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‘Downton Abbey’ vs. ‘The Walking Dead’

Last year, while discussing the Emmys, I mentioned that I thought “The Walking Dead” was a better show than “Downton Abbey.” I got more than a few irate emails from folks who wondered how I dared compare the two. So I wrote this list to explain, exactly, how I dared. And I stand by my original conviction, especially in light of this year’s Emmy nominations, which once again shut out a better-than-ever “Dead” while giving the very weak third season of “Downton” way too much love. So here is the list again, updated a bit.

— Mary McNamara

'Downton Abbey' vs. 'The Walking Dead'
Show:
It’s the end of the world:
Main threat to old ways:
Bad time to have a kid:
Perils of leadership:
Everyone has a nutty female in their past:
Surprising voice of reason:
Forbidden love:
Disruptive love triangle:
Housekeeping issues:
Great costumes:
Technological difficulties:
Rising Alpha female:
Lots of extra work:
No character is safe:

Show:

‘Downton Abbey’

‘The Walking Dead’

It’s the end of the world:

Faced with the pre- and then post-war upheaval of traditional hierarchy, a disparate collection of Brits struggles to find their place in the new social landscape.

In the wake of a zombie apocalypse, a disparate group struggles to find their place in the new world order.

Main threat to old ways:

Newly ambitious servants, women and working class.

Newly voracious flesh-eating zombies.

Bad time to have a kid:

Lady Sybil dies in childbirth; baby offers hope.

Lorie dies in childbirth; baby offers hope.

Perils of leadership:

It is revealed that Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) has run Downton into the ground.

It is revealed that Rick (Andrew Lincoln) is seeing ghosts and hearing voices.

Everyone has a nutty female in their past:

Lady Edith’s “suitor” has a wife in an asylum.

David Morrissey’s “Governor” had a zombie daughter in the closet.

Surprising voice of reason:

Violet, Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith). Her former aristocratic snobbery has softened over time, but she’s still quick with well-aimed barbs.

Daryl (Norman Reedus). His former redneck viciousness has softened over time, but he’s still quick with the well-aimed arrows.

Forbidden love:

Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) runs off to marry the Irish chauffeur (Allen Leech) despite her father’s objections.

Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) falls for Glenn (Steven Yeun) despite her father’s objections.

Disruptive love triangle:

Bates’ ex-wife (Maria Doyle Kennedy) threatens his relationship with Anna (Joanna Froggett). When she winds up dead, Bates (Brendan Coyle) goes to jail.

Shane (Jon Bernthal), Rick’s former partner and Lori’s former lover, threatens Rick’s relationship with Lori and the group. Shane winds up dead, because Rick kills him.

Housekeeping issues:

Lord Grantham is perpetually broke and wondering how he can sustain life at Downton.

There is never enough food or medical supplies and Rick wonders how he can sustain life at all.

Great costumes:

Period dress of all classes provides a window on early 20th century Britain.

Shreddy-to-wear and covered with gook evokes a truly rotten world.

Technological difficulties:

Rising age of automation and mass communication upends gracious manorial living.

Loss of electricity and mass communication upend modern life.

Rising Alpha female:

Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) finds a spine and surrenders to love.

Michonne (Danai Gurira) finds Andrea (Laurie Holden) and surrenders to no one.

Lots of extra work:

Unwashed masses for mob and street scenes.

Unwashed zombies for mob and country scenes.

No character is safe:

Sybil dies; Matthew Crawley (Dan Smith) dies.

Lorie dies; Andrea (Laurie Holden) dies; Merle (Micheal Rooker) dies.
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