Still in Love with Downton Abbey

True confession time; I'm still in love with Downton Abbey.  It's not for everyone; Period British dramas are admittedly a bit of a niche.  And there are those out there who have stopped watching, who have given up on the show.

But I'm not one of them. And last night's episode cinched for me.  Oh sure, there have been moments this season that have been eye-rolling in their over-the-top melodrama... usually involving Matthew or Mary; or some combination of the two.  And others where I have wanted to tell Daisy to grow a backbone; which she finally has now.  Or tell Thomas to be a little nicer.  But I've stuck with it.

I've stuck with it mostly because of the characters.  I'm in love with Lady Violet's (Maggie Smith) gloriously inappropriate one-liners.  This week it was to Sir Richard as he left the season he tells her she might not see her again; she responds: "do you promise?"  It's as if she speaks for the viewer sometimes.

Series 2 told the story of  how the family and servants dealt with World War I. It really made the social classes even; Matthew had William as a fellow soldier, Sybill fell for Branson the chauffeur, and Anna seemed more a part of the family than the servants' world.  Mary was ready to wed Sir Richard, a newspaper magnate from what could be called "new money."  At the start of season 2 there were two separate worlds one above stairs, and one below.  When season 2 ends; it's as if they're one.

The season finale was the Downton Abbey Christmas special.  The family gathers at the house for the holidays.  Anna's husband Jon Bates stands accused of the premeditated murder of his ex-wife and is about to go trial.  Sir Richard is determined to set a date for his wedding to Mary, but ends up as the Earl says "putting her teeth on edge."  


 The episode's ending was worth waiting two seasons for.  The final scene was between Matthew and Mary out in the courtyard at Downton.  They start talk about the scandal that left Mary "damaged goods;" and Mary's plans to go to America.  And it ends up with Matthew making a proposal of marriage.  The scene is the perfect way to end the Christmas special; the snow is falling on New Year's Eve, it's dark and there's nobody around- just the right amount of romance made it the perfect way to end the season.  It made me realize why I am still in love with Downton Abbey.

How Is that Okay Grammys?

I don't think I can sum up my reaction to Chris Brown better than Gossip Columnist Lainey Liu did in a recent blog post.  She wants people to be angry with the academy, and I am.   How could they legitimize a guy who would beat a woman like that? Ask him to perform, and give him an award for his music too.

I get wanting to give someone a second chance. and in most cases I agree, just not this one.  Because what Brown did was unforgivable; he beat a woman.  That should be career suicide, it should mean he's a social pariah.  I remember Jay-Z saying at the time he would make life difficult for Brown; he would ruin his career.  What happened to that? And now he comes back to win a Grammy three years later? What's wrong with this picture?

How is that okay Grammy Academy?  Essentially that's what you're saying by giving him an award.  At one point he may have been a talented musician, maybe.  But his actions have spoken louder than words here; he is a violent, angry man and I just can't get past that- any normal human being shouldn't get past that.

You're setting a horrible for young women. How many women in similar situations to Brown's and Rhianna's won't speak up now, because virtually nothing has happened to him? You had a chance to make him pay a price here by refusing to let him perform, and refusing to give him any awards, and you didn't.  How is that okay Grammy Academy?

There's an old cliche that people often buy awards.  This proves it.  As Lainey says in her column; Be angry with the academy.  And I am.  So are others.  To share your anger sign this petition... because the Grammy academy awarding Chris Brown, is not okay.

Capsule Review: Smash

I had three good reasons to watch Smash Monday night: Angelica Huston, Debra Messing, and Jack Davenport.  I only caught parts of it as I flipped between that and another show, but what I did catch was brilliant.

The premise is about the struggle to bring a musical based on Marylin Monroe to Broadway.  Messing plays the writer, Angelica Houston plays the producer, and Davenport plays the director.  They're joined by Megan Hilty, and Katharine McPhee (yes, that Katharine McPhee from Idol) as actresses competing to play the lead role. 

I've heard it explained as "Glee" for grownups.  I rarely watch a full episode of Glee, but I'd say Smash is better.  It has more of a story to it, where Glee's stories are often kept to only one episode. Not to mention Smash I think has a few original songs in it, where I think Glee for the most part has none.  I think Glee has gotten too campy, and the story has been lost in favour of how many guest stars they can pack into a given season.

 I watched just enough to whet my appetite, and will probably end up streaming the first episode online and watching the rest of the season on television.