We Are Fond of Downton Abbey...

At our house, we have been watching Downton Abbey.

Have you? You should.

It is a wonderful series, with just about the highest production values of any costume drama we can think of. The series, which has been offered on Masterpiece Classic, has been a transatlantic hit. In the USA, two seasons have aired. In Britain, they are just now filming Season Three, which will air in the UK in the fall, and in the USA next January.

What a long time to wait.

The series follows the lives of the aristocrats and the people in service at Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country seat of the Earl of Grantham. It began in Season One with a disaster--the sinking of the Titanic. And continued in Season Two through The Great War. If you visit the right page on the PBS website, you can read much more. I will simply say that it is a great way to have a glimpse at a bygone era, with quality acting, cinematography, sets (many of the scenes are filmed at Highclere Castle, the breathtaking home of the Earls of Carnavaron (think the finder of King Tut's tomb). St. Mary's Church in Bampton is said to be the location used for the Season Three nuptuals of Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley. Don't ask me how I know this; it is hush-hush. But if you are a sharp-eyed fan, you will recognize the interior of the church from the "let's pray about it" moment between Anna and Mr. Bates.

This is an excellent program, created by Julian Fellowes.

At Downton Abbey, the costumes are true stand outs. I have come across blogs devoted to just the hats.

It is a high quality show with more integrity than most of what you can find on television. The wit and honesty conveyed by the characters often display the very best of human behavior, but then too, there are the villains and thickening plots.

I am told that on Feb. 19, 5.4 million viewers watched the season finale, capturing a 3.5 national Nielsen rating and making it the highest-rated PBS show since the premiere of Ken Burns’ National Parks in September 2009, according to PBS.

Is it any wonder? So many of the moments are memorable. The ensemble cast is first rate; with Maggie Smith being the odds on viewers' favorite. As the Dowager Countess, her one liners are marvelous. The location of the home of the Dowager Countess, by the way, is actually Byfleet Manor.

As for music, well! Back in August long before I had seen it on this series, I had already posted about one song that was played, when Lady Mary and Matthew had their famous dance: "Look for the Silver Lining" from the flop show, "Zip Goes a Million" sung by Marion Harris (which is the record Matthew plays in the scene). The other fabulous musical moment is made by "If You Were the Only Girl in the World"...

(Sigh...)

We wish that the good folks at BBC and PBS would decide, however, to air Season Three concurrently in the UK and USA in September.

Next January is a long time away.