Sh*t I love—Edition two: Downton Abbey

I started Downton Abbey after falling victim to Netflix’s constant suggestion. (I often do.) It’s times like these I’m glad I have Netflix to force viewing suggestions into my world. I love Downton Abbey! If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and go watch it.

It’s no secret I’m fond of 1900’s fashion and fascinated by the way of life. Downton Abbey has storylines for the rich and the servants. I’m more taken by the servant storylines than the rich, but who doesn’t like to see wealthy people have problems they pretty much cause themselves? Also, the fashion alone is worth watching. The costume designers deserve all the love in the world.

The same writer is responsible for Gosford Park—a film Netflix said I’d hate but I actually loved. Both have a similar feel but there’s no murder mystery in the TV series. The multiple storylines in Downtown Abbey are connected, and each one together makes up the overall plot and dynamic of the estate. It’s remarkable how a drama with so many characters can lack confusion while keeping up with everyone’s life.

I finished season one on Netflix and then purchased season two and season one on Blu-ray. I finished season two over the course of just a few days. Season two was just as amazing as the first—despite having to say good bye to my favorite character. The price was reasonable for Blu-ray and even cheaper for DVD so please support it by buying it. If you’re in America, each sold copy informs PBS to continue to bring BBC shows to us.

 So why should you watch something that sounds like a soap opera with British accents? Because it’s so much more than watching other people live through drama. (Yes, there is drama, but it’s so beautifully executed you won’t care. And it’s realistic drama.) The acting is fantastic. (Except the doctor sometimes seems a little stale in comparison.) The characters are loveable while infuriating. I think I’ve mentioned my love for well-rounded characters before. A character with good and bad traits seems so much more real than a boring saint or being the “bad guy” just to be the protagonist in a story.

Speaking of “bad guy” for the sake of needing a villain, there’s this butler named Thomas. Oh, Thomas. I hated him in season one. He’s the butler pictured above and I wanted to love him. He’s strong-willed, cunning, easy on the eyes, and he sticks his tongue in men’s mouths. But I couldn’t even make myself like him. I was upset at the writers for pulling the same “evil doer is the only gay one” routine that Hollywood seems to fall back on, but then season 2 happened. While we see a chunk of Thomas’s character in season 1, we really dive into him in season 2 and his cruel acts suddenly make a whole lot of sense and his thick skin is shown to be cracked. My sympathy level went up with my understanding of him and I felt a little stupid for not assuming the reasons behind his personality through my viewing of season 1—there are a few hints scattered throughout. 

You're cute when you cry, Thomas.

Have I said how the costumes are brilliant? (I have) The costumes are fantastic. The setting is equally beautiful. There’s much to see and enough plot to catch that watching two or three times doesn’t seem like a chore. And there's eye candy too. 

In short, this show ranks up there with BBC’s Sherlock. A hearty thank you to the BBC.

Is anyone else enjoying Downton Abbey? Am I the only one hoping Edith gets married? Let's rant and rave together. :D

Sh*t I love—Edition one: Emperor’s Edge series

Sh*t I love—Edition one: The Emperor’s Edge book series by Lindsay Buroker
Official description:

Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad overwhelmed.

Worse, Sicarius, the empire's most notorious assassin, is in town. He's tied in with the chaos somehow, but Amaranthe would be a fool to cross his path. Unfortunately, her superiors order her to hunt him down. Either they have an unprecedented belief in her skills... or someone wants her dead.

I can’t remember the last book I read with a female lead I enjoyed as much as this series. Even female authors have the tendency of skewing women into helpless hero-needing leads or pretty princesses without a believable care in their pretty head. Because of past experiences of not enjoying books with a female lead, I was hesitant to read this series. But my friend wore me down with her rants and raves and I downloaded the first book. (It’s free on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords)

The author has created a vivid world in this fantasy book made all the better with the dash of steampunk-like elements. The setting is described but not overly described. (I find too many details more distracting than too little.) Not only are the physical aspects of the setting explained, but all the parts that make up a civilization that cannot be seen are explained as well. Mindset of the citizens, history of the leadership, and the religious belief system are all created and explained in a way that blends seamlessly into the plot.

The characters are well rounded with their own traits and growth. (Especially by the third—the most recent by posting of this review.) Each is composed of bad and good parts. Just like real people—the bad traits can be little things or big things. The scary assassin Sicarius might be a killer, but he still has a human side beneath all that black clothing.

I’m a sucker for humor and the characters never fail to deliver. There’s more than one type of humor so if one line doesn’t get you smiling, another might. The back and forth between Amaranthe and Sicarius are well timed and executed. (Even more so by each book’s progress in character development.) That’s not to say they’re the only two to enjoy. It’s hard not to fall for all the boys in Amaranthe’s group.

The plot is not only unique, but fast moving (more so in later books—the first needs room for character introductions) and hard to put down. A group of misfits—lead by a women with a bounty on her head paired up with an assassin wanted dead by the emperor—work to do “good deeds” for the empire to get noticed by the emperor and maybe get a pardon. These good deeds don’t always get them the attention they want (what plan ever goes as planned?) but the adventures tighten the group’s dynamic little by little. And offer entertainment for the reader. While some books fall victim to forced plot movement, this one does not. Every decision seems plausible and natural—helped by Amaranthe being led by her heart.

In short, this series is one any reader should check out. The first ebook is FREE so there’s no harm in trying. Pick up your Kindle or Nook and navigate to Lindsay Buroker and pick the free version of Emperor’s Edge. (or see the links I posed above) If you don’t like it, you haven’t lost a single penny.

Comment here and tell me if you plan to read Emperor’s Edge or if you have already.