Downton Abbey

[roseland]

I'm really starting to hate Mary. Her treatment of Edith is awful and undeserved. I also think it's because the actress is attractive but not overly so and they have men falling all over themselves to get to her and I'm just like "Huh?" In my opinion, Edith is just as attractive as Mary. I understand that personality and confidence sometimes play a part in sexual attraction but Mary's personality is not all that interesting either.

And, yeah, I'm over the Bates' story line. It was ridiculously written, the "proof" they've show that the police have is weak and I could probably get an acquittal with only my Law & Order law degree. Even if it turned out Anna actually did kill Green, I still wouldn't be interested in this story line. Give these characters something more interesting to do, please.

[angelaudie]

Honestly I think neither Mary and Edith are not very nice people. Mary is at least aware she's not very nice. Edith delusionally thinks she is nice. I prefer Mary myself.

Bates as a character is ruined. There is a running joke in the fandom that he's a serial killer and really it fits. Even Anna thought he killed Green. What's worse we are supposed to root for him. I'll root for Thomas first. At least Thomas knows he's a little shit.

[chonies]

Co-signing what angelaudie said. What I like about Mary is that as bitchy as she can be, she makes decisions and changes the story. Edith has a lot of potential, and I think the actress is really attractive, but she's written as a sponge for the world's bad things: being jilted at the altar, fascism, the dark side of being a sexual libertine. I don't think this is unrealistic--plenty of people are shy and/or have bad luck, but sometimes these people are irritating, too. I think Edith is potentially interesting and occupies an interesting space: kind of timid, kind of held back by circumstances, makes decisions she might come to regret, all of which make her real but they also confound her existence as a fictional character.

[Martini Girl]

Just coming to say Matthew Goode is joining the final season. Damn.... I may have to start watching now!

[Deleted]

Yes!! I loved him in the Christmas special. Even Mary seemed to be in awe for once ;-)

[ladytrentham]

Wait, what? Final season?

[iClaudia]

There have been reports that it is the final season (which I hope is true) but I don't think it has been officially confirmed. I am pleased with the addition of Matthew Goode - they've finally managed to cast someone who has some chemistry with Michelle Dockery.

[kostgard]

Dame Maggie Smith says next season is her last , so they might as well close up shop if you ask me.

The problem with the show is that Fellowes has approximately three plot ideas, he rolls them out over and over, and he never actually allows anything juicy to happen.

Dude, make Bates a freakin' killer, already. Two people who threatened his happiness with Anna have dropped dead. That's weird.

When you set up a juicy moment like Mrs. Pig Farmer confronting Cora about Edith's illegitimate child, let us actually see that damn scene!

You set up both Violet and Isobel with potential suitors and then ditch them both. Dude. Not cool. At least one of them should get some hot senior loving.

Mary's love triangle? Eh. Just wipe the slate clean and send them both off. Back to square one because even though everyone talks about change, it can't ever happen unless the cast forces you into it by leaving.

I will applaud the proposal. I've shipped them so hard. Don't screw it up, Fellowes!

[luckylexie]

This is going back several episodes, but I'm really curious--what type of birth control did Anna buy for Mary at the shop? What was available back then???

[Ladybug]

I think some type of diaphragm. Those go back to the 19th century.