What separates a soap opera from a prestige drama is often the setting. Downton Abbey used real historical events not just as backdrops, but as plot catalysts.

The show's creator, Julian Fellowes, has gone on to create other successful period dramas, including The Gilded Age for HBO. The show's cast members have also enjoyed continued success, with many appearing in film and television projects.

Verdict (concise)

Furthermore, the series paved the way for the current golden age of British period drama. Without the success of Downton , we might not have seen the international appetite for shows like Bridgerton or The Crown .

, created by Julian Fellowes, stands as a premier modern example of the British "heritage" drama, capturing the slow dissolution of the Edwardian era and the birth of the modern world. Set at the fictional Yorkshire estate of the Crawley family (filmed at the real-life Highclere Castle