What about the writing makes the series so delectable and entertaining?

When Julian Fellowes’ historical drama, Downton Abbey, first aired on PBS in 2010, it quickly gained massive worldwide appeal. With so many layers to the plot, character arcs, and a nod to real events, the tension of the show is one of a kind. But what about the writing makes the series so delectable and entertaining?

Quick-witted dialogue

Downton Abbey may be a drama, but one of its winning qualities is its fast-paced, humorous dialogue and wordplay. Especially when you have talent like Maggie Smith delivering quotable one-liners, it’s no wonder why it’s so easy to watch for hours. It can be easy to miss the smaller asides that are chock-full of dry humor. But rest assured, these moments are worth catching as they’re truly hilarious.

Multiple, intriguing characters

Nearly every character on the show has an interesting story to tell. The writers of Downton Abbey do a great job of overlapping different character conflicts and themes. The main characters and side characters have just about an equal amount of screen time. Whether it’s the hopeful, strong-willed characters like Anna the lady’s maid or the more petty and malevolent characters like Thomas the footman and Mrs. O’Brien, every one of them contributes to tension and drama. We can’t get enough of it!

Relatability

While the viewership of the show is overwhelmingly women, specifically women aged 35–49 according to the LA Times, there is much for everyone to relate to. Themes like the fear of being alone, mortality, pride, family dynamics, unfairness at work, and coming into one’s own are the most universal and present. When writing tackles broader life lessons and concepts, the appeal for the material widens. Yes, the main protagonists may be an aristocratic couple and their daughters in the early twentieth century. But good writers can make any character or subject intriguing. I believe Downton Abbey is an example of that.

Layers of tension

It wasn’t until my second watch of the series, years later, that I realized how brilliant the tension buildup and pacing are. There are fast instances of tension that can be resolved in an episode. There are also longer tensions that span the length of an entire character arc. An example of longer tension is Mary’s love story with Matthew. With years of misunderstandings and poor timing, will those two ever get together?

The intertwining of true events

Because Downton Abbey is a period piece, there are many instances where the historical real-world overlaps with the characters’ worlds. The show begins in 1912, right when the Titanic sinks. The second season illustrates the impact World War II had on the home life of those in England at the time. It also highlights the political tensions between England and Ireland through characters like Tom Branson. These events add even more tension on top of the interpersonal crises each character has. I think it’s nice whenever a historical show does this because it helps the viewer to imagine how life may have looked if we had lived during those world-changing events.

Complex character arcs

The complexity of arcs isn’t limited to the principal cast. As stated earlier, Fellowes made sure to invest in every single character he created. There is the main plot which is the possibility of the Granthams’ losing Downton Abbey for good as there is no longer a suitable heir. Later on, one of the side characters falls for a man who is still married. When they are finally able to be together, he is framed for murder and sentenced to death. These serious complications change the characters.

For instance, the self-righteous Mary must be wed if she is to keep the estate from going under. Her problem is that she thinks she can have any man but brushes them all aside. When she is told that her last hope may include marrying a distant cousin, who would become heir, she plays the same game. This leads to her losing him only to realize she has fallen in love. The only way for them to be together is for Mary to feel comfortable on her own, without the attention of suitors. She softens and comes to know that true love is legitimate and not to be taken for granted. She serves as a classic example of “losing all to gain in the end.”

Whether you fall into Downton Abbey’s viewing demographic or not, it’s worth watching an episode or two for the sake of a killer creative writing lesson. You may scoff at the idea of a show that revolves around British aristocracy, but it takes a lot of skill and practice for a writer to be able to intertwine so many characters, historical events, humor, and drama, and do it well.

6 Reasons Why Downton Abbey is a Lesson in Good Writing was originally published in The Writing Cooperative on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.