to think Matthew Crawley is a right misery as a romantic lead?

[SomersetONeil]

...give me a rogue-ish Rhett Butler type any day of the week.

I don't think yer man even knows how to crack a bloody smile. Which would be OK if he was Colin Firth Mr Darcy, but he's not, is he?

By the way, we're a few episodes behind you down here in the Southern hemisphere. Feel free to reveal spoilers if it means he extracts the carrot from his nethers.

He's not much of a romantic and not much of a lead in the latest episodes. He's become an angry meddler.

He has absolutely no sexual chemistry with Lady Mary. None at all. It's like two deckchairs snogging.

Two deckchairs snogging! That has given me a much needed laugh today. Thank you Arthur!

YANBU. He is such a drip! Agree with arthur, like siblings snogging.

He's getting more chinless with each series, yuk!

I agree, he's a dull bastard of a man, but Mary would probably knock the fun out of Timmy Mallett to be fair to Matthew. The weak jawline irritates me as well, but I think that isn't helped by the slack-jawed indignation face he pulls at every opportunity.

He's sort of spongy and insipid.

At least he's not mr fucking bates.

I have to fast forward mr fucking bates.

I like him. Like the role he plays as well, halfway between Tom and Robert.

The more pressing question is... Bates. Guilty or innocent?

YANBU

Aidan Turner (as a hobbit, vampire, 18th century rogue, 1970s lodger, take your pick!) would liven things up a bit in that mansion.

And I hate that new bloke who carries the sauces upstairs.

Guilty guilty guilty.

I like Matthew's voice but not his face or demeanour.

He should be a radio actor.

"Drip"...that is the word I was looking for. Mister Bastes in prison has been the dull segment this series, thank heavens he's out. Am starting to feel a bit sorry for Thomas however. That wicked O'Brien! What a great panto Downton is!

And the good thing about Bates is that presumably if the actor is employed by ITV to make Downton there's no filming of a new series of Lark Rise to Candleford.....

Bates = Guilty.

At least I hope he is or that whole storyline was a bit pointless and a waste of time.

O brien is ace.

I just want him out if my life.

Which one, Fanjo? You don't seem keen on many of them to be honest

I miss Sybil :(

I need to rewatch the Christmas special to remember why the hell I was happy when Matthew and Mary finally got together. They are such soggy miseries now.

I like pretty much everybody but bates and Anna.

I don't mind Matthew too much but he is a touch soggy these series, with all his moral
Dilemmas. He needs a good storyline.

We need another "Turkish gentleman" to liven things up!

Boob - it should have been Edith! (mean but true)

Ah yes, the Turkish Gentleman... Mmm...

Yes yes yes, Edith should have gone, she's a prize bitch. Though maybe she'll stop being such a douche now she's got this newspaper work?

I predict that she will become a forerunner to the modern "it" girls, going to salubrious clubs in The London, and writing about them for her column, getting pictured flashing her ankles whilst alighting from her motor car and develop a habit for sweet sherry.

I could be wrong.

Be nice to see the poor love have a bit of fun, she is stuck in that house with the Lady Mary getting jilted by one armed men from Cold Feet with nothing to do but look dour. It Aint Fair!!

Tom is quiet yummy in his rough working class way ...I think Mary lusts after him

Edith is a far more interesting character than dull Sybil or mooney Mary.

I agree, Matthew is a bit wishy washy and his relationship with Mary seems to have lost all of its spark.