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The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

‘Downton’ fans keep coming back

Another season, another drama filled chapter of the lives of the members of the Crawley family. Or are things a bit different this time around? Season five of “Downton Abbey” aired Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015 on PBS. Since, the Internet and news sources from all over have been raving, predicting and discussing the BBC production’s most recent developments and what is in store in the coming episodes.

It’s the dawning of a new age at Downton Abbey. In the first seasons of the show, Lady Sybil Crawley’s marriage to the family chauffer depicted the integration of social classes and the disruption of the social system. But now, there are blurred lines between upstairs and downstairs of the Abbey as characters become more intertwined regardless of their status in society. A prime example of this that we are likely to see more of in season five is the servant-mistress relationship between Anna and Lady Mary. Mary seems to forget the strict social code, whereas Anna is a bit more cautious. However, this season, Anna will surely prove to be a loyal friend to Mary, and not only a loyal lady’s maid.

New plot lines emerge, such as Mary’s modern approach to courtship; Earl Robert Crawley’s traditional ways obviously becoming stale and outdated; or Lady Edith’s secret child and missing lover, and viewers may as well be back in 1920s England themselves. But perhaps therein lies the attractiveness of “Downton Abbey” to viewers. Despite a ninety-year gap, many of the themes and scenarios of the seasons parallel present issues of society today in its efforts to modernize.

Robert’s character presents the tension during the shift from feudalism and the old social system in Britain to a modern society. As the Earl of Grantham, he wants to maintain tradition at Downton Abbey, but his daughter, Mary, as well as his son-in-law Tom Branson have more progressive visions. Mary strains gender boundaries of the time, but she too, is realizing that Downton Abbey will have to adapt to the quickly changing and modernizing world to maintain the family’s high status. In season four, Tom Branson, who was the husband of the late Sybil Crawley, saw the opportunities that lay in America with its booming business and the ability to move between social classes — “the American dream.” Would Tom go as far as leaving England to start anew in the United States? Season five will continue to explore the shifts in life for the English upper class during the 1920s that were introduced in the previous season, and old-fashioned-thinkers like Robert must face the fact that, just as his American mother-in-law pointed out in season four, “My world is coming nearer. And your world – it’s slipping further and further away!”

Besides the economic shifts that the characters will continue to face in season five, the Crawley women are now part of the alterations in other societal norms, including fashion and sexuality. The audience sees hints of what “the Roaring 20s” was known for- looser, less constraining clothes paired with looser morals and shaking up the former pretentious atmosphere familiar with British cultural customs. In the beginning of season five, Lady Mary must decide whether to accept a bold and perhaps indecent proposal from her current love interest, Lord Gillingham. At the same time her sister, Lady Edith, experiences the pain associated with having to keep her baby a secret, for fear of being rejected from her family for having a child out of wedlock.

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The first episodes, as well as the season sneak peeks, advise that viewers should be ready for an exciting season five with the Crawleys and their staff. Plus some new additions to the cast will stir the pot: Richard Grant as visitor Simon Bricker, Anna Chancellor as Lady Anstruther, and Rade Sherbedgia as a Russian refugee. The dynamic cast of “Downton Abbey” makes audiences come back for more. For a PBS historical drama, the audience of “Downton” is wide and diverse, but intensely bonded to the characters. As my 82-year-old grandmother says, “Anyone who’s anyone watches Downton Abbey.”

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