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Post by Baby Fish Mouth on Oct 15, 2012 16:43:50 GMT -4
What happened to Tom? I can't believe he shattered so much goodwill in a single episode. Wow. If you mean why Tom didn't insist on Sybil having a c-section, he was very distraught and confused by the doctors' differing opinions, plus Robert was being his usual domineering self. Everyone else wanted Tom to have the final say, but Sybil ended up delivering the baby before he could really make a decision. I don't blame Tom for what happened at all.
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Post by bklynred on Oct 15, 2012 17:11:24 GMT -4
Oh, I was being rhetorical--because I disliked that he left Sybil behind when he was on the run.
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Post by Oxynia on Oct 15, 2012 17:30:11 GMT -4
Dumb question but where are you all watching it in the US?
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Post by angelaudie on Oct 15, 2012 17:56:42 GMT -4
Dumb question but where are you all watching it in the US? I have Expat Shield which lets me watch on ITV's iPlayer. If I happen to be home when the show airs in the UK Expat also lets me watch on the site's official livestream. This episode was just so sad. The actors all knocked it out of the park but I felt rather drained by the end of it. What makes everything so much worse is Sybil'sdeath was just so painful and frightening. That was not a peaceful death at all! Her last moments were filled with horrific pain and fear! I had pegged her for the big death that had been spoiled but I wasn't expecting it to be as graphic as it was. I guess the show really wanted to spell it out just how dangerous childbirth could be during this time. I also saw her death as a condemnation of patriarchal society and using wealth and title's to measure a person's worth. Sybil was never consulted about what she wanted. The doctors either asked her father or her husband. WHAT ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTED HUH?! Cora's concerns were also ignored even though she's had three children. Robert and the doctors never said it but their attitude was clear. "You are women and cannot be trusted to make big decisions like this! Only men can handle this!" Also, the men's unwillingness to have an honest conversation about a woman's health contributed to her death. Robert couldn't even handle the word "womb" being uttered. Violet nailed it when she said she can handle facts of life better than most men. Finally, while I understand why Robert questioned Clarkson's capabilities (though why did he think he should chose the doctor) he didn't put all his faith in the other guy because he had such a stellar reputation. It was because the guy had a title and therefore should automatically know more. Nope! There were opportunities to prevent this tragedy but privileged men thought they knew better than anyone else. I'll cut Mary some slack for now. She's grieving and grief doesn't make people very rational. Plus, it was dumb of Matthew to try and talk business before the body had even been removed from the home! Plus, I do think she's stressing out about not being pregnant yet which can't help matters. But I do agree she does need to take the blinders off. On a shallow note I was giggling like crazy during Matthew's conversation with the doctor about his fathering abilities. Once again, Matthew Crawley's penis becomes a topic of conversation!
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Post by sugarhigh on Oct 15, 2012 18:05:26 GMT -4
angelaudie, that's really excellent insight on the effect of the patriarchy. I had no idea that a death was forecasted for this season so this episode was pretty surprising and traumatic for me. Wow.
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iClaudia
Sloane Ranger
"When love and duty are one, grace is within you."
Posts: 2,215
Mar 13, 2005 14:33:41 GMT -4
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Post by iClaudia on Oct 15, 2012 18:33:46 GMT -4
I agree - great insight! What makes it all the more sad is that I'm certain Sybil would have followed Dr. Clarkson's advice.
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Post by Baby Fish Mouth on Oct 15, 2012 18:56:44 GMT -4
Oxynia, I've been watching the live stream here. The quality's not the greatest, but it's the best I can find. It shows at 4pm EST on Sundays. I love being able to watch commercials from the UK too.
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ishtarzana
Lady in Waiting
Posts: 278
Mar 7, 2005 13:34:17 GMT -4
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Post by ishtarzana on Oct 15, 2012 21:11:26 GMT -4
Someone on this site mentioned Project Free-TV a long while back. Google it. It's an awesome site. I was done watching DA S3 ep5, by 7pm PST last night!
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Post by Oxynia on Oct 15, 2012 23:32:16 GMT -4
Thanks for the tips...love you guys!
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Post by kanding on Oct 16, 2012 8:15:15 GMT -4
I agree with you all. They didn't pulll any punches with those scenes. They were wrenching, and you really felt how obscene it is when something like that happens to someone so young.
Not quite on topic, but the BBC just ended a great three-part series on the lives of servants (Servants: The True Story of Life Below Stairs), not just in grand homes but in middle class houses also. Veeery interesting and it already highlights things in Downton Abbey like quite often good looks were important in a footman as he was the person who accompanied families to functions outside of the house. He was to be shown off. And judging by the new footman at Downton, he proves the rule.
It was great at showing the class distinctions not only between employer and servant but among the servants themselves.
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