Power is measured in friendships in Downton Abbey, not merely alliances, which are based on mutual goals. True friendships, however, are based on respect and empathy. Alliances can change, and that power will be fleeting, but a friendship based on understanding will last securely. Friendless, you become weak and frightened—susceptible to the wrong alliance or even your own petty desires. One great example of this relationship is Lord Grantham and his yellow Lab, Isis. They are inseparable, and are the only character pair not to have a falling out.  There are two great scenes that showcase their bond: the credit sequence and the Season 2 Christmas Special, when Thomas kidnaps Isis.  Alliances are made and broken at a sprinter's pace, and only when the friendship is based on mutual respect and trust do we see a secure source of power. The way the show portrays Lord Grantham's relationship with Isis asks the audience to acknowledge that in the world of the series, connections are power, but without a friend (not simply an ally), you may find yourself at the bottom of the ladder. 

To understand Lord Grantham's relationship with Isis, it is best to understand the link between man and dog. We live in a complicated symbiotic relationship with dogs that began with them needing food and developed over time into a relationship based on companionship.   Dogs are “man's best friend” they domesticated themselves alongside our villages and formed partnerships with humans to better both our lives. Scientists recently discovered that dogs originated in Europe when they diverged from wolves. Wolves approached us, not the other way around, while they were scavenging around garbage dumps on the edge of human settlements. They developed the ability to read human gestures, allowing dogs to develop as partners in our families (Hare and Woods). They could understand our directions, they could form attachments to us, they could warn us of danger, and they could defend us. Having a dog conferred so many advantages that they soon became a necessity, and dogs have thus woven themselves into the fabric of our history.  “Dogs may even have been the catalyst for our civilization” (Hare and Woods), but they certainly are an enduring friendship from our past.

The specific choice of making Isis a yellow Lab does not make sense in the context of Downton Abbey for a few historical reasons: the yellow Lab is not a British breed, the Labrador Retreiver wasn't recognized by the Kennel Club until 1916 (four years after the start of the series), and the yellow Labrador wasn't popular or regulated until 1925 (14 years after the start). However, when the audience of the show is considered, the choice of a yellow Lab makes perfect sense: Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed of dog in both the United States and the United Kingdom and frequently top the list each year (“AKC,” Kennel Club). Labradors originally were developed in Newfoundland as a smaller version of the popular Newfoundland breed, but were named after the Labrador Sea in which they worked on fishing boats doing chores like pulling in nets or catching escaped fish (“Dogs 101”). It would have made more historical sense to pick from a different group of dogs, such as a  hound, spaniel, or terrier (“Georgian”).  The Labrador Retriever wasn't recognized by the Kennel club—the organization governing breed standards in the UK—until 1916 (Kennel Club). The yellow Labrador, specifically, didn't have its own regulatory club until 1925 (Kennel Club). In those very first breed  regulations from 1916 we can see why a yellow Lab makes such an ideal example for a partner: “The skull should be wide giving brain room; ...The eyes of medium size should express great intelligence and good temper; they should be brown, yellow or black” (“The Field”). Nothing more can be asked for in a partner: intelligence and good temper. The yellow Lab has been deliberately bred over many years to be the ideal supporter and friend to man, which modern audiences will recognize, even if the breed isn't historically accurate.

What seems more lordly than a man in a proper tweed stalking suit romping about his lands with his faithful and trusty canine at his side? It is a very posh picture indeed, but perhaps not so historically accurate, even if it is emotionally satisfying.  Unlike in the show, owning dogs was typically a hobby left to the women; pet dogs, unlike serious hunting dogs, were seen as accessories and not companions, usually owned by the wealthy, titled women who had little other control over their world.“Pet dogs remained the province of the upper class, particularly of their female members”: they were often used  by their female owners as an excuse to go out on a stroll and visit friends and mingle with new people (Ritvo). However, men did own dogs. “King Charles was the first man to declare a public passion for them”; his dogs were often stolen, and he would be “inconsolable” (Ritvo). This distress over “dognapping” should be an echo of a moment in Downton Abbey when Lord Grantham is distraught by the loss of Isis. So while dog keeping was a bit more of a feminine endeavour, the choice for this friend dynamic is not based on true historical context, but a modern romanticized version of the era in question.

Despite historical inaccuracies regarding the choice of a yellow Lab/Lord duo, Lord Grantham and Isis are the first inhabitants of Downton that we see each episode, and we always see them as a pair, which is important in conveying that power resides in having constant friends. The opening sequence is so important to the understanding of Lord Grantham and Isis's dynamic: We see his powerful striding across the lawn on the way to the house—but we are viewing the scene at Isis' height, which places Robert in a position of God-like power. The sun is coming up with him so it seems as if he is bringing the sun to the castle as he surveys his “kingdom.” Isis faithfully pads beside him, tail wagging, not struggling to keep up, but not flagging behind. They walk as equals and comfortably keep pace with each other, as if they do this every morning to bring the new day to Downton. She even looks up adoringly at her master, then turns back to look forward at their path, tongue lolling in contentment that where Robert leads she will gladly follow. They are such an iconic and commanding duo that they show perfectly the link between friendship and power.

During the Season 2 Christmas Special, the relationship between Isis and Lord Grantham shows how  false friendships shift power. Thomas attains this power shift when he kidnaps Isis and then pretends to search for her, thus recommending him back into Lord Grantham's regard. To understand this transaction, it is easier to examine through the lens of a simple proverb: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” By showing Lord Grantham that he is so dedicated to saving Isis that he would use his leisure time and ruin his clothes looking for her, he proves that he allies himself with Lord Grantham. This is clearly deception, yet the trickery works, and Lord Grantham is moved that Thomas would inconvenience himself so that Isis would be reunited with her master. This show of solidarity and compassion with Lord Grantham's most trusty companion softened his heart towards Thomas because he believes them to be aligned in their love for Isis. When Isis and Lord Grantham are separated, Robert is powerless and isolated and completely at the mercy of sychophants like Thomas who jump on the opportunity to manipulate his affections by pretending to mirror them. When Thomas “befriends” Isis by searching diligently and ardently for her, he in turn befriends Lord Grantham, and helps re-establish his power at the house. The way Thomas endears himself to Lord Grantham through his “friendship” with Isis so clearly exemplifies on the way false friendship (alliances) yields power, at least temporarily.

Friendships, and not mere alliances, bring power in the land of Downton Abbey. Being "on our side" is a phrase that is repeated in many forms. Characters never feel more lost and powerless than when they feel isolated or friendless. Throughout Season One the Granthams struggle with wondering if the new heir will take away their power or join forces with them. When Matthew comes onto the scene, he has little power against this elite family that stands so strongly together. As they interact more and he falls in love with Mary, he forms an alliance with the family. However, he doesn't show his true “friendship” until he proves that he is united with respect for their views by saving Downton with his inheritance. Mary worries that perhaps they merely have an alliance, but he comes through and proves that he is a true friend. His willingness to work to improve Downton ensures that his friendship will give him the control to provide security to the Granthams and the estate. Slowly joining “their side,” Matthew positions himself into a place of power through the friendship between himself and the Granthams.

Thomas struggles with losing his alliance with Miss O'Brien, but he is saved by an unlikely friend, Bates.  At the beginning of the series O'Brien describes her relationship with Thomas as “thick as thieves,” but like a true thief, she swindles him out of his trust and leaves him drifting and friendless. When it seems the most bleak for Thomas, he has lost everything on the black market and will be kicked out of Downton. While Bates and Thomas have never been friends, Bates has a respect for him for his service to the county and stands by Thomas' side when he is most alone. Bates brings him power through a friendship based on respect, which helps secure him the post as under-butler. With O'Brien, Thomas never manages to achieve much at all because their power struggles were all about self-gain; while they align on occasion, they aren't able to respect one another, and they use their dark histories against each other. Bates' empathy creates a stronger bond, and he is able to give Thomas back some power.

Even morally sympathetic characters sometimes need a friend to save them. When “good” characters feel friendless, they can act in unfriendly ways to attempt to regain power. Daisy is typically a sweet and caring character; however, when she feels that her admiration and respect for Alfred is unrequited, she acts out. She finds herself in A Midsummer Night's Dream style love jumble between herself, Alfred, Ivy, and Jimmy. Much as Helena leads Demetrius after Hermia in the woods, Daisy leads Alfred to the boot room so he can see Ivy and Jimmy kissing. She hurts him because she feels spurned and isolated by Alfred, who cannot reciprocate her love. That feeling compounds her fear of ineptitude and sense of weakness for being unable to captivate Alfred. While Daisy is usually a sympathetic character, her behavior here is clearly wrong; this decision to be “evil” is driven by her perceived lack of friendship and power. As Alfred leaves, he asks Daisy to be his friend, which shows the significance of true friendship in Downton Abbey. He could ask that they part amicably, or even just say goodbye without asking for anything, but he wants to be friends, and to leave Daisy with the security and comfort that friendship brings.

"AKC Dog Registration Statistics." AKC Dog Registration Statistics. American Kennel Club, 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. <http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm>.

Dogs 101: Labrador Retriever. Dir. Animal Planet. Animal Planet, 2008. Dogs 101: Labrador Retriever. Youtube, 15 Oct. 2008. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cj81wHmfXc>.

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"Georgian England's Top Dogs." Georgian England's Top Dogs. The Georgian Index, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. <http://www.georgianindex.net/dogs/dogs.html>.

Hare, Briand and Vanessa Woods. "Opinion: We Didn't Domesticate Dogs. They Domesticated Us." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. 03 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130302-dog-domestic-evolution-science-wolf-wolves-human/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_us_dr_w>.

The Kennel Club. "Retriever (Labrador)." Breed Information Centre. The Kennel Club, 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=2048>.

Ritvo, Harriet. The Animal Estate: The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian Age. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1987. Google Books. Google. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Animal_Estate.html?id=zjpbtAkHNwQC>.