It’s getting close! One more week and Season 5 of Downton Abby airs on PBS! It seems almost inhumane to make us wait an entire year between seasons. We get a piddling 8 episodes a year but yet we keep coming back for more.
Some of us have already seen season 5. Furby wet our whistle for our addiction by a few teaser comments a couple of months ago. European TV has already aired the season and somehow, Furby tapped in, making the rest of us green with envy.
Let’s recap the major events that have happened before season 5 starts. Who has lived, who has died, and what live altering events have taken place.
Is this upcoming season the end or will Downton Abby live on?
Future script for Downton Abby: After examining and comparing the DNA of the remains of King Richard III found under a parking lot in Leicester, it is concluded that there are major errors in the genealogy of the British Royal Family and that the master of Downton Abby should be rightfully on the throne of the United Kingdom.
They wouldn’t dare!!!
Good twist to that plot. Maybe we could squeak a few extra seasons out of it.
First, if you haven’t watched the two Downton Abbey “Text Santa” videos on YouTube, you must see them. They are parodies done for the Text Santa telethon. Very funny and don’t give anything away for the actual show. They are only three or four minutes each. Just search YouTube for Downton Abbey Text Santa. Well worth watching and the second best Downton Abbey parodies. The best parody was the fake SNL commercial for Downton Abbey as if it was on Spike TV. It’s called “Fancy Entourage” If you haven’t already scene it, you must watch it immediately. (Even people who aren’t fans of the show will enjoy it.)
We watched the Christmas Special last week. Very good. As usual, I’ll try to avoid spoilers while still teasing at things. Thankfully, no one was killed in a car crash at the end (unlike the third season Christmas special) We had a resolution to a plot line involving the Dowager that filled in some of her back story. There was a caper afoot to knock someone down a peg or two. (very reminiscent of last season’s caper with the letter.) And a surprise engagement that you’ll like.
One thing that was odd about the Christmas special was it felt a lot like a series finale. With some very minor tweaks, it could have been a series finale. It’s not, the show is coming back for a sixth season. But it resolved a lot of questions and had the feel of wrapping things up. I suspect season six will be more of that. Sadly, I’m really convinced that the Dowager will die in season 6. I hope not, but between Maggie Smith’s age and just a general vibe I got in season 5, I think she may not make it to the end of the show. (They haven’t said season 6 is the last, but it’s generally believed it will be. The major characters contracts only run for one more season.)
As for season 5 itself, it was good but not great. Moon, you will like it more than I did I suspect. There are a couple of plot lines that were practically written for you. You will love the woman they introduce as a possible love interest for Tom Branson. I think they already introduced her briefly in season 4, or it’s right at the beginning of season 5. She has her big moment in I believe episode 2 (maybe 3) that I suspect will have you’ll be standing up cheering. There’s also a scene with Mary & Anna that you’ll enjoy, even if it seems wildly out of place for 1924.
I’m officially over the Bates and Anna drama. I can’t say more without giving too much away, but you’ll probably say the same “not again!” when we did. (Spoiler alert: it’s not another rape thankfully)
My main criticism of the season is that they aren’t doing a great job of showing the passage of time. Season 5 is set in 1924, so It’s been 12 years since the start of the show (April 1912) But people aren’t acting like they are 12 years older.
(Minor spoiler alert) Although, when I made that observation originally I even said that Robert’s dog ISIS was still the same dog after 12 years. Then they started a plot line about the dog dying in the very next episode! Thankfully, they don’t dwell on it too much and some good comes of it in a roundabout way. )
All and all, you’ll enjoy it. It’s more of what makes people like the show. It’s just that it felt a little like they were going through the motions this season. They know the formula that works and are sticking too it.
Thanks for giving us a few sneak previews. I am very tired of Anna and Bates and I want to punch Bates in the face. There, I have said it.
I will be heartbroken when the Dowager dies. I adore that character. She is my favorite person on the show. Trying to decide who the next best is…maybe Tom.
I had pretty much forgotten about Downton up until now. It is hard to keep caring for characters when you have to wait so long between short seasons, and when they eliminate well-liked characters so conveniently anyway. But of course I’ll be watching.
I’m waiting for Game of Thrones to return after finally finishing all of the books. HBO writes a much better screenplay than George Martin’s last two rambling excuses for “bestsellers”.
@Emma
Agreed on Game of Thrones. George RR Martin needs an editor badly. Give him the editor that whacked 400 pages from Steven King’s The Stand.
Bwaaahahahahahahahaha
Good one. the Stand is one of my favorite books in the world. Is there a shortened version out now? I want it!!!!
The original version of the Stand is the shortened version. The “original” uncut version came out a few years later. The easiest way to tell (besides the length of the book) is that King moved the date in the longer version to around 1990 where the shorter version was set in the early 1980s. I’ve only ever read the long version, so I don’t know what got cut.
As for Downton, I’d recommend holding off on punching Bates for now. You’re REALLY going to want to punch him at one point in season 5. He and Anna have an argument, and his position is, shall we say, a little old-fashioned.
Well, I don’t care what you people say, there are few shows I look forward to and Downton Abbey is one an Game of Thrones the other!
I am putting my finger in my years and humming “lalalalalalala” so I can’t hear anything you are saying 😉