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.






18 comments:

  1. Those are great portraits, and so recognizable.

    I'd give it up if not for Maggie; she had some good zingers last week and , yes ,Lord Robert suffers from massive tin ear. And Lady Cora is a bit dim this season. Why aren't they hiring you to fix this script??

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    1. Oh, that would be so much fun! Imagine being paid to carp at people!

      Every time we decide it's time for London, the first question is, is Maggie Smith in anything and can we get tickets ? Then of course we talk about things like mileage...

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  2. I haven't watched the series but I had to google the quotes and they sound quite funny although some may need context. Some of those animal portraits are just a bit creepy but again, they may need context!

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    1. I'm actually fascinated by how much the animals resemble the character of the persons they represent. I wIsh I could find the rest of the series, the animal portraits not the episodes, but they seem to have sold out.

      Hope you're keeping warm and comfy, xoxo!

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  3. Those are beyond wonderful! I so want Dame Maggie to have her own spin-off where she visits all of the country houses of the land and makes passive-aggressive pronouncements about the decor and the owners.

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    1. Lettice and Lovage but with real houses? I'm in!

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  4. I got hooked on Downton after watching Season 1 on Netflix. I kind of muddled through the next few seasons though and interest kind of went downhill after that (Mary and Matthew, what took you guys so long? Matthew's mom, why so annoying? Anna, I feel like you could do better ... bleh, bleh) so I'm kind of meh on the "new" season. I'll probably watch at least part of it so I can find what's going on, maybe that drinking game idea would help, hehe.

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    1. Yeah, pacing is not part of the writers' arsenal. But the clothes... I drool.

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  5. Downton is our crack! Love those pictures.
    Maggie smith is such a joy to watch! but most of the other characters make me feel like reaching into the TV to throttle them!

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    1. hi, Ruth! throttling is good. Waiting for 3D TV.

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  6. Cool portraits but I don't know DA. Must confess I have trouble understanding with the accents.

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    1. hi, tr! I've had lots of practice, kind of a slave to BBC-America and our own Public Television.

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  7. Great portraits, I gave up on Downton after the first season, it became ridiculous.

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    1. hi, Tabs, I thought even the first season was silly, but drooled over the clothes.

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  8. That was the funniest stories you recounted! I have to say that for me Downton Abbey has gone the way of Guiding light for me unfortuantely...

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    1. thanks, N! yes, it's a sloooowww moving soap opera indeed.

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  9. We definitely watch it here because the offspring enjoy it so. I try very hard to prevent the ridiculous story ruining my enjoyment of the clothes and houses. And Maggie Smith.

    When it first started I was expecting "Upstairs,Downstairs' type quality. Silly me.

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  10. Hi, Vanessa! yes, the main problem is that it can't live up to Upstairs, Downstairs.

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