The original fab four
If you watched last year’s Emmy awards, you might have noticed a little PBS show called Downton Abbey grabbed a bunch of buzz. Then you heard your friends talking about it so you thought it might be cool. But then your mom gave it a rave review so you thought it might be lame. We get it. It happened to us too. With Season 2 premiering stateside on Jan. 8, we’re weighing in with 11 reasons this show is SO worth the watch. And by the way, it’s pronounced “Down-tin.” Gotta love those crazy Brits.
- Because you’ve had a boner/lady boner for British butlers since Ryan Phillipe in Gosford Park.
- The historical relevance is educational. Did you know the Titanic sank and that Britain went to war with Germany? Oh you did? Well, there’s also a gay butler rocking some major bitchface.
- Maggie Smith’s character will bring back many fond memories of your racist grandmother.
- We haven’t had a perfectly dressed uptight British woman on television since Joan Collins (and her shoulder pads).
- Elizabeth McGovern sometimes sounds like Carol Channing. Worth it.
- Cora, Mary, Edith and Sybil and the new Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. (FYI – If somebody calls you an Edith, you are probably also a Miranda).
- All of Season 2 has already aired in Britain and is floating around illegally on the web, so instead of waiting, you can download and have a marathon session of Downton-y goodness. Unless you’re a SOPA supporter or something.
- Incest. Not the creepy Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire kind, but the kind that makes you want two cousins to get hitched so their house and title stays in the family. You know, the Rudy Giuliani kind.
- Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat is jealous of the headgear on this show.
- Unlike other British historical programs, you don’t have to worry about being distracted by horrible sideburn length.
- This face.
