Downton Abbey forever! Or please, sir, may I have some more Maggie Smith?

Of course I find Downton Abbey silly, poorly written at times, improbable most of the time, and the suppressed premise - kind masters, happy and dedicated domestics - makes me grind my teeth.

So why do I watch it? For the clothes, for Maggie Smith who would be beyond brilliant if she were reading a telephone book, and for the drinking games. Here are some examples of the DA drinking games: a sip every time Lord Robert says or does something stupid or offensive - small sips, because one needs to stay conscious for the whole episode as Robert comes up with one bad idea or offensive remark after another, or the game doesn't count. Cheers! Pip-pip! Best game: a large gulp every time there is an improbable or historically inaccurate servant-master interaction. Slainte!


But we LURRRRVE it, I hear some of you whimper. That's fine, we live in a participatory democracy and are governed vel non by those we elect, and that is why we are free to goggle or to giggle at whatever silly spectacle you want.

Especially if Maggie Smith is on screen.


Meanwhile, because DA only shows us one new episode per week, I would like to introduce you to Kim Parkhurst, a brilliant and talented artist, and to her Etsy shop, Toadbriar, which you should visit. She has produced the delightful portraits that festoon this post. They are part of a collection called Houndton Tabby, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have. You can buy these and more at the Etsy shop.