Coping with Downton Abbey withdrawal
What to watch next now that it’s over
The final episode of “Downton Abbey” ran March 6 and some viewers may already be feeling an acute sense of Dowager Countess withdrawal. Luckily, there are several shows (some British and some not) that could fill the void left by the show’s absence in the weeks and months ahead. Here are just a few:
Current PBS Dramas
“Mercy Street”
This Civil War series focuses on Americans rather than Brits, but as Mike Hale of The New York Times notes: “A stately building owned by a wealthy family whose fortunes are in jeopardy. A principled American beauty who married a European nobleman. Lavish helpings of period dresses, ball gowns and uniforms,” adding, “‘Downton Abbey’ fans will find that it has some comfortingly f amiliar elements.” That is clearly what PBS is hoping for, since it showed the first season in the post-“Downton Abbey” time slot earlier this year. Season two was renewed last week, and the initial six episodes can be viewed on PBS’ website and streaming on Amazon. “Call the Midwife”
Many “Downton Abbey” fans have already become absorbed in this BBC/PBS series that focuses on women involved in the stress and joy of bringing new life into the world. The first four seasons, set at a nursing convent in 1950s and ’60s London, can be viewed or purchased on streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon and Google Play; season five begins April 3 on PBS.
Other British TV
“Grantchester”
Season two begins March 27 on PBS. James Norton stars as Sidney Chambers, a vicar in the 1950s village of Grantchester. Sidney has a penchant for crime-solving, which he does alongside Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green. “The Paradise”
The “Downton”-esque clash of low and high class plays a central role in this well-received BBC portrait of a shop girl’s entree into the world of the Paradise, England’s first department store. The show, which ran on PBS in 2013 and 2014, was cancelled after two seasons, but can still be viewed in full on Netflix. “Upstairs, Downstairs”
The original “Downton Abbey.” This 1970s BBC drama about the wealthy Bellamy family, who reside at 165 Eaton Place, and the staff who work for them, created a template that Julian Fellowes would eventually borrow for his stories about the Crawleys. The show is on DVD and Acorn TV, a subscription-based streaming site that focuses on nothing but classic and contemporary British television. “Peaky Blinders”
For those who appreciated the crime-story elements of “Downton Abbey” (and who are you people?), the BBC’s “Peaky Blinders” — set in roughly the same time period in England, just after the First World War — focuses on gangsters. As a review by Hale of The Times notes, it skews a bit more toward “Boardwalk Empire” than “Downton,” but with a cast of exceptional British and Irish actors, including Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill and recent Oscar nominee Tom Hardy, it’s perfect for a certain subset of Anglophile. The first two seasons are on Netflix, and a third is in the works.
Familiar “Downton” Faces
“Galavant”
ABC’s charming musical comedy, about a knight trying to win back his lady love from a ghastly king, is a bit like “The Princess Bride,” but with much more bursting into song. Both Sophie McShera (Daisy) and Hugh Bon- neville (Lord Grantham) have recurring roles; the series, which wrapped up its second season in January, is available to rent on Amazon and iTunes. “Happy Valley”
This contemporary, very dark BBC One series, whose first season is on Netflix, features two members of the Crawleys’ staff in its cast: Siobhan Finneran (O’Brien) appears as the sister of Sarah Lancashire’s obsessed Sgt., and Kevin Doyle (Molesley) features in the second season, which just began on BBC One and will arrive on Netflix this month. “Death Comes to Pemberley”
This Masterpiece miniseries based on P.D. James’ novel imagines married life for Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of “Pride and Prejudice” six years into their union, when life is interrupted by a scandalous murder. Fans of “The Americans” will immediately recognize Matthew Rhys in the role of Mr. Darcy, while everyone who swooned over Matthew Goode’s portrayal of Henry Talbot on “Downton” will be pleased to see him here. (A series in which the two actors travel the world drinking wine was recently announced.) “Pemberley” originally ran on PBS in 2014 but is streamable on various platforms, including Netflix.