plush
Sloane Ranger
Posts: 2,018
Feb 11, 2006 16:34:33 GMT -4
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Post by plush on Jan 10, 2012 20:29:18 GMT -4
One when Mary first learned about her possible baby brother she still seemed willing to marry him. She pointed that they got along well and he was smart so perhaps he could advance himself the old fashioned way. It was only until darling Auntie Rosamond got her claws into her that Mary began to wonder and even then she was asking for more time. Yes, by our modern day view this is stupid and cold but back then this was something women had to seriously consider. Making the wrong marriage could ruin a woman's life. Now, I don't think Mary's life would be ruined with Matthew but he couldn't quite promise her protection either. Not to mention a woman marrying below her class was scandalous and as Mary stated to Pamuk she's not nearly as rebellious as people think she is. I understand why Mary made that decision for herself. Perfectly understandable, for the time the story is set. Hell, it's perfectebly understandable in modern times since a lot of people marry within their social status. However, that didn't endear her to me at all. She invited another man to her bed, which she knew would ruin her as well, but she had second thoughts about Matthew when her aunt told her she wouldn't be living the life she was meant to by marrying him? It's hard to reconcile the two without involving the money/status issue here.I thought she liked Matthew, she was certainly surprised he didn't turn out to be the boring man she though of and made fun of initially. But she didn't like him enough to be his wife and be with him for whatever his future held in store and that meant, that at the time, she didn't deserve him so I'm glad he moved on to someone else. I have a feeling Lavinia will be used as a prop to divert us temporarily and build the tension only to be properly dumped and heartbroken or die in some tragic accident so that M/M can have their greatest love. If the show manages to do this without resorting to cliches, I can live with that. I think she's growing as a character and has a lot of potential. I just don't love her yet as I'm supposed to. I feel like Mrs. Hughes who doesn't get all the fawning over Mary, bestowed to her by Grandma, her parents, Matthew, Anna and even Cranston. Is there anyone who doesn't love her, besides Edith? Which makes me feel bad for Edith even though I don't like her. Edith has to be the least attractive in the family and also the nasty one but the pretty sisters/mama are nice, giving and charming. And even when she has an affair, it's with a boring man. |
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 10, 2012 21:43:46 GMT -4
You make it sound like she slipped Pamuk the key to her room and whispered, "Come on up and see me!" She didn't invite Pamuk in. Pamuk, because Mary had flirted with him, decided he wanted to have sex with her and blackmailed Thomas, by threatening to expose his sexuality, into letting her into Mary's room. I believe the room was even locked! When Mary realized he was in her room she immediately told him to leave and he refused. She threatened to scream and he replied she would be ruined and that was the truth. Yeah, she would gotten out of sex but all Pamuk would have to say is she invited him to her room (how he know where she slept if she hadn't?) and screams were from regret. Mary did not have any good options and seemed to take the one where potentially the less damage could be done. How was she to know he would die during sex? Odds are Pamuk would have never revealed Mary's name to anyone (too many risks for him there). When he pounced on her she looked terrified. Sorry, but I don't see Mary as some brazen hussy in this situation.
Though, even if she had wanted to sleep with Pamuk, comparing the situation to her situation with Matthew is comparing apples and oranges. Pamuk was a one night stand. Matthew was for life. Now, I don't think it would be a miserable existence but it would have been a major adjustment if the baby boy had been born. That's not something to lightly toss aside. Yes, in a perfect world all we would need is love but that's not how life works. It was easy for Matthew to say the choice should be easy for her. He wasn't being asked to give up everything he knew. Worst case scenario he was going back to the life he led before and frankly never wanted to leave. Sure from our modern day perspective Mary was being offered a great life but if you had ir drilled into your head from practically birth the importance of marrying a rich man it would be pretty difficult to just toss that aside. Notice Sybil, the forward thinking sister, isn't exactly in a hurry to decide if she wants to run off with Branson or not. But hey she has the benefit of time. Mary didn't.
Again, I don't fault Matthew from moving on. From his view Mary simply didn't love him so he did what he could. I doubt it's a coincidence he's currently with the anti-Mary. Of course, being the anti-Mary means she probably has no fire, wit, or spirit. I don't see her ever standing up to Matthew or challenging him in any way. Just like I doubt Carlisle will ever care about Mary as a person.
In my dream world, Lavina would realize Matthew simply didn't love her the way he should and bow out gracefully with her head held high. But how often does that happen.
I do feel bad for Edith as well in a way. She seems extremely starved for love. I do think her parents and sisters (yes even Mary) do love her but sadly she's viewed as the ugly duckling of the family. I do blame Cora, Robert, and even Violet for Mary and Edith's poisonous relationship. All the fawning over Mary is what began Edith's resentment and Mary's snobbery. Though they both seem to love and adore Sybil.
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Post by LurkerNan on Jan 12, 2012 17:40:00 GMT -4
Was Edith fooling around with a married man? That was his wife giving them both the hairy eyeball ! I don't have much sympathy for her after that.
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Post by tabby on Jan 13, 2012 14:27:35 GMT -4
Yes, she was. That was the same farmer from Season 1 who was sick and who was saved by the intervention of Mrs. Crawley. I don't know what the hell Edith was thinking, but I lost all sympathy for her with that.
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Post by kostgard on Jan 15, 2012 3:14:19 GMT -4
Yes, she was. That was the same farmer from Season 1 who was sick and who was saved by the intervention of Mrs. Crawley. I don't know what the hell Edith was thinking, but I lost all sympathy for her with that. Wow. I never would have made that connection (and I wasn't sure if that was the farmer's wife or sister or what). Oh, Edith. Dick move. Your sister may have messed around with the pretty Turk, but at least no one was married. |
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 16, 2012 17:15:30 GMT -4
Anybody watch last night? The GG was so boring had no issue flipping over to catch DA for an hour!
While Robert certainly behaved badly last night I don't exactly blame him and Cora for being annoyed by Isobel. Robert and Cora volunteered their home so I don't it's asking too much for them to have some say in where things are set up. Isobel just bursting in and telling them what do was bound to rub them the wrong way. Plus, Isobel is not the military. Robert's hissy fit about not getting Evelyn moved to Downton was out of line. Though this was probably the first time in his life where his money and position couldn't get him what he wants.
Though I'm still not happy with Edith for the farmer macking I was happy that she was recognized for her efforts with the soldiers. That's what the Edith wants. She wants validation and praise. It makes sense the soldiers would praise her. She found them books to read, wrote letters on their behalf, and actually bothered to learn their names and what was wrong. I doubt Sybil or Isobel did that. So, yeah nice she was recognized for once.
So Lavina is responsible for a political scandal. Matthew seems drawn to women with a past without realizing it! How much Mary has grown up showed in this plot. Old Mary wouldn't have thought twice about throwing Lavina over. S2 Mary gives Lavina the benefit of the doubt, defends her, actually gets her side of the story, and makes it clear to Aunt Rosamond she is to leave Lavina alone.
I have to say though I am very confused how old Lavina is supposed to be. I had the impression last week that she's rather young. Matthew even said she was young and could find someone else if something happened to him. He wouldn't say if she was Mary's age since Mary is approaching on the shelf age. Yet, years earlier she stole documents? Everything just screams that Lavina is about 20 at the very most. But she stole documents when she was in her teens? I guess it's possible but really pushing it. Maybe Fellowes hadn't thought her age when he came up with this latest twist?
Branson is the worst political revolutionary ever. Yeah, Branson people caught up in a revolution are always kind and hospitable to the people they feel are oppressing them! No way would the Russian revolutionaries even dream of harming the Romanovs! I mean, the revolution in France worked out so well for the monarchy!
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Post by kostgard on Jan 16, 2012 20:01:21 GMT -4
I watched it last night. And I kept thinking that Lord Grantham is kind of dim. I mean, he knows that Thomas is a thief and Carson is not thrilled with him being there, but he's all, "Oh, well, Cora had the idea and she doesn't know that he's a thief so let's just roll with it" instead of telling Cora, "Sorry, dear. I didn't want to trouble you with it before, but Carson caught Thomas stealing before he left us, so I don't think we should bring him back." I don't think Cora would have objected to that.
And it was nice that Edith got some recognition. She never gets it from her family, so nice to see her get it from the soldiers.
Isobel was stepping out of line. And after you take over a man's house you certainly don't start making plans to lock up his clearly much-loved dog.
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Post by Ladybug on Jan 17, 2012 13:28:14 GMT -4
Isobel was really overstepping throughout the episode, IMO. Downton is a huge house but it's still the Grantham home, and they should have a say in what is going on. Isobel was suddenly ordering everyone around like she owns the place. (Then presumably goes back to her own empty house for some peace and quiet!)
It would be nice if Edith would pair up with one of the recovering officers, but it looks like the Ethel the housemaid might be making the rounds first.
So Carson sacked Mr. Lang, who has a bad case of shell shock, but kept Branson around after almost attacking the General at dinner. Branson should've been sacked as well.
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Post by angelaudie on Jan 17, 2012 17:18:32 GMT -4
Yeah, that made no sense at all. I think they were going for the "Maybe the war has changed him!" angle but Robert doesn't strike me as the type to buy that. Cora is pretty reasonable and there's no reason to think she would handle news that Thomas stole in the past badly.
Especially when that dog is well behaved and quite lovable. I guess the psychological benefits of dogs weren't know during that time.
Again, that made no sense either. Carson was decent to Lang at least. I know why Fellowes didn't write Branson out (gotta keep him around to be Sybil's love interest) but Carson keeping Branson was ridiculous. The only thing I can think of is Carson reasoned finding a new driver during war time would be too difficult and as long as Branson is never allowed back in the dining room everything should be fine.
I find it hysterical when Anna found the note and jumped to the conclusion Branson was going kill the general her instinct was to go find Mrs. Hughs who went to find a man. Heaven forbid the general see a female servant in the dining room!
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Post by Peggy Lane on Jan 18, 2012 17:45:24 GMT -4
Edith kills me. She really does. Out of all three of the sisters, she's the one who the time she was born into is really stifling the most. Throughout the series we've seen her lugging books about (visual shorthand for smart), and when given something to do she can obviously excell and think about things other than herself. Given college and the chance for a career she'd probably be fine. But in her early twenties with nothing to do? She's stifled and trying desperately to find something to fulfill her. She's so complicated and it makes her feel so real.
At the Golden Globes I completely thought Elizabeth Montgomery was the girl who plays Mary. It took me a moment to realize it was Cora!
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