5 reasons you should watch Downton Abbey to get through Droughtlander

We’re all looking for ways to get through Droughtlander. Downton Abbey has been the series for me recently.

Droughtlander isn’t getting any easier. While we get little bits of news about Outlander Season 4 and have conventions to look forward to, things just aren’t the same without our weekly dose of Claire and Jamie. Well, while it’s not Outlander, Downton Abbey has been the latest series to help me get through the break. The great thing is that it’s currently on Netflix!

Here are five reasons you need to give Downton Abbey a try, whether you know British aristocratic history or not.

It’s full of love, loss, and humor

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One of the things we love about Outlander is the love story between Claire and Jamie. Of course, along the way, there’s humor, loss, anger, fear, and so much more. Downton Abbey brings all that with every single episode. Considering we start with the sinking of the Titanic and go into World War I and the Spanish Flu of 1919 in the first two seasons that really shouldn’t be surprising, but you’ll still find yourself heartbroken, angry, and shook with the direction of storylines.

You’ll fall in love with the characters quickly, both the “upstairs” and the “downstairs.” You’ll meet aristocrats who believe in fair work, the lower class who want to abolish the monarchy, and the middle class who don’t know where they fit in. Plus, Maggie Smith is hilarious with her one-liners, with Elizabeth McGovern and Penelope Wilton not far behind.

Strong women throughout the generations

While it’s set from 1912 onward, in a time when men could only inherit titles and land, this is no doubt a series that focuses on the strong women. Like Outlander, you’ll find yourself rooting for the women to gain some sort of power and position, whether in business, in the home, or even in their relationships.

It all starts with Lady Crawley fighting for her daughter’s inheritance but soon sees her daughters fighting in other ways for their rights and wishes. As it looks like women are going to be pushed aside at various points, they soon prove to be the most resourceful and thoughtful in the series.

Passion and breaking boundaries

Could you imagine an Irish revolutionary chauffeur in an English aristocratic family? What about an aristocratic middle daughter as the child bringing most of the scandals? That’s exactly what you get and more with Downton Abbey, without me giving away spoilers.

If you love the passion and the way Outlander has tried to break down some of the boundaries throughout the ages, this series is something you’ll love. You’ll be able to laugh and cry with the main characters as they find their way in life and social status.

Both sides of life

I grew up watching Upstairs, Downstairs, so the idea of seeing a household both in terms of the family members and the servants was always going to be appealing. Downton Abbey gives you stories from the Crawley family point of view and then the way the servants react, while also giving the servants’ storylines while seeing how they affect the family.

Everyone is in all this together. When one of the servants is arrested for murder and an innocent man is convicted, we see the full family join together. When one of the family members dies, we see how that affects the servants (some of them unexpectedly).

You’ll get to meet some Outlander actors and actresses

Downton Abbey brings a few faces that you’ll get familiar with in Outlander Season 4. In the first season, we have Maria Doyle Kennedy as the dastardly Vera Bates. Then in Season 3, Ed Speleers will appear as the footman Jimmy Kent. If you want a chance to see some of the actors before they take on your favorite roles, this is a chance to do it.

I will say that the two characters aren’t like their Outlander roles. What you’ll get to see is the amazing acting from the two, getting you ready for the things to come in November. Just don’t fall too much for Jimmy.

Next: 6 reasons Howards End will get you through Droughtlander

Are you still looking for shows to get you through Droughtlander? Have you already watched Downton Abbey to get you through? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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