In case you’ve lived under a rock or just aren’t attuned to the fandom that surrounds Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey, there’s a film connected to that property being released next week. The six-season hit that ran on ITV in the UK and PBS in the US was a cultural force to be reckoned with, but sadly has been off the air since 2015. So whether you’re a fan of Downton Abbey or haven’t watched a day in your life, a handy recap video would help prepare one and all for the new film. And as luck would have it, that video exists, and you can watch it below:
Presented and narrated by Phyllis Logan and Jim Carter, better known as Mr. and Mrs. Carson, the heads of the downstairs staff in Downton Abbey’s fictitious estate, everything you need to know about the show’s basic plotline is presented in the compact 10-minute video show above. Those expecting a dry retelling of one of Britain’s greatest contributions to television will be surprised, as Logan and Carter’s warmth and wit carry the audience through everything in an entertaining manner.
The key events in series history, the names and titles of those within the Crawley family and a lot of other connections and factoids are readily displayed. It’s enough to turn even the most casual bystander into an apt pupil ready to see what Downton Abbey has to offer in its first cinematic outing.
As an unexpected bonus, there’s even a clip of a highlight from the early first season of Downton Abbey, in which you can see a pre-Daredevil Charlie Cox swearing that his character will never marry Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary Crawley. And it should be said that if you’re hooked into not only seeing director Michael Engler’s film, but also the full series’ run, there are going to be a lot more surprising guest stars in your future, especially if you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or Star Wars.
If you’re a Downton Abbey fan, the floodgates to your memories have probably opened, and you’re more than likely still drying your tears over remembering the fates of poor Lady Sybil and Cousin Matthew. But if you’re new to the estate, you have enough knowledge to make your way into the future of Julian Fellowes’ sparkling series, courtesy of this long awaited film.
Downton Abbey opens its doors once again on September 20. Which means if you want to watch the original 52 episode run before seeing this new film, you should head to Amazon Prime, the streaming home of all six seasons in the show’s canon. If you attempt this last minute binge, tea and biscuits are recommended to get you through the course.