Why Downton Abbey Rocks and What it Means for Your Story: Guest Post by Randy Ingermanson
Downton Abbey is the outrageously popular TV series set in the home of an aristocratic British family during the years 1912 through 1920.
On the face of it, the show’s popularity makes no sense. 1912? What was happening in 1912? Oh yeah, the Titanic, but what else?
Why is Downton Abbey getting such incredible reviews? Why has it won six Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe? Why has it become the best-selling DVD box set on Amazon?
In a word, it’s story. Downton Abbey is packed full of story.
And what does “story” mean, precisely?
Story is characters in conflict. Characters with impossible dreams. Characters willing to do anything to reach their dreams.
Let’s look at the characters of Downton Abbey and their impossible dreams.