Downton Abbey

[kostgard]

I didn't realize that we were already at the Christmas episode! No more Downton for a while.

I had a flashback to Arrested Development with the "No touching!" moment at the prison. It seems Bates spends far more time away from DA in trouble than he does working there. If he gets out of prison I'm sure a meteorite will fall out of the sky and land on him. The Lord doesn't want Bates happy, apparently.

I so wanted Isis to bite Thomas on the bum and reveal that he's the one who locked her up in the shack. But labs are a forgiving bunch and Lord Grantham is pretty thick, so no dice.

Speaking of Thomas, I noticed that he and Mrs. O'Brien were smoking and scheming inside for once. I guess they don't make them smoke and scheme outside in the cold on special occasions like Christmas and New Year's Eve.

I was thrilled for Edith that Lord Boring of Tractor was back, but bummed that he wouldn't take her. Poor Edith. She never wins.

I wonder if we'll get to see Mary's slut-shaming in season three or if they'll skip ahead past that.

[kanding]

I'd like to see Mary's incident with Pamuk shown in the different light of post-war England. Of course, it would still be seen as scandalous, but less shameful. If that makes sense.

[chonies]

Edith's scene with Sir Dullsworth reminded me of that old SNL sketch, the name of which I can't dig up, about women reminiscing that they didn't know their prom dates were gay. "I didn't realize it at the time..." even though it was all so glaringly obvious.

I squee'd quite a bit through the whole thing, but why on Earth didn't Bates bring up the rat poison thing? I like the idea of Bates but he's more and more of a martyr complex.

[Ladybug]

When I saw Edith dancing with Thomas at the servants' ball I thought, "oh, lord here we go again. Edith will be falling for another man she can't have!" If Thomas really wanted to con his way upstairs, he just met the perfect mark.

Both Earl Grantham and Matthew found out about the dead Turk off camera. I wanted to see at least one of their reactions!

I liked Daisy and William's dad bonding. I hope that is the end of the "I feel so guilty!" story line.

[kostgard]

Both Earl Grantham and Matthew found out about the dead Turk off camera. I wanted to see at least one of their reactions!

Me too. I wanted to see the look on at least one of their faces as it was explained that Mary not only boned the guy (or whatever they were up to), but that he also died in her bed, and she and her mother and her maid had to carry him back to his own bed. At least we got to see Matthew in the immediate aftermath.

but why on Earth didn't Bates bring up the rat poison thing? I like the idea of Bates but he's more and more of a martyr complex.

Seriously. I think someone could accuse him of being the cause of the Spanish flu epidemic and he'd just shrug and not say anything and take the punishment. If he gets out of prison, nothing bad should happen to him for a while. Let him and Anna instead concentrate on juggling their jobs and being married.

Or they at least need to explain the martyr complex. Has he actually done something (other than marry a terrible woman) that makes him believe he deserves all this? There should be something, because there's being an honorable man, and then there's being a freakin' doormat.

[baileydash]

So glad Matthew and Mary finally got together because unlike most people, I don't root for them and was sick of them. I find her permanent bitchface and his unending suffering nobility to be irritating instead of compelling. Their made-for-each-other pairing was far too predictable. And the straw men they put up to keep them apart, oy vey! Especially poor, poor, pathetic Lavina, more plot device than person.

[dwanollah]

Feb 20, 2012 9:15:13 GMT -4 kanding said:

I'd like to see Mary's incident with Pamuk shown in the different light of post-war England. Of course, it would still be seen as scandalous, but less shameful. If that makes sense.

That's exactly what I'm hoping they're doing.

I also think Thomas poisoned him.

[huntergrayson]

It now has to compete in the regular drama series category at the Emmys rather than miniseries. Look, I love the show, but think there's no way it should have won over Mildred Pierce and there's definitely no way *this* season should win over a more deserving actual drama series. Maggie Smith deserves her praise and it's well-done, but if were giving out awards to soaps now, then Revenge also needs a bucketload.

[Ladybug]

They're filming season 3!

[LurkerNan]

Her obvious plastic work is going to bug me silly, I just know it. Cora's mom should not look as equally wrinkled as her daughter.

I wonder if there are papparazzi hiding in the bushes over at Highclere with scoped cameras... the bushes seem to be pretty far off from the house itself.