoy a lot of classic English literature, but there's nothing I find more dull than watching wealthy women stress about whether their party for all the lords and ladies will come together in time. I enjoy period dramas about things that really matter; class systems, wealth and poverty, discrimination, and yes, I admit it, love. For me, a good period drama doesn't focus on the frivolous, it focusses on the emotions, thoughts and feelings of every character, from the lord of the house to the maid's downstairs. I want my period dramas to be entertaining and have a real feel of realism to them. So, where does Downton Abbey fit into this?

"Does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?" – a review of Downton Abbey.

Downton Abbey is set in the early twentieth century in a rapidly changing Britain. The series follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their household staff as they live through major historical events, such as the Titanic disaster and the aftermath of WW1. The drama examines the social landscape, highlighting the heightening tensions between the traditional and the modern, as well as how both the aristocracy and lower classes adapt to a whole new era.

This is a truly quintessentially British drama. Full of stunning costumes, stately homes and elegance, it's a very pretty watch. Viewers are treated to sweeping shots of the beauty of the estate, camera work that subtly enhances the opulence of the aristocratic life and the warmth of the servants' quarters, and tonnes of little details that make the sets feel real and immersive.

There is a balance between the upstairs and downstairs storylines that it does quite well. Themes of loyalty, social change and love are woven throughout, creating some genuinely thought-provoking story lines which are pretty entertaining.

I can't talk about Downton Abbey without mentioning the remarkable performances, especially Maggie Smith. Her portrayal of the sharp-tongued, sarcastic Dowager Countess is nothing short of iconic, her lines always delivered with impeccable timing and wit. Whilst the rest of the cast are also incredibly talented, for me, Maggie Smith delivered the best performance of all throughout the series.

So, there's a lot to like about Downton Abbey – but I must admit, I didn't love it. It was fine. It was pretty, it was escapist, and sometimes it did include some genuinely thought-provoking storylines, but the thing that got me in the end was how… ludicrous it could be. I don't mind a bit of melodrama, and I am happy to suspend belief for a while, but Downton Abbey took this to an extreme (for a period drama, anyway.) All in all, I didn't hate it – but it's not up there as a must watch for me either. If you enjoy a good period drama, you'll likely enjoy this.

Written by Tam Page