crunchy-gravel drama

A reference to the graveled drives and paths on old estates

crunchy-gravel drama (plural crunchy-gravel dramas)

1. A genre of drama that is set in a grand manor or estate during the 18th, 19th, or early 20th century.
   • 2015 August 1, James Hibberd, “'Downton Abbey' final season gets US premiere date”, in Entertainment Weekly:

     PBS Masterpiece's acclaimed crunchy gravel drama series Downton Abbey now has a final season premiere date.

   • 2015 October 1, Hank Stuever, “In the hunt for a new favorite show, 'when' might be as crucial as 'what'”, in Washington Post:

     Meanwhile, on another plane entirely, “Another Period” (Comedy Central, recently renewed for Season 2) is a send-up of crunchy-gravel dramas, set in tony Rhode Island in 1902.

   • 2016 January 18, Lisa de Moraes, “Queen 'Victoria' Inherits 'Downton Abbey' Timeslot On PBS – TCA”, in Deadline:

     Victoria is a co-production with Mammoth Screen, producer of crunchy gravel drama Poldark, and Endeavour, for ITV and is distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

   • 2018, Holly Rayner, The Prince's Secret Baby:

     Maggie and his sister discovered a shared love of British television, and what Maggie referred to as “crunchy-gravel dramas.”