OMG I love Downton Abbey!!

[newmoonstar]

I officially love Downton Abbey now. The season finale was awesome; everything I wanted to happen actually happened! Thank heaven Mary kicked Sir Richard to the curb and Mary and Matthew finally got together! The whole time I was just sitting there thinking how everyone loves Mary and no one would even care about a scandal that old, just bloody tell them and give Carlisle the boot! And they did! It's so nice to have a show where the characters have common sense and react to things like real people in real situations, and it didn't drag out into Thomas Hardy-like melodrama. I do love my adaptations of 19th century novels, but it is nice to see something with a more modern, practical sensibility. I always prefer more down-to-earth romances anyway; I've shipped Sybil and Branson from the beginning and I'm so pleased they've finally got together. Sybil is my favorite character; I just love how she's so smart and takes on new challenges and sticks up for what she believes in no matter what anyone thinks, and she's always so kind to everyone too. I love that they made the modern, forward thinking sister so nice, and avoided the stereotype of the overly serious, ultra militant suffragette who doesn't care to dress like a girl and preaches to everyone all the time, which sadly still persists to this day for modern feminists. Sybil is such a wonderful, strong character, and I hope she and Branson will show up in the next season, I would miss them so much!! Also I'm so happy that Daisy seems to be getting over her guilt about marrying William, she was starting to sound like a broken record, and it's terrible to see someone you like torment themself for no reason. Bates and Anna I could take or leave though, Anna is a nice enough character, but Bates annoys the heck out of me, I've seen Brendan Coyle play variations on this same character for too long for it to be interesting anymore. (And he's too old to play opposite Joanne Frogatt anyway! Eww!) For the sake of the characters' feelings I'm glad he's not going to hang, otherwise I wouldn't be sorry to see him go! (I know, I'm terrible. And after I cried over William and even Lavinia too! But she was so sweet, and it was so sudden! I figured she'd just be all goodhearted and nobly give up Matthew voluntarily, I didn't think they'd have to kill her! *sniffle*) And I really do love granny Violet these days. In the beginning she was kind of the stern, inflexible dowager, but she's loosened up and shown her more funny and caring sides, and really surprised me with her more pragmatic approach to things once the war started. Maggie Smith is always awesome, and she steals so many scenes and makes me laugh out loud almost every episode. Here's hoping granny Violet lives to a ripe old age, the show wouldn't be the same without her!

Anyhoo, I could go on about Downton forever, but will develop carpel-tunnel pretty soon if I do! I think I need to add Downton Abbey to the list of period drama icons I require. ;D