current obsession: Downton Abbey

About a month ago, I started noticing tweets and Facebook posts about Downton Abbey.  It seemed that everywhere I looked, people were talking about this television show.  Yet, when I asked friends I encounter in  my day-to-day, no one had seen it.  Then I took the plunge when I realized Season 1 was available to stream via Netflix.

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As an American, all things British seem to catch my eye.  Remember the media frenzy over Royal Wedding last spring?  Perhaps it's because I grew up with a mother who had an interest in the Royal Family.  Though I was an infant, I'm pretty sure I was alongside my mom to see the Royal Wedding televised back in 1981 when Diana became a Princess.  I even had a Princess Di paper doll and I can still tell you details of where I was when I learned Diana had been killed in a car crash in 1997.

I'm not always one to join the latest trend, especially when it comes to books and television.  However I'm so glad I gave in; Downton Abbey is the prefect blend of romance and mystery set in early twentieth century England.  The series starts the day the Titanic sank, 100 years ago.  The cast is dynamic, with characters you love to hate and others you root for in every episode.  I'm no television critic, but now that I've seen it I can agree with The New York Times calling it "an instant classic."

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The period dress alone is something to admire.  I find myself imagining what it would be like to first of all get dressed up decked out for dinner every night and secondly, to have someone assisting you.  I certainly wouldn't want a servant/maid, but it's also something I've never imagined.  I love hearing the conversations among the working class (maids, footmen, cooks etc.) and then the Grantham family.  Still not convinced? Here's a great synopsis of the storyline (without spoiling it) and some excellent photos of the castle the series is filmed in.

The show is one my husband also enjoys, which makes me feel less guilty for spending time in front of the television because at least I'm not alone.  Have I sparked your interest or have you already watched every episode (maybe more than once)?  Season 2 is currently available online at PBS, but only until March 7th.  If you Google "Downton Abbey" you'll see a number of rumors swirling about with the end of its second season this past Sunday.  My favorite rumor, and one I'm hoping is true, is that David Boreanaz of Bones would be cast ins season 3 (spoiler alert if you read the article).  Seems this series has created quite the following and imagine my excitement when I came across these Downton Abbey paper dolls!

Do you watch Downton Abbey?