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

Glad to hear it. I'm not sure I've seen a happier man than Mr. Carson singing as he worked (although these days that's only because I can't see myself).

I'm still not sure what to make of Edith. Before the wedding, and indeed after it, she was behaving as if this was all so she could be even with her sisters. Equally, her distress really was genuine. Ultimately I don't think we'll ever be able to separate the competitive and selfish Edith from the Edith who simply wants to be happy. It's too hard a call. Right now, Lord Grantham is right; they must hold her hand.

Carson put me on something of a roller coaster this week. I didn't approve of how he found out about Mrs. Hughes' problem, and I didn't approve (officially) of him constantly asking to take responsibility away from her or his confiding in Cora... but I couldn't shake the feeling that if there's anyone in this world Mrs. Hughes wants to be worried about her it's Carson. So yeah, at the start I was frowning a little as Carson went about his detective work, but by the end I was touched by a man who - quite obviously - cares for Mrs. Hughes deeply. I agree with Jenn, though... there was definite ambiguity in that ending.

Speaking of detective work... we got another good slice of "Anna Bates Investigates" this week, didn't we? Whatever happens to Mr. Bates, Anna should open up her own detective agency. ITV should commission it, and I would watch it.

Isobel is boring. I don't care for her, or her storyline. Not saying I disapprove of helping the disadvantaged, but I do disapprove of a what is developing into a repeat of the Mrs. Hughes / Ethel storyline from series two. This time with the frightfully dull Isobel. She's no Mrs. Hughes.

Thomas and O'Brien will be declaring war on each other pretty soon, I think. Throwing bread roles at each other from either end of the servants' kitchen, perhaps? Wouldn't be any less dignified than their current situation...

And yes, the events of next week look encouraging. Not for those we care about, I admit... but for those we don't. Let's just say it's been bloody coming.

 

Poor Edith. I never really liked her, but dear lord I felt so bad for her.

And judging by Mrs. Hughes smile at the end, I'd say she's fine and it's not cancer. Trust me; you don't smile like that after you learn you've got cancer.

And Dowager Countess FTW.

 

Maggie Smith deserved her Emmy, she is the best thing about the show.

I could see the jilted at the alter thing coming, silly to wait until the last minute though really. I almost got the impression Lord Grantham had bought him off.
Suprised to see the financial bit of Downton's future resolved so soon, I thought it would drag out until the end of the series.

 

But I also saw tears in her eyes and it made the smile seem like a bittersweet smile. That she was happy Carson was happy but sad that she has to lie to him. So I'm still iffy on this one.

Also, concerning Anna, I'm starting to wonder if she will actually end up figuring out that Bates is guilty...

 

At this point, I'm almost at the point where I don't really care whether he's guilty or innocent - just let that plot thread come to a resolution finally!

 

I agree with Maria on this issue.

 

I also agree.

But now I think Bates is guilty and I used to believe almost 100% that he was innocent.

 

I doubt Bates would be so sutble as to poison her though, he has a temper so would be far more likely simply to beat hear to death in a moment of rage. Poison seems far more like a suicide idea to me.

I think Bates is more likely to die in prison or get himself put away for longer by killing one of the other criminals determined to make life hard for him

 

I know the feeling. The last couple of weeks have shaken my faith in him. Ask me if I think he's guilty or innocent and I'd still say innocent... but what I do think is that he's not the wholly upstanding individual I thought he was in series one and most of two.

 

While I really hate that Tom left Sybil in Ireland...I can kind of understand it? Also, I know this may be gullible of me, but I buy that Tom felt absolutely wretched about what he did and I think he really is grateful for Lord Grantham's help. Additionally, I also tend to think that Sybil can take care of herself and she showed that she did and she can. HOWEVER, I still did not like Tom's line in the bedroom about "That's a lot of musts." If he makes Sybil go back to Dublin just so their baby can be born in Ireland, I will be absolutely pissed off.

And, also, I don't buy Edith's sudden interest in politics. Sybil was the one who was out there attending rallies and things and I seem to remember Edith disapproving of that? Or something? And now she's newly single and looking for something to do, so she decides to take up women's rights? What a bourgeois way to go about it! "Well, I was just jilted at the altar and now I'm bored...so I might as well campaign for the vote!"

The Anna and Bates storyline needs to hurry up and become more exciting...I was really hoping this episode might reveal he was actually guilty or something. Also, was Ethel coming back in really necessary? Oh well.

 

The Dowager Countess for President of Everything, plz!

Yeah, I was like "Well, you're the one to talk..."

I agree, it was pretty out of character. I'd much sooner buy it if she started a business or something.

Poor Daisy. She finally gathers courage to say something to Alfred and then it's too late.

LOL @ Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes and the toaster. Bless them. They should really get together.

I agree about Ethel - it is a rehash of her Series 2 storyline - but I did guess she would start working for Mrs. Crawley (it was rather predictable). Isobel has been rather boring in this series so far, though...

I liked the montage of Mr. Bates and Anna reading their (finally delivered) letters.

And w00t for Matthew the revitalisation manager! All scenes between Mary and Matthew were lovely, by the way.

EDIT: Oh, and I lol'd at all the maids and Thomas lighting up like little suns at the appearance of James the new footman... And judging by the next week's preview, I have a feeling O'Brien and James might play a prank on Thomas to humiliate him - which is just what the evil bastard deserves...

 

I do feel sorry for her, but I couldn't really understand her proud attitude of refusing help - again (granted, Isobel didn't do a very convincing job of that ).

 

Yeah, that's why I respect her choice to give him up at the end. It was an extremely difficult one, but I do think it was the right one for her son.

And I'm disappointed by your lack of gushing over the awesomeness of the Dowager Countess, Jello...

 

I am so tired of Ethel. I really am.

The Dowager Countess just continued to have awesome line after awesome line.

"Gardening?"

"You can't be as desperate as that!"


And how she kept commenting about the burned down manor "well it was hideous..."


Though I think my favorite line might be that Alfred looks like a puppy rescued from a puddle. Haha.


I'm kinda over Bates too, but this episode was rather sweet in regards to their relationship.

And awww, Daisy.

 

So which female character will sleep with Jimmy first?

 

I actually think that Jimmy might be a love interest for Thomas that was hinted at during some previous Downton trailers. But the latest trailer casts some doubt over that.

 

Well, Thomas is obviously interested in Jimmy, but Jimmy isn't vice versa. He confides in O'Brien, as we've seen in the preview... and I think O'Brien might come up with a plan to exploit it in order to expose and/or humiliate Thomas, as revenge.

 

I agree with pretty much everything Maria said about the episode - and not just because of that reason.

Ethel made the right decision for her son. Beyond that it's very difficult to say. To be honest, the storyline has lost my interest. I can see why they've returned to it, but fundamentally it feels like they were scratching around for something to do with Isobel this series. She's that boring. Crikey, even Penelope Wilton looks bored. Now that Matthew's heavily involved in Downton and married to Lady Mary, Isobel's a third wheel wherever she shows herself. The only positive was the appearance of Mrs Bird. I was wondering if she'd appear this series.

The Dowager Countess was on a roll this week. Practically everything she said had me in stitches. I would, however, sound one word of warning. She must not become a character who sits on the periphery making badass remarks and nothing else. That would risk turning her into comic relief, which is not what made her so awesome in the first place. She needs a story of her own, or at least to be one of the lead protagonists in an episode.

I liked the montage of Mr. Bates and Anna reading their (finally delivered) letters.

It was beautiful. It really got to me. A perfect end to an imperfect episode.

Jimmy (sorry, James) will hopefully be the fall of Thomas. I think I said it based on the trailer for series three... but it strikes me that the only thing that can truly take Thomas down is love (or lack thereof). He's never been weaker than when he was rejected by the Duke in the first ever episode. James is no Duke, but he's got the potential to unravel Thomas in the same way.

And w00t for Matthew the revitalisation manager!

I can't wait to see how this plays out. We've always seen Lord Grantham as the steady hand of Downton. Right through the first (particularly the first) and second series he was the unquestioned authority on the place. His word wasn't only law, but it was wise. Now we discover that - perhaps - he's been a little out of his depth. This is fascinating to me and represents a really interesting character development. A million times better - and more effective - than his dalliance with that maid in series two. Why? Because the genesis of it lies right back in series one, when Robert would deliberately speak to a (as he was then) slightly rebellious Matthew about the importance of preserving Downton, about how once his stewardship was over Matthew would be the next to be responsible for it. It also explains why the issues of selling Downton and Reggie's money were raised and dealt with relatively quickly. Fellowes wanted to look to the future by challenging Robert's authority, and the best way to do that is by (finally) empowering Matthew. Matthew may insist he takes over, and Robert will have no choice. Robert may have been a little out of his depth, but we do know he cares about Downton above anything else.

 

That's why he should team up with the Dowager Countess. This episode hinted at the possibility, after all.