Warning: Contains spoilers for the Downton Abbey movie Over the course of its six seasons on television, the show Downton Abbey offered fans a high dose of drama — and a chance to learn about the real history of the English aristocracy in the early 20th century. From royal scandals to technological advances, Downton often drew on the truth to create the world its characters inhabited. Now Downton Abbey is back (sort of), with a big-screen version that continues the story.