For a lady with no social life, I have a wide array of friends.
There are my baking friends and my makeover friends. My tattoo artist friends and my forensics expert friends.
My flea market-flipping friends and my politician friends. My friends who debunk Scientology and the ones who solve cold cases.
My buddies who bust internet catfish and my pals who are stuck in maximum security prison.
And, of course, my vaguely royal, very classy friends, who own a lovely home in the English countryside staffed by a bevy of interesting servants. Though I haven’t seen any of them in awhile.
Happily, however, we have a reunion scheduled at the movies soon and, thanks to the kind people at PBS, I just found out I’ll get to check in on them before that, during a live special that airs next Sunday.
Oh, I’m sorry — did you think these were real, live relationships I’ve been nurturing?
Silly reader. Like Trix, actual acquaintances are for kids — more so than for introverted, middle-aged, sober women with social anxiety and multiple streaming services, anyway.
So, I’m looking forward to seeing the smiling faces of my Downton Abbey crew at long last.
First, on the aforementioned special, filmed live in New York, which will be on at 9 p.m. Aug. 18 and feature a question-and-answer session with the cast and a look back at some of the most memorable moments on the show.
Then again on Sept. 20, when the Crawleys jump to the big screen, filling theaters everywhere with Anna’s tears, Edith’s scowls, Lord Grantham’s cluelessness, the Dowger Countess’ comebacks and Mr. Bates’ general Batesiness.
Not to mention scene upon scene of jaw-dropping dresses.
To be honest, I’m a bit hesitant to attend — so often, these types of reunions don’t go well.
They suck you in with the promise of nostalgia, maybe a little closure, usually a bigger budget for the party — but in the end you leave disappointed and wish you’d just left things the way they were.
After all, I’ve been down this road before.
I remember all too well the last time it happened, and the beautiful relationship I thought I had with four fictional soul sisters for life was ruined.
Er, twice.
Sure, it was partly my fault for giving it those extra chances, but still. They tricked me. Dangled an amazing wardrobe in my face like a designer “Sex and the City” carrot, and the bond was broken forever.
Here’s hoping Julian Fellowes has more respect for these friends than Michael Patrick King did for those others and doesn’t betray them (and us) all with bad writing.
It’s a risky business, meeting old TV companions at the movies. Fingers crossed our association survives.
At least I can be fairly certain I’ll never hear Lady Mary utter the word, “Mexi-coma.”
Katie McDowell is a lifestyles writer/copy editor/holder of film grudges. Email her at kmcdowell@dominionpost.com.
