In 2010, the first episode of the show “Downton Abbey” was aired on PBS, and the world was given a modern look into the past. The television show chronicles the lives of those residing at Lord Grantham’s estate in the early 20th century, exploring the intricacies of aristocratic English life from both the aristocrats and those in servitude.
For those interested in history, “Downton Abbey” is the perfect TV show. Everything from the sets, to the clothing, to the references, to historical events feels very entrenched in the realm of possibility. The show opens in 1911 with the sinking of the Titanic, and it weaves in how an English aristocratic family may have been affected by the event. It then leads on to the birth of the liberal party in parliament and the early women’s rights movement of the 1900s, then into World War 1, and then British relations with America, and on until the end of the show in 1925.
The abbey’s stories take the historical events of the time and tie them together with both heartwarming and heartbreaking stories. It allows the audience to float their way through the romance of the post-Edwardian era. It has a modern touch on stories similar to Pride and Prejudice and an overall feel that could be compared to the original novel of The Great Gatsby.
On the side of cinematics, there is nothing but beauty in every shot of this show, most especially in the earlier seasons. Color grading is gentle but beautiful, highlighting the authentic beauty of each set and character.
There must be a special mention of the sets alone in this show, and the place that made it all possible, Highclere Castle. Highclere Castle, in Highclere, England, is still open to the public for touring today. Like later in the show, it can be toured, and any fan of English history or of the TV show can feel what it was like to walk through the grand halls and high ceilings of a historic landmark.
Woven into the sets, the characters of the show are a beautiful window into very possible people living in this time. The Crawley family faces the looming disaster of every twist and turn of modern life in the 1910s and 20s. Each family member fights their own battles with the rising times, some going off to fight in World War 1, some taking metaphorical bullets at home for the good of the family. The servants below the house have their own troubles too, from health crises that would plague the common man to questions of thievery. Each story is tied into the abbey and the characters around it, creating a blossoming web of a family. Even in the modern day, there are still struggles that the viewer can connect with, even in a situation that would never be found today.
The six-season show holds countless tales and rich adventures, but for those who explore the series and want more, there are three additional movies after the show ended: “Downton Abbey” (2019), “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (2022), and “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” (2025). All of these continue to follow the Crawley family and their ventures through time.