‘Downton Abbey’ season 5: The lines between history and television

There are many times where it has to be difficult being a period drama on television. Not only are there events that you have to keep track of for the sake of keeping the show realistic, but you also have to recall some of the specific customs, costumes, and social settings that people went in during that time.

Then, to make matters even more confusing, you have to figure out whether or not you can depict this story on television. This is what the folks behind the scenes at “Downton Abbey” work on every day, as they have to balance being right with giving us something that can be universally enjoyed.

The man who is behind this very facet of production is Alastair Bruce, who most definitely has a name that feels very much appropriate with what he does for a living. Doesn’t this just sound historical? He is a man who last season, he had to balance out the issue of mourning for the character of Lady Mary. As he tells Deadline now, this woman could have very likely still been in mourning if this was handled in a little bit of a more historical context:

“There were very clear rules about what a person did in mourning … I think the producers’ desire was not to have Michelle Dockery stuck in black for the whole of the series. We are delivering entertainment, not a documentary.”

So like with writing and character development, the decisions made in regard to historical perspective are things with lost-lasting impact. A move made during the fourth season of the show can in fact alter what happens on season 5.

Do you want to get some more updates related to “Downton Abbey”? Then head over to the link here, where you can get further updates on storylines and a surprise filming location.

Photo: ITV