"The Feast is Over, the Lamps Expire"

All fled, all done; Downton has come to an end. Just last Sunday two weeks three weeks ago (I was not ready to publish my final post) we here in the US sat with the Crawleys and their faithful employees one last time, reminiscing over the past six years together. The end was predictably bitter sweet as we reluctantly let go but left most of our beloved characters in the throes of genuine peace and happiness. With Edith and Mary happily married and another baby on the way, with Molesley landing a teaching job and Thomas with his newly turned leaf and position as Downton's butler, the doors of Downton closed with a resounding happy ending.

It is not very often that a show like this comes along. Downton had an incredible run with six seasons garnering an average of 9 million viewers in the US, though I think these projections may be a bit low because so many pirated the show when it aired in the UK...damn those impatient bastards! But then again, this is the problem you face when you release the show three months after premiering it across the pond. I mean those Game of Thrones dudes figured this out on the first try but DA couldn't get in right in 6 seasons? Oh and it also doesn't help ratings when you release the series DVD 7 weeks before the finale! Okay, I'm done with the grievances and complaining, I promise! Globally Downton has totaled an estimated 120 million viewers and is aired in over 220 countries and territories around the world. When it comes to the statues, they are not short in recognition either. In those first five seasons they accumulated 58 Emmy nods and 13 wins, 11 Golden Globe nods and 3 wins, 9 Screen Actors Guild nods and 4 wins, and 14 BAFTA nods with 3 wins. Season six awards season is on the horizon and I see glints of gold in the distance.

Logistics aside, this show thrived because it touched the hearts of people everywhere. Strange to think of a show that was essentially about a bunch of rich white people who lived one hundred years ago in a far off country, but it truly was relatable and transcended through so many languages and cultures effortlessly (okay maybe not totally relatable, I mean I've never spent entire days sitting on my ass writing letters and taking off hats, but you know what I mean). But in spite of the relatability, it was the subtle differences that kept the fantasy alive. Like most people, we watch TV to escape the stresses of daily life. After a chaotic work week, we settle down onto our couches and let the glow of the flat screen envelope us and take us on these journeys and adventures away from the monotony of our own worlds. We develop connections with these characters, we love them, we hate them, we want to be them, marry them, or just beat them upside the head, and we identify with them or know someone like them. With such an amazing ensemble cast with so many faces and personalities, how could we not enjoy the ride with this crazy household?

The beginning...I may have spelled Abbey wrong but at least I didn't call it Downtown

Surprisingly I'm not much for TV shows. With the close of Downton, I am currently watching only two, yes, two television series that are still on the air. It takes a lot to get me to watch a new show, and even more to make me stick with one. I'm not sure what drew me into DA that first hour, but when I watched the first episode (which I only did to get my mother off my back about it), I needed to watch the second, then the third, and then buy season 2 and wait for season 3. I've been hooked ever since, and in spite of popular belief, it was not purely for The Wife...but she helped. A lot. But the caliber of the story telling, the insurmountable talent of the individuals who brought the script to life, and the pristine production of the show is likely the culprit of my addiction.

So I want to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the cast of Downton Abbey for this incredible journey we've been so blessed to follow you on, and though it may be over, with the immortalization of DVDs and Blu-Rays, we can relive it time and time again. Your talents truly know no bounds, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us in the future. I also want to thank the crew for their extremely hard work and dedication to bringing this story to life. It takes a village far beyond those we see in front of the camera and we all know this greatness could not have been achieved without your efforts, your deliriously long days and your sleepless nights.

The only regret I have here is not having started this blog sooner, as I've truly had so much fun doing it, and want to thank all of my readers for sticking with me until the end. You guys rock! I'm certainly going to miss working on this little project of mine, and like I said I have been avoiding writing and publishing this post because I didn't want to close it down for good (this post has been sitting on my blog unfinished for two and a half weeks). But although we will be closing, there will of course be coverage of the upcoming awards season this fall. If anything major happens, like I win the lottery or I marry some magnificent sugar mama and somehow get my ass to Highclere Castle, I will post on that here as well. Likewise, with talks of a potential film, the blog may reopen if these rumors come to fruition so we can chronicle the next chapter for the Crawleys. Who knows what could happen in the 1930s? Granny's dead, Edith pops out some legitimate kids, Molesley finally puts the moves on Baxter, and George will be of draft-able age by the time WWII roles around; will he survive the war? Will the estate's future be in jeopardy again? I guess we'll have to wait and see...or maybe I'll get into this fan fiction craze and make my own epilogue.

Anyways, if you enjoyed the blog and you have any interest to see the others I write, check out some of the links below. I haven't been writing on some of them as frequently as I would like because this one takes most of my time, but I hope to get them up and running again soon.

Another Drop in the Ocean - General Topics
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - LGBT
Disturbed Universe - Mental Health Professionals
Pieces of My Heart - Autism