By now most of us have heard (and shed tears) that the upcoming season of Downton Abbey will conclude the five-year series. The final season promises to resolve all those Grantham family dramas that have captivated viewers in 250 countries.

Through a single family, we have witnessed the British aristocracy and its seemingly inviolate traditions crumble in the path of world events through the first half of the twentieth century. We have cared greatly about the characters, some of whom have been able to accept the inexorable changes, while other could not. Just like in real life.

World wars, endemic class distinctions, and social revolution may have been the major glaciers that scoured Britain, reshaping the social landscape, but caught up in the crush of these events was the sport of foxhunting. Although storylines for the final episodes are still under wraps, it has been disclosed that foxhunting promises to be one of the contemporary themes of relevance to be aired.

Click for more in The Independent.

Posted August 14, 2015