It all started with Colleen. (Oh, if I had a dime for every time I've said that.) She was raving about it. Then a few days later, people on my writer's loop were raving about it. When someone at my publisher started talking about it, I knew I had to give it a try.
"It" is Downton Abbey, a PBS series/drama about a wealthy family and their servants set in turn-of-the-century England. The writing is splendid, the characters engaging, and the cinematography beautiful. I began watching online to catch up--it's on season 3 on TV. One season, and I was hooked.
I should warn you, watching a whole season in one weekend will add an English accent to all your inner dialogue. If you're willing to risk that (and who isn't, given the lovely sound of the English accent?), go ahead and dive into this engaging saga. Just make sure you clear your calendar because you won't want to stop! Check it out here.
I must admit, while I love Downton Abbey, I do not get why it is so popular compared to all the other fabulous offerings over the years from the BBC. Today, I am looking for inspiration and where else does one go but the master? Jane Austen. While Di and I disagree on the versions, I personally will never love another Darcy as I do Colin Firth. It took a while. Because I did not consider him dark like DARCY means and the first BBC Darcy (David Rintoul) embodied. But as time wore on, Colin quickly wore me down. He conveys so much in a look and it's true to the book. The depth of character in both Darcy and Miss Eliza Bennet is best conveyed in this complicated first proposal. The subtext is brilliant, no?
So I must share what has inspired me for years. What makes Downton possible and what has to be the quickest eight hours of quality television I've ever enjoyed. Again and again and again.
Kara and I have been on a Downton Abbey kick all week. We watched all the first season episodes and have one final episode to watch tonight to be caught up. Being so enthralled in these characters' lives was in sharp contrast to another movie we watched Sunday afternoon. We watched The House of Sand and Fog. There was not one likable character in the whole movie. I wouldn't have watched it for more than fifteen minutes but my daughter left it on so I watched it with her. I complained all the way through the movie about how weak and stupid Kathy, the main character, was.
But in Downton Abbey, even when the characters do things that I think are wrong or stupid, I'm still rooting for them because they are displaying some kind of action and strength. I want to throttle Mary for tossing over Matthew and being so petty with Edith. And Edith needs a throttling as well for what she's done. But in spite of their shortcomings, they are strong. They take action. They are admirable for that reason and I'm invested in their lives now. They are movers and shakers. Unlike Kathy in The House of Sand and Fog. She is weak and whiny and lets the wind carry her to the next mistake.
So that's my opinion of a likable character. He/she has to display some kind of strength. I didn't even feel sorry for Kathy. I wanted to kick her to the curb. LOL How about you? What makes you like a character?
And P.S. Blue Moon Promise is shipping to stores this week. I hope you LIKE Lucy!
Downton Abbey is back, and with it, inspiration for all who write. If you're not familiar with Downton Abbey, it's on Masterpiece and very much like "Upstairs, Downstairs." We know the goings-on in the great house for the servants and the masters and it's most entertaining.
It's such a great metaphor for how life is -- how there is the home life that is presented and then, the reality. The reality is people create a lot of their own drama. It reminds me of the first line in "Anna Karenina" which is "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
I notice when a family is happy, the media will do its utmost to tear that apart. Case in point: Joel Osteen was on Oprah's new show on the OWN network. Joel is a generally happy person. The kind of person who is so happy, you almost don't believe it, but I think that's who he is. Naturally, Oprah had to bring up Scripture and what he thinks about gay people.
In the end, his hour-long interview and the discussion on running the biggest church in the world is curtailed by his view of what Scripture says. It's really hard to have an opinion that doesn't gel with society's. Modern-day McCarthyism. But what struck me about the interview is that we as a society, really hate to see a happy family. And what a terrible crisis that is for our country. The desire to tear others down is a natural, sinful instinct and how sad for us.
Drama is great in fiction, but wouldn't it be nice if we could leave it there instead of tear others apart? I vote that we all watch "Downton Abbey" instead!
Kristin Billerbeck is a proud Californian, wife, mother of four, and connoisseur of the irrelevant. She writes Christian Chick Lit; where she finds need for most of the useless facts lulling about in her head.
Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.
Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.
Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.
Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.
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