Amph "What is a weekend?" The Downton Abbey Adoration Thread (unhighlighted spoilers after UK eps. air)

I suspect the show doesn't have the balls to make Bates less than stoically honorable. The worst thing a "good" character has done on this show is invest in Canada. Either it's just a suicide (stupid, nonsensical, predictable) or there's some overly complicated, nonsensical plot to frame him.

 

These were my two biggest complaints as well.

I like how they've set up Branson. He's divided between his political beliefs and his in-laws who defy those beliefs, while the Crawley's themselves are divided on how to accept him into the family. Created some good moments, and hopefully will continue to do so.

My biggest issue with the Bates' saga (at least in this episode) was Anna's melodramatic lines (I don't doubt that the sun rises in the East... I'd rather work to get you free than dine with the king, etc). I never noticed it the past few seasons, but in this ep it seemed like she was talking in cliches half the time when she visited John. She's still one of my favorites, though. And it was nice to see Mrs. Hughes so invested in them that she helped Anna out in London.

Thomas was being an ***hole within the first three minutes. No surprise there.

 

Well here it is. Well... maybe not a wall of text - too close to the next episode now. But some thoughts nonetheless. I did love this episode. I really did. Downton has forever lost the sparkle of the first series, but this opener was leagues above the entirety of series two. The drama was local, the soap has been dropped - left to melt in the shower - and the pace has slowed to a respectable stroll. I won't claim that it's perfect drama, or that there aren't huge melodramatic holes poking through the façade... but heck... what a façade. There is manufactured drama, but I'm so completely in the grip of these characters it does not bother me one iota. The great outweighs the not-so-great ten to one.

Matthew's inheritance coinciding with the news about Cora's fortune was, I will be honest, a mighty shoehorn, but this shoehorn lives at Downton and is no doubt lovingly kept by Carson. So I can forgive it completely. That is the power of Downton over me. And - gosh darn it - it should be the power of Downton over all of you, too! Coincidence aside, I thought it was good setup for the rest of the series. Class divide and class expectations are themes I expect to see explored more thoroughly, and Downton facing a cash crisis at a time when society begins to question the established order (not saying I approve of that) is good place to start. Yes, the dilemma threatened to break down Matthew and Mary's progress towards the altar... and some might see that as repetitious or tiresome. I saw it as a small hurdle necessary to remind us that love is perfect, but life is not. "I would never be happy with anyone else, so long as you walk the Earth. Which is true. And... I think you feel the same about me." This is love. This is where two people, whose partnership is quite simple meant to be, can override any difference of opinion, or of background, or of where they started...and be together because they cannot bare the alternative. But also, Mary confides in her father that the issue is not buried. Matthew and Mary's exchange immediately before the ceremony is important, too. They will disagree as they always have, they might fight over things as they always have, but love will see them through. I wanted to be reminded of that, to see them resolve and move forward for once rather than - as they have so many times before - retreating to their respective corners at the first sign of trouble. They have waited, and now they will be happy.

Branson. 'Tom'. Heck. What a thing. It could so easily have been handled poorly - his return to the Abbey and his interactions with the family and extended family. Not so. Or at least not so IMHO. The first thing I should say - and the most frightening - was a comment Branson (I think I shall avoid calling him Tom) made to Lady Sybil in bed. "Don't disappoint me." Well doesn't that strike you as the words of a master manipulator? The scene was otherwise very warm, but as soon as he uttered those words I felt a chill. Lady Sybil just dropped her point. Totally out of character. Lady Sybil never behaves like that. I know she's in love, but I still think it's the idyllic vision of an 'everyday life' she's fallen for rather than the man who has given it to her. She is in it for the adventure, and the freedom from the life Mary will lead. Branson is still in it for politics. So I am very, very uneasy about the exact 'rules' of their marriage. Having said that, the episode wasn't above playing Branson's attitude for comedy value. Thank goodness. Instead of the approach series two took to Branson's opinions (silly stunts and so on), this made him a figure of fun. I think most particularly of the scene where the Dowager Countess simply tells Branson he will dress for the occasion. Suddenly all his rhetoric looks daft. Pompous. Ah Violet, with one sentence you can diffuse Branson's entire ideology, and with one look you can establish the honour and integrity of your own. Spectacular. Even Branson's role as Matthew's Best Man makes him look like a petty zealot lost in a sea of order. His performance at dinner (the first time) was awful and inappropriate, and made him look like a buffoon. Either Branson will do something monumentally stupid in episodes to come - thus severing his bond with Lady Sybil - or he will have his fuse cut off by the sheer class of his surroundings and new peers (I think the Dowager Countess has plans). If Matthew can befriend him, then he's halfway to being neutered. Whatever happens, that big head of his is going down.

I do have to give Branson some credit, though. His talk with Matthew, bringing him to Lady Mary's bedroom door. That was lovely. He did the right thing and did it well.

The best Branson moment? When he called Lady Mary, 'Mary' downstairs. Carson nearly had a heart attack.

Oh, and Carson's obvious outrage at a footman being too tall just cracked me up. It was nice to see O'Brien trying to do something positive for a change, but I still dislike the sense of victory she has over Carson by getting that lad hired. Why can't everyone just respect Carson?

"Cross and re-faced old woman." lol

My goodness wasn't Lady Mary stunning in her wedding dress? (btw, couldn't you just feel the excitement in Matthew as he kept talking about all the things he was looking forward to? Cora blushed and I laughed!). Lady Mary, yes. I loved how she asked Carson for his opinion ahead of Lord Grantham's. Great to see the bond between Lady Mary and Carson is still so strong. So touching. As was Robert's expression of how happy he was. I almost cried again then, too.

I loved the little moment between Mrs. Hughes and Carson at the wedding. Mrs. Hughes was so pleased that Carson was happy. Ask him to accompany you to dinner Mrs. Hughes, or make it obvious he should ask you. The pair of you infuriate me. Yes, I'm shipping Mrs. Hughes and Carson. Definitely.

Lady Edith and Sir Anthony Strallen. I love watching them flirt. Lady Edith so keen, Sir Anthony so reserved but so obviously smitten. For the first time, perhaps ever, I am really looking forward to Edith's storyline.

Thomas you son of a bitch. He did barely anything in this episode, but it was enough to almost cost Daisy her future. Does this man have no conscience whatsoever? Clearly not.

Cora's mother. Quite obviously not in the same league as the Dowager Countess... but critically is able to score points against her. Albeit in a classless sort of way. I think their interactions are going to be fun, but ultimately I hope she'll be another feather in Violet's cap by the time this series comes to a close.

The exchanges between Mrs. Patmore and Daisy - free from the endless angst over William - have regained their sparkle. They're a joy to listen to again, instead of something to sit through.

Mr. and Mrs. Bates. Hmmm. I still love them both, but John has got to stop being so negative. Although the look on his face as Anna discussed the honeymoon and Downton was lovely. Genuine happiness in those eyes. Anna's love for him still makes me ache. "I'd rather work to get you free than dine with the King at Buckingham Palace." I do agree that their story is dragging - it almost needs a quick resolution and the exit of both characters (not that I'd welcome losing either). Still, when the happy ending does occur (I refuse to contemplate any other sort of ending) I will still be so very, very happy.

This is all bits and pieces, I know, but I loved this episode to bits. Normal service has been resumed.

Downton! *clap* *clap* *clap*

 

Now I look at it, you might have a point.

 

But what a wall of text!

 

Exactly. It really pissed me off when he said that. I literally said out aloud, "WTF?? Why is it she who shouldn't disappoint you?? It's you who shouldn't disappoint her!"

 

Heh yeah. He has some good points about the more silly or oppressive aspects of society, but man is he increasingly more standoffish and pigheaded about it. And yeah, not being at all fair to Sybil. I hope she won't stand for that for long. It would be a huge shame to have this character who's been all about women's rights let her husband dictate everything now.

 

I assume Matthew will cave at the end of the series and save Downton from impending closure, after all the show has to have the typical happy ending where everything works out.

I don't mind Branson, he's angry about his homeland and the treatment his people get. Anyone under control of a foreign power would feel the same way no doubt.
Why should he dress up nice and go along with all the ridiculous pomp if he doesn't want to? He's a modern man in an outdated place, sure he shouldn't be rude but he shouldn't have to put up with stuff he hates.

The main thing I want to know is, will this unaccounted for person who is in line for Livinia's inheritence suddenly appear? Or better yet, will the burned man who turned up before claiming to be the heir to Downton come back?

 

1. I also thought that line was frightening and awful. He was being so oppressive it sickened me. This is not the same Tom who drove her to the political rally! She should be free to have her own opinions and not be "silenced" by Tom!

2. I hate watching them flirt. It's so annoying. I have never forgiven Edith for all that she's done and it's completely embittered me to anything she does in the future. That snide comment she made to Mary on her wedding day! Ugh! She's throwing herself at Sir Anthony and making a complete fool of herself for being so obvious. Sometimes I am not even sure she really cares for Sir Anthony at all. I think that she just wants to marry him to avoid being unmarried and single. She's just using him.

3. I love Mrs. Patmore! She doesn't take any crap from anyone, not even Daisy. And I LOVE that about her.

 

Yeah, I mean I think dressing up is stupid and I completely hate it, but that doesn't mean I'd go to a wedding in jeans and a t-shirt. It's someone else's event. You do what they want.

 

I was impressed with Cora's mother, giving out a lot of good advise and basically telling the outdated bunch to make more effort to get with the times.
Still, the Dowager Countess paying out for Sybil & Tom to come over was a good touch. Maggie Smith still rules that show

He wouldn't be the first one on the show, that house seems to be full of them.

 

I must admit I agree with Handmaiden_Yane re: Edith and Strallen. It may look nice on the outside (and I completely sympathise with Strallen's reserve not to pursue their relationship), but I can't help but thinking that Edith is not completely honest with him.

 

Spoiler

I think the financial stuff will get taken care of well before the end of the series. I'm guessing this because they do hire a new kitchen maid at some point, and Lord Grantham made it clear that they couldn't hire anyone else while the situation was so dire. Could be another explanation, but that's my prediction.

 

I'm pleased I'm not the only person chilled by Branson's comment.

re: Lady Edith and Sir Anthony Strallen. Edith's past is definitely a point. She has done some awful things. She might not be being completely honest with him, too. In which case, absolute shame on her. Still, just as there's a confident person in Mary trying desperately to escape from the reactionary clot that we see most of the time, I can't rule out the possibility there's a nice person inside Edith trying desperately to emerge from the contagiously miserable one we see most of the time. If she is truly in love with Strallen, then maybe she will eventually come good. You know, given the right circumstances. Surely everybody is capable of that? Her heavy handed approach could be true desperation to land the man she adores. Which is excusable - albeit rather hard on the eye. Of course, she could be trying to save her own skin; typical, selfish Edith... but that strikes me as repeating a beat. I think the character has to move forward. If she hasn't, then Strallen needs to run for the hills. Poor bloke. Of the two of them, he's the one we can be absolutely sure deserves happiness. At least I think he does. If he commits to Edith (see spoiler tag for trailer info), it could backfire, but it could be exactly what Edith needs to snap her out of her destructive cycle. I'm not defending Edith, nor am I condemning her (at least not yet), but for the first time she has a strong and engaging storyline, generated from character and only made possible by the events of series one and two. It's good to watch.

Spoiler

The series three trailer suggests he does.

 

QMAOFT!!!! Mrs. Patmore is a superstar. In series two she was too involved in the whole Daisy / William thing. She got bogged down. This time she's cut loose, back to her gun slinging series one form. Epic.

EDIT: From the trailer for episode two:

Spoiler

I loved Mrs. Patmore's fury at not having anything to serve!

 

I wouldn't go by anything the trailers suggest. They always lie! They always build up something that turns out to either be nothing or is easily solvable.

Anyway, I guess I am taking a Mr. Darcy approach to Edith. "My good opinion once lost, is lost forever."

 

Even in Season 2, though, she stuck to her convictions and I admire her for that. One of my favorite Mrs. Patmore moments was when they paid for her to have eye surgery! That was so nice!

 

I understand. I'm more like, if she's really genuine this time - simply struggling to shed her skin - then there is always room for forgiveness. It will take time, though. If she's still same old same old, and worse dishonest, then she's forever a lost cause.

I'd love it if someone asked her how her eyes were now.

 

Poor Mrs. Hughes. I love that Hughes + Patmore = BFF. Really sad that Hughes won't tell her other BFF, Carson, though.

I loved Carson this episode...especially his quote about staring into the chaos of Gomorrah!

Seems like Edith might be honest about her feelings for Strallen...hmm.

Spoiler

"Downton Place"?!

 

"If you're tired of style, you're tired of life."

Amen, Mr. Carson.

Good episode, but quite a lot of things made me very frustrated - Matthew's pig-headedness about not using the money he inherited from Lavinia's father to save Downton Abbey, Mrs. Hughes' pig-headedness about not telling Mr. Carson about her health problems... and Martha Levinson was irritable as ever.

But OMG Mrs. Hughes NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Don't you dare kill her off, Julian Fellowes, don't you DARE hurt her!

Thomas is a bastard, and while I generally don't like the games of revenge, I felt a deep satisfaction when O'Brien embarrassed him in front of Lord Grantham and everyone downstairs - twice.

And if they have to sell Downton Abbey in the end, it might as well be the end of the TV show, because you can't have Downton Abbey without Downton Abbey.