Millions of people in North America actually comprehend that it's Downton Abbey, not Downtown Abbey.
That, in itself, is a massive victory.
It also is an indicator of the impact Downton Abbey has made on this side of the pond, far away from its roots - both technically and spiritually - on the British Isles.
Downton Abbey is a lush drama about various members of an aristocratic English family and the people who serve them, set in the early 20th century. Season three makes its North American debut Sunday, Jan. 6 on most PBS affiliates (it also will be shown on Canada's Vision TV, starting on April 10).
So why, against seemingly insurmountable odds, has Downton Abbey entered the pop-culture mainstream? Here are five reasons:
1) Eye candy, part one.
There are pretty faces to gaze at for everyone, no matter your sexual preference. Personally speaking, how can I not notice that both Lady Mary (played by Michelle Dockery) and Lady Sybil (played by Jessica Brown Findlay) are gorgeous, albeit in very different ways?
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