You know the year is off to a good start when we are treated on day five with season four of the PBS Masterpiece Classic series
Downtown Abbey.
Should you need a reminder, season three ended with both a birth (Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley's son) and death (Matthew Crawley/Dan Stevens who ran off to search for greener Broadway and film pastures) in the two hour Christmas special. The finale ended on a poignant moment when Mary asked her hubby "Will I be your Mary Crawley for all of eternity?" which suggested Matthew had about five minutes of television time left. If this were American tv, Stevens could return in a dream sequence but since it is not, look for Lady Mary to shed the black dress and hook up mid season.
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| Look for Lady Mary clad in lots of black for the first part of the season |
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| Actor Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham will play a possible suitor for Lady Mary |
Fortunately fan favorite Maggie Smith a.k.a. Dowager Countess will be back and here is hoping we see more of Shirley MacLaine as well. Actor Paul Giamatti (who has played a wide range of characters from HBO's
John Adams to NBC's Pig Vomit in
Private Parts) joins the cast as Cora's playboy brother Harold.
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| MacLaine and Giamatti with Mr. Carson/Jim Carter |
Look for the top-notch costumes, sets, landscapes and writing that have made the show such a phenomenal success along with lots of grief, melodrama and the occasional plot twists we have come to expect from writer Julian Fellowes. While Highclere will still play a major character right down to the original Van Dycks on the walls, look for lighter, more fun filled sets as the characters up their social game in London.
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| The period perfect settings of Highclere have become a familiar setting for viewers |
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| Many of the show's settings will see an update to reflect the twenties |
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| Production designer Donal Woods oversees the sets that will include the addition of party scenes in London |
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| Jazz singer Jack Ross/Gary Carr plays a new character |
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| Paul Giamatti and Poppy Drayton in what could be a Ralph Lauren Ad - ironically much of last season's line was influenced by the show |
Never fear, there will be a season five. In the meantime, catch season four at 8pm/Central Sunday, January 5th on PBS.
Photo Credits:
© Nick Briggs/Carnival Film and Television Limited 2013 for MASTERPIECE
