We are all about remixing Downton Abbey with more modern works, whether it’s reenvisioning the X-Files theme song or turning the series into a Nintendo game. So, we were tickled to discover that Rob James-Collier (a.k.a. Downton’s valet Thomas) had released the second installment of his sci-fi parody series Downton Wars. Episode 2: The Evil Butler Strikes Back sees Mr. Bates—who channels A New Hope‘s Obi-Wan Kenobi and, one can assume, The Force Awakens‘ Luke Skywalker—as the grizzled old Jedi going lightsaber-to-lightsaber with uppity Sith Lord Thomas.
The end result kind of resembles a high school English project in terms of camera shakiness and inside jokes, but you have to appreciate the fact that they got to use Downton Abbey as their playground: The shots of Bates and Thomas fighting in every nook and cranny, upstairs and downstairs, is a lot of fun for fans.
There are cameos from plenty of other residents at Downton, with a bunch of winks to the show’s plot (including an iconically hairstyled Lady Mary’s many lost lovers). Even Maggie Smith gets in on the fun, stepping in with her own lightsaber when the battle between good and evil gets to be too much. Size and age matter not. So… basically Maggie Smith is Yoda, right?
You may be wondering what led to Downton Wars in the first place! Collier-James created the first installment, Episode 1: The Phantom Valet, while trying to raise £10,000 for the Chilterns MS Centre. When he exceeded his goal (over £15,000 in total), he filmed the second episode to thank everyone who had donated. And by the looks of things, there could be an Episode 3 in the works…
[via Radio Times]
