Downton Gabby

How can we bring ourselves to say goodbye? In one last visit to our beloved Abbey, things are changing with the times (how astonishing!), and some people are dealing with it better than others (what a shock!).

Retirement, pregnancy, divorce, organizing the county show… just about every major life milestone is happening to one of our favorite characters.

Will Daisy pull off her first big dinner as the head cook? Will Edith keep from fainting the first time Mary asks her for sisterly advice? Will Mary survive scandal and FINALLY take her place leading the estate? Will the estate itself endure???

Call up your most fabulous gay playwright friend, prep a pitcher of Old-Fashioneds, and don your best tiara for a final farewell to the most glittering jewel in Julian Fellowes' crown, our dear Downton Abbey.

Your hosts:

Shannon Bowen https://instagram.com/theshannonbowen

Therese Shechter https://instagram.com/trixiefilms

Brandi Sperry https://www.instagram.com/oui_brandi/

Another season of The Gilded Age has ended, and the frocks are more shocking than the bullets. As episodes build to the climactic end-of-season balls, we see the power shifts fracture the old ways, inviting in bold new energy. Even divorcees and suffragists are welcome on the dance floor!

Join us as we break down Episodes 5-8 of Season 3:

Gladys & Bertha fight a second revolutionary war at the Dukedom’s dinner table (hint: come at seven, wear the biggest tiara you own, and be prepared cut your opponent with sharp words); Peggy triumphs in dance-floor romance and in her career; and Ada takes her seat at the head of the table.

Then there’s that other war: Mrs Scott vs Mrs Kirkland in the dressmaker's fitting room (come at noon, try on your gorgeous gowns, and prepare to throw your sickest burns).

We cheer for both young Jack (or as Agnes calls him ‘a Rockefeller in livery’), and Oscar, who movingly mourns John while growing an inspired beard. And we grumble about the men who are making a mountain out of a molehill (ahem, Railroad Daddy).

BONUS: More Downton Abbey callbacks than there are diamonds around Mrs Astor’s neck!

So drape yourself in your jewels, sip delicately at your champagne, and enjoy the podcast!

And tune in for our Downton Abbey film podcast in September! (sniff, sniff) as we say goodbye to Downton!

Your hosts:

Shannon Bowen https://instagram.com/theshannonbowen

Therese Shechter https://instagram.com/trixiefilms

Brandi Sperry https://www.instagram.com/oui_brandi/

Temperance! Divorce! Suffrage! Broken coffee cup! Makeouts in carriages! Clocks! Mediums! Questionable frocks! Sisters! Even more Broadway stars!

An exciting season brings regime change at the Van Rhijn–er, Forte household, bold new opportunities for work and love for Peggy, and the culmination of the ultimate marriage plot!

Will Peggy find true love with the Hot Doctor, or will his snooty mama get in the way? Will the new Duchess triumph? Is the Russell marriage in trouble? Is Larry a cad or just clueless about public canoodling? Will Bertha’s sister Monica stick around (even if she does dress like the cook on her day off)? Will Hector’s creepy sister pull a Mrs. Danvers? And most importantly, will our dear Jack find happiness now that he’s worth a few mill?

But wait there's more:

Tune in for the Episodes 5-8 podcast in August

Then the Downtown Abbey film podcast in September!

Your hosts:

Shannon Bowen https://instagram.com/theshannonbowen

Therese Shechter https://instagram.com/trixiefilms

Brandi Sperry https://www.instagram.com/oui_brandi/

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)