Downton Abbey: Past Attraction Guest post by Shannon Donnelly
Please welcome Guest Blogger Shannon Donnelly!
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There’s blood in the air—Downton Abbey’s latest season ended, and it did not end well. The fan-friends I have are all deep into disappointment. Which shows what the real attraction has been: we thought we were watching a romance.
Downton Abbey offered an escape from cell phones, job deadlines, traffic, and a way-too-busy world. That’s the great thing about the past—we know how it worked out (mostly). Of course, folks back then had problems—it wouldn’t be an interesting story if the characters didn’t have troubles galore. But they also had fabulous dinner parties, social whirls, servants, glamour and wit.
And let’s not forget the clothes.
And the houses, too. (Wouldn’t you just love to spend a few days wandering those beautiful rooms, and those gardens?)
Downton Abbey brings us an elegant world…and guys who look great dressed for dinner. There are jewels and gowns, and all of it can sweep us back to a time when who is going to marry whom really does seem like the most earth-shattering issue at hand.
But Downton Abbey failed (no, I’m not going to spoil it, but I recommend only watching the first couple of seasons…up to the wedding…if you want that mostly happy ending). But the Abbey opted out of the romance, which is why I’m heading back to my Regency England.
Like Downton Abbey, the stories I write set in Regency England have glamour…and great clothes. It’s about the wit, the style, the elegance. The setting, and all the details that go into that, is a huge part of any Regency—the elegant houses, the horses, the carriage rides, the candlelight, and guys who look great dressed for dinner.
Of course the also characters have troubles—it could be a rough world back then, particularly if you were a servant, or not one of the rich and titled. In the Regency, there was a war going on (and on and on, since France went from a revolution to Bonaparte making trouble for everyone). But the focus—in a Regency, and particularly in a romance—is on who is going to marry whom. And will it work out?
That’s where Downton Abbey failed—we wanted to see how will Matthew and Lady Mary (still not spoiling—go read a summary if you must), handle their marriage, or what’s going to happen to the servants as the world keeps changing. Instead, the story shifted (as TV shows tend to do). And it was a disappointing shift for most of us. (And even more changes are coming to the series.)
So it’s back to Regency romances for me—I’m heading back to where I know I will not lose a favorite character (there are better ways of dealing with that, you know). After all, those glamorous clothes need to be filled, and I want those favorite characters to stick around.
Shannon Donnelly Bio
Shannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards, including a RITA nomination for Best Regency, the Grand Prize in the “Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer” contest, judged by Nora Roberts, RWA’s Golden Heart, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: “simply superb”…”wonderfully uplifting”….and “beautifully written.”
Her Regency romances can be found as ebooks on all formats, and include four novellas now out as a collection with Cool Gus Publishing.
Posted on March 11, 2013, in Guest Blogger and tagged Booklist, Downton Abbey, Nora Roberts, Regency, Romantic Times, Shannon Donnelly. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Great post, Shannon and I totally agree with you. I was late to the DA party, but once I caught the first season on Netflix, I bought the second, and pre-ordered the third from Amazon. I even got my husband interested – he loved Violet and Carson and of course, the house. I cried during the ‘Sybil tragedy’ but when the writer asked us to believe the same kind of thing could happen, yet again, on a symbolic day during the season finale..well that was a bit much. I did not shed a tear. Rather, I raced to the computer and googled about the finale…What I gleaned was other opportunities presented for the actor outside of DA and there were references to the very large cast of characters and such. I wonder if the writer decided the ending or if it was decided for him. Still, this is akin to killing off a dog and I thought I was watching a romance. I would have much preferred a replacement with blond hair and blue eyes.
Congratulations on your numerous accomplishments and best wishes for continued success.
Mary Campisi
Yes, you don’t kill the dog. And you do not kill off the person who was set up as the main character (I find it hard to believe they couldn’t have enticed him to stay with a bit more money).
I agree with Mary, and I have to admit that I had not yet thought of that: get another actor to play the part next season.
Keep the romance and don’t proceed with that one tragic plot point (goodness knows they’ve had plenty already, with more to come I’m sure).
Would have been very funny if they’d gone the soap opera route (terrible accident, face wrapped in bandages, and when they’re removed…gasp, why he doesn’t look quite the same).
A big NO-NO is to lead a viewer or a reader into thinking a story is one type of story and then pull a switch. That’s a good way of alienating your fans.
I’m delighted that Cool Gus is adding romance to its publishing lines. That’s one savvy doggie.
Yes, Twin Peaks suckered me into thinking there was a mystery (not just a wandering bunch of stuff happening). But I don’t think Julian Fellows thought he was writing a romance. Such a pity.
Unfortunately, Julian Fellows–the writer–didn’t have a say in it. He had a very different story written when the actor who played Matthew wanted out. BBC contracts allow actors to take off after a season ends. I think Fellows was so furious he took it out on the story.
Still not very cricket. I’m sure Lady Mary will have new suitors, but I doubt they’ll have the same sparkage.
I knew it was the actor pulling out which caused this and I wonder if he made the right choice or if his fans might never forgive him for killing off Matthew! Time will tell what happens to his career I suppose. I agree that this might have been one of the times a different actor in that role might have been the better choice, though I always find that quite jarring and distracting. That is one way in which books are better
no pesky real life getting in the way (unless the author dies half way through writing a series!) But DA was never just a romance, it was always about the whole household with no one dominant character or storyline, it is a costume drama, not a romance, so I don’t think it’s fair to say it pulled a switch of genre or anything.
DA is indeed more than a romance, but at heart, it’s the romance that keeps me watching and wondering. After reading the above response regarding Julian Fellows outrage, could he have purposely thrown in a totally unbelievable season finale? Bad enough Matthew is gone, but to do it this way, which follows the same path as Sybil? It’s too much to ask of the viewer and that’s what really has me ticked. Plus, if you read next season’s story line with Mary, it’s….well….a set up for more annoyance…and I so loved this series.
Mary C., I agree with you: DA is more than the formula romance so many people seem to love and expect. Also agree that Matthew’s demise came far too close to Sybil’s death. BUT the way it happened wasn’t totally unbelievable, and certainly opened up the plot for the two bereaved parents to get together. ROMANCE looms!
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