[DVD test] Downton Abbey: weddings, what we thought

For 6 seasons, we lived to the tumultuous rhythm of romantic relationships at Downton Abbey. That's why on May 2nd a special 3-DVD box set dedicated to weddings in the series was released ! We had the opportunity to watch this box, here's what we thought!

Episodes

The Downton Abbey box set special weddings has this special that it offers us only 7 key episodes of the series, 7 episodes celebrating weddings. Among them, among others, that of Anna and Bates, Rose and Atticus, and of course that of Mary and Matthew.

Nothing new on this side, therefore, but the box has the advantage of showing us the most striking episodes of the series and presenting them to us one after the other, allowing us to remember the best moments of Downton Abbey. Rather effective so, but obviously to recommend only to those who have already seen the series.

Bonuses

But more than the historical episodes, this box set is especially worth for the quality of its bonuses. Indeed, we are entitled to about thirty minutes of additional content very qualitative and informative, in the form of discussions between Julian Fellowes (creator of the series), and Liz Trubridge and Gareth Neame (executive producers) that we detail below.

Anna and Bates, a story from another era

During this first discussion, the creator and executive producers of Downton Abbey address the story of Anna and Bates and present their vision of the couple. According to them, this story arc has finally shown on television an "old-fashioned", old-fashioned romanticism, completely out of step with what we are used to seeing. Indeed, the two live a love of tenderness from the beginning of the series and show extreme benevolence towards each other, which remains very rare in the audiovisual world of our time. As for their marriage, although very fast, it remains in our memories as a culmination and a true reflection of their history, in all simplicity.

Matthew and Mary's engagement, the big day

According to the creators of Downton Abbey, the story of Matthew and Mary allowed them to set up a "love at first sight" plot, which can be contrasted with the quiet love of Anna and Bates. Indeed, the two characters, very different from each other (the bad boy and the cold girl) live a passionate story, full of twists and turns. To support these words, Julien Fellowes, Liz Trubridge and Gareth Neame evoke key scenes of their story: the undeniable chemistry between them as Matthew arrives with his fiancée Lavinia in season 2, the long-awaited and ultra romantic scene of Matthew's marriage proposal in the snow, and of course their wedding, the most lavish that took place at Downton.

Love and change

In this part, our 3 creators talk about love in a more general sense in the series, to be put in relation to the historical changes that took place at that time. Indeed, the series starts in 1912 because then will take place revolutionary years: civil wars, social changes, evolution of the role of women and marriage, better acceptance of divorce … And all this will be shown on the screen. Indeed, love is shown as a way to fight the norm. The story of Sybil and Branson is the best example: it shows us the obstacles to overcome when we are not from the same world. The fact that Mary is a widow is also interesting because it shows us the journey to be taken in order to be able to love again and remarry. The stories of Merton and Isobel, and Rose and Atticus are also evoked as emancipations from the conventions of the time.

Good kisses from Downton

This last part presents us with other highlights of the series: Carson and Hughes, who a priori were not made for each other but created a bond over time. This allowed Downton Abbey to show us a rare story on TV: that of two middle-aged people. Talbot and Mary's story shows us the journey from widowhood to remarriage. Robert and Cora are the pillars of the series and present us with a solid, credible marriage that resists everything, even the worst. Finally, Edith's story highlights the difficulty of romantic relationships as well as having a child out of wedlock to assume at the time.

Thus, in summary, all love stories are the reflection of social situations and overcoming conventions, preconceived ideas, obstacles… This box set restores our faith in love and makes us relive the best moments of the series, under the sign of nostalgia and emotion, making Downton Abbey a romantic series above all. A must see!