The long-awaited U.S. premier of “Downton Abbey, Season 4” will be tonight.   It has truly been a long wait.  Since last February, to be exact.  The series is shown in the UK in the fall, but Americans have to wait for winter.  What’s with that?  Is it a power play?  “We’re the British and we can make you lowly Americans wait several months to see this show that you’re dying to see.  Nanny nanny boo boo.”

Patience has never been my strong suit, and this past fall when I knew that people in the UK were already seeing season 4, I couldn’t bear it.  So I searched until I found a website that had the episodes for viewing in the US.  It actually didn’t take that much searching to find it.  So, yes, I’ve already watched every single episode of season 4.   Commercial-free, too.  It’s a good season, picking up 6 months after Matthew’s death.  Despite already having seen it, I will be tuning in every Sunday night anyway.  A good show is always worth a second or third viewing.

What is there about Downton Abbey that has attracted so many viewers?  For myself, it’s the glimpse of another life, another way of doing things.  Who knew that people in the British aristocracy really had maids and valets who would actually dress them each day?   Not lay out their clothes but actually put the clothes on them.  Who knew married women were always served breakfast in bed?  Who knew that a female had virtually no rights when it came to inheritance?  And the division of labor is something else!  The hierarchy in the servants’ world is fascinating.  Mr Carson, as butler, is the head honcho of the servants.  The way the servants always stand up whenever Mr. Carson walks in – interesting.   I love watching Mrs. Patmore preparing all the food and bossing Daisy, Ivy and the footmen around.  I can’t imagine cooking all day long.

In anticipation for the Downton Abbey premier, I looked around for information about the new season.  I came across a Cosmopolitan Magazine ranking of the Downton Abbey women.  I agree completely with Cosmo.  (Warning:  mini-spoiler ahead – I am about to tell you who they chose as top Downton Abbey woman).

If you Google “Downton Abby quotes,” you’ll get over 60 million hits!  You’ll find that there are websites dedicated exclusively to quotes from Downton Abbey!  However, when it comes to quotes, no one matches Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Yes, Cosmopolitan Magazine chose Violet as the top woman in the series.  And it is well-deserved.  She is the epitomy of hilarious snarkiness delivered with just the right touch of a British highbrow accent!   Here are some examples (Of course, as you read these, you MUST imagine the words in Violet’s voice!):

Violet: “Robert, people like us are never unhappily married.”

Robert: “What do we do if we are?”

Violet: “Well, in those moments, a couple is ‘unable to see as much of each other as they would like.'”

Robert: “If we don’t respect the Past, we’ll find it harder to build our Future”

Violet: ” Where did you read that?”

Robert: “I made it up. I thought it was rather good.”

Violet: “It’s too good. One thing we don’t want is a Poet in the family.”

Dr. Clarkson: “You want me to lie?”

Violet: “‘Lie’ is so unmusical a word.”

Violet: “I do think a woman’s place is eventually in the home, but I see no harm in her having some fun before she gets there.”

Isobel: “Were you a very involved mother with Robert and Rosamund?”

Violet: “Does it surprise you?”

Isobel: “A bit. I’d imagined them surrounded by nannies and governesses, being starched and ironed to spend an hour with you after tea.”

Violet: “Yes, but it was an hour every day.”

Violet: “That is the thing about nature: there is so much of it.”

Sir Richard: “I’m leaving in the morning, Lady Grantham. I doubt we’ll meet again.”

Violet: “Do You Promise?”

Matthew: “Sorry about the vase.”

Violet: “Oh, don’t be. Don’t be. It was a wedding present from a frightful Aunt. I have hated it for half a century.”

Robert: “They do say there’s a wild man inside all of us.”

Violet: “If only he would stay inside.”

While Violet undeniably has some of the most memorable lines in the show, there are other female characters that we love as well:   Mrs. Hughes, Isobel, Edith, Daisy, Anna, Mrs. Patmore.   Mary and Cora are among my least favorite females.  Cora is tedious.  She sails around Downton with that half-smile on her face and talks in her carefully modulated voice.  Boring.  I like Mary well enough, but so far her character hasn’t been terribly exciting.  I hope the show will bring some more fun storylines for her.  Cousin Rose –  I just don’t like her.  They needed another young female to fill the void left by Sybil.  However, she doesn’t come across as Cousin Rose; she comes across as an actress playing Cousin Rose.

And how about the men?  Mr. Carson is, by far, my favorite.  He’s such a traditionalist and so serious about his job and the reputation of everyone.  He has some pretty good one-liners, too.  Thomas is good as the conniving footman.  Bates?  Love him.  From day 1 of Season 1, I’ve loved Bates.  It’s something about that smile along with the gruff exterior/teddy bear interior thing he’s got going.

Fantasy Storylines

I think most of us have storylines that we’d enjoy seeing played out onscreen.  When thinking of potential storylines, I keep coming back to Edith.  The actress that plays Edith is a very attractive young woman.  However, the character Edith is made up and dressed to look as dowdy as possible.  I’d like to see Edith find her inner and outer beauty and give Mary a run for her money with all the young men.  Mary is entirely too smug about her good looks, and she acts so superior to Edith.  Wouldn’t it be great for Edith to knock her down a peg or two?

Cora, as I said before,  is boring.   I’d like to see her find an interest outside of Downton and make Robert take a second look at her.  Maybe she could have another pregnancy without evil O’Brien there to sabotage it.  And of course the baby would be a boy because just think of all the inheritance hoopla that would stir up!

You may have read some season previews and already know that Anna and Mr. Bates will have a major storyline this season.  However, in season 5, I’d like to see them build a little more depth to their relationship.  Show more of their life together outside of their lives as servants at Downton.

Daisy is another great character.  I hope they give her boyfriend.  And wouldn’t we all like to see Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson develop something more than a working relationship?  This 5th season hints at it, but just a little hint. I’ll hold out hope for season 5 on that one.

So, will you be watching Downton Abbey tonight?  Who are your favorite characters, and what storylines would you like to see?  And no, I won’t tell you the website that has all the episodes.  I don’t want to risk having it taken down.