The Cook of Castamar

I can't think of a better way to escape the heat of Texas than an immersion in this 12-episode series set in 18th century Spain.  

There are so many savable lines I meant to stop and copy, but the plot was so engrossing I didn't take the time. 

As in Downton Abbey, the nobles in Castamar live and socialize in the opulent rooms upstairs, and the servants live downstairs. 

Upstairs, there are truly terrible, self-serving, deceptive, thieving, murderous people who'd do anything to get the money or power they want, but also very kind and good upstairs people.

Downstairs, there are those--especially the cook herself, Clara--who are beams of light, people who are able to forgive "the good people who made mistakes" and to fight for justice after crimes. When the powers that be want to banish and punish a homosexual couple, Clara says, "It's none of my business what people do outside of work hours." 

The good people never try to force anyone to change, but some mean-spirited people are changed just by knowing them.  

At one of the family soirees, someone from downstairs dies, and word gets out from one of the servants.  "Let the party go on" was the sentiment of the duchess-mother and most of the guests.  But her son, the duke, says, "Is this the kind of people we are, Mother?" and declares the party over.

That's the kind of question we ask and hear often in this country in this decade of the 21st century: "Is this the kind of people we are?"