The US Cult of Downton Abbey

[snacky]

I never got into Downton Abbey, but it has kind of made me wonder how this show could be such a super binge-worthy hit here (like Sherlock) when people aren't even aware Murdoch Mysteries exists.

This older article supposedly offers some clues about why people in the US became Downton Abbey fans:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16731254

There are gay characters, too, and I know that drew my housemate to watch. That's probably worth a mention.

One remark I found interesting was the fact that the show aired first in the UK, which drove people in the US to indulge in illegal downloads (even though the later legit airings on PBS were popular as well). I don't think this should count as a reason FOR the cult, since the same could be said for MM, and MM's non-availability has only served to hide it from Americans, not fuel the obsession of the cult. (Except the one-person cult that is me, hehe).

[randomkiwibirds]

I think one of the reasons DA was such a big hit in the United States was the fact that

1) The U.S has a very strange obsession with the English Accent and I quote Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple here: “She wondered why Americans insisted that they spoke English, when they might just as well call their language American. The oddest thing was that people kept telling her, an Englishwoman speaking the King’s English, that she had a quaint accent!” (Case of the Murdered Muckracker)

2) Once again the Americans obsess over anything aristocratic-especially the British aristocrats. I think this is mainly because there technically arn't any in the United States.

3) Dame Maggie Smith-need I say more?

4) Eye-candy. Americans have this thing for eye-candy whether it be male or female for that matter.

5) Americans want to be British. Secretly deep inside they want to be "more British" (I'm not saying that this is everyone, but it's what I pick up.) And therefore anything British must be "better" (and it usually is) even when it isn't. The ironic thing is they "broke up" with England over 700 years ago. Go figure. But Canada. America always forgets about their neighbors to the north.And I think this is why Canadian TV isn't that well heard of in the United States, that and the American's sterotype of the Canadian Person does not include good television.

[monty151]

I like DA but love MM. Was a bit bored with DA this year. I think it has come to its natural end. I do like a murder mystery and was sad to hear PD James died yesterday. I liked her Adam Dalglish books.

[snacky]

Nov 28, 2014 3:07:30 GMT randomkiwibirds said:

I think one of the reasons DA was such a big hit in the United States was the fact that

1) The U.S has a very strange obsession with the English Accent and I quote Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple here: “She wondered why Americans insisted that they spoke English, when they might just as well call their language American. The oddest thing was that people kept telling her, an Englishwoman speaking the King’s English, that she had a quaint accent!” (Case of the Murdered Muckracker)

2) Once again the Americans obsess over anything aristocratic-especially the British aristocrats. I think this is mainly because there technically arn't any in the United States.

3) Dame Maggie Smith-need I say more?

4) Eye-candy. Americans have this thing for eye-candy whether it be male or female for that matter.

5) Americans want to be British. Secretly deep inside they want to be "more British" (I'm not saying that this is everyone, but it's what I pick up.) And therefore anything British must be "better" (and it usually is) even when it isn't. The ironic thing is they "broke up" with England over 700 years ago. Go figure. But Canada. America always forgets about their neighbors to the north.And I think this is why Canadian TV isn't that well heard of in the United States, that and the American's sterotype of the Canadian Person does not include good television.

ITA with all of that, and double down on the eye-candy.

Sooo - Canadians just have to tweak their accents back toward the Queen's English, and Americans will be slobbering all over their television...?

[snacky]

Nov 28, 2014 7:29:01 GMT monty151 said:

I like DA but love MM. Was a bit bored with DA this year. I think it has come to its natural end. I do like a murder mystery and was sad to hear PD James died yesterday. I liked her Adam Dalglish books.

Aw, PD James died? I enjoyed Children of Men (the book).

[Hodge]

Nov 28, 2014 8:29:52 GMT snacky said:

Nov 28, 2014 7:29:01 GMT monty151 said:

I like DA but love MM. Was a bit bored with DA this year. I think it has come to its natural end. I do like a murder mystery and was sad to hear PD James died yesterday. I liked her Adam Dalglish books.

Aw, PD James died? I enjoyed Children of Men (the book).

PD James was one of my favourite authors way back when and the series adapted from her books was great with Roy Marsden, one of my favourite actors years ago, as Adam Dalgleish.

[monty151]

Wonder how many will watch DA cause GC is in Christmas episode.

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