To think that Hugh Bonneville was not the right choice to play Lord Grantham?

[BupcakesandCunting]

He isn't really patrician-looking enough. He seems more like a very posh cuddly bear than a lord. When Downton first came about and I saw Hugh Bonneville was to be involved, I thought he would be playing a butler, like Carson.

I think that Ralph Fiennes or similar would have been better and I think he is the only bit of weak casting in the show. He just doesn't convince me.

wash your mouth out woman.

Agree.

He has a passing similarity looks wise to Di's old butler also.

Doesn't spoil my enjoyment though.

Yes, I used to get him and Burrell confused all the time!

I find it harder to imagine him in any romantic / sexual situation
That stretches my as if ometer

I don't think DA has been very particular on authentic period detail, so it follows that a couple of characters have been miscast.

i love him, espeiclalyin 2012

YANBU.

My DH loathes him as the only weak link in the show. Actually really, really dislikes him and gets on my wick banging on about him whenever it's on.

I don't love him either and think he was miscast. I am not quite as irrational about it all as him, though.

Oh why did you have to say he looks like Burrell? I have a soft spot for him and you're spoiling it

Him snogging the widow housemaid was watching-through-the-fingers-in-horror stuff.

He's not meant to be particularly patrician. He's an indulgent father and an ex soldier.

he needs to bring some of that feistiness from his private life into the role

He is also the (self-appointed) "finest and most prolific actor of his generation" according to all the kerfuffle that went on during you-know-what.

Knob.

Yes, looks and bearing have an impact on choosing an actor or actress (I insist in using that word). I think Hugh Bonneville looks fine in his part. I'm not so sure about the actress who plays his wife though but she is supposed to be American, I suppose.

In my eyes, the one who is wrong is the woman who plays (is it) Sybil, the nursing one who ran off with the chauffeur. Her voice is not clear cut enough. And Lavinia was not 'positive' enough. I like Mary and Edith and Mrs Crawley and Matthew, as well as Lord Grantham - oh and Maggie Smith of course.

Downstairs, I do not like the lady's maid (can't remember her name) or the footman who became a soldier with whom she's in cahoots. I really don't think that sort of thing would happen in that sort of house. Other things I don't like about it are:

1. They talk with their mouths full
2. They shed tears and don't use handkerchiefs. They use fingers and hands. Landed gentry wouldn't do or have done that. Well, I don't and my estate is extremely small compared with theirs.

Several of the stories are based on storylines in Upstairs Downstairs, aren't they? I watch that at 6.55am every day.

"according to all the kerfuffle that went on during you-know-what."

No, what?!

But I still like Downton Abbey.

He's shall we say a player with a penchant for super injunctions

I think he's meant to be approachable.

I enjoyed the first series and thought he was very good. I had to stop watching the second series, the story lines got too ridiculous. My issue with Downton is the writing, rather than acting.

Some lords are quite cuddly, not all of them are stern and mean looking.

As if Ralph Fiennes would have anything to do with that soapy nonsense.

The one that really bugs me is that drip Matthew. Who cast him as romantic lead??????????????????

This reminds me of a sort of reverse situation when Sian Phillips played the wife of a Welsh miner in How Green Was My Valley in the 70s and there were comments made that she was too aristocratic-looking to be convincing. She said something like "Well, I'll just have to try a bit of acting." I love Sian Phillips.

I like Hugh Bonneville - but there again, I don't read all the gossip so I don't know about any of that. He was a super villainous Grandcourt in Daniel Deronda which surprised me at the time.

And I like the character. He could have been a stock aristo, it's cold, throw another peasant on the fire type and isn't.

YABU he isn't meant to be all stern and patrician.
I adore lady Mary. I have a huge girl crush on her. She's so beautiful and haughty and sarcastic.

"In my eyes, the one who is wrong is the woman who plays (is it) Sybil, the nursing one who ran off with the chauffeur. Her voice is not clear cut enough."

"And Lavinia was not 'positive' enough."

Are the aristocracy really that, um, generic and bland? Really...?

"Downstairs, I do not like the lady's maid (can't remember her name) or the footman who became a soldier with whom she's in cahoots. I really don't think that sort of thing would happen in that sort of house."

Again... The working class from that era didn't leave their village. They met, married, brooded and died within their very small sphere. This sort of thing was totally normal.

"1. They talk with their mouths full
2. They shed tears and don't use handkerchiefs. They use fingers and hands. Landed gentry wouldn't do or have done that."

I give you the handkerchiefs, but disagree with the rest vehemently.

Yes, the Paul Burrell looky-likey thing makes him look just like a below-stairs person to me.

With all that hush-hush business, I went right off him. Twenty-Twelve was great, but I just don't like him.

Gosford Park beats Downtown hands down for me, anyway.

It's the way they family are all best buds with the servants. Lord of the house chatting with a parlour maid re. her husband's murder trial letting her know they're all rooting for him.

As if.