The time has finally come, my friends. After months and months of patiently waiting (or in my case, just waiting), Downton Abbey Season 5 premieres in the U.S. on Jan. 4 at long last, so we can see what the Crawleys & Co. have been up to since we last laid eyes on them. But while the anticipation for a new season is undoubtedly running high (and to a degree that the Dowager would surely not approve of), there's always a chance that many of you have found yourselves the victims of Downton Abbey Season 5 UK spoilers. Because, you see, that's one of the major downsides of living in the age of social media. You're instantly susceptible to spoilers, even if the show you're trying to avoid is airing an entire ocean away.
As many of you know, given that Downton Abbey is part of the BBC family, it airs in the UK first before making its way over to PBS several months later. And while that's certainly understandable, I myself have had a hard time dodging Twitter posts and article links that contain rather telling information about the upcoming season. Sometimes even the headline manages to give too much away and thereby partially ends up ruining your TV viewing experience. But fear not, my fellow Downton-ians (just go with it, OK?), for I have the solution to your spoiler-y woes. Social media may have made you a casualty of UK reveals, but there are still plenty of ways for you to enjoy Season 5 — even if you kinda already known what's coming. Own the spoilers, people. Don't let them own you. For instance…
Introduce a Downton Abbey Drinking Game
There's no better way to help wash away memories you wish you didn't have than by establishing a drinking game into your weekly episode viewings. So every time the Dowager says something cheeky or Thomas acts conniving, take a shot of whiskey (pinky up, of course) or champagne if you're feeling fancy. Pretty soon you won't even remember why you were mad in the first place.
Watch It With Un-Spoiled Friends
Sure, maybe you know more than you wish you did going into the fifth season, but there are still lucky survivors who managed to dodge the spoiler bullet and remain completely in the dark about what's to come. Just being in the company of such people and watching their surprised reactions may be enough to help recreate the experience for you as well. It'll be like you're reliving the moments through their eyes and remind you of why this series is so great to begin with.
Snacks, Snacks & More Snacks
Because I have yet to find a problem that Nutella couldn't fix.
Images: Courtesy of ©Nick Briggs/Carnival Films 2014 for MASTERPIECE; oupacademic/Tumblr; reddrabit/Tumblr; Giphy
