Downton Abbey

[iClaudia]

I agree Augustus, especially considering that they obviously had to work around the schedules of several of the actors. I am very happy that the Mary situation has been resolved. I was afraid they were going to drag it out into the third series and given her age and position, that would not have been very realistic. The idea of a trip to the States does excite me though. Maybe Edith can head over at some point to visit their grandmother?

It does seem that the only truly lingering arc is the Anna-Bates one. Everything else can be more or less put to bed if they so choose.

Completely agree about the Daisy storyline and Dame Maggie. I had grown tired of Daisy but I think the Christmas special showed her to be more earnest in her guilt and confusion than previous episodes did. She didn't have parents guiding her hand and showing her right from wrong. She learned it all through her relationships with her co-workers and not always very successfully. I like the idea that William was looking out for both Daisy and his father when he made the choices that he did. I didn't previously think that he knew about Daisy's ambivalence but now I think that perhaps he knew her feelings weren't the same but insisted on the marriage out of love and foresight.

Dame Maggie had the most delicious lines and the Dowager Countess was in top form. In the beginning, she often seemed meddlesome and misguided but now I find that she is undoubtedly the guiding hand in the family. She hasn't been proven wrong about anything that really matters when it comes to her family.

[Karrit]

I pretty much loved this episode for all the reasons mentioned above. I am really surprised the Mary and Matthew arc got as much resolution as it did. And I like that I was surprised. I thought that Bates would be resolved and we would see a beginning of Mary and Matthew in preparation for the third series/season. I still think Carlisle is involved in Mrs Bates death somehow.

I love Mary's relationship with Anna. And O'Brien's remark to Thomas about he is the only person who makes her feel righteous was right up there with some of Dame Maggie's lines.

Well done Julian Fellowes. You pulled me back in it!

[angelaudie]

I also really enjoyed the Christmas special! It certainly has S1 feel than S2. The characters were actually in character and there was rhyme and reason in the plots!

I'm not going to lie. I freaking squealed when Matthew proposed to Mary. Some have complained it was a bit cheesy but you know I don't care. It was Velveeta cheesy! The best cheesy you can get! What I especially loved was when Matthew told Mary there was nothing to forgive when it came to the Pamuk affair and it would never be brought up. I was afraid there would be slut shaming but instead he accepted she made a mistake and moved on. Interesting that Matthew's primary concern was that Mary loved Pamuk not that she would be less than pure on their wedding night. Also loved Mary insisted he propose properly. Very in character!

I've seen some comments were people expressed sympathy for Carisle. No sympathy for me! He knew Mary didn't love him and went into the engagement knowing she didn't love him. The moment he shoved Mary into a wall and told him he would ruin her if she ever dared crossed him was when he lost me. He was an insecure egomaniac and Mary is better off without him. Like Violet I want him to promise we never have to see him again (that was the line of the night!)

Violet was on fire last night! Loved the already mentioned "Do you promise?" line and her rolling her eyes at the Xmas cards! Her handling of Rosamond's suitor was also well done. She certainly has a better instinct on these things than either of her children. It seems the only time she has ever been wrong was when she tried to convince Robert not to marry Cora before the series started. I bet the reason why she gave Cora a hard time for so long was because she turned out to be wrong.

I liked the Anna and Bates storyline wasn't completely wrapped up. Adds a little bit of tension for the next series.

The idea of a trip to the States does excite me though. Maybe Edith can head over at some point to visit their grandmother?

I would love that. Maybe Edith can find a middle west cowboy and shake things up.

Am I the only one that doesn't care about Sybil and Branson? I am? Oh. Ok then.

The only time I really rolled my eyes was when Lavina apparently used the oija board to give her blessing of the Matthew/Mary marriage.

[Deleted]

I have finally watched the entire series over the last few days (plus the Christmas Special) and I LOVE it . Season 1 was perfection. I love Mary and Matthew and I completely adore the actress who plays Mary, she's great. Anna and Mr Bates were wonderful to watch in season 1 <but season 2 made it hard to care about them at times since it was clear that there would be no happy ending soon for them. Also, I liked it better when both characters have more to do than being each other's love interest.>
I can't stand Daisy. Her willingness to hurt other people just because she was told to do so made me roll my eyes at her more than once. I know she's a stupid kid and all but I don't find her endearing at all. Season 2 didn't do much to change that but at least I understood her motives a bit better.


As for other season 2 related things: Some storylines were dealt with a bit clumsily especially the whole Patrick thing. And the way they had Matthew walk again was a complete soap opera thing. I didn't care for Jane nor Ethel and I hope we've seen the last of them.
And OMG did I love the last scene of the Christmas episode!


I can't even mention all the things I love about this show. I want new episodes NOW .

[Ladybug]

Did anyone watch the season 2 premiere on PBS last night?

You can certainly tell that they had a higher production budget this season! I especially liked the train station and WWI trench sets. The ladies' costumes looked a little nicer also. I really liked Mary's black sparkly evening gown.

Anna and Bates- I have a feeling that I'm going to get sick of their story this season. I don't understand why after all this time working at Downton he can't just go to Carson or Lord Grantham and say, "my wife is trying to blackmail me! Please help!"

I loved when the Countess called Matthew's fiance, "that blonde piece." I am looking forward to finding out the blonde piece's secret. I am not a huge fan of Mary, but I was touched by the little doggie and the praying.

I can't get over Edith and the farmer. Girl, if you are going to have an affair with a married man, pick someone a little more exciting than a farmer! And don't engage in said affair while his wife is on the premises! She can't even do an affair right.

[Peggy Lane]

See, I liked Edith for the first time last night. I expected Sybil to become a nurse, but I never would have guessed Edith would volunteer to work on a farm, enjoy it, and fall for a farmer. Although last season she actually knew quite a bit about farming when she wanted to impress Sir WhatsHisFace, so maybe she digs agriculture.

I thought there were lots of great, character based surprises last night. Mary not telling Matthew her feelings because she saw Lavinia really loves him; Cora not being supportive of Sibyl (and how awesome that Dowager Duchess was) until she watched her baking the cake; Thomas and Sibyl working together (as much as I can't stand him, I wouldn't mind seeing an actual friendship there).

Anna and Bates broke my heart. And I thought it was very Bates to not tell anyone his reasons.

I miss Gwen. Do we ever get an update on her?

[angelaudie]

Ok, I'm watching S2 the second time around since I had computer issues and distractions the first time.

A poster at TWOP stated Edith is the Jan Brady of this show and I have to agree. She is so desperate for love and attention that she just doesn't think of the possible consequences. Though it makes her calling Mary a slut in S1 awfully rich. At least, Pamuk wasn't married! It also makes me think if Pamuk had went to her room Edith would have been more than happy to sleep with him.

Mary has certainly grown up during those not shown two years. It would have been nice to see some of the events that lead to her current maturity since it's a bit jarring to see her ignore Edith's jabs, be amused at Edith wanting to drive a tractor, and think of someone other than herself. Michelle Dockery and Dan Stevens are doing a great job of selling M/M's longing for each other especially during the concert and train scenes. Matthew's face after he settled on the train just screamed, "I'm so not over her!"

Poor Anna! I'm meh on Bates but I do love Anna so I hate seeing her so heartbroken! I just wanted to hug her after Bates broke things off! Vera is such a cartoon villain though.

I was a bit surprised Violet was fine with Sybil joining the auxillary nurses. I figured she would find such a thing so middle class. Perhaps she makes exceptions when it comes to helping soldiers? Or maybe great Aunt Roberta had a big impact on her.

[Deleted]

Count me in as another one who really enjoyed the premier last night. For some reason, I expected S2 to not be as good as S1. I just can't muster up any enthusiasm for the Anna/Bates story line though. Although I did fine it insanely hot when Bates told Anna his plan to eventually marry her and then said, "and please, call me John."

I was a little surprised to see that Sybil didn't return the chauffeur's love interest- forgot his name. Agree that the Mary/Matthew story line is just so delicious! I positively squeal whenever those two are on screen together. Can't wait for next week's episode.

I purchased the UK edition of S1 and it has quite a bit more scenes than what was aired on PBS. I wonder if PBS also edited S2 or did they decide to run the whole program without editing given the success of S1?

[plush]

I watched S1 on Netflix few months ago and have been patiently waiting for S2 to air on PBS. I tried downloading it online as it was showing in UK and I was rewarded with a computer virus that itook me too many painful days to get rid of. So lesson learned.

I am too shallow because I don't care too much about Anna/Bates story and the reason I don't care is because Bates is old and not too pretty in a sea of hot male characters. Seriously, even Lord Gratham is sexy and I love his and Cora's playfulness. By the way, I was racking my brain to figure out where had I seen Cora and now I know. She was Robert De Niro's character's crush in Once upon a Time in America.She's aged, but in a graceful way and is still very pretty.

I love Matthew but am still not sold on Mary/Matthew's love story. He is too good for her. After all, she dumped him when she thought he'd have no money so it's only fair that he moved on to someone else who seems to love him for what he is. I wouldn't mind if they didn't end up together.

[kostgard]

I enjoyed the premiere too.

I adore Anna and I'm cool with Anna/Bates, but they need some damn happiness for once. And I really wish that Vera wasn't such a cartoon villain. If she had a moustache, she'd be twirling it.

I violently shifted back and forth on Thomas. I felt sorry for him in the trenches, then hated him when he returned to Downton and acted like a total dick again, then went back to feeling sorry for him when his very pretty patient committed suicide.

And why the crap do these people put up with O'Brien? She's a sour bitch who always stirs up trouble. And lying to the new maid to get her to do inappropriate stuff? Do they honestly think it's just a little good-natured hazing? From O'Brien? Even if Lord Grantham or Cora are blind to a lot of this I'm really surprised that Carson and Mrs. Hughes haven't strongly suggested that they fire her.

I'm liking Mary a lot more this season. It feels like she's grown up a bit. I thought Edith was taking up driving farm equipment to win back Lord Boring of Tractor (as someone here so brilliantly called him), but I guess making out with a farmer works too.