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Post by LAX on Oct 1, 2012 13:31:51 GMT -4
Edith's anguish brought tears to my eyes. I had hopes that she and Sir Anthony could make a go of it. Mrs. Hughes interactions with Carson and Lady Grantham regarding her illness was really sweet. I'm sure most of us would love to feel that valued for our self and our work.
I take it Branson let go of some of his scruples because he's now wearing a tux to dinner. Still not fully formal, but that must have been his compromise.
I think that I would have liked seeing the family taken down a peg and watching them "slumming it" at Downton Place. It's probably just me but when a great house manages to bring themselves near to ruin not once, but twice, they don't deserve another bailout. At least Matthew will have a role in managing the fortune this time around.
On a shallow note, what an unattractive wedding gown. I'm sure it is true to the style of the era, but yuck.
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Post by sugarhigh on Oct 1, 2012 17:39:22 GMT -4
It's probably just me but when a great house manages to bring themselves near to ruin not once, but twice, they don't deserve another bailout. I agree with this. The money-crisis plot is overdone enough. Though it was interesting to see Lady Mary's philosophy towards the great house and eventually being Countess. I wonder if losing Downton could be the one thing to break her or if she'd just find a way to live with it in her pragmatic way. I felt sorry for Edith too. I don't think whatshisname is too old for her and I'm actually wondering if her father's view is true for the time. Wouldn't an older, established man with a title be considered a catch? I've liked all the 20s fashions so far, including Mary's wedding dress.
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Post by LAX on Oct 1, 2012 17:52:30 GMT -4
I've love most the fashion too. Mary's wardrobe has been amazing and I've coveted a great many of her evening dresses. It's just that wedding dress last night, Edith's veil and tiara were nice and went well with her hair and face, then it went down to a sack like dress which was completely unflattering.
I've wondered about the family attitude to Edith's relationship, you'd think they'd favor a titled relationship despite his age. A Welsh friend of mine thinks that both Edith's and Sybil's stories aren't realistic. Edith and Sir Anthony would have been a-ok, Sybil and Tom would have been completely disowned and never spoken of again.
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Post by angelaudie on Oct 1, 2012 23:50:02 GMT -4
Thing is if the family goes down so do many other people. Many of the downstairs people would have had to find new jobs and that's probably not easy in a rural area. Not to mention they own most of the village so those people could have been ruined as well. Don't get me wrong I understand the "You don't deserve another chance!" attitude but just pointing out it wouldn't have just been the family slumming it out.
Still I can't hate Mary for fighting to keep her home. Her identity is very much wrapped up in Downton so I totally get why keeping it meant so much to her. But I did get Matthew's view as well though his Lavinia guilt was getting on my nerves. I really liked Mary's downstairs scene. Classic Mary to be wearing pearls while her hair is down!
Anyway, we all knew the estate would be saved. It's called Downton Abbey not Downton Place. The letter was rather convenient but hey so was the inheritance. I'm glad it was wrapped up because Matthew and Mary's arguments were becoming tiresome.
Hugh Bonneville and Dan Stevens have talked about Robert and Matthew running the estate together in interviews and it sounds like they will bump heads. That should be interesting since Robert sees Matthew as his son.
But Edith. Poor, poor, poor Edith! I kinda want to punch Sir Anthony in the face and I know that's very wrong of me! BUT POOR EDITH! Why can't Edith have nice things? That scene where Cora attempts to comfort her was heartbreaking! Elizabeth McGovern and Laura Carmichael were awesome in that scene. I have a feeling if Sir Anthony ever comes near Edith again Cora might scratch his eyes out!
I also liked Edith and Mary's little scene outside the church. Loved they acknowledged they will probably always bang heads but Mary wanted to wish her the best. Edith looked sincerely touched.
Also, I'm loving Alfred. He's like William but a little more confident. I can't blame Daisy for being interested in him.
Loving the clothes this season as well! The costume designer has done a great job of giving the Crawley sisters their own distinct styles that match their personalities. The men have been looking pretty good too. Branson and Matthew have both been rather handsome this season!
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Post by sugarhigh on Oct 12, 2012 19:37:16 GMT -4
Oh man, I am LOVING this season so far! It is exponentially better than Season 2.
I am dying to see Matthew and the Dowager Countess work together to rehab the estate. Considering that there's been 2 money crises so far, it's obvious new management is needed. I am disappointed that Mary isn't supporting her husband. I want them to be a team and I'd think she'd be very interested in making sure Downtown is thriving.
I'm actually glad Edith is doing something with her life instead of moaning around, being jealous of Mary. Hopefully her life will take off where Sybil's got derailed.
Speaking of Sybil, I'm back to loathing Branson. Running away without your pregnant wife? Leaving her to close the house? Did he think at all before involving Sybil in his shenanigans?
I'm glad for Daisy that she got a promotion but I really don't want to see her mistreating the kitchen maid over Alfred.
The new footman is gorgeous.
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Post by angelaudie on Oct 12, 2012 20:06:50 GMT -4
I'm not surprised Mary is bit in denial about the whole management thing. Remember when Cora was expressing disapproval over Mary and Violet's plan to ask Martha for a bail out? At one point Mary asked Cora if she thought it was Robert's fault the money was gone. Well, Mary now that you mention it YES! I think she will get on board though. Matthew will just have to find the right argument to get her to take off the Robert blinders.
Agreed. I loved how excited she was when she learned the letter was published! Also, loved Matthew congratulated her and is supporting her!
I'll cut him some slack on leaving her behind since she did help come up with the plan. I don't blame the family for being upset but Sybil isn't a child either. Plus, Branson was right. He wouldn't get a fair hearing and Sybil would likely be left alone due to her family connections. But I'll side eye him plenty for not telling Sybil about the meetings and him getting all sulky because she has the nerve to want to give birth without worry about the police barging in as the baby is crowning.
I'm beginning to wonder if we are supposed to be hating Robert. Between his anti-Catholic sentiment and his total lack of support to Edith he's quickly becoming one of the least sympathetic characters on this show.
The longer Bates's story drags out the more I wish he had been killed off last season.
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Post by sugarhigh on Oct 12, 2012 23:51:36 GMT -4
Haha yes, I am really tired of Bates/Anna.
Definitely agree on the last part and I guess the fact that he kept the meetings a secret from her is coloring my views of the plan they came up with. Because Sybil didn't have all the relevant information when she was making the decision to stay behind. She might have decided to just go to her family in England and leave him to be a rebel. Although I really like that they included an Irish rebel character, I wish they'd do him justice and make him more consistent. He doesn't even need to be likeable necessarily, but I wish I understood him more.
I haven't liked Robert ever since that dalliance with the maid last season. I'm thinking back and can't remember him being supportive of any of his daughters really, other than wanting Mary to marry Matthew.
I'm looking forward to seeing Ethel's storyline. The scene where she gave away her son was heartbreaking.
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Post by angelaudie on Oct 13, 2012 0:38:33 GMT -4
Good point about him keeping the meetings secret. She probably agreed to the plan because she thought he was being wrongly targeted due to his political beliefs. She may have had a different view if she knew the police actually had pretty good reason to suspect he was involved in some way.
What also annoyed me was Branson trying to downplay how serious it was to keep the meetings a secret from Sybil. His whole, "Well, I never said I wasn't there!" was just eye rolling. He was being deceitful and he knows it. He kept attending those meetings a secret because he knew it would bother Sybil. The group was targeting people she likely knew and he knew that would bother her. Plus, isn't it a bit hypocritical for Branson to rant and rave about how oppressive the aristocratic class is and then ask for their help to get him out of a legal jam?
There's a theory online that Robert's dalliance with the maid is about to come out. Robert agreed to pay for Jane's son's education. Matthew is going through Downton's books. He probably notes of Robert paying for the boy's education. He might be giving Robert the benefit of the doubt right now (perhaps he thinks one of Robert's advisers is secretly extorting money and Robert is too incompetent to notice) but Robert would likely come clean if Matthew brought it up. You just know Matthew's honor would demand Robert tell Cora. And hey it needs to come out. Matthew's momentary lapse in judgment had all sorts of effects. So far, Robert's, which was far worse than Matthew's, has resulted in no consequences!
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Karrit
Sloane Ranger
Posts: 2,295
Mar 15, 2005 14:32:04 GMT -4
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Post by Karrit on Oct 14, 2012 17:51:22 GMT -4
Holy Crap! I cried when Sybil died. Even though you knew it was coming, the way Julian Fellowes telegraphed it. I wanted to slap both those doctors when Sybil was convulsing her way to death.
I also cried when Mary said to Edith: "She was the only person in the world who thought you and I were nice people." I would love to see Mary and Edith forge a new and better relationship.
In the previews for next week, it looks like Mary might have taken off her rose-tinted glasses when it comes to her father. I hope so, for the sake of her marriage.
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Post by LAX on Oct 14, 2012 22:54:40 GMT -4
Holy crap, indeed.
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