A Cure for 'Downton Abbey' Withdrawal

Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern in "Downton Abbey." — PBS/Photofest

Are you suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal? Symptoms include:

• Worrying whether Mr. Bates will be cleared of his ex-wife's murder;
• Wondering whether thwarted lovers Lady Mary and heir apparent Matthew will finally tie the knot;
• Secretly hoping that the Roaring '20s provide the group hug a war-weary England so desperately needs.

To cope with this debilitating condition until the drama returns to PBS in January 2013, settle into one of these alternatives: shows, movies and books that are similar to Downton in one way or another. And who knows? One of them may spark an entirely new obsession.

See also: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel review.

Television

Upstairs Downstairs (1971-1975). Lovers of Downton Abbey's rich production values won't find the same quality here, but the plotlines are addictive: Each episode juxtaposes the dramas of the aristocratic Bellamys and their servants "below stairs" during a tumultuous time in England (the early 1900s through 1930).
Watch: Season 1 is free on Amazon Instant Viewing for Prime members; later episodes can be rented for $1.99 each, later seasons (2 through 5) for $24.99 each. Netflix members can watch Seasons 1 through 5.

Upstairs Downstairs (2010). This lavish continuation of the original series picks up the story in 1936, when a young couple of means moves into the abandoned Bellamy manse, eager to redecorate and staff up. Rose Buck (Jean Marsh), the parlormaid in the original series, is back, but now she's running the show downstairs. Places, everyone!
Watch: Season 1 on Amazon Instant Viewing for $1.99 per episode. Season 2 returns to PBS in October.

Miss Marple (1984-1992) and Agatha Christie's Marple (2004-2010) on PBS. Dame Agatha Christie's spinster sleuth unravels murders in the not-so-quiet English countryside. Not a mystery fan? All the motivation you need to watch these installments comes from the masterly performances by three veteran actresses: Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie and Joan Hickson.

Brideshead Revisited (1981 TV miniseries, based on the 1945 novel by Evelyn Waugh)."The best series ever seen on American television," as the Washington Post hailed it, depicts the fading glory of aristocratic England between the world wars. An artist (Jeremy Irons in his breakout role) befriends the spoiled second son of a titled family and gets involved with their dysfunctional lives. Until Downton Abbey came along, this was the most popular British series ever to hop the Atlantic.
Watch: Amazon Instant Video, $2.99 per episode (11 episodes total) or $25.99 for entire season.

Movie

Gosford Park. A pair of British socialites invite a clutch of outspoken characters to their country manor for the weekend. What could possibly go wrong? Murder, for starters — and everyone's a suspect. Robert Altman directed a troupe of stars young and old, among them Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Michael "Dumbledore" Gambon and — in a very Lady Violet-like turn — the incomparable Maggie Smith. Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes wrote the script of this engrossingly funny whodunit and class satire.
Watch: Amazon Instant Video, Netflix.

Next: Words, words, words. Get your fix with a book. »