Downton Abbey Is Not A Love Story

     As highly esteemed as the writers of "Downton Abbey" are, a phycologist might say that they suffer from latent tendencies of melancholy.  I'd say that they were never loved as children... and might still suffer love deprivation.  
     How else can you explain a 6-year series in which EVERY SINGLE budding love or attraction between characters was so twisted/hijacked/teased/trampled/tortured?  That plot aspect was worse than lame-brained American soap operas.  Throughout 99% of the 6 years, the writers were content (and intent) on doing that to their beloved characters.  Admittedly, only when writer/creator, Julian Fellowes, was admonished in public by a fan (who said, "Why can't you just let Edith be happy!?), did he realize that torturing the TV characters tormented the viewers.  Maybe that's when he finally saw past the bubble of what's going on in his brain.  Thus, the final episode gave Happy Endings to nearly everyone (like a rushed apology of generosity).  He publicly declared that he'd given what the longtime viewers wanted.  
     Critics falsely label this drama a love story.  It's not.  Even secondary characters get screwed.  I can't imagine the earl's friends wanting to buy wedding gifts for his family.  So many weddings end tragically!
Edith and Anthony (he abandoned her at the wedding).
Tom and Sybil (she died).
Matthew and Lavinia (she died).
Mary and Matthew (he died).
Don't forget the kitchen maid and the footman (he died).

     Such unbelievable tragedies for the same household.  That TV series had more deaths than any other that I can think of.  Characters weren't just "written out"... they were put to death:
diplomat brat Kemal Pamuk
footman William Mason
Archie Philpotts 
fiancee Lavinia Swire
Reggie Swire
divorcee Vera Bates 
Lady Sybil Crawley
Major Charles Bryant
heir Matthew Crawley
rapist Alex Green
lover Michael Gregson
Charlie Rogers
Peter Pelham, sixth Marquess of Hexham
and two of Lord Grantham's dogs


     The show has extremely stingy amounts of romance (e.g.: a quick sherry between butler and housekeeper; stolen glances; a 10-second bed scene; an agreement to have a second date; a peck on the cheek).  True, Victorians and Edwardians were the most "buttoned up" people, 

--and even furniture legs had to be hidden--

and "courting chairs" for young couples kept them apart...

...but humankind in that era hadn't lost its lust or passion.  Conservative fanatics existed in every era, yet I'm sure lustful love existed in 1910's London, Paris, Milan and Peking.  It just didn't happen on "Downton Abbey"--despite the show touting how much historical accuracy it grasped from the era.

     Even if you're basing a drama series on that time period, it's still no excuse to break apart or over-strain EVERY romance in the series.  Most of the show is full of hassle and phycological torture for its characters.  
     During interviews, cast members said that they kept turning pages of the script because they couldn't wait any longer until the characters would finally kiss... or be together.

     Speaking of "being together", Downton Abbey over-achieved at PREVENTING folks from getting together.  It's like the writers emulate Cinderella's evil stepmother--separating her from her lover:
-The dowager and her long-lost first love, the Russian prince.
-The prince and his estranged non-loving wife, Irina Kuragin.
-Lady Mary and all her young suitors (especially the first one who dies in her bed after sex).
-Lady Mary and her husbands (each involving car crashes).
-Matthew Crawley and his first fiancee, who dies after dinner.
-The niece and the African American jazz singer.
-The earl's sister and her intended suitor (who cheats on her with a maid).
-Lady Edith and all of her lovers.
-The chauffeur and the boss' daughter.
-Every attraction between a footman and maid.
-"Under butler", Thomas, and each of his intended "crushes".
-Daisy and her just-married husband.
-Mrs. Patmore and older Mr. Mason.
-The earl and a maid.
-The earl and his wife, Cora.
-Cora and an unwanted suitor--caught by the earl.
-Anna and Bates (throughout nearly the entire series--despite each being wrongfully arrested/jailed at different times--and Anna getting raped). 
-Branson and the liberal-minded teacher, Ms. Bunting.
-Dr. Clarkson and Isobel Crawley.
-Isobel Crawley and Lord Merton.
-Ethel Parks and the major.
-Lord "Shrimpie" MacClare and his conniving wife.
-Lord Sinderby and his wife... and his lover's bastard son.
-Cora's uncle and the London socialite, whose father flirted with Cora's mother.  Neither went well.
-Mosley remains a bachelor, with some audience members hoping he'll kindle something with Cora's personal maid.
-Mrs. Hughes and her first love--who proposed twice.
-Mrs. Hughes and FINALLY Mr. Carson.
     [Ironically, the dower house WAS used by Disney as the home of Cinderella's evil stepmother!]

     It's a show about prison fights, corruption, bullying, pyramid schemes, marriage for money, discrimination, fisticuffs, separations, and death.  As beautiful as the costumes and settings are, the plot writers need to have their heads examined for why they felt compelled to pour so much misery into their creation.