I’ve started this post several times, unable to get the traction I needed to move the words forward. Has this ever happened to you? Sometimes I know just what I want to say. Sometimes the words come tumbling forth, my fingertips just the ride they need to get to the next sentence. I’ve been a little sluggish and a lot busy, but, those are not the reasons why this post has taken me so long. It seems I just don’t know how to say what I want to say about Downton Abbey.
I was only going to do the previous post, then move on, but, I just can’t seem to leave Downton yet. I hope you will bear with me here.
I had such anticipation over the first episode, that I wore myself out. Really. I’m sure I did. Like a teenager waiting for the next Twilight movie, I was spent in waiting.
Downton Abbey’s first episode of the second season was worth the wait. If you watched it, I wonder if you agree. If you didn’t, I encourage you to try to see it.
A good many reviews forewarned disappointment, declaring these new episodes weren’t as good as the first season’s. The rest of the episodes still need to play out, but, for me, Sunday night’s feature of Downton Abbey more than met my expectations. In the vast wasteland that is television here, Downton Abbey is stimulating, well-written and acted; an oasis in the desert of what passes for drama on American television. It is sweeping in scope and tender to the bone in spots; Carson’s encouragement to Lady Mary, Mr. Bates and Anna, Lady Edith, so hard to sympathize with, squeaked out some sympathy, and as Lady Mary stood at the station watching Matthew return to war I tried to control a sob.
There were the lighter moments as well, mostly brought on by the Dowager Countess, reminding us that family always “trumps” outsiders, and I watched the traditional roles of women changing at the same time the strict class system of Britain is changing. The scenes depicting Lady Sybil trying to learn how to cook were delightful. “You can boil water, can’t you?”.
This brings me to the Crawley sisters and how interesting their relationships are and how wonderfully they are portrayed.
The sisters are still often cruel and deceptive, but, there were brief glimpses of caring and sympathy. Sisterly relationships can often be difficult and complicated, filled with jealousy and competition. I can only imagine what this must have been like among aristocratic sisters all vying for the perfect matrimonial match in a society rapidly changing as war raged on.
See what happens when you let your fingers control the keyboard?
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