FASHION Magazine

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

As if Season 3 wasn’t tragic enough, we were dealt one final blow on Sunday night’s Downton Abbey finale. For the second week in a row, we were rushed through two heavily packed episodes full of drama for both the upstairs and downstairs crews. Thomas was vindicated, Mrs Patmore was proposed-to, Branson was seen topless, Mary had a baby…and then something else happened. And while we’ll leave spoilers until after the click-through, let us just ask: Why can’t characters be written off the Brenda Walsh way?

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

After last week’s tragic episode, it seemed like nothing would ever be the same on Downton Abbey. With Cora and the Earl sleeping in separate bedrooms, Mary furious at Matthew and both upstairs and downstairs operating under a cloud of grief, the odds of this week’s episode containing the show’s signature quips seemed low. But with cousin Isobel employing Ethel, Daisy continuing to pine after Alfred and the Dowager Countess being, well, the Dowager Countess, all was almost back to normal at Downton. Though the Earl may have a thing or two to say about that…

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

Downton dealt such a blow to humanity last night that even Thomas cried. While we’d been avoiding BBC spoilers for months now, we did know that something really bad was going to happen and now we know what that truly awful spin was. After the sobfest, we were feeling very un-funny. But as Carson ever so wisely told Daisy, “Carry on, as we must.” And we must. Be forewarned: spoilers appear through the rest of this piece.

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

We’re almost halfway through the third season of Downton Abbey and, despite the warnings of those who downloaded it in the fall, things just keep getting better and better. This week we discover that Lord Grantham is just as useless as we’ve thought all along. (He’s still the best at becoming outraged over anything his daughters do, so perhaps he should consider a career in that?) Elsewhere, Anna worries that Bates is worried about her, Matthew worries about Lady Mary’s decision to wallpaper the nursery and Edith worries about having nothing to worry about. Whew! We cover all of this and more in our recap, so read on

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

The biggest rule of Downton Abbey is that all things exciting will soon turn tragic. In the opening sequence Edith is overjoyed by the preparations for her wedding—only to quickly have “her life’s work” leave her at the altar. However, the benefit of the show is that it satisfies its audience by just as quickly bringing joy back to those it has shunned—so we’re certainly hoping things will once again look up for poor Edith. Until then, let’s discuss the other developments of episode two: Matthew gets a letter that surprises no one (except himself), the Dowager Countess continues to meddle and we wonder if the show will be forced to change its name to Downton Place. What? Read on for our full recap.

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

After a long, agonizing and spoiler-avoiding wait since we watched Matthew Crawley propose to Mary outside in the glistening snow, we’ve been rewarded with the Downton Abbey season three premiere! Last night’s two-hour episode featured all the hallmark plotline teasers of a premiere episode, providing plenty of shades of the season to come (Flirting! Cancer! Being poor!). It also featured some seriously amazing fashion statements, from fancy headwear to embroidered gowns and new, stylish 1920s attire. As usual, our Downton Abby recaps will tackle the best and worst moments of each episode.

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

We almost jumped off a ledge when we thought that last week’s two-hour marathon finale would be the last that we’d see of the Abbeyers for quite some time, but alas, there was still a Christmas miracle in store! In February, no less. Last night’s holiday special taught us that it’s still okay to wish on stars, and eyelashes… and Santa—because our wish came true. Matthew and Mary finally got together! In the snow, no less! And now, for the rest of the seemingly inconsequential details:

We look back at the best and worst Christmas moments »
Find out how you can win the Season One and Season Two DVDs! »

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

How did that happen? It seemed like season two of Downton Abbey just started—but last night PBS surprised us with a two-hour finale. (Which, for the record, we’ve filed into our “worst” category—you shouldn’t be tricked into galloping through the final moments of a series! We thought there were still two episodes left to savour!) In the finale, emotions run almost as high as fevers, everyone becomes privy to a few upstairs/downstairs trysts, and Matthew returns to his emo ways.

We explore the best and worst moments of the finale and wonder what’s to come »
Find out how to win the Season One and Season Two DVDs! » »

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

This week on our favourite show on earth, WWI came neatly to a close with all of the Abbey-ers coming to celebrate in the Great Hall. But before that could happen, we were further thrust into the war’s wreckage with the introduction of a newly deformed character, Patrick Crawley! You know, the one who died on the Titanic five years earlier? Yeah, him. Complete with burnt-off face and more, he returns to threaten (the also damaged) Matthew’s claim to the role of heir. To boot, Carlisle’s quickly turning into the psycho we knew he’d be, Vera dies a very messy death, and worst of all, Carson’s poached from his service! The horror!

Let’s take a look back at the hovering-on-the-ridiculous episode »
Find out how to win the Season One and Season Two DVDs! »

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

We appear to have travelled nine months into the future since the last episode (hello, Ethel’s baby!) and it’s not looking good. Matthew and William are both gravely injured at war and have returned to Downton to recover—but neither have a positive prognosis. Mary’s doing damage control, Bates is still battling his ex, and the Earl, as usual, spends the episode in uniform looking for something to do.

Try not to sob as we review the best and worst moments of the show! »

The war brings more worries to Downton Abbey this week—apparently times of turmoil are full of inappropriate relationships. From Branson and Lady Sybil to servant Ethel and one of the soldiers, everyone is looking for someone to love. And Granny? She’s just concerned that Matthew’s disappearance could result in a chimney sweep becoming the next heir.

Let’s take a look back at last night’s episode with the best and worst moments of the show! »

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

It’s the second week back to Downton Abbey, and it seems that everyone is back to their old tricks. As the war rages on, Thomas continues to plot, the earl continues to fume (at everything), Matthew and Mary continue to shuffle around like they aren’t flirting, and Granny continues to dole out the one-liners.

Let’s take a look back at last night’s episode with the best and worst moments of the show! »