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

Do. It is worth it. Even if you're not a fan of the show, it's a pretty interesting place to visit. Doesn't break the bank, either. If you get a nice day (I didn't ) I'm sure walking in the grounds is fantastic. And beautiful.

 

i am a fan, i just got into it late and have never posted about it.

 

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude.

 

First pictures from Series 4!

My favourites (warning: cute overload):


(Incidentally, Mary and Matthew's son's name is George as well )

 

i) Michelle Dockery.
ii) Sybbie is soooooo cute. I can absolutely believe she's the daughter of Tom and Lady Sybil... and I can even see a bit of Cora in her. Wonderful casting.

Although the Christmas special was not the best episode ever, seeing these pictures makes me desperate for the show to return. Somehow a picture of Mr. Carson in half-shadow is enough to restore my faith in all things Downton.

 

... what.

 

More pics from a series four. The last three are, in order, jazz singer Jack Ross, Lord Gillingham and "dashing" Charles Blake. Odd seeing the cast shot without Matthew.

 

Interesting. I'd never even heard of David Gilmour before I saw this Daily Mail - "Daily Fail", it too often seems - article. I have a feeling that young Gabriel has a bright future ahead of him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

 

Well, it looks like we won't have to worry about any more unexpected departures for at least two more years. According to this Daily Mail article, Julian Fellowes has gotten contract commitments from the remaining main cast through the end of Series 5:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rs-given-Matthew-Crawley-death-contracts.html

 

I found this on Tumblr and I can't help but go "Awwww...."

 

I haven't really checked that tumblr since Matthew died. It's still pretty raw. They were just the best couple (well, second best)... and now... *sniff*

 

From the Radio Times:

Series four of Downton Abbey is coming soon and we can reveal a major key change in the title music. Gone is the upbeat violin and jaunty piano to be replaced by something much darker. It's all to mirror the continuing grief of Matthew's widow, Lady Mary. But we're assured the musical mourning doesn't last beyond the first episode later this month. Normal Downton-style service is resumed for episode two.

 

I'll just leave this trailer here:

 

First episode tonight. Downton isn't what it once was, I know, but I am still pretty excited!

 

Very good, solid opening episode. Very realistic portrayal of how people cope with a loss in different ways. In Mary's case, pretty badly, shutting herself from the world, until Mr. Carson and the Dowager Countess bring her out. Especially Mr. Carson - kudos to him for being prepared to be on the receiving end of both Mary's anger and her grief. He's the best.

Some more thoughts:

- Robert, WTF? Your daughter doesn't need to be kept in bed, protected and pampered and shielded from everything, she needs to be shaken out of her stupor and do something! How dare you deny her responsibility?
- The Dowager Countess continues to be a brilliant meddler for the greater good, even though it doesn't work (not by her fault, though).
- The nanny of Sybbie and George was Dolores Umbridge in disguise.
- Anna and Mr. Bates continue to be the Best Couple Ever.
- Mrs. Hughes makes a bold move, trying to bring Isobel back into life, and succeeds! Yay!
- More dangerous new technology in the house (electric egg beater). Lulz.
- Not sure what Rose's game is, but I don't trust her much.

 

Agree with all of that, Mar (except one thing ).

The episode did a very good job of showing just how much of an impact Matthew had had on the estate and its population. He was Mary's one and only, he was the only man capable of stopping Robert erring at every turn, he kept his mother going, he gave Tom a partner-in-crime, and so on. He would've been a wonderful Lord. It was great to see Mary come around (and Robert will now presumably be forced onto the back-foot - note I said "only man"), see Tom realise that he doesn't have to do it alone and Isolbel (despite the fact that she's a boring character) realise that she can still be a positive influence upon the world. Basically, I thought Matthew's legacy (good and bad) was dealt with extremely well. Yes, he's gone and that's tragic, but he's left behind a group of people empowered to make a difference. Robert may bluster and try to shut Mary down, but his power over her only really existed for as long as she would permit it.

I'm really encouraged for the rest of the series. Yes, it's not what it once was. That first series will always be an untouchable standard, but the pace of this episode was just right and the balance of time afforded to small scale plots (Valentine's Day, Carson's former stage partner) and the concerns over the future of the estate was just right.

 

What the ****, Downton Abbey?!

WHAT. THE. ****?!!!

 

Agreed. 100%. ****ing outrageous.

 

Haven't been watching though I plan on catching up.

What happened that's so outrageous, and in what episode?

 

Not telling. Spoilers.

 

So finally got to the first episode. It was pretty alright.

 

Um... Yeah... Agreed.

Spoiler: Season 4 MAJOR spoiler

I can not believe they did that to Anna. I was so hoping someone would come to her rescue. Bates, a fuming Carson, James, Thomas, Alfred. Anyone. I never saw that coming and couldn't believe he got away with it.

Definitely looking forward to the Christmas episode to learn exactly what Bates did in York before Mr. Green's 'accident'

We know that Bates did it with the automobile in the street. Now I want a Downton Abbey CLUE.

 

So I've still got 3 episodes to watch of this series.

Spoiler: spoilers

I don't like what they did to Anna. It's pure and simple just lazy writing. They don't know what to do with a female character, so they had her raped. It's terrible and weak.

It's still good drama though. It further defines Bates and HOPEFULLY Anna in that she'll move past it. And we got to see Bates at his best, comforting her, and soon hopefully at his worst, hunting down the perpetrator. I don't like it, but it is what it is. Thankfully the show is almost over.