Free Bates!

Sure, Call the Midwife starts this Sunday on PBS. And yes, the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn's four-part mini-series Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide follows hard on its' heels...but you and I, internet, we both know that these are simply the soup and sorbet prior to our main course: Downton Abbey.

Sadly, we have another three months of waiting before Downton recommences, with no commutation of sentencing in sight: Season 3 begins airing state-side January 6, 2013.

In the interim, let's keep hope (that thing with feathers) alive, particularly for steadfast, imprisoned Mr. Bates and his ever-optimistic bride, Anna–both so cruelly separated, each from the other, by fate, circumstantial evidence, and the post-Edwardian British judicial system. Let us keep calm, carry on, and rally at Anna's side for the release of Mr. Bates by pinning our photographs, artwork, and letters of encouragement to the official "Free Bates" campaign at Pinterest or emailing them to downtonsubmission@gmail.com.

If, upon consideration, you would very much like to participate in the "Free Bates" campaign, here are the details, as lifted from Pinterest's site:

In series 2, Mr Bates was wrongly accused of the murder of his first wife, Vera. Despite his innocence he was sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. His wife, and Downton Abbey's head maid, Anna, is now on a mission to prove his innocence. Will you join her cause and support the campaign to free Bates? Pin your letters of encouragement and pictures of your campaign efforts, tagging @Downton Abbey, and the best will be re-pinned on to this board.

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The Downton Abbey Season 3 PBS Preview: Oh sweet mother of costume drama and unconsummated lust, I can't wait!