Downton Abbey seems to be forgotten in the wake of all the Netflix Originals and other millennial-oriented blockbuster action shows. In its day and after, I have received multiple comments about it being “boring” and “unmanly.” I can see why—on the surface, there is nothing appealing to young Americans about rich, stodgy English lords and ladies drinking tea. Many times, it feels like I am the only teenage boy who watches, let alone enjoys, anything about British television. Yet that does not deter me from deciding that it is the best show I have ever seen on television, because those who actively watch the show will discover that Downton Abbey is one of the greatest stories of our generation.

To begin, the story is for the most part, historically accurate, which many nerdier men like me find very pleasing. From the sinking of the RMS Titanic, to the shock and awe induced by the First World War, to the uprooting of the Western world during the 1920s, Downton is, at its core, a story of reality. The story is loosely based on the life of Lady Carnarvon, a lady who lived at Highclere Castle in the south of England during the 1910s and ‘20s (her husband is more well-known as the man who funded Sir Howard Carter’s expedition into Egypt; in 1922, Carter would become the first living human in over 3,000 years to enter the tomb of Tutankhamun). Moreover, those who enjoy violence will enjoy the second season, which contains many quite gruesome scenes of World War I, including a scene in which a man intentionally has his hand shot so that he could return home. There are also two jarring car accidents which happen later in the series. Comedy buffs, on the other hand, should look no further than the Dowager Countess. Dame Maggie Smith of Harry Potter fame portrays the best roaster in the history of television, a far cry from her character in Potter. The sheer savagery of almost everything she says, says it all. Also, Lady Grantham’s mother, a vieux riche New Yorker played by none other than Shirley MacLaine, enforces all the hilarious stereotypes Europeans have of us Americans, and her interactions with the Dowager, though few, are nothing short of comedic gold.

While Downton Abbey is ostensibly about the seemingly bland lives of the upper class, much of the show focuses on what goes on “downstairs”, where the servants spend most of their time. Of course, the main characters are still “upstairs”, but a considerable amount of screen time is given to the stressful lives of the servants. The characters here presented are of a far more diverse breed than those upstairs, ranging from a butler who is always trying to be fair and kind (my personal favorite), to a footman who often runs afoul of people downstairs and upstairs, to a young cook in love. In fact, one of them, an Irish chauffeur, marries one of the ladies of the house, resulting in a massive uproar from servant and master alike. I would one day like to see a spin-off or sequel pertaining to the lives of the servants.

But I digress. In addition, the lives of Lord Grantham (the protagonist) and his family are very complex. The show is riddled with life-changing events—births, deaths, fires, wars, scandals, love affairs, and, lest we forget, finding an heir after the original died aboard the Titanic—that alter the lives of the entire family. We see raw stress rise in many instances from deep within Lord Grantham at every one of these events because, fundamentally, they result from subversion of tradition. And these are no crocodile tears. If you’re looking for those, watch any normal chick flick, because that’s about all that happens in those movies. The emotions of everyone are pure, and they are so nuanced and peculiar to each character, each situation, that they make the already extraordinarily realistic show that much more lifelike.

Finally, one cannot discuss Downton Abbey without discussing the wonderful character of Lady Mary Crawley. Lady Mary is the eldest of Lord Grantham’s three daughters, a young, headstrong girl who exemplifies the following quote from Thomas Jefferson: “In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” She demonstrates a willingness to live in her time, yet is rather tomboyish as well: often, she agrees with the male members of the household, and enjoys riding, hunting, and other hobbies that her sisters would rather not pursue. Hers is an assertive character who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and it is this that makes and breaks many of her romantic relationships. Lady Mary is, therefore, my favorite character on the entire show because she is one of those characters that everybody loves to hate, and yet is still beloved because she is a beautiful piece of personal evolution, the likes of which the small screen has never beheld.

Compared to all the other dramas and comedies that I have seen in my 17 years, Downton Abbey is undoubtedly superior. As much as it pains me to admit, the British have truly mastered the fine art of modern television, painting beautiful pictures of all levels of change that show their effects on us all. Downton Abbey is truly a show for anyone who enjoys good television, and only those who have not seen it say otherwise. If you’re looking for a new show to pick up, this is the show for you. Trust me when I say, one does not simply watch one episode. It’s way easier to walk into Mordor.