A second serving of Downton Abbey

Dear Bitches,

Awww... what a delight to see the faces from Downton Abbey again.  It felt like I, myself, had gone away and had now just returned.

Not without trepidation at first.  The first series ended with a bang as the Earl of Grantham announced at a garden party that Britain had gone to war.  The second season begins with a bang, literally, as the camera takes us to a battle trench in Somme, 1916.  We are first treated with the face of Dan Stevens who is looking more handsome as Matthew Crawley.  He kicks off the opening credits with the line "I think of my life at Downton and it feels like another world."  And I thought, oh no, the global success of the show has brought cheap statements of the blatantly obvious!

But my fears were soon cast aside as Highclere Castle ("Downton Abbey") comes to the frame.  It felt like a coming home because you know, this diva won't be out of place in such a residence.  I might put flowers along the side though, but I digress.

One of the first things that I noticed in the first 10 minutes of episode 1 is that in between the end of the first series and this one, the maids of Downton Abbey seem to have discovered bleach.  And starch.  The gentlemen's shirts are whiter and crispier.  The other thing I noticed is that the cinematographer had changed the white balance - it's as if the sun had decided to shine a brighter whiter light on Downton.  The costumes, too, had apparently been sent to the cleaners with an order for extra glossy.  These, of course, are in contrast to the bleaker war-time Britain.

The things we love about Downton Abbey are thankfully intact even as the aristocracy walk a tightrope hung across war-time Britain. "When the war is over the world won't be the same place as it was when it started," says Branson, the chauffeur, hopefully. Lady Sybil, of course, heard it as a forewarning. The butler Carson is as ironic as ever - "Keeping up standards is the only way to show the Germans that they will not beat us in the end," says he while inspecting silverware that is not his. The one-liners from our beloved Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) are as delicious as ever:
"So, that's Mary's replacement. Well, I suppose looks aren't everything."

I liken Downton Abbey to a double-chocolate, double-fudge, double-cream ice cream sundae.  It's so rich, so satisfying, uplifting, and pure indulgence.  It's the perfect Sunday evening treat. Bring on the cold Sunday nights.  With my blanket and Downton Abbey, I'm ready. :-)


Until then sweet-tarts. Kisses,

Hollie Go-Lightly



Link to Downton Abbey website on itv.
Read about the Battle of Somme here.