When I first started watching Downton Abbey, it was an escape from all sorts of things: grading papers, organizing closets, reading books that are really hard and force you to google words that you don’t know.

You know: stuff you have to do.

Well, one of the first things I noticed was the presence of MAGGIE SMITH in her complete perfection, and she had a few ZINGERS, and they were so great, so funny, that you really did not wish her to stop after JUST ONE….(I have the same problem with tortilla chips and those toll house chocolate chip cookies that take only ELEVEN minutes to bake.  I know: a little TOO easy. Very. Dangerous.)

All she had to do was have some lines like this:

Violet: “I’m so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I’m with her I’m reminded of the virtues of the English.”
Matthew: “Isn’t she American?”
Violet: “Exactly.”

Or this:  “What is a WEEKEND?”  and of course you are laughing, and IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO BE HOOKED.

I kid you not.

So, I wrote a little piece about my Downton Abbey addiction, which you can read here:

“Downton Abbey”: The Delicious Addiction

and they even ran it in The Houston Chronicle, because addictions are not really addictions if it is just YOU, but really require others to be addicted so you can have enablers and support groups and things like that.

Then, I started to write these short pieces about how PRACTICAL it was to watch Downton Abbey, and how you can do all sorts of things like choose your academic major. (Rationalization is a big part of most addictions).  So if you are struggling to find your major–worry not!  Here you go:

How To Pick Your Major While Watching Downton Abbey

Then there were moments when I thought I should be a bit more serious, and would lament the loss of artists while watching Downton Abbey, and, weirdly, it did help:

The Real and the Unreal: Downton Abbey and Joys of Distraction

But mostly, I would do these recaps on episodes, and for season five, I did them for the Houston Chronicle, and it was more fun than any television watching I have ever done in my life!  So much drama!  Such great clothes!  So much tea!

So here they all are, in one convenient enabling place, all from the Houston Chronicle, just in case you are really missing Series 5:

The Christmas special, or, Episode 9:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-recap-Well-we-can-t-allow-that-6108888.php?t=7eac44806dc3f0c8a9&cmpid=email-premium

Then, the whole series….

Episode One:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-recap-Suppose-I-can-t-tackle-a-5994300.php?t=0c1a7b4bea&cmpid=twitter-premium

Episode Two:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Everyone-s-a-phony-at-Downton-6009616.php?t=b7a55ad3f0&cmpid=twitter-premium

Episode Three:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-Recap-Nothing-vulgar-I-hope-6024856.php?t=294a48424b79b87a02&cmpid=twitter-premium

Episode Four:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-recap-Hope-is-a-tease-6039501.php?t=6a81f61e0879b87a02&cmpid=twitter-premium

Episode Five:

‘Downton Abbey’ recap: ‘I think it’s a mad idea!’ http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-Season-5-Episode-5-6055252.php?t=2c7f2c62db&cmpid=twitter-premium via @HoustonChronEpisode Five:

Episode Six:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-recap-All-this-endless-thinking-6070699.php?t=f443305045&cmpid=twitter-premium via @HoustonChron

Episode Seven:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-recap-You-ve-made-me-regret-my-6081486.php?t=c448ef4994&cmpid=twitter-premium via @HoustonChron

Episode Eight:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-recap-Another-clang-in-the-march-6092754.php?t=fcf8448f12&cmpid=twitter-premium via @HoustonChron

Then, I was super lucky and was invited to HIGH TEA with Lady Carnarvon, the Countess of Highclere Castle, the castle where Downton Abbey is filmed.  This was a big fundraiser for Houston Public Media, home of the popular after-show called Manor of Speaking that is hosted by the quick-witted and charming Ernie Manouse.  I wrote all about that event here:

Downton Abbey comes to H-town http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Downton-Abbey-comes-to-H-Town-6153850.php?t=0f7196ccff&cmpid=twitter-premium via @HoustonChron

Now I have gotten the sad news that next year is the LAST SEASON of Downton Abbey. Isn’t this historical drama?  Hey, HISTORY DOESN”T END, SO WHY SHOULD THIS?  I just don’t get this AT ALL.  Sniff.

So I have a temporary withdrawal until next season…and then, well, NO MORE NEW EPISODES…I’ll have to learn to live without Anna and Bates, Mr. Carson, Lady Mary’s cool indifference….I’m not sure if I am up to the task.

However, next year is another season.  Lots of time to put off thinking about it and focus on what high jinks are in store for Series 6…but one thing is for sure:  the only thing that will be boring is waiting for it to start all over again.