Downton Abbey, Series Two – to tell, or not to tell? I’ve covered the back story to this fabulously popular TV period drama (see link below) but as the series ends in the UK tomorrow (ie November 6th, 2011), promising all the fizz and whizz bang of the fireworks exploding all through this British ‘Bonfire Night’ weekend - I own up to a slight moral dilemma.

I absolutely hate being told by the tabloids, online, wherever, what is due to happen on my favourite TV shows. For instance, I really don’t want to know what ‘much loved’ character will be back on my home grown soap, ‘Corrie’ (Coronation Street is created and filmed in my home town, Manchester) - following their extended ‘holiday’, time out in the slammer, or a death defying break in a hospital near you. Who is due to die, get back together, kill, cheat, steal. Who cares? You find that out when you watch it, and let’s face it, it’s on every week. Why spoil it?

Similarly then, with Downton Abbey. I know you can plaster ‘spoiler’ all over the intro – but that almost compels someone to read it, to explore this guilty pleasure, despite not really wanting to know. And here’s the crux – the teasers at the end of each episode of Downton, as well as in ad breaks throughout the week, pretty much tell you the entire story of the next week’s action. So I feel I already know who will do what, with who – I just need to have the details filled in when I watch it.

Well that’s what teasers are for after all – but the broadcasters’ battle for ratings is really reaching fever pitch. Yes, we know the networks want us to keep watching, but surely if we’ve been along for the ride thus far, we’ll be there for the finale, right? Whatever happened to suspense and expectation?

Back to my dilemma. Downton Abbey is available on DVD, worldwide – in fact it’s currently the biggest selling DVD on Amazon. Also ‘celebrity’ print and online magazines and newspapers, as well as online TV sites are all telling you all about it, before it’s even been on – or when it’s only been broadcast in Britain. Maybe I’m fussing too much.

Anyway – this is a little Guy Fawkes Night intro, just to let you know that I shall write all about the finale of Downton Abbey, Series Two, after it goes out tomorrow on UK TV. Will Dame Maggie Smith as Dowager Countess Grantham triumph as the most finely tuned comedic actress of our (or Downton's) time? Will the 'best man' win with Lady Mary? Will Lord and Lady Grantham prevail, and continue setting a good example to all their servitors downstairs - or could the Abbey be shaken to its foundations?

If you don’t want to read about it – please don’t. Can’t say fairer than that. Well – I hope! But it’s just so tempting to write about it, I can no longer resist. If you decide to check in then I hope you enjoy the article. Cheers!

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Marking the end of Series Two - Downton Series Two DVDs. Enjoy!