Season Two of Downton Abbey is winding down on PBS tonight with the Christmas Special. Americans can watch previous episodes online through March 6, 2012. All I can say is – it’s about time. I don’t know about you, but this season seems a bit long and dragged out. I don’t think the one-hour airings between 2-hour book-ended shows helped. Several of us talked over the water cooler at work and felt that the one-hour airings were too short and ended abruptly. Plus some of the plot lines were a bit predictable. Be that as it may, I still prefer this series heads and shoulders above almost anything shown on cable these days.
To assuage your Downton Abbey cravings before Season 3 airs (Yesss!), an excellent artist named Kyle Hilton has created a series of paper dolls for you to download and play with. (The concept was by Willa Paskin. Vulture commissioned the four sets of paper dolls.) Perhaps you could even create your own story lines. Matthew and Mary come with a surprise, and Violet’s been given a range of expressions! Or not.
The paper dolls that are missing whose story line I would like to change are those for Mr. Bates and Anna. Perhaps Kyle is studying up on prison uniforms of the time, or figuring out how to place those two dolls in their marital bed. I also miss having the earl and his countess.
I quibble, however. These are such fun! Click on the links below to print out the paper dolls. You will have to cut them out the old-fashioned way – with scissors.
Meanwhile, I shall be on tenterhooks all night long waiting for the Christmas finale. See you there and at the twitter party with moi and one of your favorite Janeite friends, Laurel Ann Natress, editor of the anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It. Hash tag: #DowntonPBS
Paper dolls courtesy of Kyle Hilton
Links:
- Flannel Animal showcases Kyle Hilton’s work, which I find fascinating!
- More art work by Kyle Hilton
- Information via Vulture. The site also recaps Downton Abbey
- Print out Violet, Dowager Countess
- Print out Sybil
- Print out Thomas and O’Brien
- Print out Matthew and Mary
Personally, I think artists selling artwork that is largely someone else’s intellectual property is wrong. It may not be a clear, black and white illegal issue, but the selling designs of t-shirts, posters, or even something like these paper dolls that are based off something someone else created (like tv shows, movies, etc) is to me, a cheap and easy way to make money. There are a ton of shirts and posters out there that get around the issue by not directly showing a character or a logo, but in my opinion are still depending on the intellectual property of someone else’s creation. I know not every illustrator sees it the same way, but for me, I’d rather make these dolls because I love doing it, share them for free at the highest resolution Tumblr allows and not get involved in trying to make money that for the most part belongs to people like Vince Gilligan, Mitch Hurwitz and Tim and Eric. Plus, how often is stuff free? Not getting money for these means I’m free to make terrible, terrible mistakes!
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Click on image.
The first series was character- led. The plot was allowed to develop at a pace which let you get to know them and care about what happened to them. There were also tensions above, and below, and between-stairs which created their own pace and atmosphere.
Thereafter the plot took precedence and became somewhat stereotypical and in a sense predictable. The characters changed to meet the demands of the story-line rather than vice-versa, which (for me) undermined the credibility of the whole thing.
But that’s just one opinion and many people continued to enjoy it. For me it seemed weak compared to “Cranford” where very little happened and yet the characters and the acting were spell-binding.
I see what you mean. Then again, it was a little easier for Cranford as it’s based on stories written by Elizabeth Gaskell whereas Downton is entirely written by Fellowes. Plus, if you set it around such a turbulent point in history there are going to be certain key events that history nerds are going to expect.
Still, it was a bit disappointing. Everyone kind of knows it’s only a matter of time before Matthew and Mary get together etc. They’re just waiting for the how and when…
Having said that, I did still enjoy it. The lines are great and the actors play their parts wonderfully, even if Thomas is the most fantastically Machiavellian villain ever. That cut out doll – spot on!
It’s probably just that I enjoyed the first series so much, that I found the second disappointing. It was as though the second had been written with one eye on what the viewer would like to happen, rather than what the characters (so well developed in the first series) would choose to do.
There is a lovely little series running in the UK at the moment – “Call the Midwife” – based on the novels of Jennifer Worth and set in the East End of London in the 1950s. It’s well worth looking out for – the plot is simple, but the characters are so engaging and believable. i hope the second series stays true to those characters and to the books.
I thought that there were too many subplots this season. WWI was s solid cultural context within which to develop story lines, but too many minor characters and conflicts detracts and is unnecessary.
That being said I look forward to this season’s finale, and Season 3.
When do you guys get the ‘Christmas Special’ episode. Not going to lie, it’s a pretty important 2 hours of story…
Final ep of season 2 is something extra.
It was aired last night! I didn’t want to place spoilers on the blog, ergo the paper dolls.
Oh come on, people. The real reason to watch this show is to “vacation” in the Edwardian era for a little while each week. And thank heaven for repeats! Critically, there are lots of good things and lots of not-so-good things, of course. But isn’t that also true of life…in any era?
I felt similarly before the season 2 finale but was still excited when it came out on Christmas day. Prepare for a roller coaster episode! It definitely surpassed my expectations and was brilliantly received here in the UK.
Anybody know when Season 3 will be airing in the U.S.?
They’re filming it right now and I think it’s set to air in the UK in September 2012 but I’m not sure about in the U.S.
If PBS holds true to form, the 3rd season will be broadcast next January on PBS Masterpiece.
I have loved this series and every character. WWI touches and changes all of them in such an interesting way. The characters are multi-dimensional and lovable even if the “patrick thing” was absurd and the “Sybil/Chauffeur” nonsense impossible in context. The great irony of this evening is that my husband, who has adored Downton,
is in London on a school trip with 20 of his charges so I will be watching it alone unless I can pull a party together by 9PM!
I love these paper dolls!
Yes, and I especially love that all of Cousin Violet’s expressions are exactly the same!
Love these! I do agree that the set is incomplete without Lord and Lady Grantham. Love Kyle for sharing these!
Wait until the next series of Upstairs Downstairs hits your shores!!!!
It will just blow you away.
If you think Downton is good just wait for Upstairs Downstairs. !!!!!!!
Those stairs have never been so upped and downed, I can tell you.
All the best,
Tony
When is it coming to the States? Oooo, this will be just too delicious!
LadyWadie, I don’t see it on PBS’s schedule this spring, which is sad. PBS Masterpiece is concentrating on Charles Dickens this year. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/index.html
Have you had the BBC’s Great Expectations yet? It was absolutely flawless!! Definitely one to watch.
somersaulting, it is coming in April. Can’t wait.
And Birdsong is coming here, as well, yes? I left London the Saturday before the first of two episodes aired there…
Yes, Birdsong is the last offering from PBS Masterpiece Classic. Mystery and Modern will follow!
Upstairs Downstairs started tonight here. Does that give you an idea when it might get to your shores?
Here is a BBC website article.
i hope this is not what is called a SPOILER!!!
I’m not up with costume dramas myself.
Upstairs Downstairs
Written and created by Heidi Thomas, the hotly anticipated second series of Upstairs Downstairs returns to BBC One, starring Jean Marsh, Keeley Hawes, Ed Stoppard and Alex Kingston.
It is now September 1938. Sir Hallam is anxious about affairs in Germany and determines to persuade those in power that Hitler can’t be contained. But when he is met with short shrift from his superiors and sees his wife’s concern over what the possibility of another war might mean for their young family, Hallam is forced to consider whether his approach is the right one…and when he meets an unexpected face in Germany he begins to question more than his political beliefs.
Downstairs, with Rose taken ill with TB, the staff welcome spirited new maid Beryl, who catches Harry’s eye. But Beryl struggles to adjust to life in service and has greater ambitions.
Back at Eaton Place Sir Hallam’s wife Lady Agnes is extremely frail after giving birth to their second child, but returns to 165 to support her husband. After the death of Hallam’s mother, Lady Holland, the couple are playing host to Dr Blanche Mottershead, Hallam’s aunt, who continues to make herself comfortable at 165 some weeks after the funeral, much to Sir Hallam and Mr Amanjit’s dismay.
Lady Agnes, however, is grateful for the support Blanche lends in such uncertain times. But, despite Blanche’s support, Lady Agnes remains anxious about the safety of her family and her worries set off a chain of events which leads to a startling revelation about Mr Pritchard…
Cast: Sir Hallam played by Ed Stoppard; Beryl Ballard played by Laura Haddock; Harry Spargo played by Neil Jackson; Lady Agnes played by Keeley Hawes; Dr Blanche Mottershead played by Alex Kingston; Mr Amanjit played by Art Malik; Mr Warwick Pritchard played by Adrian Scarborough; Mrs Clarice Thackeray played by Anne Reid; Lady Persie Towyn played by Claire Foy; Johnny Proude played by Nico Mirallegro; Eunice McCabe played by Ami Metcalf; Duke of Kent played by Blake Ritson and Pamela Holland played by Sarah Gordy.
I enjoyed the comic subplot with the monkey and was moved by the arrival of the first Kindertransport http://www.kindertransport.org/
Here’s the BBC website for it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00njdz8
All the best,
Tony
Here’s a question we’d like answered by someone – why does Lady Mary not defend herself? Pamuk said he would expose her if she didn’t let him have his way with her and she never tells anyone that. So, she couldn’t even scream him off.
Also, Sir Richard is written in a one dimensional way and ruthless individuals usually have a cunning charming side. It would have been more interesting with a scene or two where he wasn’t so abrasive.
Tony, we’re waiting for Upstairs now – sounds gripping.
Personally I think it fit quite well with Lady Mary’s character that she refuses to defend herself. It was an act of rebellion, and yet she feels responsible. It’s similar to Sybil’s relationship with Branson in my opinion. I’d say she also doubted she’d be believed that she hadn’t told him where her room was etc.
Women had a raw deal about this sort of thing for a long time; think about it, we’re still dealing with the ‘oh, she must have done something to deserve it/she was asking for it/well if you’re going to wear clothes like that’ attitudes today… The fact that she didn’t fight him off also means she couldn’t have accused him of rape according to the laws at the time; you had to be able to prove you’d continuously tried to fight him off as far as I know…
As for Sir Richard, I sort of felt sorry for him… He’s dealing with so much prejudice from her family and she doesn’t even really properly defend him an awful lot when they have a scene together. Add that to her constantly looking after Matthew, who has a fiance as does she. Yes, the audience knows they have to end up together but Richard is her fiance, she did agree to marry him and how humiliating must it be if your intended would rather spend time with her handsome, invalid cousin than her own fiance? Yes, he’s a bit of a jerk, but he wouldn’t have got to where he is without being that way. The guy he’s based on in real life was a megalomaniac who never married, so he didn’t really have much options open to him…
Ooh, I wanted to watch Upstairs last night but I had to go to help my friend out with a film project she’s doing. Maybe next week…
I love paper dolls! It’s too nice!
Thanks Kyle Hilton for sharing!
Have a good day!
The paper dolls idea is a terrific thing! I also appreciate that the artist explained his work ethic about intellectual rights. I totally respect that.
One thing that I’ve not seen anybody mention about the Mary/Pamuk situation. Mary had a man break into her room (because a servant, Thomas?, led him there) and had probably never been instructed on what to do if this ever happened. She hadn’t been exposed to the sexual abuse information that we have in our age. If she screamed, that would have drawn attention to the horrible situation she was in and she might have thought that they wouldn’t believe her. He threatened her. He was physically threatening in his postures and how quickly he moved. I think that this was initiated in a startled and threatening way and that Mary just didn’t know what recourse she had. The fact that she found her body responding probably was why she felt guilty. Of all that I’ve read and learned on this topic, I think Mary was bearing blame for something that she didn’t ask for or would have encouraged. Pamuk forced himself on her. I wish that this would have been brought out in the series.
I’ve decided that what makes Downton Abbey work despite all of the valid issues raised here is exactly what Julian Fellowes intended to write about: growth. Thanks to the social and scientific changes of that time, every character must grow and change. Some embrace it, others have it forced upon them, but it’s everywhere in each episode. My two favorite “growers” are Mary and Daisy, which may not be an accident. After all, didn’t Mary start out just as unsatisfied with her life and her prospects as Daisy? In an odd way, they are growing toward one another: Mary is discovering a broader, more human reality, and Daisy is just beginning to glimpse what it means to be part of a family. They’ve each come so far, while others (O’brien and Thomas) seem to take the proverbial one step forward and two steps back. But Fellowes’ brilliant understanding that this particular time in history was a character-development machine makes all the quibbles fade for me. Now we’re to have even greater forces introduced as Cora’s (no doubt emphatically American) mother shows up. Can’t wait.