Downton Abbey, a British television drama, has engrossed viewers since its premiere in 2010 and currently runs its fifth season. The drama depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era. It also uncovers the impact that great events in history had on the lives of such people and on the British social hierarchy. The show has won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Guinness World Record for being the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011. Within the WFS community alone are those who are eager for the show’s release each coming week, those who regrettably cannot find the time, and those who wish to spend their time on other matters.

Each Sunday, many people let their favorite characters into their living rooms. Kate Mraz ’16 spoke of her favorite character: “I love Downton Abbey, and I look forward to Lady Violet’s quotes.” Lady Violet, played by Maggie Smith, is just one of the many characters that entertains the show’s audience of approximately eight million each weekend. Kate Mraz ’16, however, continued to express her concern regarding where the show is heading in an attempt to salvage the few million more viewers it had in previous years. Mraz said, “I think that the first three seasons were the best because of the courtship of Lady Mary and Matthew and the war. The story line has spread a little thin now.” On the other hand, Scott Rhodewalt, Upper School History/Social Science Teacher, holds a different opinion, and said, “I love where the show is going with Daisy’s education. My wife and I love to take guesses at what will happen next.” Despite this positive review, this season’s opening episode of Downton Abbey received the lowest audience figures yet. While it may have had a dramatic plot line, including a near-fatal fire, it came to the fore that it may not always be the characters specifically that enchant the show’s fans. Sarah Stock-Patterson, Head of the Mathematics Department, said, “It places you in a time in history and shows what the many different facets of life were like. If it was just about a family, it would not be as appealing.” Unlike Stock-Patterson, many Friends School students and faculty simply do not have the time each forty-five minute episode demands. Caroline Wren ‘16 is one of these people, and said, “I have approximately zero time, but I did use to watch the show with my family.”

To those who know of the show, it is an understatement to say that the setting of Downton Abbey and the classical styles of the time were visually more sophisticated than the styles we commonly see today. Amy Ferris, Head of Food Services, emphasized her love for the show: “Downton Abbey is my favorite show. My family and friends all watch it. It appeals to everyone from high school students to older people and is very well done. I love it.” For those like Ferris and her family, from March 4th of 2014 to January 4th of this year, Winterthur museum, garden, and library hosted an exhibition, Costumes of Downton Abbey, of the exquisite designs from the award-winning television series. This exhibit displayed forty historically inspired costumes from the television show, which were added to with photographs and vignettes inspired by the fictional program. Those who knew of the exhibition received the opportunity to step into and experience the world of Downton Abbey. Costumes of Downton Abbey gave viewers the chance of an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the costumes, reminding fans that the realistic pieces are not actual historic garments, despite being inspired greatly by history.

Downton Abbey is both enjoyed and ignored by numerous members of the Wilmington Friends School community, but those who have watched its five seasons fully intend to continue devoting their time to being delighted by what the show has to offer. Fans will also be pleased to hear that thus far there has been no notice of an announced end to the upstairs-downstairs drama.