It’s a new year, and that means a new season of “Downton Abbey!”
The international show written by Julian Fellowes is now in its 5th season and stars Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville among other celebrities. Taking place in England during the early 20th century, the series brings to life the ups and downs of everyday living in the 1920s.
Downton lets viewers see what most of us have only read about in history books, or heard from our grandparents. French teacher Elaine Gonzalez enjoys the historic aspect of Downton.
“I would hear my grandma talk about fancy dinner parties, silver [silverware] and butlers,” said Gonzalez. She enjoys seeing her grandmother’s dreams come alive.
Whether the new fads for the season are cars, phonographs, short hair, or working women, the main characters in the Crawley family show how nobility adjusts to change. There are some characters who welcome change, and some characters, specifically Carson, who can’t bear to think of differences in social classes, or clothing styles.
“I really look forward to seeing Carson,” said Gonzalez, “I love Carson!”
Carson has been working at the Abbey for years; he even helped raise Mary, who is now in her 20s. As a father figure in a lower class, he provides an ear to listen to problems that aren’t mentioned in the stuffy, proper rooms above the servant’s quarters. Through his interactions with the young crowd, Carson sees the world changing around him. Unlike Carson, fans are hoping for a lot of changes this season.
“I want Mary [Lord Grantham’s daughter] to get married to Lord Gillingham,” said sophomore Annie Madigan, “I want Violet [Lord Grantham’s mother] to stop getting in fights with Mrs. Crawley [Mary’s late husband’s mother] and [I want] Mrs. Crawley to be happy.”
Although the 5th season premiered this past fall in England, it premiered in America on January 4, 2015. The episodes can be watched on PBS.
The show has followed the character’s through WWI, the 1920s and the invention of electricity. We can only imagine the changes that will happen in season five: will Mary get married? How will Edith be able to handle the situation with her secret daughter? Etc.
“Some people might find it uninteresting because it’s historical,” said Madigan. “But I find that kind of stuff interesting because it’s suspenseful and you just want to keep seeing what happens next.”