Starting November 21, VisionTV will be airing the first season of Downton Abbey weeknights at 9pm PT / Midnight ET, with two episodes per night!
This extremely popular British series set in an Edwardian country house in 1912 follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants and just won six Emmy Awards, beating out Mildred Pierce and The Kennedy’s for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. Other Emmy wins were:
Maggie Smith, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Brian Percival, Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Julian Fellowes, Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie
Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special
Written and created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, the series stars Academy Award-winner Maggie Smith as a Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey, in a time before the last vestige of century’s old tradition were stripped away by a World War and the modern age. The all star cast also includes Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern. The series will be followed by a special showing of Gosford Park on Friday.
DOWNTON ABBEY
Weeknights at 9pm PT / Midnight ET (two episodes per night)
November 21-November 24, 2011
(will pre-empt Late Great Movies)
Episode Synopses
Monday, November 21 at 9pm PT / Midnight ET (Special 90 minute episode)
The eldest daughter, Mary is quick to put her intended marriage behind her and move on from the death of her beloved. O’Brien and Thomas scheme to make the new valet’s stay at Downton as short lived as possible.
Monday, November 21 at 10:30pm PT / 1:30am ET
Everyone is anxious at the arrival of Matthew Crawley, the heir presumptive, and his mother, Isobel. Matthew encounters problems settling in to this new life whilst Isobel and Violet are immediately at daggers drawn. Carson is mortified to be confronted with his past and Gwen seems to have a secret correspondent.
Tuesday, November 22 at 9pm PT / Midnight ET
Mary is instantly attracted to handsome Turkish attaché, Kemal Pamuk. However, their romance is cut brutally short, sending ripples of unease through the house. No one is more interested than O’Brien in Pamuk’s movements. Gwen is humiliated when her secret is exposed. Bates goes to extreme lengths to cure his limp.
Tuesday, November 22 at 10pm PT / 1am ET
The fair arrives in the village and Mrs Hughes finds herself the centre of speculation when she meets a former suitor who makes her question her position at Downton. Violet and Isobel are in conflict over a medical ailment affecting Molesley. Elsewhere, Carson fears there is a thief at Downton.
Wednesday, November 23 at 9pm PT / Midnight ET
The village is preparing for its annual flower show. Isobel and Violet are in conflict over Violet’s long held Best Bloom title. Mary is introduced to a potential suitor, Sir Anthony Strallan, yet she appears to be more interested in Matthew. A valuable snuff box goes missing and Mrs Patmore tearfully reveals her fears to Carson that her career may be coming to an end. O’Brien engineers a way for Edith to be revenged on Mary.
Wednesday, November 23 at 10pm PT / 1am ET
Sybil’s political aspirations land her in trouble. Matthew and Mary’s relationship takes an unexpected twist whilst the question of the wine thief is brought to a head with a shocking revelation by Bates. Edith may have found an admirer at last. Branson is more lovesick than ever.
Thursday, November 24 at 9pm PT / Midnight ET (Special 90 minute episode)
Cora’s news throws Matthew’s future into jeopardy and makes Mary question the proposal. Thomas finds a new future for himself and so does Gwen. But Mary, by her lack of decision, may have lost hers. A grand garden party at Downton brings events to a head, but all this pales into insignificance in the face of Robert’s shock announcement.
Gosford Park (2001)
Friday, November 25 at 9pm PT / Midnight ET
In November 1932, a phalanx of moneyed guests arrives for a weekend shooting party at the estate of Sir William McCordle and Lady Sylvia. Mary, a fresh-faced, naïve new maid accompanies the sniping Countess of Trentham, and is shown the ropes by the house’s worldly head housemaid, Elsie. While the masters engage in various financial and sexual intrigues upstairs, the world downstairs has its own curiosities–namely, the predatory valet to a Hollywood producer, Henry Denton, and the mysterious, cagey servant, Robert Parks. Mary soon discovers that the image of servants living vicariously through their masters is a false one, and that the upstairs-downstairs worlds are often shockingly interwoven. Starring Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas. Directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Fellowes, Robert Altman and Bob Balaban.
