Downton Blues

January means the return of Downton Abbey. For the next two months Sunday nights are the highlight of the week. Then...it's over for another 10 months. big big sigh This year was a treat since Megan finally caught up with a massive binge-view of Season 1-3. We had fun pining each other late at night rehashing all the Downton doings. But now.... nothing for ten months. So sad! Here's some links to help us acclimatize ourselves back to reality:

First a shout out Season 4: Go Mrs. Hughes!

She wins my Favorite Character award this year. Loved her. She kicked it this season in many ways.

Last week I was watching another British police series, Vera and Mrs Hughes...I mean the actress Phyllis Logan played a mum grieving for her son and did a fine job. Much prettier, even when she was beaten up by local drug pusher, because frankly 1920s hair has greatly improved in our modern era even if matted and tangled from an altercation. Here's a pic of actress looking ever so fresh and lovely.

Can't wait to see what she does as Mrs. Hughes next.  And no...don't think they'll be any hookups between her and Carson but golly....wasn't that final scene just the sweetest!  A nice way to wrap it up. 

Meanwhile back in the real world here's some other things to help us ease back to reality: 

"Unofficial Downton Abbey Knits" (Unofficial because of some copyright issues I'm sure...)

Book tie-ins:
A new installment from the Countess of Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey. Two books now published recounting history that partly inspired Julian Fellowes story lines and characters.

Podcast: Afterbuzz Downton Abbey: 

This is a podcast devoted to nothing but Downton-talk . Three fellow fans (like ourselves) do a day-after hour long rehash of each episode. I discovered it after season 3 and love it! Fun to listen to other people dissect, speculate, vent and analyze the show. They always have Granny's Top Zingers of the Week - my favorite bit.  Oh Goodie!


Surge in fiction of ww1 and 20s era

No....it's not your imagination ... there's a plethora of novels set in this era lately. That's typical book-zeitgeist. The success of Downton spurred on renewed intrerest in all-things early 20th century.
Plus this is the WW1 Centennial so expect this trend to continue all year. One I'm greatly anticipating: Jacqueline Winspear's newest: The Care and Management of Lies: A Novel of the Great War. It's not a new Maisie Dobbs but a stand-alone novel.

 

Current Favorite Series 

My latest favorite Lady Detective: The Honorable (and sassy ) Miss Phrynie Fisher.

Love, love this whole 20 book series by Kerry Greenwood! Yep...I said 20. Well 19 with the 20th due to be published this spring. They fill a whole shelf in the shop. Phyrne's been on my reading radar for a while now. Our heroine is a beautiful Australian flapper/heiress who returns home to Melbourne in 1928. Phyrne (pronounced Fry-nee) is now rich, single and incredibly feisty and independent. Late night flapper soirees and all night dancing at cabarets often lead her to nefarious crime scenes. I adore her penchant for danger and abilities to always suss out the criminals, while being beautiful, smart, sassy and always dressed gorgeously!

This winter (while in throes of a nasty head cold) I binge-watched the very lavish and oh-so-entertaining Aussie tv series. When I say "lavish" I mean it. Budget for each episode was 1 million and it totally shows. The costumes are to die for and sets evoke 1920s beautifully. I've even splurge and purchased the sound tracks I've a weakness for Jazz era music so couldn't resist! I confess I secretly long to be like Phrynie but accept that I'm much more like Dot, her faithful assistant who'd much rather be safely home with her mending than trailing after Phyrnie, often at break-neck speed in a very, very fast motor-car

Series 1 is now available via Netflix (streaming and dvds). Or better yet: Acorn TV, a streaming netflix-like service devoted to the Best of British TV (well worth the $4.95 monthly cost for devoted Anglofiles like myself).

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries streaming on Netflix
Acorn TV: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Series 1 & 2

Reviews:TV Series