Primer for New Riders on the “Grantchester” Bandwagon

I don’t want to brag, but I’m a bit of a soothsayer when it comes to PBS shows destined to become huge hits. I come by it honestly, what with my grandpa having been a gardener at a great house in Yorkshire back in the 1920s, and a mom who raised me on a steady drip of Masterpiece Theater. I was down with Downton Abbey so early that I remember when Thomas was only grumpy, not outright evil.

So when I tell you that you have to start tuning into the dishy, PTSD-afflicted vicar on Grantchester, on Sunday nights right after Downton, you should probably believe me. As played by dishy, hopefully not PTSD-afflicted , it’s a fabulous hour of murder mystery, a village that looks like it knows its way around hedgehogs, and Church of England vestments. From my careful study of the show, in fact, I’ve figured out exactly what it took to be an Anglican priest in 1950s England. In the interest of helping you catch up, or consider whether you might want to travel back in time to be a man of the cloth, I present this primer.

Primary Responsibilities of 1950’s Anglican Clerics as Gleaned from PBS’ Grantchester

(In descending order of importance)

Whiskey drinking Ale drinking Staring at girls, especially raven haired ones Backgammon Having random conversations trigger sudden, murder-solving flashes of insight Eye rolling at curmudgeonly yet loveable housekeeper More whiskey drinking Riding a fixie through the village Church stuff

Now when this show breaks wide open, all you have to say is, “Did you see him at the pub? Staring at the dark haired girl? Before he magically figured out exactly how the murder was committed, had some more whiskey, then went on his bike to deliver a sermon, just before the credits rolled?” and you’ll sound like you were in from Day One.

I like this show enough that I am even putting up with its jazz soundtrack. Here’s the vicar’s favorite, Sidney Bechet.