Downton Abbey

Should Be To the Manor Born “ I feel so ashamed.  I've gone and got myself hooked on Downton Abbey, an early twentieth century Brit (Masterpiece Theater) soap opera.  Never did  bother with that "Upstairs-Downstairs" thing that was all the rage in the 1970's; something I dismissed as only fitting for women, pussies and shut-ins.  I think it was much like Downton; focused on  the relationship between the landed gentry and their servants.  I adore Downton Abbey (so far; the smart money says I won't finish it).  It has everything; women to lust after, villains to hate; and nice furniture. I was—am— someone who always felt more comfortable with the past.  My (and cuzzin ricky's) Granny was from a lower echelon of the English  landed class.  Family owned orchards, and had a nice stone manse.  Against her family's wishes, she fell in love with a  divinity student graduate, not of her class, and ran off to America with him.  When he was dragged to his death (after siring four daughters likety-split),  by horses spooked by a passing automobile's back-fire, she became a house servant in the South Dakota governor's mansion.  Scrubbed floors.  Later, when my own father was crowned by a Nazi mortar shell, she moved in to care for us while mom worked. I respect a culture that hangs horse thieves straight away, and where a gentleman would never utter the word "fuck"  in front of a proper lady.  The Great War saw the end of that storybook era in England, but I would have been comfortable in it, as Lord or footman, although I am better suited to Droit du seigneur  than to polishing the silver. PS   After watching the first season on NetFlix,  I was flummoxed to discover that was all they had.  So, for the first time, I found something useful in Amazon's Prime instant watch video service; they have the full set.   ”