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  • Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and Me

Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and Me

May 29, 2014 / Kiersti Giron / Call the Midwife, Downton Abbey, fun, story, writing
5

 Special Note: Stay tuned for a special “same day blog” with Jennifer Major next week! And now, for our current program…

 

For the first time in my life, I’m following a couple of current TV series.

 
HighclereCastle

Highclere Castle, “Downton Abbey.” Photo: Richard Munckton

I’ve been watching through PBS online or Amazon Prime streaming, as we have neither cable nor a very viable TV connection, so I’m a bit behind (no spoilers, please!). But both Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife are actual current shows that other people watch and that I’m watching too—a rather startling phenomenon for me.

 

These British historical dramas have drawn me in…the settings, the stories, the characters. They’ve touched me and made me laugh and cry. And as an aspiring crafter of story myself, I’ve decided I probably can learn from why these series work so very well.

 

I hope you enjoy this little dissection—please jump in and join the conversation!

 

The characters

For me, characters are primary to a story, though I know strong plot is essential also. And the characters of these series have won my heart. From Sister Evangelina and Fred of Call the Midwife to Mr. Carson and Lady Violet of Downton Abbey, even the more minor characters of these shows sparkle with life, charm, and realism. I’ve been impressed by the character arcs, especially of Lady Mary and O’Brien of Downton Abbey, and the way Sister Monica Joan’s dementia is portrayed in Call the Midwife. After living with a grandmother with dementia for eight and a half years, the truth of the actress’s performance shines for me.

 

High enough stakes

In order for a reader or viewer to care, what’s going on in the story has to actually matter. And in these series, it does—I care deeply whether Mr. Bates is going to lose his job (or worse) in Downton Abbey and whether a mother and baby will survive a difficult pregnancy or Sister Monica Joan a bout of pneumonia in Call the Midwife. Of course the excellent acting and script are largely responsible for how much I care and relate to the characters. But the best writing and acting can’t carry a story if the stakes aren’t high enough. And these shows aren’t afraid to not only threaten bad things, but also, sometimes, to let them happen—to let a beloved character lose a child, or be diagnosed with infertility, or be unjustly convicted of murder, or even die. Which leads to the next point…

 

Being willing to go difficult places

While they are not tragedies, both Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey acknowledge and include sometimes harsh realities. I think that’s one reason why they are so beloved, for we can only genuinely relate to stories that reflect in some way that which is real and true to life. Letting characters face heartache and loss and injustice, yet come through them to find beauty amid the ashes, lends these series much of their power, I think.

 

Timeless themes of hope and honor

In a world where cynicism runs rampant and uprightness often seems hard to find, the values of these shows stand in refreshing relief. They are not perfect, and I’ve both seen and heard of episodes where the morals fall a bit short of a biblical mark. Yet overall, the honor of doing right tends to be exalted in Downton Abbey, and the values of compassion, chaste romance, and even faith in God have often touched me in Call the Midwife. The popularity of these shows reminds me that, however cynical and fallen our culture might seem, something inside us hungers for the pure and true and good—ultimately, for God, even if people don’t realize it. I want to write stories that touch that longing and point hungry souls to Him.

 

So…are you a Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife fan? Why do you think they have captured so many hearts? Please comment and share! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

5 comments on “Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and Me”

  1. Jennifer Zarifeh Major says:
    May 29, 2014 at 7:11 am

    I LOVE Downton Abbey. And my husband actually watched it with me. THAT ought to tell the free world something!!!

    I luv Mistah Bayyytes. And the Dowager Countess is, oh my word, I adore Maggie Smith.

    Reply
    • Kiersti Plog says:
      May 29, 2014 at 11:31 am

      Oh, yes–Maggie Smith never ceases to amaze me. And Mr. Bates is wonderful too–they all are, really! Well, except for the villains. 🙂

      Thanks for sharing, Jennifer! Looking forward to blogging with you next week. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jennifer Zarifeh Major says:
        May 30, 2014 at 8:34 am

        Me too!

        Reply
  2. Marilyn says:
    May 29, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    Yes, Kiersti, I’m a Downton Abbey fan too. Since we only started watching it the third season, I purchase the first two to catch up. Chuck likes it as well, largely because of his time lived in England and his love of the country and its people, but also because the story is so well-written. I just wish the seasons weren’t so short.
    You made some very good points about what’s done well in both shows. I find myself comparing notes sometimes, too, and appreciating how well the story is written and how the characters play them out. And what characters they are! Maggie Smith is priceless in her role, but each character is well-done, even the butler who does such a good job at making me dislike him!

    Reply
    • Kiersti Plog says:
      May 29, 2014 at 4:30 pm

      Wow, I didn’t know Chuck used to live in England! And i remember you bringing up Downton Abbey, Marilyn, before I got into it. 🙂 Yes, some of the characters make you love them and some really don’t, don’t they? Though what’s surprised me are some characters whom I really disliked at first and yet who have been changing and growing and winning me over. There’s a well done story. 🙂 Thanks for chiming in and sharing! Bless you.

      Reply

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