Getting Hooked on Downton Abbey

Just watched a couple of back to back episodes of Downton Abbey, to see what all the fuss was about, and now I’m well and truly hooked.  I’m going to have to buy the whole thing.

Michelle Dockery gives a captivating performance as Lady Mary Crawley, and I get a tremendous kick out of Maggie Smith’s portrayal of Violet the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

When young William returns from France gravely wounded, he is not allowed to come to the hospital set up at Downton Abbey, because  it’s for officers only. The head of the hospital says he can’t possibly make an exception.

“It always happens,” the Dowager Countess says. “You give power to these little people and it goes to their heads like strong drink.”

She puts in a call to Lord Whosiwhatsis, and badabing! They make an exception for William.

 

The series is a lot like “Upstairs, Downstairs,” which I also loved years ago.