The commitment to British series has been TV3's most successful decision for this summer's programming. Television afternoons have been a necessary holiday tranquility. Prestigious productions ensure viewers don't feel abandoned during months that are often relegated to dull broadcasts that generate little interest.
Downton Abbey It stands out for its dramatic ambition and its ability to tell the story of England through the conflicts that occur in the enormous mansion of the Earls of Grantham, both on the main floors and in the basement with the service staff. However, along with The Durrells and All beasts small and large They are fictions that confirm that the British are the best at constructing a narrative based on their own character.
Despite the differences in plots and characters, the three period dramas have aspects in common that make them very effective on television. They are meticulous productions, with good artistic direction, intelligent and witty dialogue, a refined sense of humor, attention to detail, magnificent casts, and top-notch performances. Watching them in their original versions demonstrates the attention to diction and language. And the Catalan dubbing is splendid.
Beyond that, all three series play with nostalgia as an essential ingredient to captivate the viewer. They depict a trip back to the 1920s, 1930s, or 1940s in a warm and friendly way. Well-managed emotion is another crucial aspect of the script. In all cases, the audience ends up loving the protagonists. The ensemble cast is a guarantee because it diversifies the plots, makes them cross-generational, and strengthens the idea of community, whether through the concept of family in the most traditional sense or through friendship. We are also presented with idyllic settings. In Yorkshire or Corfu, the landscapes contribute to the viewer's fascination. Tradition and social conventions, or precisely, the breaking of these norms, facilitate conflicts and allow the characters to evolve. Contrasts are essential. Downton Abbey It plays with the abyss between aristocratic life and service personnel. In The Durrells, with the culture clash between English rigidity and the relaxed life of a Greek island. In All the beasts small and great, The dialogue between the rural and urban worlds, the small, closed community, and the arrival of a stranger trying to integrate.
And, in any case, all three series address universal themes: love, coexistence, the difficulty of change, the passage of time, the fear of rejection or not being accepted, and social transformations. We all share these emotions. And, surely, the changes in rhythm and routine during the summer are a good time to reflect and enjoy them.
