It’s finally here! Why you should watch the season 3 premiere of Downton Abbey

Downtonians rejoice! Downton Abbey returns this weekend with the premiere of its third season. While the season has already aired in the U.K. (causing us to avoid all and every online mention of Downton Abbey for fear of spoilers) we’ve been eagerly anticipating its North American debut ever since season two ended last February. 

The period-drama-meets-soap-opera series, which follows the lives of English aristocracy and their servants, has become a favorite amongst the fashion crowd due to the elaborate costumes and set designs. Considering that season three takes place in the 1920s, we’re even more excited for Great Gatsby-esque outfits. 

When we left off last season, Lady Mary broke it off with her ruthless newspaper proprietor fiancé and finally got engaged to longtime love Matthew Crawley. The “will they/wont they” of Mary and Matthew’s relationship has lasted for the past three years. Will we finally get to see Lady’s Mary’s wedding dress?

A peek at the Downton Abbey season three trailer reveals that the latest installment will be just as romantic and tragic as the last. Series creator and writer Julian Fellowes has indicated that storylines include a financial crisis, weddings, political unrest, and (sadly) more character deaths. Legendary Hollywood actress Shirley MacLaine makes an appearance as Cora’s American mother, and goes head-to-head with the Dowager Countess (played, of course, by Maggie Smith), which will surely result in some memorable one-liners. 

We’ll be recapping the show every Monday, but until then catch the two hour (!!) premiere of Downton Abbey season 3 on Sunday, January 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS.