Indeed, passion for Downton runs so deep that many die-hard fans greeted the new season as a reason for viewing parties. At the Manhattan home of Kelvin Dinkins Jr., 24, a graduate student at Columbia, friends gathered last Sunday for finger sandwiches, properly made pots of tea and a drinking game: a slog of wine or beer every time the dowager countess (played by the scene-stealing Maggie Smith) delivers a withering one-liner. (Nearly falling out of a swivel chair and informed that it was invented by Thomas Jefferson, she snarled, "Why does every day involve a fight with an American?")

The concept of marriage based on dowry — a common custom between wealthy U.S. women and cash-poor British aristocracy at the turn of the century — grates on Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Lady Cora.

"Much of my challenge is not screaming about what she has to accept," McGovern said by phone last week. "I find myself viscerally wound up a lot of the time, without realizing why. It’s because the lot of many women at that time was leading such idle, frustrating lives."

Erin Curtis, 31, who provides information-technology support for an engineering company in Houston, is coiled up for a different reason: While visiting the family of her British boyfriend, she watched all of Season 2 in England.

"So I just have to shut up, biting my knuckles, and not give away what happens," Curtis said.
The lemon curd that one friend made for the scones at a viewing party last week tasted more like lemony scrambled eggs, she said, but pitchers of Pimm’s Cups helped.

For Sarah O’Holla, 29, a librarian at the Village Community School in Manhattan, "my British obsession started last year when I woke up at 4 a.m. to watch the royal wedding," she said.

A friend brought back a feathery fascinator headpiece, which she now wears for Downton viewing parties.

The guests are other librarians and teachers who already had a tradition of reading Bronte novels together and formed what they called the Elegant Ladies’ Club (although the viewings now include one man).

"We all have the same level of obsession about the show," she said, "and we like any excuse to dress up."

But the award for best costume might go to Patricia Morrison, 65, even though no one will see it. Morrison, the widow of the rocker Jim Morrison and author of a memoir called Strange Days, watches Downton alone in bed, wearing sweat pants and a tiara.

"I happen to have two," she said. "Who knew you could get tiaras on eBay? But I’m deeply disappointed that nobody on Downton has worn one so far."

She was also upset to learn that American audiences have missed some bits of the show broadcast only in Britain.

"It’s edited here so that PBS can cram in Laura Linney to introduce it," she said.

"Lovely woman, lovely actress, but we don’t need her. More of Downton, please."


To read more:  http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/54345-more-downton-please