Sunday, February 12, 2012

I've got the FEVER...Downton Abbey Fever!

On Thursday I knew nothing of Downton Abbey, a series on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

On Friday while visiting the  wonderfully funny blog called, Blue Skies and Yellow Dogs I read that "The Zadge", writer and star of this blog had an addiction to this show and that she spent a whole snowy Denver weekend watching Season 1 which consists of 7 episodes. She spoke highly of the show and I thought, "Hmmmm, I'll have to see if I can watch a little of that this weekend."

Well folks, gotta tell ya, I spent the whole of my Saturday afternoon watching it and watched all of Season 1...7 episodes, staying up to 11:30 pm! I know, I know...that's just how I roll, wild and crazy on a Saturday night!

Actually, it was wonderful! I felt like I spent the weekend in the English Countryside at the beautiful Downton Estate. Being pampered and waited upon by lovely ladies maids and eating delicious food prepared fresh by a wonderful cook. What a spell-binding, dramatic and humorous show!

First you have the beautiful Lady Mary, who is the rightful heir of Downton but due to the fact that she was born with the wrong genitals she cannot inherit Downton as it must be inherited by a male heir and her mother and father only had three daughters. Therefore Mary must make a profitable marriage. But Mary is not a docile, submissive, little English flower...nope, she's intelligent, ambitious, seductive and unwilling to conform to convention! I love her spirit!

Oh...and the villains in this show...wow! You love to hate them. Especially the evil, arrogant yet totally gorgeous footman, Thomas! This guy is such a slimy weasel and yet so easy on the eyes. You just can't help but wonder why no one can see what an ambitious, vindictive, manipulative person he is. He just continues to get away with all kinds of craziness! I think he would make a great Twilight Vampire!
But the most intriguing and interesting character by far...the woman I want to grow up to be is the matriarch of the Crawley Family, the Dame Maggie Smith as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. Well, actually, I don't want to grow up to be exactly like her because she is locked in the past and is not at all happy about new inventions and the world changing. She's also very much a snob. But she's ambitious and ready to do what she has to do to protect her family! She is also hilarious in a dry, droll way.

Today I was visiting Jo at A Majority of Two and trying to catch up on some of her past posts and wouldn't you know it, but Jo has Downton Abbey Fever too! If you get a chance, head over and read her take on the show. She shared a great video with the best one-liners by Lady Violet Crawley. I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed it to share here on my blog too. Great show! Can't wait to watch more.



18 comments:

  1. Yay!! Welcome to the club! Isn't it just fab? The Dowager has the best lines!

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    1. Yay! A comment from the Zadge??? Wow, how thrilled am I! Yep, it is fab and I was sad because only Season 1 is on NetFlix, but PBS website has season 2, I watched Episode 1 last night. There goes my social life...not that I had one :)

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  2. Alicia,
    I have the fever, too. I read about it on a blog and watched season 1 in 3 days. Now I have gotten the PBS app for my iPad and I am watching season 2. It is wonderful!

    Carol

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    1. I wonder if I can get the app for my android phone? Hmmm, I better not...lol. I think I'm definitely going to start watching episodes during my lunch hour at work tho. We should start a club :)

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  3. Well at least it is not Star Search...ooopss American Idol. It does look interesting.

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    1. Hey! Don't be hating on my American Idol!!! You know I'm addicted to that as well. You should check out Downton Abbey though, let me know what you think, from a man's point of view.

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    2. Well you know I not very manly, certainly not like the dirty dude. My macho days, as lily livered as they were, have rode off into the sunset. But yes I should check it out. Professor McGonigall was my favorite teacher at Hogwartz, I actually have a crush on her.

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  4. My hubbs and I love this show! Yes Violet is the funniest and best one of them all :O) But I do not love Lady Mary, she is so mean to her sister :O)
    My fav sis is Cybil, the young sweet one :O)
    So glad you found it :O)

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    1. Summur! Your hubbs loves it too? Then maybe men will find it interesting. I love the clothes don't you? I love Anna, the poor little maid. She's so sweet. And I do so want her and Bates to end up together! I'm gonna go see if there's a facebook page for Downton Abbey that we can all join and converse together about the show! Say hi to that baby!

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  5. Welcome to the bandwagon!

    I can hardly believe you're just now hearing about it! This is my second season of addiction.

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    1. I know! I'm always behind on everything. I didn't even start watching American Idol until the 3rd season! But I'm hooked now. I'm watching season 2 on the pbs website, I'm on episode#4!

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  6. Alicia, I read about the series on a friend's blog and got online to watch last season in a marathon afternoon watch-a-thon. I was hooked and couldn't wait for this season's episodes. I love the series! OMG I can't believe Lord Grantham w/the maid! What was his problem?

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    1. Uh Oh! I'm not that far where Lord Grantham is with the maid! Yikes! I'm not happy to hear that's in the future!

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  7. Oh I have some friends that are totally addicted to that show. They love it. I still havn't see it, but I will definitely have to try and catch it. Sounds like a lovely show and I understand the scenery is fabulous.

    Thanks also for your most gracious comment on my bdrm. I really appreciate it. Hugs, Marty

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    1. The scenery is beautiful Marty...but the CLOTHES! OMgosh, the clothes are so gorgeous and the jewelry! You're going to love it.

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  8. It looks as if you folks haven't watched any british serials before. They're all highly addictive; the settings , the plot and the characters, fascinating.

    What interests me is the metamorphosis that the actors undergo through the years. Maggie Smith, for example. Her acting is even more refined now, in her old age,yet I liked her more when she was younger and more of an 'english rose'.

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  9. DUTA - You know, I haven't watched a British serial before. I don't watch a lot of television. I have my few favorite shows and then I force myself to turn off the TV and read or blog or do something different, but this show has really captured my attention!

    I was intrigued by your comment about Maggie Smith and googled her. She was so beautiful when she was younger. Not that she's ugly now, I wish I could age so gracefully. I loved her as Professor Mcgonnigal in the Harry Potter movies.

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  10. Oh Alicia - I have the fever bad! This week I found a new book - a non-fiction - called Lady Almina - The Real Downton Abbey. I'm loving it!

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Please leave a comment.I would love to know your thoughts!