Downton Abbey, Season Three: Are You Ready to (Tea) Party?

January 6, 2013 Finally, Downton Abbey fans, it’s time for Season 3, when the gloves come off and these tea partiers get ready to rumble! Well, not exactly. But, having seen a preview of episode one on Saturday morning as part of a KQED members’ special event, I can promise that the quips, especially from Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess, come thick and fast. Even Cora gets in a few snappy lines, and Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary continues with her martini-dry asides. We won’t spoil your fun, except to say that yes, this episode is even more madly soap-opera-ish than its predecessors (excluding, of course, the Titanic/amnesia/will-the-real-Patrick-Crawley-please-stand-up plot line of last season), with dire situations set up and then (mostly) snappily resolved in the time it takes to boil a kettle. Still, plenty of questions remain for loyal fans to ponder. Will the steadfast Anna channel her inner Lord Peter Wimsey and prove that Vera framed Bates to take the fall for her suicide? Will always-a-bridesmaid Lady Edith be reunited with her pre-war almost-fiance, the aged Lord Strallan? Will Sybil and her Irish firebrand husband return from Dublin, and will the rest of the Crawleys ever get used to calling him Tom (like an equal), and not Branson (like a servant)? Whose future will the nefarious O’Brian ruin next? And what lies ahead for everyone’s favorite kitchen maid, the conscience-stricken, unappreciated Daisy? (Keep an eye out, too, for some new faces below stairs: after all, as Amanda Dobbins writes, “Tea trays and dead Turkish diplomats do not carry themselves!”) As the Crawleys and their servants well know, even the most difficult of situations–midnight elopements, deadly flu epidemics, the wrong shirt–can be smoothed over with a good, strong cup of tea and its accompanying starchy treats. On Saturday, KQED members from all around the Bay Area who braved the very English chilly, rainy weather were rewarded with a Downton-worthy spread of croissants, fruit scones, fresh fruit, frittata squares, and tiny, crustless smoked-salmon and cucumber tea sandwiches, although we hardly think Mrs. Patmore–or even Cousin Isobel–would have countenanced the paper cups and tea bags standing in for the show’s Spode and Darjeeling. But there were hats aplenty, and a fun opportunity to snap pictures standing in front of a life-sized photo-mural of the full cast. So if you haven’t invited a bunch of Downton Abbey-loving friends over for a Sunday night viewing party, you should, since yesterday’s event proved that it’s a lot more fun to watch such a sweeping, soapy costume drama in a roomful of like-minded fans. Need some inspiration for the menu for Season 3? You can check out KQED’s Downtown Abbey page, with appropriate recipes for scones, Coronation Chicken, bread and butter pudding and more, or face the drama with a strong cocktail like The Bittersweet Mr. Bates. You can plan your menu for downstairs (“That treacle tart really hit the spot, thank you, Mrs. Patmore”) or upstairs (“Oh no, Robert, those cocktails look too exciting for so early in the evening”). Talking about the making of the original Upstairs Downstairs, the hit BBC series from the 1970s that set the stage for “big house” dramas like Downton Abbey, creator and lead actress Jean Marsh, who played head house parlormaid Rose, said the actors “in service” had it much better than their betters upstairs, at least when it came to food on the set: “We had lovely, untidy, real brown loaves and socking great big lumps of cheese, real Cheddar, big slabs of butter…eggs and bacon cooked by Angela Badley [who played the cook, Mrs. Bridges] on the set. And the poor upstairs people had grouse that had gone off and all their food was painted with glycerin to make to look good, and it was sitting around forever. They’d come onto our set and say ‘Can we have some bread and cheese?’ and we’d say ‘No, go away, it’s ours, be off with you!’

http%3A//blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/01/06/downton-abbey-season-three-are-you-ready-to-tea-party/

It's TERRIBLE. And gets worse through the season. Miss Fellowes needs a good kick to shake some of the hackneyed hubris out of her jodhpurs.
Am I the only gay man that doesn't like this show? I saw it a few times, and didn't think much of it.
Starting now on PBS, yes?
The Angela Lansbury special that had her dishing about the first two seasons was a hoot.
Meow, Robert, meow meow, is something meow wrong?
Lady%20Henrietta%20Pussycat%20Grantham%20
[quote]We're not tweeting spoilers, but what's happening on #DowntonPBS on the East Coast right now is making many people squeal.
https%3A//twitter.com/PBS
Just watch Gosford Park and save yourself the time.
All that build up and they didn't show the wedding ceremony at all! It seemed like they cut out a bunch of stuff and the next thing you know they're driving back from their honeymoon (or whatever they did.)
Is Shirley MacLaine supposed to be a secular Jew?
Are they inventing the Waldorf salad?
Those of us who are younger and more Internet-savvy have already watched all of Season 3 online.
Well Shirley MacLaine just took that show down about 10 notches. I knew it was wrong wrong wrong to cast her. Was it just a one off or will she be returning?
Shirley's part was boring and a waste.
At Shirley's part was a bit cartoonish and she fell flat. But towards the end there, she seemed to find her way, and she was fine. But didn't I read Fellows was not happy with her at all?
LOVED IT!
Everything about Shirley was false from her wig to her voice which sounded dubbed or disembodied. What the hell was that about? Was she actually the first choice for that role? The only thing real was the dowager's hump she's developed in her elder years.
Of Partridge family fame?
Can't stand Shirley and putting her on the show ruins it.
Shirley was only in the first couple of eps, and she did get better in her second appearance.
[quote] We're not tweeting spoilers, but what's happening on #DowntonPBS on the East Coast right now is making many people squeal I didn't hear anyone squeal
NYC
The only squealing I heard was in the background of the prison scenes...
Watching%20in%20the%20common%20room%20at%20Sing%20Sing
Downtown Abbey anachronism #3: How common was knowledge of (breast) cancer in 1920 (at least for a cook and housekeeper to know of it)?
Downtown...no%20finer%20place%20than%20Downtown....
You people are truly idiots. Shirley MacLaine was pitch perfect as the jewish grandmother from the east coast. She couldn't have been better. It's her best performance in years. I was afraid she'd ham it up but she did not. And the episodes we saw tonight were great. I cannot believe the previous posts. Dumbasses!
MacLaine was great. Love her Thoroughly Modern maid too.
Why would anyone put an Abbey downtown? It makes no sense to take up valuable real estate that way.
Various cancers, and the word 'cancer' (in English)were familiar by the middle of the 19th century (actually, much earlier, references can be found to the disease and its likely dire consequences in the writing of the Roman physician, Galen)and certainly more common manifestations of the disease (such as breast cancer) would have been known generally by the 1890's. Treatment was not sophisticated and detection was not always reliable; however radical mastectomies were performed by the 1860's, more frequently as the century went on. Breast cancer, detected early, is no longer an automatic death sentence, but into the 1950's it often was. Though Downton Abby trades on stereotypes, many of them exaggerated (I thought the MacLaine character totally unconvincing as written. It's more likely that a very wealthy Jewess from the Northeast in America would have been as proper and class conscious as the Brits -- about some things, more so). But the two older and more experienced maids would have certainly known about breast cancer, and viewed it with alarm.
http%3A//www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/thehistoryofcancer/the-history-of-cancer-cancer-treatment-surgery
I've really enjoyed the first two seasons. I was a bit disappointed in the first two episodes last night (assume the two-hour U.S. premiere was two episodes worth). Shirley MacLaine's role was just OK. So is it confirmed that Dan Stevens won't be back for Season 4?
"So is it confirmed that Dan Stevens won't be back for Season 4?" He's dead set on leaving. Emphasis on dead.
Shirley MacLaine didn't work. Just didn't work. Hopefully her character will disappear. The rest of the cast did well though, but am I the only one who thinks Dan Stevens is a mediocre actor at best? His acting seems to consist of grimacing, sulking, and shaking his hair. Looking forward to seeing him exit. Poor Rob J-C. He has to be the show's only villain. Even Mrs O is turning into a nice woman.
Matthews excuse not to financially save Downton was pathetic. His character bores me. And Matthew and Mary have zero chemistry.
Lady%20Grantham
R8 the broadcasts are edited for PBS. The DVD which comes out later this month will have the scenes that were cut.
I thought Bates was more aggressive than necessary. Is this a clue to what he's really like?
R29, I do find Mrs. O'Brien's transformation believable. She started to turn a corner after she caused the miscarriage in Season 1. Then she felt guilty about bringing Mrs. Bates into the picture when it eventually led to the murder conviction.
I hate Shirley MacLaine, always have, but I thought she was just fine here. And yes, r32, were we given a hint that he may have really murdered his wife? (Or has it been confirmed that he did not?)
The storyline that Matthew won't use the money he inherits from Lavinia's father is really stupid. Why not? It's a pathetic attempt at being noble.
Julian is probably doing a little lifting from Rebecca with the Bates story. Dear Vera probably had cancer and decided to take advantage of her situation to bring down her ex-husband too. Vera's BFF will reveal all to sweet Anna, Vera's death will be ruled a suicide and Bates will get released. But Anna will get a few hints that maybe he did it after all.
[quote] The storyline that Matthew won't use the money he inherits from Lavinia's father is really stupid. Why not? It's a pathetic attempt at being noble. It would have worked better as an inner conflict, without Mary and anyone else knowing. The way it plays now brings out the worst in the actor playing Matthew
Shirley MacLaine was fine. I was expecting her to be over the top and camp. But the subdued tone of her performance fit in just fine with the show. [quote]The storyline that Matthew won't use the money he inherits from Lavinia's father is really stupid. Totally agree. It's just ridiculous.
I'm genuinely amazed there are prople who havent seen the entire Series 3 via The Internets. Who waits for dinosaur TV networks these days? Are you going to wait an entire year as well for Blandings with Jennifer Saunders?
Loving the costumes this season.
[quote]I'm genuinely amazed there are people who havent seen the entire Series 3 via The Internets. Who waits for dinosaur TV networks these days? Personally, I hate watching TV on the internet. It's weird. It's just not the same experience as watching it on TV. I'd rather get comfortable on the couch and have a cozy evening. Make an event out of it. Besides I don't need to see everything the very second it's available on the internets. I'm happy to wait and let the excitement build. Have something to look forward to.
Agreed R41. It's something to do on Sunday night, the last chance to relax before the weekend is over
i thought it was snoozeworthy. not enough nasty maggie smith quips and MUCH too much of that boring lead couple.
You realize you can watch the Internet on your TV, yes?
Yes R44, but you're missing the point
Tedious in the extreme. I kept looking at the clock for two hours.
Is it just me or is Sybil looking rather husky? From last night's viewing, it's hard to believe she will be the breakout Downton star to go on to Hollywood fame and success. And is Elizabeth McGovern on painkillers or drunk or something? Worst line readings and facial expressions I've ever seen and heard!
Lady Edith
The point is pointless.
If people want to wait and watch someone when it legally airs I don't think that is a bad thing, though yes I watched it while it aired in the UK.
I agree McGovern seemed off, and has aged a lot since the last season. I wondered if she was ill. This morning I checked her age - born 1961 - no surprise there. Was surprised to find out Hugh Bonneville is only 50.
I would say the wealthy Newport folk of that time were very pretentious and aped English ways and mannerisms. After all the Levinsons had sold off a daughter for a lot of money to get the title and all its trimmings for their daughter. They were already Anglophiles, I think in real life the Levinson character would have been much more restrained, especially when visiting Britain.
Late to the party here. Why is it called an "Abbey"? Did nuns live there once?
Shirley MacLaine's character was ridiculous. Are we supposed to think that someone who summered in Newport ate like that? Has Julian Fellowes never heard the expression "Act British, think Yiddish"? Every one of my Jewish relatives adore the British. They love the accent, the kultchah, the histry, the litritchuh. Rich Americans tried to act "not American" when in Britain, and that was a source of great amusement at the time.
I do agree with R51 and R53. That character was a rich American who cared enough about British aristocracy that she sent off her daughter to marry a broke royal. It made little sense for her to be so dismissive and insulting considering that.
R51, your post probably went up as I was typing mine. Same thoughts. People in Newport were very proper.
R53
Well Cousin Matthew, the way he's written (now) is possibly the luckiest guy ever. Simply by standing there, and having people die off, he's become the heir of Downton, AND inherited a packet of money. It's like the 3rd runner up becoming Miss America...twice.
Not that I disagree about ghastly Shirley but are we supposed to think that she is Jewish or was it just the late Mr. Levinson who was?
R51 is right. Having a daughter marry into the English aristocracy would have been a social coup for a rich American family, even if it did require a huge amount of money. When visiting England they would have been eager to impress and would certainly not have alienated their new in laws. Even though they're the ones who truly held the power. If Martha Levinson didn't care what the English thought she wouldn't have been so eager to marry Cora into one of their better families.
If Lady Cora is really Jewish as the last name suggests, in early twentieth century England this would have been quite a big deal. People would have referred to it rather often, especially the servants. Seems odd that the word "jew" hasn't come up once in the series.
[quote]hat character was a rich American who cared enough about British aristocracy that she sent off her daughter to marry a broke royal. The Crawleys are aristocrats, not royals.
I think the story is that Cora's father is (or was) Jewish, but Martha isn't. Cora was raised Christian.
I thought Shirley stumbled through her performance and acted her age. It was slightly embarrassing to watch it. The script and the cutting made her trouble with the dialog worse. It was a sad thing to see, but she is very old after a successful career. The character was played like Kathy Bates's Margaret "Molly" Brown in Titanic. I thought she would have dresses with more restraint to show off her jewelry. Shirley was buried under that costume - or maybe she was hunched over by her age.
Shirley seemed to be acting in another movie to me. I really only watch this for Maggie Smith. I hate Matthew and Mary, the have no chemistry, he ex fiancee was way hotter. Matthew needs a jaw line stat and Mary needs to gain weight. Sybil's neck rivals Britney Spears. What an unattractive cast. I was bored stiff and quit after the first hour.
[quote] possibly the luckiest guy ever That is, of course, the way things were for hundreds of years. Cousins inherited very frequently. Which was usually UNlucky for someone else.
Mary has no tits whatsoever.
The best-looking guy is that a-hole son who spiked the mick's drink.
No, I don't think there has been any explanation about who is Jewish in Cora's side of the familt. Have watched series from beginning and nothing made of the Jewish aspect of the story. It would be quite something for British aristocracy to be accepting of that in those days!
[quote] It would be quite something for British aristocracy to be accepting of that in those days It's based on the true story of Mary Leiter, the daughter of Levi Zeigler Leiter, a dry goods millionaire from Maryland, and his wife Mary. They married their daughter to Lord Curzon, and she became Vicereine of India
The whole show Iis ridiculous. They accept the chauffeur son in law, but are horrified that Sir Anthony Strallen is supposedly 25 years older than the middle daughter?
They should just be happy that ANYONE wants to marry Lady Edith. One less mouth to feed.
It felt like they were leading up to Edith going all Jan Brady on everyone
They've got American Jews in the family, as well as an Irish republican chauffeur; their current heir is a 78th cousin who is a nobody solicitor; they have a valet on death row, they serve a melange of leftovers in the drawing room after inviting everyone to a black tie dinner and sing popular songs that upper crust British people probably never heard before -- but Sir Anthony has a bum arm and us old enough to be -- well, to be an older husband -- but it's the last straw for Lord Grantham, dammit!
I love the show...
[quote]inviting everyone to a black tie dinner Quelle Horreur! Didn't you watch the show?
The ONLY thing even remotely wrong with Sir Anthony is that he's 25 y ears older than Edith. In every other respect he's perfect.
I say no! I'll not have my plain and uninteresting middle daughter marry a wealthy titled aristocrat simply because she loves him! I won't hear of it. There's got to be a perfectly good Mau Mau out there somewhere....
Lord%20Grantham
Best part of this show is the openng credits, and the best part of the opening credits is Hugh Bonneville's name on the dog's ass.
Shirley had 1000 variations on one line: "I'm a MODERN AMERICAN, dontcha know!" I'm amazed people think this is anything more than a shitty soap in Merchant Ivory dressing.
[quote] It would be quite something for British aristocracy to be accepting of that in those days No, r68, it's based on the true story of Almina Wombwell, who in 1895 married the cash-strapped Earl of Carnarvon (seated at Highclere, the estate in the show). She was a Rothschild . . . and illegitimate.
http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/15/lady-almina-downton-carnarvon-review
Mary%20Curzon%2C%20Baroness%20Curzon%20of%20Kedleston
there needs to be a "Maggie Smith Show" where she and four guests play bridge for the hour. I can see her shooting withering looks at Anne Hathaway and asking "is there ANY way to shut her up?"
Only a moron would think otherwise, R78
The ignorance of 90% of the posters on this thread is astounding.
I was disappointed in the shows last night. It was pretty much all downhill from the non-showing of the wedding vows. Makes absolutely no sense that Edith's parents aren't JUMPING at the chance for her to marry a rich guy. The fact that he's older would mean she'd probably get his money that much sooner. The Anna/Bates story has gone on for too long. By the time gets out I'll no longer care. I couldn't get past Shirley MacLaine's embalmed appearance enough to notice if she was good or bad. I still like Matthew. Don't know why but I do. And Sybil is "husky" because she is pregnant.
The most salient point made by all the posters so far: Matthew needs a chin.
A%20little%20surgery%20perhaps%3F%20Just%20a%20simple%20jaw%20line...
So sorry to have spoiled it all for you - seeing how much you all LOVE the show!
I think we have one "I hate Downton" troll in here who keeps posting stuff over and over again...
I really dislike Bates, and I hope he actually killed Vera. Anna is stupid for not dumping his fat ass.
Anonymous
I agree with Elizabeth McGovern seeming "off" like she's on some heavy meds.
watched it for the first time last night, and the most unbelievable thing to me was the abundance of sunshine
Liz McGovern needs to EAT!
Of course they're not Jews. Do you really imagine the Earl of Grantham would marry a Jew? Not only that, but no one would ever even hint at the fact. It's a German name.
It's getting difficult to distinguish the actual show from that Saunders parody.
http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dr5dMlXentLw
A question about Season One: When Mr. Pamuk began to seduce Lady Mary, she protested, saying that she was inexperienced (a virgin). He stressed something along the line that she still would be....so, what did the two of them do sexually? Was he just deceiving her, or did they limit themselves to non-penetrative sex....perhaps oral only? I've never seen this discussed.
[quote]It's a German name. Yeah... "son of Levi." It's German-Jewish.
R93, think hard.
R95, please elaborate. You aren't suggesting that Lady Mary did anal, are you?
Shirley looked like a turtle embalmed in black onyx and marquisette.
I rather liked the premiere last night. A low-key Shirley was ultimately the best choice. But Maggie's remarks about her sun-ravaged skin made no sense as she was white as a ghost. Yes, Lady Sybil is pregnant. I know she and Tom would be happy if it's a boy, but I think she'd just die if she could have a daughter. And I loved Matthew's sports car. Just hope it's not the death of him.
Who are you people who waited almost six frigging months to watch season 3? I watched the whole damn thing online immediately after each episode aired in the UK.
Is Lady Sibyl carrying the child in her neck?
Violet, the dour duchess
I agree r98, I'm going against the grain here too, but I liked Shirley M. and the character she played and I think she gave the show a lift. Besides, she's not going to be on there forever so the rest of the bitches here can just suck it up and get over it. I get more patriotically American when I watch that show--when Mary gave her mother sass about being an American I said out loud, "slap her face, Cora!". R87, I kind of dislike Bates too--there are so many subplots going on, his being one of them, that I think they could do with some thinning out, maybe starting with him. R96, the Turks like anal, but my impression was more male on male.
anonymous
[quote]Who are you people who waited almost six frigging months to watch season 3? I watched the whole damn thing online immediately after each episode aired in the UK. We've already covered that. Forget about it and try to move on with your life.
i am a bit perplexed, as this is a tea thread, about the house china. It appears from the credits that the Grantham's china in the opening sequence is Royal Doulton Chantilly Ivory encrusted with an armorial crest. However, the china actually placed upon the Grantham tables each episode is Spode Sheffield White. It seems so curious. I'll have strong tea, please.
r52, it may have been a Catholic monastery and was handed out to one of Henry VIII's favorites to be turned into a residence during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s as a few actually were. There were very few monasteries that returned to being monasteries in Britain (or at least England) and not until the 19th century afer most of the religious crap died down in England and there was actually an attempted revival of Catholicism I think promulgated by some prelate named Newman(?) at that time. The vast majority of monasteries were left to rot and become looted for building materials, etc. Wikipedia has a comprehensive list of ruined monasteries in Britain. Tinturn Abbey is another famous ruined abbey. Westminster Abbey somehow escaped as it had something to do with royalty or some such crap and I think there are still a few monks there.
anonymous
I was promised two new hot footmen this season, and all I got was a ginger.
Fuck the posters (i.e. R99) who are like, "Why on Earth did you wait all this time to watch when you could've been watching it ONLINE?!" My sister gave me the whole season months ago, but I chose to wait and watch it along with all my friends and the majority of America. There's nothing wrong with that. We're not mentally deficient because we happened to wait, asshole. Besides, there's been plenty of other stuff to watch during the hiatus. So much, in fact, that I barely have had time to keep up. In short, fuck off.
my thoughts: (those who have seen the whole season already please don't spoil!) -Matthew & Branson at the wedding looked HOT. chinless or not. -Mary shouldn't have married him unless he would plunk down the swinton $$ -V.disappointing that we didn't see the wedding -Shirley McClaine was a bore and of course they had to have a musical number (eye roll) -I think Edith's choice is being discouraged because he's impotent too. -Why does oBrien care about this valet/footman so much? Is he her secret child? -I kept waiting for disaster to strike last night because of the chimney... -Mary's dress & hair for the wedding were HIDEOUS. -Thomas is beginning to wear on me. -I think Bates did kill Vera.
"There needs to be a Maggie Smith hour where she plays bridge and shoots withering glances...and says "is there any way to make he shut up?'" R80, there is. It's called "Gosford Park", and she is playing bridge and making snarky remarks about Jeremy Northam's character singing in the drawing room.
Oh Maggie, we hardly knew te
R107: some answers: O'Brien cares for the ginger footman because he is her cousin/nephew I'm thinking Edith's fiance is also gay
The Bates story is to Downtown Abbey what the Sophia story was to Walking Dead.
Last night's episode was amazing! Anybody who has anything negative to say should stick to Honey Boo Boo reruns.
R107, I know what ya mean about the wedding gown - but from what I've seen of photos and ads of the period, it is "correct" - as is her bouquet, those calla lillies were all the rage.
I'm well aware of that, R108, I've seen Gosford many times. In the episode last night Maggie ALSO played cards. I'm talking about a talk show consisting solely of Maggie playing cards with four in-the-news guests. You're as dumb as the writing on "Downton".
[quote]Makes absolutely no sense that Edith's parents aren't JUMPING at the chance for her to marry a rich guy. The fact that he's older would mean she'd probably get his money that much sooner But she wouldn't necessarily get his money would she? If she didn't have a male child the money would go to the next closest male relative just like in the Granthams' situation. And his age may make that more likely. Would Edith be penniless then?
R114, that's true. Edith would not inherit the estate. Her child(ren) could unless it's a girl and the estate is entailed away from the female line. But he could still leave Edith money, unless of course all his money is tied up in the estate. If he left her no estate and no money, Edith would likely go live with a rich relative. She should head to Newport to be with grandma!
Great episode!
Where can I stream stream the entire 3rd season?
Anonymous
I also was assuming that Strallen was gay or asexual, hence his reluctance for Edith, but then at the end of last night he was finally won over. Was LOrd GRantham really just objecting to his age difference or was something else implied? Do we really need the Mrs. Hughes breast cancer plotline?
tvlinks.com, r117.
You're terrible, r98.
Joanie Heslop
Poor Edith, she is way too eager. Even Strallen seems to find her desperation pathetic. And how pathetic is that: I watch the show for ... Thomas the Gay Footman! I've been waiting to see his story develop since episode one, when he gets ricked by the duke ... So, is the only gay character in this series ever be something else than the caricature of a mustache twirling vilain. Gee! I don't care about whinning Mary and Matthew ("You have to give your money to papaaaa!" What is this a cult ?/ "I can't! I broke Lavinia's heart", repeated 10 times). At least O'Brien and Thomas now hate each other! That should be entertaining (if not realsitic - how come they haven't lost their jobs yet!)
This one works for me (courtesy of a fellow DLer), r117
http://www.1channel.ch/
I cannot stand that Daisy girl, how annoying! Everything she does is obnoxious, she was a complete bitch in season 2 to the guy who was dying and wanted her to marry him. Now in season 3 she's bitching because she wants a new job. Thomas is also gross.
I'm not interested in seeing the show online. I get a better picture this way and I like having something to look forward to on a cold winter Sunday night. This is just the ticket.
Thomas the footman is now Lord Grantham's valet and is referred to by one and all as "Mr. Barrow."
Thomas
Matthew needs to spread his ass at the end of the intro then the camera can zoom in the hole, and that will be when the first scene of each episode starts.
I was hoping for a bachelor party with Tom and Matthew, a little too much drinking, Matthew giving head. Thomas getting in on the action and then the new valet screwing them all....
Disgusting, R127.
Thomas%2C%20eating%20his%20feelings
I need the actor who plays Matthew in porn asap. He looks like he needs some black dick.
Agreed, R129 - some big-capacity blowjobs might firm up his jawline.
CNBC did a story on Downton Abbey last week and found that it takes $1.5 million a year to maintain an estate like Downton. That amount includes a full staff. Fascinating article....
http%3A//www.cnbc.com/id/100355413
Did they really need to hit us over the head with "the Crawleys have lost their shirts" similes throughout the show? Including "losing" their actual shirts?
If you do not adore this show as I do, then you should be watching the Three Stooges! philistines!
Miss%20Prissy%20%20Potte
R74 yes and the best line of the night was when the old bitty (the Dowager Countess) said to her son, "I thought you were a waiter". LOL. She is priceless and the reason why I watch.
The real reason to wait and watch the show on PBS is to be able to appreciate threads like this between each episode.
[quote]The real reason to wait and watch the show on PBS is to be able to appreciate threads like this between each episode. But threads like this one, too, were done a few months ago when the episodes aired in the UK.
Even better ones, I might add
R98 I haven't seen the rest of season 3 but I do believe you are a spoiler old man. Time for a duel at dawn!!!!
Please%20don%27t%20spoil%20it%20for%20the%20rest%20of%20us%21%21%21%21
I enjoyed last night but it was an hour and half stretched into two hours. Julian is too enamored of all his minor stories especially Daisy who has had her turn and should just STFU.
[quote] when the old bitty It's "old biddy," not "old bitty."
Bitty? Bitty, Mummy?
http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DDuPBbFOiygo
I was wondering the same thing about the Turkish guy. Why did he tell Mary her virtue would remain intact? Oral? Anal? Heavy petting? And if he was into anal he had a perfectly good offer from Thomas beforehand and turned him down. Like as if. Thomas would have satisfied him quite nicely.
I want Honey Boo Boo and Mama June to visit Downton Abbey for a special episode. I wonder what Maggie Smith would make of those two?
R131. PBS did the same story "Secrets of Highclere Castle" for one hour both before and after the season premiere of 'Downton Abbey" last night. It was fascinating with interviews of the current lord and lady of the house (very down to earth and responsible) and all the renovation they've done to keep the house in good working order--and to welcome tourists, which keeps these house afloat these days. Coming up...PBS will air another in this "Secrets" series featuring Althorp House, which is where Princess Diana grew up.
I was hoping OBrien's nephew would be gay and get it on with Thomas.
[quote]At least O'Brien and Thomas now hate each other! That should be entertaining (if not realsitic - how come they haven't lost their jobs yet!) Best plot twist ever
The "Did Lady Mary do anal?" question deserves its own thread.
[quote] The "Did Lady Mary do anal?" question deserves its own thread. And, as a follow up question: did she follow a proper post-anal etiquette? Was Anna instructed to deliver a thank you note to the Turkish ambassador?
You can watch or re-watch the first episode on PBS web site:
http%3A//video.pbs.org/program/masterpiece/
Mary is such an insufferable cunt...
Edith%20
Uh no R139 Old Bitty = old bitch. Look it up.
Poor Mrs. Patmore must be sick of playing the same scene with Daisy over and over again. And why doesn't Mrs. Patmore ever wear her glasses? Wasn't there an entire episode about her going almost blind a couple of years ago?Has she since gotten contacts? And where's Mr. Patmore? Did he run off with Mr. Hughes?
Mrs. Patmore has never been married, nor has Mrs. Hughes. In those days, women in senior staff positions were always called Mrs. regardless of marital status.
How do you know Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes aren't widows, r152? Has their past been discussed on the show?
Are there recent photos of the cast out of their Downton costumes and wigs? I remember once seeing surprising photos of Patmore, Hughes and O'Brien.
R39 and R99: How do we watch Seasons 3 and 4 on the internet? Points to R103 for knowing his china. Good catch R132 for the "losing their shirts" comment. I didn't think of that. Excellent. R144: I'm holding out hope Thomas will bed the new footman, Alfred Nugent. They're supposed to catch him in flagrante, and I'm sorry, but the ginge looks like he likes penis.
R151, Mrs. Patmore had surgery. (I think she had cataracts.)
[quote] Uh no [R139] Old Bitty = old bitch. Look it up. Nope, sorry. "Old bitty" is just a misspelling that people try to justify by adding it to made-up slang blogs on the Internet. It's "old biddy." it's always been old biddy. Look it up. In a [italic] real [/italic] dictionary.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Sybil's pregnant belly? Or did the actress get fat in between season 2 and 3? WTF happened to the wedding?! They've made us wait for it for two fucking seasons and... nothing.
Did anyone else notice Sybil had a little bit of lip hair in season 2?
[quote]Did anyone else notice Sybil had a little bit of lip hair in season 2? That's about to be the least of her problems.
r155, several links and addresses have been posted already. I'm surprised you were able to address specific posters and their posts and still miss the links to internet viewing. And, no I won't look them up to reference them for your convenience. That's what you're suppposed to do.
[quote]And why doesn't Mrs. Patmore ever wear her glasses? Wasn't there an entire episode about her going almost blind a couple of years ago?Has she since gotten contacts? I just had cataract surgery, a simple 15 minute outpatient procedure that was painless. However in the old days, it was a surgical operation that required a brief hospital stay. I no longer need to wear glasses or contacts. Only dime store reading glasses. I believe there was a scene where Mrs. Patmore was wearing glasses and reading something. They now have special permanent lens implants that don't require reading glasses too.
kcguy
[quote] WTF happened to the wedding?! They've made us wait for it for two fucking seasons and... nothing. The PBS broadcasts are usually edited for time. The complete scenes are on the DVD UK edition that will be released later this month.
R161: Fuck you, you nasty bitch.
The brief mention of Cora's brother Harold makes me believe he is a bachelor. A middle aged bachelor. I think we all know what that means. My hope is he visits Downton, and he and Thomas fall in love. Harold takes him back to the US with him. They end up in Hollywood running a studio together (talking pictures, oh my!) and holding fabulous parties at their Bel Air mansion. Fellowes, make it happen.
R159 I think they're deliberately making Sybil look a bit unkempt as she no longer has staff to make her look good. And to the other poster who saw a baby bump, she is preggers. She told Cora in a letter in the last episode of season 2.
The new footman is hot. And I loved Maggie's line "I thought perhaps you were on stilts."
r165, I LOVE your ideas! What a perfect fabulous spinoff!!!
My favorite line was "I'm American, have guns will travel"
Happy%20I%20waited
r169 that was disturbing considering, maybe it was a subtle dig at the US gun craze
Neither subtle nor disturbing.
The new staff member SERVES the food and hysteria almost ensues! I'm so over this crap.
I hate Carson. He gets on my fucking nerves.
I watched the ITV version, and don't recall any additional material on Mary and Matthew's wedding, R163. Is there something else on the DVD? It's common knowledge that PBS edits the material, which was obvious in their version on Sunday night. There did seem to be a bit of a jump between e end of the wedding scenes and Matthew and Mary driving back in the new car. If I recall, that's where the British version ended and the second episode began. PBS says that American audiences are too stupid to enjoy the slower pace of the ITV version, but I don't see where they cut anything, just took 20 minutes from episode 2 and appended to the premier to make it longer.
They show two episodes each week on PBS
Will they ever bring back the gay duke (and Thomas' paramour)?
Duke of Earl
Do you think O'Brien ends up in India with Shrimpie, Countess Grantham's soap and all...?
R157 you are awfully self righteous. I will link it for you since you are the grammar nazi. If you don't like urban slang maybe you should go back to pre-war England where you belong.
http%3A//www.urbandictionary.com/define.php%3Fterm%3Dold%20bitty
21st%20century%20resident
To see if you can watch any episode of any program Google: watch ShowName SxEy For example Watch downton abbey s1e1 for season 1 episode 1 last years Christmas special was S2E9 this season in the US begins S3E1 through S3E9. I could not find a stream for the Christmas S3E9 Special and had to download it. It was a keeper.
Urbandictionary.com is as reliable as other self-written and self-policed websites, like freerepublic.com and worldnetdaily.com.
R157, R180 meh. Who really gives a shit? Why are we arguing about this other than someone thinks they're smarter than someone else. Fucking joke.
So Lord Grantham gets all his shirts stolen from his own wardrobe, gets to appears looking like a waiter in front of all his guests, but all he does is question Thomas popularity, thinking that his valet might have brought the prank on himself. Well, he did. But wouldn't a lord be a bit more controlling of pranks taking place in his house if he is made the butt of the joke ?
I think to the Lord (at least the way his character has been developed) the whole thing is not as big an outrage as it is, say, to the Dowager Countess.
You could have just said, "Thanks. I didn't know that and now I do," R181. It's what I say when people tell me the correct word I was looking for, thereby preventing me from repeating my error. Try telling your professor or your boss that his correction on one of your papers/reports is wrong because it's accepted on urbandictionary.com. "Thanks. You learn something new every day. Moving on..." is also good.
R184 I'm just getting sick of reading your superiority b.s. Get a life and tell it to someone who actually cares fuckwad.
And btw dick at R132 / R184 "the Crawleys have lost their shirts" is not a simile, it's a metaphor. So just say thank you please.
I'd be concerned about my kitchen staff which doesn't appear to start preparing any of the food for dinner until about an hour before the guests arrive. And they've only one oven. Mrs Bridges and Ruby would have had the desserts made the day before, sitting in the larder. They'd start cooking in the morning and keep cooked things heated in and atop a warmer stove until everything else was finished cooking. Even my grandmother had warming areas in her stove, plus a few ovens, plus burners. and she lived in a little house. A place the size of Downton Abbey doesn't have more than one oven? And the other cook at Cousin Isabel's house, Mrs Hughes, doesn't have an oven/stove and couldn't help out?
Actually i take back what I said in R186 it's neither a simile nor a metaphor. It's merely symbolism. The missing shirts may perhaps be symbolic of the Crawleys losing their "shirts" in the stock market. But it most definitely isn't a simile.
Lord Grantham is a big fat crybaby, built like a ham. And I know from ham.
Martha%20Levinson%27s%20Botox
Chad Hedrick should guest star on downton abbey, they'd ask what's for dinner and he'd plop his ass right on the edge of the table.
r186, r188 I was about to comment that the figurative device re the lost shirts was more of an allegory, symbolism, or even a good old pun... but I'm glad you "figured" it out on your own.
No pun intended
Can we talk about how fat Thomas has gotten? Yuck-o.
I was wondering if Ethel would be back. It had been so long since I'd seen her, I began to think maybe she'd been a character from the Upstairs Downstairs reboot.
The Upstairs/Downstairs reboot is looking mighty fine to me now, after seeing the DA Season 3 premiere!
Eileen Atkins' pet monkey
People died young back then. From war, accidents, lack of advanced medical treatment. So those who died this season sort of fit in with the reality of the times. People had large families hoping at least some of them would survive into adulthood. Even royal families worried about it - an heir and a spare.
Cute
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/what-celebrities-can-learn-from-downton-abbey_n_2431641.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
Where did everyone get the idea that "Downton Abbey" is a documentary and not what it really is, a good old fashion pulp fiction soap opera? Plain and simple. No where does it have to be realistic. Shirley Maclaine was fine. Her character has to be the opposite of Maggie Smith. She has to get under her skin and for her to be exactly Maggie's equal in style and decorum would be ridiculous, there would be no conflict and they would sit there staring at each other sipping tea.
[bold]No Savior Needed for This Old House[/bold] [italic]‘Downton Abbey’ Audience Swells for Season’s First Episode[/italic] By BRIAN STELTER [01.08.2013] The producers of the PBS series “Masterpiece” had an office pool going to guess the premiere ratings for Season 3 of “Downton Abbey,” the British period drama that has improbably become one of America’s most-buzzed-about shows.
http%3A//www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/arts/television/downton-abbey-audience-swells-for-seasons-first-episode.html%3Femc%3Dtnt%26tntemail1%3Dy%26_r%3D1%26
You are so right, R197. I spent parts of the two hours wishing ANOTHER WORLD had had this kind of budget with which to outfit the Cory estate (and the rest of Bay City). No show has so made me think of the soap I used to watch as DOWNTON ABBEY.
It's just a tv show but it's hard to believe they wouldn't have more than stove...except they might all be attached to the same stack...so would it have made a difference? With those old coal or wood burning stoves...they'd need a full time staff just to keep the floors clean. In America, even the lower clases would hire a person to come in and clean the floors, they were always black with soot.
Is the guy in jail, actually guilty? I mean, his wife needed killing.
Has anyone been through Biltmore? I was surprised at how small the cooking area seemed. There were separate rooms for storage and refrigeration but the actual kitchen wasn't as big as I expected for such a huge estate and I only remember 1 stove but maybe there were others when the place was in use.
R201: We don't know. Up until this episode we were supposed to think Bates is innocent. Now they're doing a bit of ambiguous foreshadowing resulting in "Maybe he *did* kill her," which ties in nicely with the "If anyone needed killing, it was Vera" concept.
I hope he is guilty but gets off, comes back to Downton and O'Brien ends up dead in a closet.
So, who do you think Bates will kill next? Will he lose it around Thomas if he is freed?
Does Bates participate in prison homosex?
[quote]Does Bates participate in prison homosex? Yes, but only with twinks.
The Bates story line is a complete and total waste I am not sure why they are dedicating so much time to it? He seems to always be the victim. I don't care about it and I would not miss him if he left the show.
But what ARE the storylines we care about? Matthew and Mary's happiness? Bates' guilt? Mrs. Hughes breast cancer? Lady Edith's unfortunate alliance? Daisy's promotion? Sybil and the Irish Problem? Lord Grantham's imminent financial ruin? Thomas the Footman's receding jawline?
I understand it's a period piece about life a century ago, but Mary is such a bitch, she wanted to use her grandmother and convince her to pay for their oversized mansion because her daddy didn't invest in the right stocks? Put her ass on the street and let her streetwalk like the maid who had a baby.
Why doesn't Dame Maggie have a storyline? She plays the one character everyone loves.
Mary is a total bitch. I cannot stand her. I cannot believe her sister would even speak to her after she convinced her suitor not to propose to her. The entire family seems to be focused around Mary, her wants and desires. Basically her grandmother should bail out the family so that when she is older she can take her rightful place @ Downton Abbey. She does it under the guise of being able to employee so many people but at the end of the day it is all about her. She is one vapid bitch
If I were Lady Mary I'd let my American grandmother whisk me away to New York to have fun on the Levinson dime. DA would seem deadly dull compared to everything else that was happening in the 20s.
The staff storylines can be boring as well, did Daisy even have to ask why the british guy liked the American. I love how they get all heated up over a staff member messing up as if anything they are doing REALLY matters.
The most awesome thing ever...
http%3A//www.happyplace.com/20382/dowton-abbey-facebook-recap
Lady%20Edith%27s%200%20Likes
Who are the idiots thinking you have to watch what you download from the net on your computer? That was about ten years ago. Every show I watch I download and watch on my tv in HD and I haven't seen a commercial in about six years.
Is Series 3 available to watch online without paying Hulu or Amazon?
.....Who are the idiots thinking you have to watch what you download from the net on your computer? ..... Don`t know. Not sure where you got that impression.
Christ, some of you people are dense. Here are your various online viewing options: 1) Watch full-length streaming video of each week's show on PBS.org. It may take a day or two after original airing for it to be uploaded. 2) Forget about iTunes, Amazon or Hulu: it's not available at any of the three. 3) If you wish to "cheat" and watch all of the original British episodes, download BitTorrent (do so at download.com), go to thepiratebay.se, and search for "Downton Abbey." The shows are listed in the following format: Downtown Abbey S02E01 (season two, episode 1). Download one that has a lot of people uploading and downloading at the same time, since that usually means it's a good copy. Once you've downloaded it, you'll need to watch it on a video player that can play just about any format; the best is VLC, which is available for PC and Mac and is entirely free. You can download it, too, at download.com. All of the commercials will have been edited out on your behalf, another plus. As for this season, I won't give away any of the *good* spoilers, but Mrs Hughes's breast cancer thing goes nowhere (she's fine) and Bates is exonerated. There are also a number of plot twists this year that come very close to the proverbial jumping-the-shark, including ones you've already seen like the Earl's son just happening to have enough in his estate to save Downton. Finally, don't get too excited about Shirley; she's gone by the third episode and not likely to return.
I chose to watch DA on tv on Sunday nights in January because ..... well, because it's January. There's nothing to look forward to in January (I hate sports). I like the old Sunday night tradition of shows like Lark Rise, Cranford and others. On the other hand, I refuse to watch Breaking Bad on AMC because of the constant commercial interruptions. I'll wait until Netflix or Amazom presents Season 5 without commercials. I don't mind waiting to see tv shows the way I prefer to see them
Shirley was a total waste of something. I don't know if the script was just bad or Shirl is past it, but Zzzzzzzzzz. How many times can you say 'In America...'
[quote]Christ, some of you people are dense. Here are your various online viewing options: Must you be such a twat, My Dear? This is America. "Downton Abbey" is a British show that has aired it's entire run in Great Britain. I was asking if BBC or whatever station broadcast it was streaming the past aired episodes. I clearly have no interest in illegally downloading torrents. But I thank you for your prompt response. Now shove a Crumpet up your ass.
[quote] -I think Bates did kill Vera. I do too. I also just realized that Vera was played by the same actress who played Queen Catherine of Aragon in "The Tudors," Maria Doyle Kennedy.
R223- She also played one of the baby sitters on DEXTER but they never really developed her character, didn't go anywhere.
thanks R224. I saw DEXTER listed in her credits on IMDB, but it's not one of the shows I've ever watched. I'm only watching "The Tudors" now via Amazon Prime.
r222, the poster you were yelling at was not talking about illegaly downloading torrents - streaming is not the same thing at all.
OMG Edith dumped at the altar. I'm sure he's gay anyway
I wish I was watching this instead of GGs.
Someone mocked me for leaving the GG thread to watch DA.
Poor Edith. Maybe she should have a fling with a servant.
Foster is trying TOO hard.
What?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edith truly is Jan Brady.
I feel sorry for Edith.
Hey, guys, back on NBS Jodie Foster came out.
Thomas was looking very delicious this week.
I don't think Bates did kill his wife. That woman's description of Mrs Bates having made pastry and cleaning powder out of her nose is meaningful. She also mentions a halo around her. Mrs Bates may have been trying to build up a resistance to arsenic, so that she could poison Bates while remaining unaffected herself. But she may have miscalculated how much arsenic to take which would cause resistance and not death.
How old is Sir Antony Straight Arm supposed to be? Based on the time period, he looks to be in his late 40s, perhaps early 50s. He's not decrepit. I could understand if John Hurt or Peter O'Toole or Ian McKellan or Albert Finney were playing the part. But come on....
Dear Edith, Payback is a bitch Sincerely, Poor Mr Pamouk
I think Sir Anthony should have been played by Bill Wyman or Charlie Watts.
Dame Maggie's bon mots haven't been very bon lately.
Poor, Edith. I giggled at Maggie's line: If the poor don't want it (the leftovers) bring it to me. Not so much for the line, but from the look from Mary as she said it. In the good old days, Violet and Cora would be conspiring over tea about what the hell to do about Edith now. Probably won't happen. I heard in future episodes you can play a good drinking game based on the number of times Bossy Ma Crawley says prostitute. Matthew is a tortured wimp. He deserves to die.
I feel so sorry for Lady Edith. Bless her heart. Both Matthew and Lady Mary need to get off the cross because we need the wood. Dear God these two are miserable. I still want Tom Branson and his huge uncut cock deep in me.
Matthew is FAT. He looked like a sausage in that robe.
Matthew is fat, and chinless, and boring. He is the worst link in the show. Please please please kill that dull boy off.
They already did... you got your wish.
I have to say Matthew was very annoying last night. Take the money asshole! What's with the maid turned hooker? Illegitimate child of someone in the house? I can't really remember her from last season. Did she screw Lord Grantham or anyone else?
If Ethel wants her kid to have a better life, then why doesn't she say it already instead of fucking strangers in front of him? Just tell Cousin Isobel to give him to someone in her parish and keep Ethel informed on his whereabouts. Or are they going to drag it out until Lord and Lady Gratham adopt him after Matthew croaks it? or will Cousin Isobel adopt him?
You can watch the entire new season on a site called tubeplus.me ( there is no downloading of torrents invloved btw) You may have to install a DIVX player but thats about it. watched the whole seaon....right until the end where Branson and his Irish terrorist pals kill Lord Grantham, kidnap Mary and burn Downton Abby down to the ground. They also were about to rape Lady Edith , but the bag fell off her head and no one could go through with it after that.
Was Lady Edith jilted at the altar because she did the anal?
Wott evuh wiww appen to Effew's Littew Cholly? Effew is dunfaw, she's all in, ain't she? She wiww undoubtedly be mardered by wunnuver clients, won't she be? An poow Littew Cholly wiww be wivvowt a muvvuh. Cousin Izzoobew must oct fost!
Ethel's baby was fathered by a creep officer who was recovering at Downton when it was a military hospital during the war. The officer was killed in battle. His parents rejected the baby, I think? I'm wondering if Bates and Anna will adopt the baby while Ethel goes off to be an actress.
What happens, with Violet's heartfelt assistance, is what soap operas are made of. Add a vampire and Downton Abby is Dark Shadows...
[quote] His parents rejected the baby, I think? No his rich parents wanted to take the baby and raise him and have Ethel disappear. She refused.
Just watched the episode. What happened to Martha? Did she go back home without saying goodbye? I agree with the above posters who say Matthew/Dan Stevens is insufferable. I won't miss him but I doubt Dan will find much better work after being seen in the series this season. He will disappear from the American consciousness quicker than you can say Jeremy Northam. And I don't care if Sybil is pregnant. Actress does look husky....not pregnant.
Just this weekend watched seasons 1 and 2 on HULU Plus. Caught season 3, episode one online at PBS.org before watching an actual broadcast last night on PBS.
Maggie Smith looks so much older on Downton Abbey than in her new film Quartet. Where does the truth lie?
Bert is that you at r251??
Mary%20Poppins
Okay, the Ethel story line is coming back. I'd forgotten about the womanizing soldier. Didn't the parents only reject the kid when Ethel wouldn't let them cut her out of the kid's life?
So tell me about the heirs of an earldom. Does it have to come from a male or in this case can one of the daughters have a son and pass it on that way? If Matthew dies this season before impregnating his wife, if a son is born to the chaffeur's wife become heir?
Why do so many people get killed off of this show? It's ridiculous at this point.
Good Christ! It's a soap opera. It's why people watch. Matthew's son -- there'll be one -- inherits the title.
Edga
Does anyone know where to watch Season Two for free?
40%2C%20still%20fat%2C%20still%20friendless
The principal rule governing inheritance is how the Earldom was granted. Usually it's to heirs male of the body. There is also the concept of primogeniture, which means males first in inheritance. Typically heirs to earldoms follow like this: The heir is the living Earl's first born son. If the first born son dies before inheriting, a second son would inherit, a third and so on. Daughters seldom inherit titles, though its happened. If there is no direct heir to the living Earl (and born from a marriage... bastards don't count) succession typically reverts to men of the previous Earl's line. So if the present Earl is the 6th Earl, you go back to the male descendants of the 5th Earl. So if the 6th Earl had a younger brother, he would inherit and then his sons thereafter. If that doesn't work, you go back to the 4th Earl. In Downton, the original heir to Grantham, who was rich in daughters but not sons, was his cousin James. I assume that means Grantham's father had a brother, Grantham's uncle, but that uncle was dead. Which meant his son, who was called James, was Grantham's cousin and heir. James had a son, Patrick, who was next in line. They both went down on the Titanic... Chinless what's his name... Matthew... was a third cousin or something. I am not sure how they explained him but they had to make him distant enough it wasn't too gross that one of the Crawley girls would marry him to keep Cora's money in the family. I don't know if this is part of primogeniture, but the convention was the entire estate (not the house, the total value of property and assets) went in the majority if not entirety to the heir in order to protect and preserve the estate in its bulk. If there was anything left in the will to other children, it generally wasn't much for that reason. Basically, it sucked being a girl or second son or beyond.
They kill off a lot of people because a) the actors are leaving to try other things and b) in many respects they can just afford to. British TV 'seasons' are called series and generally don't run for more than eight episodes.
I think Dan Stevens was crazy to leave "Downton Abbey." It's a major hit show on both sides of the Atlantic, and a gig any actor would kill to get. What does he expect to find in Hollywood? I honestly don't see how his looks and his 'type' would fit into the Hollywood mold.
The inheritance letter to Matthew was such a ham-fisted plot device.
Dan Stevens might do well in period pieces but beyond that I do not see much of a future for him. Perhaps if he becomes more lean he might be more appealing to casting directors. In his current shape I think he is a little to chubby to become a leading romantic lead. That being said, he is foolish to leave a hit international show. Given that he only films 9 episodes per year, I would think he would have the opportunity to do other things outside of Downton if he desired.
He's certainly not megastar bound but he'll do fine... he's a name now in the UK and will be presumably business enough between English films, television and stage. He'll still do better than most. English actors or at least the English system seems more about work and less about megastardom.
How did i miss the explanation re Mcclain's whereabouts. You'd think julian fellowes would've kept her character around for the wedding. she then could've scooped up Edith, taking her to America to save face & find a rich American hubby, killing two birds.
Edith really needs to start taking control of her life. I've never understood parents who give other kids more attention, she should cut them off completely and live with her grandmother Shirley Maclaine.
[quote] it wasn't too gross that one of the Crawley girls would marry him to keep Cora's money in the family. Wasn't one or two of the daughters in love with their second cousin, who went down on the Titanic?
Edith claimed she was in love with him but Edith was generally in love with every man who came to the front door. Mary, Duchess of Pragmatism, had an understanding that she would marry the cousin to keep the money in the family, but she really didn't give a fuck.
Yes, the obvious answer to all of Edith's problems would be to go to Ameirca with her Granny Martha.
r271, do not forget that this is set in the 19th century.
Huh, the last time I looked, 1921 was firmly set in the 20th Century.
Violet, the Dour Duchess