Here's The TV Show You Should Be Watching Based On Which "Downton Abbey" Character You Identify As

Because we can't all be The Dowager Countess.

Photo-illustration: Ryan Pattie; HBO, Netflix, Heidi Gutman/Peacock / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, Everett Collection: Ben Blackall/Focus Features,

Once again: lights, camera, action on Downton Abbey! We’re going back to the library and the kitchen and also to the South of France? Perhaps, like us, you have watched and re-watched Downton and have missed Lady Mary’s weathering looks, the Dowager’s quick wit, and Daisy’s exuberant optimism. We’ve spent so much time with the Crawleys and staff that they feel like our family. So, it was a true thrill to be back with them once again for Downton Abbey: A New Era, now in theaters. We’re not being hyperbolic when we say we both laughed and cried!

Revisiting our favorite friends led us to think about the essence and identity of each character. It was quite amusing thinking about these characters watching television since many of them were scandalized by a gramophone and radicalized by a Hollywood picture. Yet, this is what we think you should watch based on which character you identify with, and don’t worry if, like us, you can’t pick just one. We’ve got you! 

Spoilers below.

1. Lady Mary Crawley — Succession

Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection, Macall Polay/HBO

Give Lady Mary one day in Succession's Waystar Royco and she would be running the company. Marys of the world believe in tradition and family. They are also ruthless and will do what it takes to win. She could take Roman down with one side-eye, make Shiv feel like an idiot, charm Kendall, and then take him down in one clever joke about his life. What's-his-name, older brother? She wouldn't even have time for. I am now imagining a scene where Cousin Greg tries to hit on Lady Mary. He would fail so hard it would be iconic. If you, like Mary, dismissed Matthew (at first) and immediately did not trust (maybe) new Patrick, Succession is for you!

Watch it on HBO Max.

2. Lady Edith Crawley — Mad Men

Carin Baer / AMC / Courtesy Everett Collection, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

If Lady Edith has one fan, it is me. If Lady Edith has no fans, I am dead. If you are an Edith fan, congratulations on having taste! Edith is so much more than meets the eye. Edith fans understand her duality; sometimes she is a bully, sometimes she is bullied. Edith fans understand the power of an intelligent woman with a pen. Therefore, Ediths of the world should watch Mad Men. If you get Edith, you get Peggy. For Halloween, Edith would dress up as Peggy walking out of the office with a cigarette and a box in her hand; her Twitter banner photo would be Sally smoking.

Watch it on Prime Video.

3. Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham — The Durrells

Joss Barratt/PBS/ITV/Sid Gentle Films/Courtesy Everett Collection, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

Lovely, sweet, sometimes incredibly dumb Lord Grantham. He's not as formidable as his mother, not as wealthy as his wife (the entail I know, I know), nor is he as clever or cunning as his daughters. Yet, despite being the head of the household, he's often overlooked. If you feel sometimes overlooked, I cannot recommend The Durrells more, for it was one of the best shows that I believe was ignored in Downton's wake! The Durrells follows a mother and children aged 21, 18, 17, and 11 as they move from England to the Grecian Island of Corfu in 1935. Imagine if Downton and Mamma Mia! got together and made a TV show, which is the highest praise I can give. (Fun fact: 18-year-old Larry Durrell is played by internet boyfriend Josh O'Connor, aka Prince Charles in The Crown.)

Watch it on Prime Video.

4. Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham — WandaVision

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If Lady Cora doesn't strike you immediately as a voracious fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that's because she's not. But she is a spunky American mother, often at odds with larger forces over the wellbeing of her family, just like Wanda is. Unlike the rest of Downton's residents, Cora is not British, and throughout the series, she's constantly trying to find ways for the English aristocracy to be less rigid. She'd instantly relate to Wanda's struggle against the government at the behest of her children (even if they do turn out to be fake). I also feel like Cora would be a big fan of the '50s sitcom should we be blessed to watch the Crawleys move into yet another "new era." If you're constantly rooting for our kind and classy American Downton gal, then perhaps you'll enjoy rooting for a similar one in Westview, New Jersey. Also, you can't tell me that Cora hasn't met some random viscountess named Agatha Harkness.

Watch it on Disney+.

5. Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham — Pachinko

Juhan Noh/AppleTV+/Courtesy Everett Collection, PBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

The Dowager Countess has seen a LOT in her long life. She's traveled. She's had love affairs with exotic men. She's raised children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She's shared her home with wounded soldiers, a film crew, and the corpse of a Turkish diplomat. She is not interested in rag tag, little simple stories. She needs a sprawling epic like Pachinko. And as a patron of the arts and a classy lady, she needs that epic to be beautifully constructed and poignantly written like Pachinko. As a woman looking back on her life, she'd relate to the story of Sunja, who is born and raised in Korea before moving to Japan. Pachinko follows her long, complex life, and the Dowager Countess would be SUCKED IN. If you identify as a slightly snooty connoisseur of high-end, prestige entertainment, then you, too, should check on the splendid drama.

Watch it on Apple TV+.

6. Isobel Crawley — Grey's Anatomy

Jordin Althaus / ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

Isobels of the world are tough and smart. Isobels of the world like knowing the answer before the question has been asked. For Isobel Crawley, the questions generally have to do with medicine. She trained as a nurse, and her late husband was a doctor; therefore, through osmosis, she believes she, too, is a doctor. Isobel loves a medical mystery! Could you imagine the thrill she would get being able to watch a new one each week? Isobel would always figure out the diagnosis a minute before the Grey Sloan doctors. Isobel is a feminist, and she would identify as a Cristina. I just know it. Her favorite coffee cup would say, "He is not the sun. You are."

Watch it on Netflix.

7. Tom Branson — Formula 1: Drive to Survive

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While Branson is now of course a full-fledged member of the Crawley family, has married into British aristocracy twice, has inherited a French villa with his daughter, and is off to galavant in America, he started as a humble chauffeur. He loves cars, and you know who else does? Formula 1 drivers (and not Matthew Crawley). Tom also loves Ireland, and according to my research, Ireland also competes in Formula 1. Match made in heaven here. If you, too, are an Irish-loving, car-loving human, then you (along with Branson) might want to check out the Netflix docuseries about the drivers and races in Formula 1. The real question is, will any of the race car drivers fall in love with a wealthy lady while driving her to and from town?

Watch it on Netflix.

8. Mr. Carson — The Crown

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Perhaps the only person more concerned with formality and the way things are done than Carson is the Queen of England herself (and I say perhaps). Carson is the dutiful butler of Downton, a job he takes with the utmost seriousness and respect. He loves the monarchy (after all, he served Elizabeth's grandfather George V in the first Downton Abbey movie), and would have nothing but reverence for the way Elizabeth rules. Carson, too, would have told Princess Margaret she couldn't get married to a divorcee (and probably would not have taken kindly to Diana). If you, like Carson, are a monarchist with a respect for queen and country, then sit yourself down after dinner service to watch an episode of The Crown.

Watch it on Netflix.

9. Mrs. Hughes — Only Murders in the Building

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Mrs. Hughes hive, rise up!!! If you identify even a little bit with Mrs. Hughes, chances are you live for tea. Do you need to know your best friend's former co-worker's new job? Are you curious why your college roommate's high school best friend isn't posting pictures with her long-time Brazilian boyfriend anymore? (These may or may not be real examples from my own life.) The best part about Mrs. Hughes is that she straight-up asks everyone about their business. There are no secrets under her roof. There are also no secrets at the Arconia, the Downton Abbey-esque apartment complex on the Upper West Side where Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin's characters live in Only Murders in the Building. They, too, go on a quest to discover the secrets of every person in the building. They are Mrs. Hughes. We are all Mrs. Hughes.

Watch it on Hulu.

10. Mrs. Patmore — MasterChef

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Would Mrs. Patmore count as a home cook? She does, in fact, cook in a home, but I think since it is her full time job (aside from sassing Daisy), she wouldn't qualify to compete on Gordon Ramsay's amateur cooking competition show. That being said, you can't tell me she wouldn't love reading the contestants for filth when they submitted an undercooked ribeye or an over-salted mince pie. I am also willing to bet she'd fancy Ramsay a wee bit and go bright red if he ever visited the Downton kitchens. If you, like Mrs. Patmore, love cooking (or just eating food), then you've got plenty of seasons' worth of dishes to watch.

Watch it on Hulu.

11. Daisy Mason — Girls5Eva

Heidi Gutman/Peacock, PBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

Daisy is a dreamer. In many ways, she is the heart of Downton. Daisy loves the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and movie stars. I know if she existed now, she would run a popular Twitter stan account. In Downton Abbey: A New Era, we get to see Daisy interact with the movie stars she's always loved, and she crushes it. If you like Daisy and love learning about the glamorous or sometimes not-so-glamorous lives of the stars, then Girls5Eva is for you. Girls5Eva, a comedy from (most of) the people who brought you 30 Rock, is about a 2001 pop group who come back together 20 years later. While Girls5Eva is a sitcom, it sheds light on the entertainment industry, aging, and never "eva" giving up on your dreams. Daisy would approve.

Watch it on Peacock.

12. Thomas Barrow — Heartstopper

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection, Focus Features / courtesy Everett Collection

Poor ole Barrow. All he wants is to find some big ole fat gay love. The man has been through the wringer as a gay man living in the early 20th century. His internalized homophobia manifested itself early on as spiteful villainy, easily becoming the most hated character on Downton. Over the years, however, he's softened as he's come out to some of his workers and even managed to strike up some romance. Watching the British high school coming-of-age story about two boys who fall in love would leave Barrow a sobbing mess (as he never got to experience such things), but he'd watch the whole series a dozen times in a row in a weepy state. If you're a queer softy hiding in a stern shell, then maybe you should also open yourself up to Heartstopper. It's certainly a better way to spend your time than executing vicious intimidation campaigns against your coworkers.

Watch it on Netflix.

13. Mr. Bates — The Staircase

HBO, PBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

I was so tempted to have this entry be the two eyes looking suspicious emoji, but alas. Bates believes in justice. Honestly, sometimes too much. You don't always need to be righteous, Bates. Sometimes you can just chill. Bates would identify with the true-crime show The Staircase's Michael Peterson, possibly, to an alarming degree. Bates and Peterson both share being imprisoned for allegedly killing their wives. If you were intrigued by Bates' trial, you will be captivated by the details and truly “wild” theories in The Staircase. (Listen, and I hear you if perhaps the Bates/Mrs. Bates/Anna saga wasn't your favorite plot, but I'd recommend The Staircase if you still like true crime and a twisty whodunit.)

Watch it on HBO Max.

14. Anna Bates — Yellowjackets

Colin Bentley / Showtime/Courtesy Everett Collection, Alamy Stock Photo

Annas of the world are the most loyal among us. They are ride or die friends. They will show up no matter what. Annas watch Yellowjackets and think, and know I, too, could figure out a way to survive. I believe that Anna would fare well in the Yellowjackets' wilderness. She knows how to move a dead body and never speak of it again. And while she might not have Isobel Crawley or Misty's medical knowledge, somehow, her sewing and savviness would allow her to survive.

Watch it on Showtime.

15. Mr. Molesley — Abbott Elementary

Pamela Littky / ABC, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

Mr Molesley may not be a great footman, but he is a decent teacher, and he's got a big heart. That's more than enough to work at Abbott Elementary, where the principal wants to be an influencer, and the school supplies are provided by the South Philly mafia. Molesley (who recently proved himself an adept screenwriter) would enjoy the witty banter of the show while also relating to the overworked and underpaid world of academia. Something tells me that Molesley and Janine would be immediate besties, and if you, too, are a bit too earnest and a bit too naive, you would enjoy watching the pair happily flailing in their respective shows.

Watch it on Hulu.

16. Spratt — Ted Lasso

Colin Hutton/Apple TV+/Courtesy Everett Collection, PBS

If Spratt is one thing, it is self-absorbed. The Dowager Countess's butler thinks he's the best in the biz and is willing to fight against anyone (Molesley, Denker, the Countess herself) to prove that. He, therefore, would be highly enamored by a show featuring his fetching doppelgänger. Spratt would find Higgins very good at his job and instantly connect with him. If you happen to be the long lost triplet of these two men, then you'd enjoy their shows as well.

Watch it on Apple TV+.

17. Matthew Crawley — Stranger Things

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Alas, Matthew Crawley is dead. And what would a ghost enjoy more than a show about supernatural beasts sucking humans into The Upside Down and sending monsters into the human world? (Or at least, I assume a ghost would love such things.) Matthew is in touch with the supernatural, so why not? Also, like Barb, everyone's favorite Stranger Things character, he was taken from us much too soon (although it didn't involve a swimming pool). If you relate to Matthew as being dead or as just being spooky, then Stranger Things is the show for you, especially with Season 4: Vol. 2 coming out next month.

Watch it on Netflix.

18. Lady Sybil Crawley — Call the Midwife

PBS / Courtesy Everett Collection, Anika Molnar/PBS/Neal Street/Courtesy Everett Collection

"Preeclampsia."

Watch it on Netflix.

Buy tickets for Downton Abbey: A New Era on Fandango and Cinemark. 

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