Save the Date vs. Downton Abbey

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The 10 Minute Writer and I discuss Save the Date and Little Debbies HERE.

Okay, so, wow.
What a week. My snow dance worked so well, I have been off since Tuesday. I will be going to school until the end of July, but right now it's worth it. When I'm snot crying in June 31st, it won't be.

I finally watched the last part of Downton Abbey yesterday. If you missed this BBC mini-series on PBS, you have got to buy the DVD. It was so good.

The only cruddy part is that it didn't really end. Nothing got resolved, as there will be a sequel. How will I know if Mary finally admits her love for Matthew?

When will Mary realize she must marry Matthew, if for no other reason than the fact that her last name would stay the same and she wouldn't have to get a new driver's license?

When will I learn if Edith gets a proposal from the man who was going to propose but didn't because Mary told him stuff that simply wasn't true because Mary and Edith hate each other and have yet to hug it out?

When will Lady Grantham's maid get a fistful of knuckles for her meanness that led to the end of the Grantham line and the family eventually being put out on the streets with absolutely no need for a maid and her weird caterpillar bangs?

When will the country of Turkey back off on the death of Mary's 24 Hour boyfriend and just accept the fact that sometimes flooziness kills and it takes two to floozie and it's not all her fault and besides she has a mansion that looks like a castle to save?

I am still enjoying book release week for Save the Date. And watching Downton Abbey, set in 1912-ish made me realize how alike the two stories really are.

1. Mary Grantham, the oldest girl, must marry to save the house. All 600 rooms of it.
Lucy Wiltshire must get herself engaged to save a house. This one houses girls who have aged out of the foster care system. Unfortunately, Maggie Smith lives nowhere near the vicinity or somehow, I believe the day would be saved, because I want to tell you, Maggie Smith fixes everything. Ever seen YaYa Sisterhood? Ever seen Harry Potter? *three snaps in Z formation* Girl gets it done.

2. Lucy likes a man, but is afraid to trust her life and heart to him.
Mary Grantham also adores a man, but she's a horrible snob and doesn't know if her dress allowance will be cut off if she marries him so she's just gonna think about it.

3. Mary hates the idea of selling herself off just to save a house. It's so unfair she's the oldest and the most beautiful and the smartest!
Lucy hates the idea of selling herself out to save her girls. It's so unfair she's a government paid employee and doesn't get paid jack and has to beg for funding from hot men who are internationally known and worth millions!

4. Lucy is a snazzy dresser.
Mary is a snazzy dresser.

5. Both women have time-consuming past times.
Lucy likes to watch Star Trek and meet with her book club, the Hobbits.
Mary likes to devour men with her teeth and spit out their bones in front of her sister.

6. Both women are overseen by domineering, yet unintentionally funny old women.
Mary must answer to her uptight and wealthy grandmother, played by Maggie Smith.
Lucy must answer to her uptight and wealthy grandmother, played by Maggie Smith. In my mind.

So, so alike. I'm sure BBC will be calling us any moment and wanting to option it for film, TV, and pose-able action figures.
Side note about D.T. Abbey, this is the weirdest promo ever.

Have a great weekend! Stay warm and cozy and ice free.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 7 comments

Kristin - February 4, 2011

Great comparisons. =) I loved the series, too. And I also felt a little ripped off about how it ended, because I thought at least some of the loose ends would be tied up. But I guess they have to have enough material for the second series.

That promo video was creepy! Believe it or not, I just heard that song, “Every Breath You Take,” a month or two ago on PBS, being sung by one of those dudes in that group Celtic Thunder. Creepy! I never knew a “love song” could be so…stalkerish.

~Kristin

Shauna - February 4, 2011

I want Thomas to get his comeuppance! I think O’Brien may have a soul hidden in there somewhere after all and has also been under Thomas’s spell, but he’s just wicked! I also still wonder if he’s a murderer and the police just assumed the hot guy died of natural causes.

Katharine - February 4, 2011

“Sometimes Flooziness Kills” Girl, this should be on a t-shirt. Maybe the subtitle of your next book!

I totally thought that they rushed the last episode. There will be a sequel, from what I read. And I thought they had a lot of non-sequitor story lines that just felt weird. I wanted them to rewrite all of episode 4. O’Brien will find religion, I think. Anna and Mr. Bates will marry — Lord Crawley will give them a whole day off to jump the broom. Mary is coming off as a bit unlikeable. Personally, I’d like of like to see her work for a living. Edith needs to be slapped, then hugged (not getting enough parental attention, IMHO) then slapped again. WWI just started, which is what we’re studying in my homeschool, so I think that when this series picks up again, all of the men will be dead, except for Mr. Bates, who can’t fight. He and Anna will save the day somehow. And Sybil will become a flapper.

Your comparison to your book and Downton Abbey is brilliant. Can’t wait to read it.

Sarah - February 4, 2011

LOVED Downton Abbey! Although I agree about the ending-it just ends with nothing getting resolved.

I didn’t like Mary to begin with, but she kind of grew on me. She and Matthew just need to hurry up and realize that they’re supposed to be together! And Edith needs to grow up-I agree with Katharine-not enough parental attention there!

And I really hope Thomas and O’Brien get their dues for being so horrible and mean! I can’t wait for the next season!

And I love how it compares to Save the Date-I totally agree!:) I mean, if Save the Date was set in 1912, it would totally be Downton Abbey! And Maggie Smith is in it in my mind too-that woman rocks!

Katers - February 4, 2011

I loved watching Downton Abbey as well. I think they probably shot the ending twice in case it didn’t get picked up for more episodes. Can you imagine watching that whole thing and not knowing how it ever ended?! It was bad enough knowing there’s more but just ended with everything in knots and at war!

I’m excited to read your book now. It’s moving to the top of the pile.

Jenny B Jones - February 4, 2011

Kristen, the ending was a rip-off. I think you can tie up things and unravel new ones that would have us coming back for more, don’t you?

Katers, so glad Save the Date got bumped up in the pile.
: )

Sarah, Edith is a brat (and WHO does that to her sister), but she is seriously neglected in that family. They might as well call her the “Ugly Sister Who Will Never Catch a Man Unless We Pay Him and We’re Not Sure How She’s Even Related To Us.” I’m surprised they don’t give her a broom and tell her to join the maids.

Katharine, Mr. Bates and Anna MUST marry! And they deserve at least a few hours off work for that.

Shauna, I think Thomas killed the Turkish guy too. Wasn’t something mentioned about poison somewhere early?

Abby Minard - February 4, 2011

Haha, I haven’t seen Downtown Abbey, but if Maggie Smith is in it, sign me up! And I will totally picture her when I read your book.

Save the Date vs. Downton Abbey

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