Downton Gabby

Just when you think you're at the cool kids party, you realize you're Ward McAllister at your grandma's dusty opera box. Oh how sweet the victory is for Bertha, it only cost her the bargain price of her daughter's soul to the Duke (or, we presume). Thank goodness, he'll have the funds he needs to restore his crumbling English manor back to its glory and Bertha will have the feather in her cap to completely rule New York's social scene. Meanwhile the table's turn with Ada ordering dinner (clam chowder for everyone!) while Agnes must now answer to the new lady of the house. And finally, we get that boring love story of those two toothpaste models we were promised. We must raise a glass to Peggy who brought such riveting news stories to New York: may she kick Mr. Biceps out of The Globe and take it over in the next season. And cheers to Larry and Marian finally looking each other in the eye. Another social season comes to an end, so we must pack away our tiaras and sharpen our butter knives for next season. Until then, may the champagne always be sparkling and the conversation always polite.

Love is blooming everywhere in New York, but also dying awkwardly in the botanical gardens. Our hearts swell and break for Ada and cringe for Marion. Meanwhile George's heart might be softening to the working man. But on the opera battlefield, the blades are sharp and the cuts are deep. How much blood will be spilled for the center box?! Whether you want homebrewed coffee or broth supped from a spoon, raise a glass for the dramatic twists and turns only Uncle Julian can bring, one alarm clock at a time. One favorite thing: Shannon - The Empress (Netflix) Brandi - Saltburn (film by Emerald Fennell) Therese - Buccaneers, 1993 miniseries (Amazon Prime/BritBox) Your hosts: Shannon Bowen, Therese Shechter, & Brandi Sperry

As we all know, the sharpest weapon in any proper lady's arsenal is a Duke, and Bertha will stop at nothing to win the Elder Wand of New York! Mrs. Winterton is just starting to taste Bertha's revenge and we are here for it. Was Julian abused as a child by a ladies maid or does he only have one character study he keeps going back to? (cough Mrs. O'Brien, Jane, cough) In these episodes, the real action is between the sheets with the hottest widow and a doe-eyed Larry Russell. But just as watercolors fade in the sun, so do most romances in the hands of Uncle Julian. So much to unpack in episodes 2-4! Pull up a seat, swat away the bee, and let's dig into this juicy drama!

Hang on to your bonnets! The damsels are back in their corsets ready to dissect the big war brewing in the battle of the opera boxes! Thank you, Julian, for giving us the polite drama we need these days,complete with the rapid-fire frock changes we so love. Will Bertha reign supreme or will Mrs. Astor twist the silver butter knife this season? Listen in as we dig into all of the delicious details and share all of our juicy predictions!

Ahhhh, it's great to be back at Downton! How we all missed the serious challenges of French weather, bad accents, and servants sitting where the king once sat. The damsels dig into this delight of a movie that (spoiler) we all loved! Julian may be listening to this podcast since one of our predictions came true ;) So pop open the good champagne, toast our girl Violet, and dig into Edith's article about the new sensational vacation everyone is talking about: the south of France IN THE SUMMER! PLUS we have a very special surprise at the end!

We've reached the final stretch of the debut season of The Gilded Age -- young ladies are coming out, old ladies are crossing streets, and secrets are being revealed! The scent of wealth is in the air from the beaches of Newport to the ballrooms of New York (but it seems no amount of money can buy reliable help these days). The damsels are happy with a strong season ending, and we have many hopes, wishes, and theories for season two to come. Join us for one more round of Gilded Gabby! One fabulous thing: Brandi: The Dropout (Hulu) Therese: Beforeigners (HBO Max) Shannon: Freeland Distillery (Woman-owned distillery)

Downton Gabby aka Gilded Gabby is back and analyzing episodes 4 - 7 of Uncle Julian's latest show "The Gilded Age"! The damsels cringe over Marian's faux pas and Ward McAllister's accent, and pit frisky adventurer Mr. Raikes against Peggy's hunky editor Mr Fortune. We wonder if we'll see any more of Turner's breasts, marvel at Agnes' hilarious silent treatment, and covet Bertha's red opera cape. Welcome back old friends! Marvel at your electric lights, pour a snifter of brandy, face away from Bannister, and let's dig into New York money politics! One fabulous thing: Brandi: Tournament of Champions (Food Network) Therese: The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz (Novel) Shannon: Meddling (Ice Skating docu-series/Peacock)

Downton Gabby is back lovingly analyzing Uncle Julian's latest show The Gilded Age, one hat feather at a time. And boy, do we have opinions! Old vs. new! Upstairs vs. downstairs! People whose ancestors arrived on the Mayflower (or so they say) vs. people whose ancestors picked potatoes in Ireland. And all with a (shocking) American accent. The damsels dig into whether Julian truly can learn some new tricks about diverse characters while sticking to his old standbys: passing a letter from hand to hand, and judgy conniving ladies maids. Welcome back old friends, pour a glass of your best bubbly and let's get into whether Mrs. Russell's dresses are horrifying or fab!

The movie! The movie! Shannon, Brandi and Therese are so excited to reunite to talk about the brand new Downton Abbey movie. We couldn’t be more excited–and worried. The chairs need to be set up! Edith’s ball gown is missing! The servants are revolting! And the King and Queen are coming to Downton! On the plus side…#BoyfriendForBarrow. Join us for all the the sweet, silly, gorgeous, ridiculous details of what we seriously hope will be the first of many more Downton Movies. So put on your tiaras (It’s OK even if you’re not married) and join us for a “Fast and Furious'“ rundown of the new film.. NOTE: Spoilers abound so if you haven’t seen it yet, press pause, watch the film, and then come back. On second thought, nothing will really surprise you, so stick with us.

[Season 6, Post-Finale Celebration] - Withdrawal, denial, grief...There's a Crawley-shaped hole in our Sunday nights, so we're excited that some of our smartest, funniest listeners are helping us deal with Life After Downton Abbey. This 'Very Special Podcast' features your memories, questions and wisecracks about things like: That extremely short period of time when we actually liked Bates; The long and fractious friendship of besties4ever Isobel and Violet; and all those scary appliances, cunning devices, and stylish ladypants that showed us just how inevitable change was. A huge thank you to this show's contributors*, as well as to all of you who listened, tweeted, facebooked, watched the show with us in sparkly headbands, and otherwise supported the podcast for all these years. Please raise your glasses for a final toast to our beloved Downton Abbey...and to all us crazy fans. *Thanks to our contributors in order of appearance: Hilary, Jaclyn, Kate, Mike, Jen, Sarah, Paula, Megan, Monica, Valerie, Sara, Vanessa, Melissa, Rebecca, Emily, and Birgit. 

[Season 6, Series Finale] - No more secrets, no more lies-just happiness bursting on the series finale of our beloved Downton Abbey. As the captains of #TeamEdith, we wave our flags as she leaps over the final hurdle to her ride into the sunset (the dreaded mother-in-law test) and crosses the finish line with a gold medal. You are woman, Edith! Go forth and conquer. Meanwhile, cottages abound, relationships are restored, and everyone (who's straight) is headed for a wedding (if Isobel can break her beloved out of his plaid bathrobe prison) And in other "excitement": Daisy gets a haircut; Thomas might get to serve cheese again; and a mini murderous Bates is let loose on the world. Maybe we're not so electrified by those downstairs developments, but at least nobody died! Before you contact us with tips for surviving Life After Downton Abbey (#LADA), raise your crooning voices and a glass of champagne and join us in thanking and berating dear Julian, celebrating this wonderful show, and bidding farewell to the Abbey.

[Life After Downton, Episode 23] - You know the damsels never miss a chance to talk about female friendship, so we were eager and excited to talk about the new HBO series My Brilliant Friend. For chapter one of this saga of Elena and Lila, not all of us think their bond is always believable, but are we intrigued enough to follow them further in their adventures? We wrap up this last show of 2018 by highlighting a few recent movies we loved enough to call them One Fabulous Thing. Get yourself just a drop of celebratory wine and join us for a new episode of Downton Gabby! One Fabulous Thing: The Favourite Hearts Beat Loud Widows

[Life After Downton, Episode 22] - It's hard times out there in the world these days. Luckily, pop culture offers us multiple ways to take a break from reality, and on this episode the damsels are sharing their favorite methods of escapism. Join as we journey from hundreds of years in the past to hundreds of years in the future to hang out with characters who are a lot more fun than the ones in the news. But first, we take some time to check in on Downton Abbey movie news (as well as fantasize about receiving our invites to the premiere), and wrap things up with an extra-pleasant round of One Fabulous Thing. Grab a pour of whatever's helping you relax these days, and join us for another episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 21] - The damsels slip on their emerald rings and gold jumpsuits to discuss the hit film Crazy Rich Asians. Avid fans of the books, they compare what works and what's missing in the film version - but overall gush about the beautiful men in the film. Then the damsels discuss their favorite ensemble films from the last 80 years (just a short span of time!).  Pop open the bubbly, put on your disco Cleopatra dress, and let's gossip about all of the family members!

[Life After Downton, Episode 20] - It's official! The Downton Abbey movie goes into production this September and the Damsels couldn't be more excited. We also have some THOUGHTS. We're throwing out our wildest predictions and fondest hopes, and tossing our own script suggestions Julian's way (it's never too late to reveal Edith is really Rosumund's daughter !)  Then, we talk about some exciting upcoming women-centric shows featuring some of our favorite actors and creators. Get that tiara out of the family vault and ask the footman to uncork some champagne because we're talking Downton Abbey Movie!

[Life After Downton, Episode 19] - Let's just admit: it's rough out there in the real world these days. On this episode, the damsels discuss how the current political climate is affecting what we want from pop culture. Sure, season two of The Handmaid's Tale is just as well made as the first, but is the bleak storytelling doing us any good as viewers? And on the new show Dietland, are the feminist messages getting lost in the noise? What kinds of stories about women do we as TV fans hope to see on our screens as the production cycle catches up to the news cycle (if such a thing is even possible)? In the end, a lively round of One Fabulous Thing reminds us how much art is out there to love and draw inspiration from. So pour yourself a secret glass of the Commander's whiskey and join us for a new episode of Downton Gabby! One Fabulous Thing: Pose TV Series on the FX Network Hannah Gadsby Special on Netflix Binge Mode Podcast: Harry Potter

[Life After Downton, Episode 18] - The damsels delve in the brilliant, twisted world of the new show Killing Eve, check back in on the new season of Westworld, and have some thoughts to share on the latest season of Call the Midwife. Some of these shows we loved, some them of them we hated, and some we disagree on–just to keep it interesting! So put on your lipstick, pour a shot of whiskey (or just drink those warm dregs of last night's martini), and enjoy the latest Downton Gabby podcast! One Fabulous Things: Ship It by Britta Lundin Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Kanopy.com film streaming, and How To Lose Your Virginity on Kanopy

[Life After Downton, Episode 17] - In our first episode of 2018, the damsels are so pleased to be back and, as always, are ready to share some opinions! We have shows to look back on and shows to look forward to–but first, one exciting Downton Abbey-related adventure to share. In our main topic, we discuss two series that hit streaming at the end of 2017: The Crown Season Two and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season One. Period pieces about proper brunette ladies in the late 1950s...that couldn't be more different from one another. On The Crown, there's plenty to love but also plenty we wish we'd seen more of before we have to say goodbye to this first iteration of the cast of characters (Claire Foy, you'll always be our queen)! Then we skip across the pond to the world of Amy Sherman-Palladino, and you might be shocked which damsel felt right at home and which couldn't wait to escape. Finally, we wrap up with another installment of One Fabulous Thing. Down a couple quick shots of sherry and join us for another episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 16] - Call it the Wicked Switch of the West: Netflix's Godless was sold as a Western about a town made up of and run by women. What we got was...something else. In this podcast, we talk about what we liked (ladies in pants! with guns!), what we hated (endless speechifying by the men), and how we'd rewrite it (we have a screenplay to pitch you). Also, is promoting how feminist something is the new thing? We're flattered. Then we go farther west to Sacramento to discuss the smart and delightful film Lady Bird, starring Saoirse Ronan and directed by Greta Gerwig (Oscar noms, please!) We end this episode with an installment of One Fabulous Thing, including some Downton Abbey fan-girling. So strap on your six-shooters, ask the barkeep for some whiskey, and saddle up for another episode of Downton Gabby.

[Life After Downton, Episode 15] - Content warning: this episode contains discussions of several depictions of sexual assault against fictional characters. This month on the podcast, the Damsels have a lot to rant about in a post-Harvey-Weinstein-scandal media world. After some round-up from our month off, we're diving into two series that deal with violence against women: Jane Campion and Gerard Lee's Top of the Lake, and Harry and Jack Williams's Liar. Frankly, we have to say...we demand better. Why bring up important themes you don't intend to explore adequately? Why take all the nuance out of the threats women face from men in everyday life? And why be so damn icky??? Luckily, we do still have love for some media out there, as we wrap up with an installment of Fabulous Things. So grab whatever beverage helps you deal with life these days, and join us for another episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 14] - Season 7 of Game of Thrones is done and we have issues!! Like how mopey Jon Snow (or Aegon Targaryen, or whatever your name is) is just one of those mediocre guys who gets his ass saved over and over again by better women and then gets promoted over them anyway! Also: A Game of Thrones/The Crown mashup, what the hell happened at Winterfell between the Stark siblings, some Brienne/Tormond shipping (please don't be dead!), who should actually be dead (aside from Jon Snow), and why Cersei and Bron never appear on screen together. And we may or may not mention The Wall, RIP. Then, inspired by (the thankfully in control) Sansa and Arya, we end the episode with our favorite sister acts in TV, movies and books, including our beloved Mary and Edith. So throw on your full-length couture dragon coat and rage with us on this awesomely cranky episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 13] - The damsels are faced with a situation they have never encountered--so many women are ruling TV, leading armies, reigning over nations, and body slamming other badass women. It's Christmas every week on TV this summer for us feminist gals. Kicking off the new season of Game of Thrones, the damsels are overjoyed by the number of women kicking ass and of the men who defer to them. Add a dash of women in sparkly leotards wrestling each other in the new super-fun show Glow and finish it off with one of our fave comedic ladies back on screen: Issa Rae's fabulous Insecure. Also, the return of ONE FABULOUS THING! Pour yourself a glass of--you know what, scratch that--slam a shot of tequila and enjoy this podcast that is all about the ladies ruling TV! One fabulous thing: Shannon: Girls Trip (movie) Therese: You Must Remember This (podcast) Brandi: The Bold Type (TV show)

[Life After Downton, Episode 12] - The damsels kick off this month's conversation with some follow-up about the future of two previously discussed shows (good news for the midwives! Not good news for the sensates...). Then we're checking in on the continuing first season of The Handmaid's Tale and making sure we've properly fangirled over the work of Reed Morano. The praise of female directors continues with the main event: Wonder Woman has finally arrived! Those Amazonian weapons! That no-nonsense attitude! The cascading locks! The dreamy boyfriend! We are thrilled that Patty Jenkins met and exceeded expectations for the female-driven superhero film we've all waited too long for. Finally we're looking ahead to the rest of summer with a peek at some of the great returning TV, as well as new shows we're looking forward to checking out. (Star-crossed lovers! Stand-up comedians! FEMALE WRESTLERS!) Raise a glass to Diana of the Amazons and join us for another episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 11] - This month the Damsels are all about the trials women go through with their bodies, starting with the eagerly-anticipated adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, which is beautifully done, and also gave at least one of us nightmares. We also check in with Call the Midwife, Harlots, Girls, and Big Little Lies, to see how their female casts and creators handle the womanly pursuits of (respectively) birthing babies, selling sex, latching on, and trying not to get raped and killed. This ain't no tea with Violet and Isobel, y'all, but we'll get through it together. So put on your best red dress, sneak a glass of whiskey from The Commander's study, and join us for another fiery, funny episode of Downton Gabby.

[Life After Downton, Episode 10] - On this month's episode, the damsels discuss the smash hit film Beauty and the Beast, along with the phenomenon of Disney "princesses," and what messages this film genre sends to young kids about their expected (hetero) futures. It's not that we don't like our plucky heroines, emotional musical set pieces, and swoon-worthy declarations of love...but how should the genre evolve as new adaptations keep coming, and reaching such massive levels of success? We also share many thoughts on drinking etiquette in theaters, inspirational '80s cartoons, and a Greek myth or two, then check in with developments on The Crown season two to remind everyone how to tell a story about a queen that does her justice. Crack open a bottle of vodka, mix it with *anything* but Gatorade, and join us for another lively episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 9] - The damsels are getting ready for the Oscars by going through the Best Picture winners of years past and helping the Academy make better choices. There are so many phenomenal movies directed by women, written by women, and about women that deserved to win that coveted award. Throw on an evening gown, pop some champagne, and let's re-write history together!

[Life After Downton, Episode 8] - The Damsels are just girls in love...with musicals. We celebrate CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, its great characters, hilarious production numbers, and Rachel Bloom's impressive bosoms. We also discuss the new film LA LA LAND (yeah, we have a few issues), as well as some of our favorite musicals of all time, from WEST SIDE STORY to TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE. Plus, an early look at PBS's Victoria and the ever-popular Dan Stevens IMDB Watch. So pour some bubbly, lace up your tap shoes, and sing your emotions with us on this episode of Downton Gabby.

[Life After Downton, Episode 7] - The damsels close out a rocky year in real life by recalling the many 2016 TV moments that made us feel so many emotions in a safe space: joy, rage, hope, despair, and general appreciation of female badassery. As we each count down our favorite five moments of the year as well as a few disappointments, we also consider: which shows ended strong? What returning shows do we most anticipate for 2017? And which female characters are inspiring us in these dark times? Pop some early New Year's champagne and join us to process The Year That Was on the latest episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 6] - The damsels dive into the world of ermine, tweed, taffeta, and yes... sparkly headbands aka crowns. Lots to discuss about Netflix's new show The Crown: some of us loved Prince Phillip's butt, some didn't; some liked John Lithgow's performance as Churchill, some didn't; and only one damsel recognized a certain actor from Game of Thrones. Afterwards we list off some of our favorite female characters in positions of power. We are eager to hear your additions to our list! So prop up your stilettos on the desk, pour a glass of scotch, light a cigar, and let's talk about women in power.

[Life After Downton, Episode 5] - At long last, it's a new world on HBO, as multiple new shows with women at the helm populate the line-up. Up first, we dive deep into co-creator Lisa Joy's Westworld: is it the new LOST? The new Game of Thrones? Or something altogether fresh? We may not have the answers yet, but we are in the saddle for this journey! Next, we move on to the new half-hour shows from past faves Sharon Horgan and Issa Rae. We want to love everything these women do, but sadly only one is warming our hearts this time.... Finally, we share some fabulous things, including praise for the oddball of HBO's current offerings (co-created by another pioneering lady, Katja Blichfeld), and a serious rift over the newest season of a trendy drama just out on Netflix. Sidle up to the saloon bar for a whiskey and join us for the latest episode of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton, Episode 4] - Summer is over and we're back with a brand new podcast! On this episode we preview the Emmy Awards and the fabulous ladies who act in and create some of our favorite shows. We'll also be live tweeting the Emmys this Sunday night (Sept 18th). Downton Abbey is nominated for 10 Emmy awards, and we wonder: Could they have nominated an actor OTHER than Maggie Smith this year-someone who might actually show up??? Aside from DA, we're sharing our joy, scorn, judgements, hopes and dreams for several of the categories. Who do we love? What do we hate? And what do we wish would just go away already (Modern Family, we're looking at you)? We also catch up with the latest news on Downton's Michelle Dockery, and the Dan Stevens IMDB Watch continues! And we finish off with some things we're looking forward to this fall (A Handmaid's Tale starring Elizabeth Moss! Ava Duvernay's Queen Sugar with a full slate of female directors! And...Wonder Woman!) So fill up those champagne glasses, get Christian Siriano to hurry up and finish your Emmys gown, and join us for another edition of Downton Gabby!

[Life After Downton Episode 3] - The damsels dive into the world of teen shows with special guest Karen Draper who is a YA Author and writes about teen shows on her tumblr. We compare the shows about the rich kids with the shows about the dorks, examine the sexual politics, gush about the bad boys, and decipher the timeless-ness of the themes and why they still appeal to us as adult women. The podcast opens with 15 minutes devoted to our discussion on Julian's two latest projects: Belgravia and Dr. Thorne. Pour some cheap vodka into a Diet Coke and open a bag of Cheetos because we're going back to high-school! Links: Karen on Twitter https://twitter.com/kurenable Karen on Tumblr http://betweenthemap.tumblr.com/ Loving Bad Boys http://www.worshipthefandom.com/content/in-defense-of-rory-jess-and-the-girls-who-love-bad-boys-1

[Life After Downton, Episode 2] - Class! Evil lady's maids! Marrying to save the family pile! Who else could the Damsels be talking about this week but our good buddy Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes and his latest projects. We have a lot of love for his episode-a-week book series Belgravia, but really can't fully express our hatred for its app. We also stick our toe into his 4-part adaptation of Dr. Thorne and can't decide what's more indelible: Ian McShane's drunken rages, Alison Brie's blue eyes, or Julian channeling Alistair Cooke in his introductions. Then we check in with one of our very faves, Call The Midwife, as it wraps up its 5th season, dehydrated from all the crying. To finish off, we take a quick look at Game of Thrones and all the badass female characters who are ruling this season (Queen of the North!!). So go fix your gal pals some Campari with maraschino cherries and settle in for this episode of Downton Gabby.

[Life After Downton, Episode 1] - The damsels are back to check in on the post-Downton landscape, which luckily already contains Julian Fellowes's next big project (one that would horrify a certain butler if he knew about it). We'll be checking in with Belgravia as it progresses, so stay tuned for more! Then it's a fab new world as we welcome our first-ever guest podcasters, the delightful Britta Lundin (brittashipsit) and Dave Binegar (davebinegar), to weigh in on the recent controversy surrounding the treatment of queer characters on TV. What's the deal with this Bury Your Gays thing, anyway? How can a new wave of creators and the online fan community bring us into a better era of storytelling? And can we fix all the problems of pop culture's queer representation in just one hour of conversation? Grab a drink, settle in, and join us for the biggest episode of Downton Gabby yet!

[Season 6, Post-Finale Celebration] - Withdrawal, denial, grief...There's a Crawley-shaped hole in our Sunday nights, so we're excited that some of our smartest, funniest listeners are helping us deal with Life After Downton Abbey. This 'Very Special Podcast' features your memories, questions and wisecracks about things like: That extremely short period of time when we actually liked Bates; The long and fractious friendship of besties4ever Isobel and Violet; and all those scary appliances, cunning devices, and stylish ladypants that showed us just how inevitable change was. A huge thank you to this show's contributors*, as well as to all of you who listened, tweeted, facebooked, watched the show with us in sparkly headbands, and otherwise supported the podcast for all these years. Please raise your glasses for a final toast to our beloved Downton Abbey...and to all us crazy fans. *Thanks to our contributors in order of appearance: Hilary, Jaclyn, Kate, Mike, Jen, Sarah, Paula, Megan, Monica, Valerie, Sara, Vanessa, Melissa, Rebecca, Emily, and Birgit. 

[Season 6, Series Finale] - No more secrets, no more lies-just happiness bursting on the series finale of our beloved Downton Abbey. As the captains of #TeamEdith, we wave our flags as she leaps over the final hurdle to her ride into the sunset (the dreaded mother-in-law test) and crosses the finish line with a gold medal. You are woman, Edith! Go forth and conquer. Meanwhile, cottages abound, relationships are restored, and everyone (who's straight) is headed for a wedding (if Isobel can break her beloved out of his plaid bathrobe prison) And in other "excitement": Daisy gets a haircut; Thomas might get to serve cheese again; and a mini murderous Bates is let loose on the world. Maybe we're not so electrified by those downstairs developments, but at least nobody died! Before you contact us with tips for surviving Life After Downton Abbey (#LADA), raise your crooning voices and a glass of champagne and join us in thanking and berating dear Julian, celebrating this wonderful show, and bidding farewell to the Abbey.

[Season 6, Episode 8] - There were never such devoted sisters! This week we dig deep into the penultimate episode of Downton Abbey and the Mary/Edith throwdown we've been longing for for 6 seasons. We also ponder some burning questions, such as: Is Henry a dreamboat or a stalker? Has the Yorkshire Bawdy House market become saturated? Is Tom the best Crawley sister? Who would we most like to see die in the finale? And...what the hell is a Marquess? As we rush towards the inevitable finale, relax with a cup of tea at The Adulterer's Table, and enjoy this outspoken episode of Downton Gabby

[Season 6, Episode 7] - A moment of silence for Charlie, not only did he lose his life, but he also put the nail in the coffin on Mary and Mr. Yum Yum's relationship. Well, maybe it was Henry's drunk dialing that did it... After discussing Chekov's Sports Car, the damsels dig into the other juicy storylines, such as Bertie's proposal (yay #TeamEdith), the bitch showdown with the Dowager, the return of Dickobel, Molesley's new genius status, the lament of poor Thomas, and of course, the reign of Mrs. Patmore as the devious plotter who brought Carson to his knees roasting potatoes for a victorious Mrs. Hughes! So pour a cocktail, put on your penis racing cap and enjoy this latest podcast!

[Season 6, Episode 6] - This week we find the Crawleys in fine comedic form as they wander cluelessly around the Abbey making stuff up about their paintings. Meanwhile, Mrs Hughes is (hopefully) spitting in Carson's food, Mary and Edith prove they'll never fight over the same men, and Julian dazzles us with his tenuous grasp of obstetric knowledge. But with only a few episodes left, we have worries: Will this hospital melodrama finally do Granny in? When will Thomas's story stop being so cringeworthy? Will Molesley get that job at Hogwarts? And the biggest question of all: Who is this Downton Librarian and how can we get their job?! Put on your pajamas, take a tray of sandwiches and coffee up to the bedroom, and enjoy this latest Downton Gabby podcast!

[Season 6, Episode 5] - After we've wiped the blood off our shocked faces, the Damsels dig into this episode jam packed with love and (almost) death. Although we love Mr. Yum Yum, we wonder if he's marriage material, but you won't find us shipping Mary and Tom! No, we are more interested in whether Mary and Edith will finally bury the hatchet and be decent to each other. Oh, also we are super busy planning the double wedding for Mrs. Patmore/Mr. Mason and Daisy/Andy. Until then, we will relish in all of the love this final season is oozing with (except Bates and Anna, obvi). So, pour yourself a racy cocktail, pop open that book on pig theory, and enjoy this latest podcast!

[Season 6, Episode 4] - Feminism abounds in the new episode of Downton Abbey! Julian, how did you know that the way to make us care about the hospital storyline was to have a group of ladies relate it all to their opinions about government? Meanwhile, Mrs. Hughes is keeping her name, and all that sexy, not-at-all secret flirting between Mary and Mr. Yum Yum is making us flush hotter than a bad transmission (we don't know about cars). Also this week: a touching trip down memory lane to the saddest but maybe best-written moment in Downton history; a flurry of downstairs drama and dastardly behavior; and a chance to consider the fantasy of where you should bestow your V-card upon your beloved. Spread a little artisanal jam on your toast and join us for the latest episode of Downton Gabby!

[Season 6, Episode 3] - So much love to discuss in this joyous episode, starting with The Big Wedding and Edith's adorable rom-com storyline. Also, lots of drama to dissect: Mary/Tom shipping, #CoatGate, Chekov's indigestion, #RatFetus, Spratt's secret life, Molesley as the Edith of downstairs, and whether Marigold will kill them all in their sleep with her creepy eyes. Let's all stay out of the boot room, raise a glass to Charlie and Elsie, and get this hooli going!

[Season 6, Episode 2] - It's not just Lady Mary's Late Fat Stock that are behaving like pigs this week. We discuss all the jerky goings-on, including Carson insisting on getting married at work, Isobel bickering with Violet-and cock-blocking poor old Dickie, and Barrow getting picked on by almost everyone downstairs. We also try to figure out how Edith let the whole Marigold mess get so out of hand. We love our #TeamEdith, but even we have limits when you've been farming the land since Waterloo. It's wigs in the grass, people. Wigs. In. The. Grass. At least Lady Mary is helping Anna with her Incompetent Cervix (is anyone else getting sexy vibes from those two? Just us? OK). Put on your tweeds, pour yourself a small beer, and join us for this especially swinish episode of Downton Gabby.

[Season 6 Premiere] - We're so excited about the premiere of the final season of Downton Abbey (and, to be honest, a bit sad). Some things haven't changed: Another random evil maid is causing trouble, Carson disapproves of something modern, Mary is testing the limits of propriety, Cora can't get a straight answer to a question...and Anna is crying. There are also many new developments, and we have questions: Will Lesley Nicol finally get an Emmy nomination for that sex talk? What is the best lube for the menopausal set? Why is Mary reading the Farmer's Stock Breeder at breakfast? Are fabulous silky robes the latest trend...and can we wear them with yoga pants? Is Edith really the Jon Snow of Downton? And most importantly, why is Julian Fellowes trolling us!? So grab a glass of whiskey (and put some soda in it like they do in London), and enjoy this more-raunchy-than-usual installment of Downton Gabby.

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 9] - It's a super-packed conversation in our last episode of the off-season before the (sob) final season of Downton Abbey begins. We're preparing, reminiscing, and predicting, and one of us might be taking a deeper dive into fandom activities than ever before (send 1920s garb now!). Helping us fill some of the time before the Crawleys and company return is Netflix's Jessica Jones. We dig the themes, the ass-kicking, the piles of well-written women, and the simmering hot Luke Cage-but we do have a few issues, such as whether the 13-episode binge really serves the story, or why Jessica hasn't yet encountered 21st century denim technology. Finally, to close out the year we each count down our five favorite female characters of 2015. Some picks are predictable, some are surprising, and if you can guess which single character shows up on all three lists, you know us better than we know ourselves. Grab a bottle of bottom-shelf whiskey out of your battered PI desk and join us for one more episode of Downton Gabby Off-Season!

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 8] - This episode celebrates The Danc e, and who better to title it than Zoe Saldana's epic Eva in beloved teen film Center Stage. We take a nostalgic trip back to that 2000 ballet classic, but first we talk about Starz's (sadly) limited series Flesh and Bone. This story of a simple girl from Pittsburgh who becomes the toast of the ballet world embraces the tropes we love, from the bloody toenails, the aging prima ballerina, and the eating disorders. And some even darker fare, like a Russian mobster with a sex slave racket, the magical homeless person, and a dance company director who reminds us of Deadwood's Al Swearengen (bear with us here). We also revisit another dance-filled extravaganza Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to see how we feel about the show after 5 episodes (hint: we love it almost more than Rebecca loves Josh, if that's possible). And finally, we check in with the Amazon pilot Good Girls Revolt, about 60s-era women in journalism. Will we find our new Peggy Olsen? It remains to be seen. So grab some painkillers, slip on your toe shoes, and enjoy our latest episode of Downton Gabby Off Season.

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 7] - Fall TV has just begun and we are treating it like a big appetizer sampler. We run through our opinions on new buzzy shows like Quantico and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend while also touching base with some old faves Nashville and Jane the Virgin. Then we dive into a big discussion on Nancy Meyer's latest film The Intern, which we would love to re-write as The CEO. The damsels have A LOT to say about this movie that doesn't fail on every mark, but yes, many of them. We also look at Nancy Meyer's career as a whole. Lots to love and still lots to discuss. So pop open a beer and take a sip each time we talk about a new show ;)

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 6] - As the Damsels count down the days until the final season of Downton (and weep over the first glimpses of the end), we're also game to check out a show that pokes fun at our beloved Abbey – Comedy Central's Another Period, filled with horrible people doing horrible things to each other in the most hilarious of ways. Then it's on to the summer's surprise hit, Mr. Robot. We're not sure what we love best: the style, the anarchy, or Rami Malek's dreamy face. But we're not without suggestions for how the show might get even better in Season 2 (and we've got something to say about the female characters, naturally). Finally, we argue about the charms and disappointments of Amy Schumer's Trainwreck, discuss what's become of the Rom-Com these days, and shock each other with some of our faves and not-so-faves of the genre. Grab the leftover champagne from your Fabulous Dog Party and join us for another episode of Downton Abbey Off-Season!

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 5] - The Damsels are so emotional, with Joy, Anger, Sadness...and some Hot and Bothered. We start with Pride and Confusion over DOWNTON ABBEY's Emmy nominations and a new pilot for Michelle Dockery. Then, INSDIE OUT fills us with Sadness, which is actually a really good thing (except for our Disgust with the opening short Lava, which is even more sexist than a CBS sitcom). It's Joy versus Anger over Netflix's new sci-fi series SENSE8, but we're all Gratitude for Wolfgang's magical full frontal. At ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, we're feeling Fear for anyone who messes with Piper, Red and especially Pennsatucky and Boo, and we're Kvelling (with Jewish Joy) over Cindy's religious revelations. How are you feeling? Steal some champagne from the UNREAL set and join us for the many moods of Downton Gabby Off-Season.

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 4] - The Damsels are still on the "Game of Thrones" bandwagon (despite the several public defections) as we talk about the season finale: Jon Snow's really bad day (or is he?), Cersei's epic Walk of Shame, and Arya gettin' stabby with it at the brothel. Why is the girl aggrieved? Maybe it's because this season's GoT had not a single Lady Director. Just a theory. We continue our Fellowes Film Festival with the Julian-penned "The Young Victoria," a feminist-approved historical romance which had us scrambling to the Wikipedia English Royalty entries so we could get all the first cousins straight. Plus all the Downton news and updates you know you want (Lord Grantham in a leisure suit, anyone?) So grab a drink from the Many-Faced-God (actually, don't) an join us for this rowdy episode of Downton Gabby Off-Season.

[Downton Gabby Off-Season 3] - Don't worry, you are not in a time warp. It's only been two weeks since our last podcast, but we decided to record a bonus podcast based on popular demand of wanting to hear our opinion on the Mad Men finale, the Sansa wedding episode of GoT, and the awesomely feminist movie: Mad Max. So buckle up for this high-octane podcast that pays homage to our last Stangasm. Pour yourself a bloody mary, smudge oil on your forehead and let's show those men's rights activists that the only return that's happening, is the RETURN OF QUEENS!