7 Times Downton Abbey Has Jumped the Shark
Downton Abbey has jumped the shark, over and over and over again. Either writer Julian Fellowes is toying with viewers by presenting an undercover farce, or “Julian Fellowes” is really a 15-year-old girl using devices common to her age, such as sudden plot lurches, melodrama, tortured simplicity, and outlandish improbability. What started in Season One as a measured, engrossing, and beautiful series has become a weekly, preposterous chore.
Is Laura Linney in on the gag? Has she seen the episodes she is introducing?
Fonzie only jumped the shark once. Here are seven times Downtown Abbey has jumped the shark.
1. Downton Becomes a Hospital
Downtown’s grandest shark jump took place when the estate was turned into a hospital for World War I wounded in Season Two, Episode 3. The subtleties and grandeur of the drama were replaced by noise, racket, bandages, beds, and scores of visitors. To believe this disruption, one must believe that the village is an efficient destination for the war wounded. One must also assume there aren’t other barns, churches, banquet halls, or any other building closer to a railhead capable of handling the casualties. The Downton-becomes-a-hospital frolic and detour sucked the life out of the series and led to even more absurd, improbable plot twists such as the return of Thomas to Downton, the liaison of the maid Ethel and Major Bryant under Lord Grantham’s roof, and the patently impossible return of the terminal William to both die and marry Daisy. Downton as hospital also produced a plot twist so ridiculous it deserves its own shark-jumping moment.
God is pulled out of a box so many times on Downton Abbey that the viewer is left with a severe case of vertigo.
She. Married. The. Help?
Granted, it’s fiction, but ewwwwwwwww. Some things are just not done.
Glad I’m avoiding the show.
I think that marriage is by far the most unlikely thing that has happened thus far on Dowton Abbey.
Not only did she (eww) marry the help, the help she married is a Marxist, sexist, bullying prig. Nothing even remotely attractive about the character. She’s twice the man he is. Didn’t make sense at all.
But hey, it’s just a soap opera. The first season was lovely. It’s gone downhill from there.
#6 is in Season Three, not Season Two.
The thing about jumping the shark isn’t just that is it highly improbable situation, it’s so stupid it renders the series no longer cool or trendy. It doesn’t appear that Downton is in any danger of that happening. Most of what happens in scripted TV IS implausible- if it wasn’t, it’d be entirely too boring to have much of an audience. The fact that Fellowes gets away with repeated shark-jumpings might mean that they aren’t actually aerial transits over a sharp-toothed marine creature after all.
The only ones I think are potentially real eye-rollers are numbers two and six, although “Patrick” Crawley may still return- but I doubt it. And six bothers me because of its neat resolution. I do believe Lord Grantham could have made a bad investment, and in fact his mismanagement is an ongoing topic, as the last episode brings up yet again. But the title of the series is “Downton Abbey,” therefore it’s not at all likely the eponymous residence is going to be lost. Color me unsurprised when it, in fact, isn’t. However, they could have dragged it out a bit, instead of the solution first appearing in the same episode as the problem.
As for Matthew’s miraculous recovery, why not? Dr. Grayson was wrong, as doctors often were in those days- and his being wrong in that instance directly set up the tragedy in this past episode- a tragedy that surely must have redeemed the series in the eyes of my more jaded PJ Media friends. Same with Mrs. Hughes- the point of that whole subplot was to highlight Carson’s affections for her, which we may have suspected but of which we never saw proof . Also, she was never diagnosed with cancer- so the title “Cancer come and gone in one episode,” is actually quite incorrect. Or was that paragraph heading written for dramatic effect- you know, like the kind of effect Julian Fellowes is going after with his implausible moments?
You might want to rethink #1.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/downton-abbey/8820131/The-real-Downton-Abbey-how-Highclere-Castle-became-a-World-War-I-hospital.html
Point 1 is likely an homage/ripoff of Dr. Zhivago.
I don’t think the absurd plot twists are intentional. I think Fellows found himself with a hit on his hands and was asked to stretch a great miniseries into a running show. Hopefully greed doesn’t ruin it.
I think the stint with Bates in prison is wearing thin. Brendan Coyle is a great actor and the show is lacking by not giving him more to work with in season 3. Hopefully season 3 doesn’t take him from an english gentleman to murderer. (season 3 is only up to episode 4 in America – those outside: don’t spoil it!)
I also agree with Dana above. There are such things as cancer scares, and it is used to shed light on Carson’s affections as well as Lady Mary’s intention to care for her even if she was unable to continue working.
What happened to Mrs. Hughes happens a hundred times a day in the US to real women- the turnaround time is just much faster now, is all. Your point about Cora’s response is a good one, I had forgotten that. I think a lot of Fellowes’ one-off plots are to further character development rather than to actually go anywhere, and that is why they end so neatly.
William’s death isn’t that out of line with what we know about blast injuries, either (Israel, sadly, has contributed more than its fair share of knowledge on the topic). Blast Lung Injuries can often take a day or two to even become evident, sometimes with little external trauma noted. So it’s totally believable he made it back from the front with a fatal lung injury- and also that they knew he wouldn’t make it despite looking pretty good.
Many of the offhand statements and observations made by the characters in the sickrooms of Downtown Abbey are said for a reason- they’re usually quite meaningful medically. I think Fellowes does a good job of reading up on these conditions- though having this last episode open with Dr. Clarkson taking Sybil’s blood pressure was a real “oops”. That would have been a huge tipoff that something bad was afoot, because it should have been sky high. Oh well, I will just chalk that up to the director having him do that for effect!
Thank you for correcting my “Mary” with “Cora”. Whoops! Mixed the two names up. A BIG thanks for being so graceful about it.
I wouldn’t put a cancer scare like that in the “jump the shark category…Don’t laugh unless you’ve gone through that. I have had that scare and have also watched a friend die from breast cancer
I would question the recovery of the young man who eventually married Mary. That was a bit much. Only someone riding on a white steed and scooping up Bates from the hangman’s rope could surpass that.
I have found Downton Abbey a blessed relief from some of the 4 letter word films on televiaion.
Oh, I don’t know … maybe shooting to split the noose rope with a rifle from a convenient rooftop or other vantage point could surpass a white steed …
You do realize you just ruined the series for me as I haven’t watched the current season. I would have had no idea how these plots twists turn out. I like what’s his name’s sketch on it: hot daughter #1, hot daughter # 2, ugly daughter.
Edith is NOT ugly!
Your own fault. You shouldn’t have read the article.
The actress that plays ‘Edith’ is also in the recent movie “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” — a Cold-War era spy drama, centered in London, which came out a year ago.
In the “Tinker Tailor” movie, she is glamorous and lovely. A different hairdo and makeup can work wonders.
Fellowes borrowed from the actual history of Highclere Castle, used as the set for Downton Abbey.
Highclere was used for recuperating officers during WW1, so point 1 is not fair.
Downton Abbey is what it is: a lavish British soap opera with great acting and a lot of storylines that give us a glimpse of the social history of the end of the era of landed gentry.
Not as far-fetched as the sequel to Upstairs Downstairs was.
I am looking forward to Ethel’s future, and Bates coming home.
Thank you. I was getting ready to post the same.
The location of Highclere makes it a much different destination for war wounded than an estate in Yorkshire. That was part of my point, particularly as it relates to seriously wounded (and sometimes terminal) men. The rickety long trainride to Yorkshire makes the plot line in season 2 absurd, at best.
Never watched it. “Nashville” has lots more music, and “Once Upon a Time” has lots more swordfights…
The fact that you have written this article about “shark jumping” in the series is PROOF that it doesn’t matter. If it did, no one would read it and no one would care. Lord Grantham could swim naked in a pool of piranhas and I’d still watch. Twice.
Awesome Betina! I loved the old BBC dramas in the early 70′s such as Lord Peter Wimsey, Poldark, etc. If I had TV still I’m sure I’d be hooked on Downton.
– bed we visited, it ain’t. But Julian a good actor himself and fun writer:
“Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative. (Poo-Bah)”. ― W.S. Gilbert, The Mikado
Precisely. Julian Fellowes knows his English history, the ins and outs of British aristocracy like the back of his hand AND he’s Conservative.
I loved Gosford Park and Downton Abbey is a treat.
It’s great entertainment. A soap opera. This article is just filler between ads. So what? We’ll be tuning in Sunday.
Why not include poor Lady Edith being left at the altar, literally, by Sir Anthony? As unrealistic as the situation was – I seriously doubt anything like that actually happened among people of that class – tears welled up as I witnessed Edith’s pain and humiliation. Edith has become one of my favorite characters and I hope she finds happiness and love. On the other hand, I’ve come to really dislike Lady Mary.
I do agree that Season Two wasn’t as good as the first and Season Three isn’t as good as the second, but with all the swill on TV I’m grateful that we have Downton Abbey.
Lady Edith has become one of my favorites, too. Lady Mary started out spoiled rotten and unlikable, but has grown up. She recognizes her duty to her family and was prepared to take her medicine for her actions like a man.
Lady Sybil, OTOH, annoyed me so much I was glad she died in childbirth. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
The Chauffeur marriage: OK look, I once owned a, by then somewhat run down, mansion built in the roaring 20′s by a Brown daughter of Brown & Wilson tobacco. Super rich albeit American Aristocracy in those days. She married the chauffeur. So it can happen in real life… maybe not in England back then but, A King Married a divorced American Woman and gave up his crown in 1936 so… it was a stretch but believable to me.
Hanging Offenses: Earls were not powerless before the law in those days, though their power was waining fast. That he would personally intercede and get it done is possible. He didn’t just make a phone call he asked for favors, he went in person and hired what is depicted as the sharpest lawyer around. Even early post WW1 that was possible. Sharp lawyers still get wealthy people off for far worse, think OJ Simpson.
If I recall correctly some mansions were used as hospitals during and after WW1 in England, it wasn’t exactly depicted as a MASH unit.
Downton is a rare and elegant visual feast, a break from the cacophony of screaming BS and incredibly boring, predictable twaddle that is television today. Heck I might throw the damn thing out if it wasn’t for a few delights like Downton that happen along occasionally.
This is a beautiful series and it is entertaining and not a documentry! Don’t like it, don’t watch it. There are lots of guns shooting, car chasing, vampires, martial arts fights, fantastic forensics, gay guys making out, and other nonsense that purports to be entertainment for this writer to watch.
I am afraid you are wrong on some presumptions. The real Downton was used as a hospital for officers during the war. Shell shock paralysis was extremely common. Many aritrocrats did lose their money on single investmants, as they do today.
The real Downton Abbey actually did become a hospital in WW1.
I agree that the very talented Brendan Coyle (Bates) is wasted in this season.
Season 3 started off great, but the last episode where Sybil dies was not up to par.
Also, I would like to see at least ONE show on television today that does not feature a homosexual character.
Ah, but this is a BAD homosexual! Tsk,, tsk. I’m surprised the pickets aren’t out.
Why shouldn’t there be a gay guy on the staff at Downton? I think it’s reasonable and realsitic; homosexuality wasn’t invented out of whole cloth in the 1960s, after all. I’m sure Downton Abbey is just as popular with gays as it is with everyone else and I see nothing wrong with there being a representative character on the show.
Neither do I, but some gays, the usual militants, will.
Homosexuals are still a relatively small minority, despite what the MSM would like us to believe, and they are disproportionately displayed on television these days. In turn-of-the century Britain, gays would have been closeted and subjected to jail if they were known to be homosexual. For the character of Thomas to openly come on to the Turkish character, would have been ludicrous and a very foolish move on his part.Why the need for a homosexual character in the first place?
Thomas the gay footman is a louse and a coward. He put himself in a position to be blackmailed in season 1 and ultimately proved disloyal to his patrons by setting up Lady Mary that ended in disaster. He did his best to get Bates fired (DID get Bates fired until Grantham decided he owed the guy some loyalty) is underhanded with everybody and even went out of his way to get a MINOR wound in the war so he could be sent home. He’s also showing himself to be a deviant predator by foisting his attentions on men who obviously find them distasteful.
But hey – every show has a bad guy and right now his partner in crime (O’Brien) has decided she wants to take him down.
I’d also like the writers to remember that O’Brien caused Lady Cora to lose her baby and to punish her accordingly.
C.S. Lewis wrote in “Miracle” that a novelist that uses “winning the lottery” as a plot device to rescue the characters engages in “bad art.”
Yup. Bad art.
Downton Abbey isn’t art, it’s entertainment.
Not diversifying is improbable? Just pretend Lord Grantham invested with Bernie Madoff …
Please excuse my ignorance, but where did the expression “jumping the shark” come from? I sort of “get” the meaning from the illustrations, but am curious as to how it applies to theatrical plotlines, etc.
From Wikipedia: “The phrase jump the shark comes from a scene in the fifth season premiere episode of the American TV series Happy Days titled “Hollywood: Part 3″, written by Fred Fox, Jr. and aired on September 20, 1977. In the episode, the central characters visit Los Angeles, where a water-skiing Fonzie (Henry Winkler) answers a challenge to his bravery by wearing swim trunks and his trademark leather jacket, and jumping over a confined shark. For a show that in its early seasons depicted universally-relatable adolescent and family experiences against a backdrop of 1950s nostalgia, this incident marked an audacious, cartoonish turn towards attention-seeking gimmickry.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark
Jumping the Shark comes from Happy Days episode where Fonzie waterskis over a shark. It was the beginning of the end of the series.
Thank you very much for the replies, which also explain why I didn’t know, lol.
You should add the episode wherein Lady Grantham got pregnant for a while. This gummed up the inheritance issue for a while, and was duly milked for emotional response.. Then she slipped on a bar of soap and had a miscarriage. So the inheritance at that point was resettled on Matthew.
Right — that was pretty awful. Nor has there been any explanation of why her ladyship seems to be so in thrall to O’Brien.
One of the really irritating things about Downton Abbey is the way the aristocrats talk to their servants – they would never talk about their personal lives, or their money, or their feelings, Oprah-style, to the staff. They’d barely talk about these things to each other – too vulgar by far.
And just how would you know that?
I don’t care..I like all of it and find it very entertaining.
You’ve jumped the shark, Christian. First, as the poster aluded to above, during both World Wars, country houses were sometimes used as hospitals. In fact, there is a really great Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movie set in one (Sherlock Holmes Faces Death filmed in 1943). Second, as for your bankruptcy complaint, you might not be aware of it, but 100 years ago there were no modern mutual funds, no required fincial disclosure, and no easy means of diversification. The safest investment for a wealthy Britisher with cash was what were referred to as “The Funds,” basically money market investments that paid about 3%. If the person’s lifestyle required a greater return, he had to seek out riskier investments. It was not at all unheard of for someone to lose everything what with a bad investment plus numerous lifestyle associated debts. Literature such as Trollope’s The Way We Live Now testifies to this. Christian, you’re great on law, but not so much on history.
“Jumped the shark” is what my husband and I said to each other last Sunday as the latest episode of Downton Abbey ended. I finally said out loud that lurching from one contrived crises to the next has become just boring and watching the dreary, banal story is no longer fun. I loved it for about a season and a half (and I thought the Abbey/Hospital story line with the sisters as nurses was icky and silly)but I’ve had enough.
Eh. The first season was terrible also. The whole thing is a poor imitation of the famous show Upstairs, Downstairs. The acting is stiff, emotionless, and lifeless. Its also depressing–there is absolutely no humor whatsoever; I keep on waiting for the main characters to commit mass suicide.
The only interesting character is Maggie Smith’s, who is one of the most talented actresses ever. The show would be great if it revolved around her.
I have only seen the first season plus one show of the second season, but I thought it was a waste of great actors and marvelous production.
My first Downton ‘jump the shark’ moment came early, when a dashing Turkish diplomat who looked all of 23 dropped dead in the middle of seducing the heroine Lady Mary. This guy was supposed to be a diplomat at a time of heightened pre-war tensions, yet after he was found dead (having been surreptitiously returned to his own bed) there were no diplomatic repercussions whatsoever, no accusations of poison, no investigations by the Foreign Office.
At that point, I figured out that the characters were just puppets for this writer, subject to change without reason and with no notice.
as a retired physician, one of my pet peeves with movies is their apparent lack of medical consultation about diseases/ treatments. i can’t tell you how many times that when a chest xray is seen, it is backwards or, in one case, upside down. that’s one of the reasons to commend the producers of Downton Abbey.
Dr Clarkson’s representation of a pericardiocentesis in season 1 was spot on.
my wife and i have enjoyed the entire series immensely.
and thanks to the person who gave the derivation of the “jumping the shark” slogan
Regarding 1. – grand English estates did open their homes to be used as hospitals during WWI. A google search would have confirmed it.
In particular, Highclere Castle where DA is filmed was used as a hospital in WWi. Also, Mrs. Hughes did not have her cancer cured in one episode. She found a lump and learned it was benign. She did not have cancer.
Your research for this article was very shoddy.
Insecurity in an American, when it comes to the British upper crust.
Typical.