Downton Abbey: Series One

I can't recall ever paying attention to Masterpiece Theatre in any way- it was public broadcasting that seemed a little too high-brow for me and likely pretty boring. Over the past year, however, Masterpiece Theatre has been broadcasting a show that has recently taken America by storm- Britain's Downton Abbey. Katie and I gave it a shot this weekend and were well rewarded, finishing it less than a day after we started. It basically gives you a glimpse into the life of the servants and aristocrats living in an early 20th century British abbey. The Crawley family- parents Robert and Cora, and three adult daughters, recently lost a close cousin in the Titanic sinking who was heir to the estate. Due to some ambiguities in the laws, it is discovered that unless their eldest daughter Mary gets married soon, they'll likely soon lose the abbey to a distant relative who doesn't particularly care for the rich lifestyle. Mary's cute and all, but has a tendency to be pretty difficult and constantly want what she can't have, and the question of will she finally accept a suitor runs throughout the seven episode run. On the other hand you have the servants, who run the gambit- big dreamers, hopelessly in love, assholes, people with mysterious pasts. The focus of all of this is on Mr. Bates, the new valet, who is basically about as badass as a proper and respectful servant can get. Anyway this is very low-commitment, highly entertaining, and it makes you feel cultured because it's a foreign period piece. Also season 1 is streaming on Netflix so I give Downton Abbey a hearty "watch it!" recommendation.