By Christoph Neumann
Staff Writer
After two captivating seasons, “Downton Abbey” has returned to PBS with a witty beginning to the third season that has started off faster and more engaging than its two predecessor.
The beginning of the third season stylistically sticks close to the other seasons. This season, however, focuses more on the complex characters. Thus far, they have proven both more interesting and more relatable to the viewers.
“Downton Abbey” is the riveting story of the aristocratic English Crawley Family toward the end of the Edwardian era (1901-1910). The series follows the exploits of Earl of Grantham Robert Crawley (Huge Bonneville); Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery); Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens); their families and the rest of the inhabitants of Downton Abbey, the Crawleys’ estate.
This season starts off with the arrival of the Countess of Grantham Cora Crawley’s (Elizabeth McGovern) American mother (Shirley MacLaine). MacLaine plays Martha Levinson, the wealthy benefactor to the Crawley Estate. MacLaine’s arrival to the estate represents the end of the power of the British aristocracy and the beginning of the expansion of American ideas and power throughout the era.
MacLaine’s character often clashes with Robert Crawley’s mother (Maggie Smith). These clashes often highlight the differences between the stagnant conservatism of the British upper class and the progressivism of American society. The relationship between Smith and MacLaine gives the show much-needed comic relief. Their snappy one-liners and petty altercations add a little bit of humor to the show. The humor adds depth to the show and makes it much more than just another television drama, giving “Downton Abbey” many more components that viewers can connect to.
Lady Mary and Matthew get to explore their relationship together during this season. Dockery and Stevens begin to show viewers the internal struggles that many marriages face. It is this realism that has always been the strength of the show. These conflicts add much more depth to their relationship with a human element that brings more life to a relationship that previously seemed stuffy and dry.
Downton Abbey explores not only the lives of the aristocracy, but also those of the servants working for that aristocracy. Viewers get to see several of the struggles between the upper class and the lower class and the striking differences between the two during the early 1900s. This class dynamic gives the show another, deeper dimension that makes “Downton Abbey” constantly more engaging.
The third season of “Downton Abbey” is off to a faster start than the two prior seasons. So far viewers have been able to relate to the show more than ever before due to improved characterization. “Downton Abbey” truly is hitting its peak and will most definitely continue to enthrall viewers during the current season. “Downton Abbey” airs on PBS on Sunday nights at 6 p.m.
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