Introduction
The phrase ‘quality television’ can generally be understood as a genre of TV shows heavily characterised by complex storytelling, sophisticated, strong writing, high production values, and complex characters (Cardwell, S. 2007, 22). Shows like these are often praised, loved, and adored by the fans for their intellectual depth and artistic merit, and in most cases, the shows typically tackle complex social issues and explore serious themes. Downton Abbey is an excellent example of a ‘quality television’. It is a prime television show that details an account of British historical drama. The show has six complete seasons that premiered in 2010 and continued till 2015. Due to the unique nature of the TV show, the drama is highly acclaimed for its nuance performance, intricate periodic details, and great production values (Cooke, L. 2018). The show’s setting was during the early 20th century and is based on the lives of the Crawley family, an aristocratic family together with their servants. It explores the social changes and the class tensions that existed during that era. It is one of the most praised TV shows for its complex themes, complex relationships, richly drawn characters, and ability to bring together multiple storylines.
Downton Abbey is undoubtedly an exciting and popular TV show that showcased an increasing growth in audience trends seeking a more nuanced storytelling and sophisticated drama. The show attracts a broad range of audiences ranging from those viewers with a high appetite for the political and social history of the 20th century to fans interested in exploring costume dramas (Cooke, L. 2018). Undoubtedly, Downton Abbey is the most successful and renowned TV drama of the 21st century. The British TV series is undoubtedly a reckoning force that has significantly influenced popular culture. Downton Abbey has largely borrowed the format of Upstairs Downstairs (ITV), which was a popular British series of the 1970s. The old TV series was based on the lives of Edward’s family, a fictional family with their servants caring for them in an eponymous house. The series’ first season takes the audience back to 1912 after the sinking of the Titanic, where the Downton heir disappears. The plot is then built based on a family trying to come to terms with another family member next in line (Cooke, L. 2018). The next of kin was a middle-class lawyer but had a very different perspective about life from their own. The other next five seasons focused on the inhabitants as they tried to cope with and manage the changes brought about by the 20th century, particularly the First World War; the changes in society and taxation system, which made the running and maintenance of estates extremely difficult, and the women’s movement that enabled the liberation of some of the female characters.
As noted in the previous sections, Downton Abbey has undoubtedly become among British television’s most famous historical series. With the help of ITV, Downton Abbey has become a better approach to preserving the national identity and the history of Great Britain (Creeber, G. 2015). Fans who have watched Downton Abbey not only get entertained during their leisure time but also learn about their history, and as such, they juxtapose their lives against the lives of the main characters in the film. The TV drama is a better example of a screen genre used to preserve and represent the history of the past, particularly during the Thatcher era. The on-screen genre has flourished and becomes the favourite way of preserving the Englishness and the heritage of Britishness. Thatcher’s National Heritage Act, endorsed in 1980 and 1983, catalysed the production of heritage series and films, making Downton Abbey one of the most popular series of the 1980s and 1990s. However, cultural critics tend to argue that the move was a government-sponsored maneuver to bring the British heritage industry to the global stage to promote international audiences and grow Britain’s tourism. Regardless, the move made it possible to recognise heritage dramas and films.
In fact, today, they are easily recognisable. The adaptations of Jane Austen television by BBC, which portrays middle-class homes and aristocratic mansions, and the examination of privileges associated with the lives of people living in them, made it possible to sell this cultural heritage to the outside world. Other films, such as ‘Howards End’, ‘Merchant Ivory’, and many that followed, showcased a similar phenomenon (Creeber, G. 2015). In other words, it enabled the establishment of a heritage consumer industry that sells historical pasts to a vast audience, not just as an experience but also as a means to educate and entertain the viewers. In addition, the films and series portray a kind of life that is no longer relevant or compatible with the modern lifestyle. The characters, the historical settings, and the relationships between the servants and aristocracy all give a detailed historical account of the events that shaped the past and led to significant changes as we observe them today.
Downton Abbey is a microcosm representation of the kingdom itself. Downton Abbey represents a powerful and great estate that lasted for several centuries, which can be applied to Great Britain. England was once a glorious kingdom that wielded a greater power and influence in most parts of the world, and essence, and it still dominates most issues on the global stage (Chapman, J. 2014, 131). England and Downton Abbey feel mismanaged in the era when the plot is set. They are out of resources and must rely on others for survival. In Downton’s case, Lady Cora, an American Heiress with her fortune, saves the day after arriving in England during the 1880s and 1890s to make significant investments across Europe and increase their social status in the continent. The Buccaneers were placing huge sums of money in great houses suffering distress. The prospect of accepting young American women and integrating them into European families was not recent, but goes past the Edwardian period, particularly during the Victorian era (Chapman, J. 2014, 132). Lord Grantham crafted the matching of Robert and Cora to rescue Downton Abbey from an imminent collapse in exchange for guaranteeing the descendants of the American heiress into the English autocracy.
During the gilded age, efforts were being made to ensure that the Victorian era was held by maintaining power, glory, and reputation. Besides, many folks felt the need to keep the old tradition only for the sake of the tradition because, at the time, it was felt that any changes were detrimental to the kingdom and aristocracy itself (Chapman, J. 2014, 135). Moreover, England and Downton were often met with conflicting values and ideals, resulting in tensions. The consequence of this tension led England into a global war while Downton was fighting with itself. These drastic changes make whatever used to work to be insufficient, although making significant changes without a sound thought process often makes characters make irrational decisions. However, changes are inevitable; therefore, it is crucial to account for risks associated with such changes so that the affected persons can benefit from them. For example, Sybil is very determined to embrace feministic ideas. Although it is a noble cause to join the movement of suffrage women, she fails to account for her reactions.
Edwardian issues are highlighted, incorporated, and captured in Downton Abbey story. The plot, for instance, resonates well with the events that were happening at the time. As such, the viewers can have an imagination of what could happen not just to the relationships of the characters, but also to the wider England’s society. moreover, the development of Downton’s characters enables the audience to speculate and educate themselves of what their lives would have looked like if they were either living as servants or aristocrats (Chapman, J. 2014, 136). In addition, the viewers could compare the different roles played by the servants, bringing out the historical professions they were engaged in, as well as their downsides. For example, in the case of education, there are many historical events that comes in the spotlight as pointed out in the story. A good example is the sinking of the Titanic, which viewers can learn from the first episode. Also, Lady Sybil introduces the audience to the world of women suffrage and their movements, while Branson gives a narration of the Irish revolt.
Moreover, the Edwardian newest technological advancement of the time is well highlighted in the story as the series progresses. In Downton Abbey, servants could often work for sixteen hours during a working day. However, as the servant workload increased, there was need to welcome any technological advancements that could shorten their workload. As a result, the era experienced significant technological advancements such as the introduction of gadgets like refrigerators, vacuum machines, laundry machines, and central heating (Chapman, J. 2014, 138). Of course, such technological advancements were not welcomed by everyone as some feared that when they stop working, they would become jobless because their aristocracy may see them as a burden. For example, when we examine the series, it is obvious Mrs. Patmore, who was cooking for the Abbey’s would have faced difficulties finding a new job compared to her young colleagues.
The use of mirror imagery in the series is quite impressive as it supports the microcosm nature created in the drama. For instance, Mrs. Hughes and Carson can be said to mirror the actions of Lady and Lord Grantham. In fact, in the series, they seem to complement each other. We see that Abbey is headed by Lord Grantham, while Carson is seen running the operations of the mansion (Chapman, J. 2014, 140). The same analogy is applicable to head maid and Lady Grantham. The Lady offers a vibrant social life that rejuvenates the family, while Mrs. Hughes is seen most of the time caring for all the guests and visitors coming at Downtown. In other words, the association of these characters can be understood from another level. For example, the Lord and the Lady is a good representation of the two facets of English aristocracy. Robert, on the other hand, represents the traditional moral of noblemen whose ideas of change can be viewed with a bit careful, while Cora symbolises novelty, modernity, and possible future changes in English society (Chapman, J. 2014, 141). Although there are differences among them, they are equally important because the microcosm cannot function properly without them. In other words, it is possible to argue that the relationship of the servants and the aristocracy is not that important because everyone has a social place in the Edwardian food chain, and none function without the assistance or the input of the other.
Conclusion
In summary, the term quality television can be understood from the lenses of a TV genre that prioritises complex characters, sophisticated storytelling, and high production values. Downton Abbey is an excellent example of this type of a genre, which has been celebrated for its nuanced performers, lavish production, and sophisticated exploration of social and political issues. Shows like these are often praised, loved, and adored by the fans for their intellectual depth and artistic merit, and in most cases, the shows typically tackle complex social issues and explore serious themes. Downton Abbey is an excellent example of a ‘quality television’. It is a prime television show that details an account of British historical drama. Due to the outstanding nature of the TV show, the drama is highly acclaimed for its nuance performance, intricate periodic details, and lavish production values. The setting of the show was during the early 20th century and is based on the lives of the Crawley family, an aristocratic family together with their servants. It explores the social changes and the class tensions that existed during that era. It is one of the most praised TV shows for its complex themes, complex relationships, richly drawn characters, and its ability to bring together multiple storylines. In addition, Downton Abbey is a microcosm representation of the kingdom itself. Downton Abbey represents a powerful and great estate that lasted for several centuries which can apply to Great Britain. England was once a glorious kingdom that wielded a greater power and influence on most parts of the world, and in essence it does still dominate most issues at the global stage.
References
Cardwell, S.E., 2007. Is Quality Television Any Good? Generic Distinctions, Evaluations, and the Troubling Matter of Critical Judgement (pp. 19-34). IB Tauris.
Cooke, L., 2018. A Sense of Place: Regional British Television Drama, 1956–82. In A Sense of Place. Manchester University Press.
Creeber, G. ed., 2015. The Television Genre Book. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Chapman, J., 2014. Downton Abbey: Reinventing the British Costume Drama. British Television Drama: Past, Present and Future, pp.131-142.
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