To be really disturbed and upset about last nights Downton Abbey? SPOILER ALERT

[CiderBomb]

I won't say what happened in case there are people on here who haven't watched it yet, but I was really, really shocked by that one scene in particular and can't get it out of my head this morning. Just when people were saying that they thought it was getting boring they go and throw that in. And a much loved character as well...

I'm not one of these sad people who complains about things on television, especially when they happen after the watershed, but I found that really shocking and it seemed to come from nowhere.

I know it happens all the time in real life, even today, but bloody hell :(

[squoosh]

I'm still not sure if Lady Mary is a crap actress or just channelling the Celia Johnson style stiff upper lip really, really effectively.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Perhaps she just needs better support in terms of a good script and better direction - I don't place all the blame for the effect of her character at the actresses feet - just some of it!

[Bramshott]

Hmm, glad I've seen this. DD1 (10) loves Downton and usually watches with us (on catch up) but it doesn't sound like this one's going to be suitable...

[SaggyIsHavingAPinkKitten]

It was a bit grim! And very shocking for a sunday night!
Shock factor aside, it was all a bit predictable!

[bootsycollins]

Lady Mary's hard work, be interesting to see Michelle Dockery playing other roles, has anybody seen her in anything else?.

[Clawdy]

She was a very good Ophelia opposite John Simm's Hamlet at the Crucible in Sheffield a couple of years ago.

[Grumpywino]

I'm frankly amazed how seriously people take a tv show, and now also realise my life, and emergency sector job, is not as dull as I previously thought as I found 'the scene' was tastefully done, reflecting the horror of such an attack without actually showing it (remembering The Accused here amongst others). Similarly confused by Lady Mary, can't decide if rubbish acting or direction. Anyway, not bad for light entertainment, marginally better than the dreaded X factor and similar tripe!

[orangebiscuit]

I thought it was too much for this show. But then they didn't flinch at killing off a beloved character and new dad on Xmas day, so shouldn't be surprised.

Perhaps Downton felt it needed to be a bit more gritty like The Village?

[SirChenjin]

Oh god - now The Village is depressing

[Mumsyblouse]

I think Lady Mary's acting is spot on, I've noticed that a lot of posher people hardly move their lips when speaking and she has that slight condescending air off to a tee. Rose is unauthentic in her manner in the extreme (and no I don't buy that this was typical of the 20's).

But- Anna/Joanne is a brilliant actress, really brilliant. That's what made it so awful, I think, her distress was really distressing.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Oh I think Rose is quite good Mumsy - just posh in a more lively way than Mary ? Are they meant to be sisters though ?
< clueless at following plot >

[spanky2]

So glad I had warning from catching the actor involved being interviewed on This Morning. Downton isn't the type of programme to confront issues. As a victim of said crime I would have been really upset if I didn't already know. Again I watch it for escapism. mind you I didn't approve of them killing Sybil, Matthew or the miscarriage.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Rose is Robert's cousin's daughter, isn't she? The Gleneagles family they visited while Mary was up the spout, who then took up a diplomatic post Somewhere Hot, so Rose escaped to Downton.

[squoosh]

As an aside, the footman that Rose was dancing with was v cute, much better looking than the chinless toff she ended up with.

[CoolStoryBro]

Personally, I thought it was really well done. Joanne Froggatt acted her heart out. Downton has never been just an escapist drama because they've covered LOADS of issues in previous series, it just seems a bit glossier because of the era it's set in.

The fact is, it's fictional entertainment and there are many, many programmes that have dealt with rape in a far more heavy handed way than Downton did last night.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Oh thanks Horry - can't pretend to really follow all that (haven't really watched much up to now but am getting hooked - mainly quite like a Sunday night period drama on autumn evenings) but makes sense anyway that Rose wouldn't be Mary's sister as Mary was married to Matthew after all (well known son and heir) So, OK, she's a cousin (that'll do for now!)

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

Joanne Froggatt is a fine actress. There are some others who are being wasted on this shite - badly-written storylines that are over in a flash.

I did not see it last night - didn't watch for the first time as I've decided it's a waste of time. I can see why others are cross about this storyline - the rest has been so unbelievable and almost comical, that this seems incongruous

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

I was bloody shocked, we watch on catchup to speed through the adverts and missed the warning :(

Joanne Froggatt is an excellent actress and I thought the scene itself was actually well done. Shocking content but well done. I agree with other posters that the change in personalities of Anna and Bates was weird, I commented to DH that it was weird before the attack happened.

Of course she will be pregnant :(

[NickerlaGill]

Lots of people on the TV page were moaning about there being no real plot in the new series and it being drab and predictable. This was on after 9pm, we didn't see any real violence. Lots more really scary stuff on TV. This is just a TV drama - it's not real!

[OneStepCloser]

Can we all agree though that Lord Downtons (god forgotten name) acting is getting crappier each week please

I only watch it for Dame Maggie and even shes getting a bit soft now.

[NickerlaGill]

The really horrible part was that Mrs Housekeeper didn't hesitate to promise she'd keep quiet about it. Rape was an everyday hazard for the servant classes and Anna would probably be sacked if she made a fuss. At least that part is 'real'.

[MissMalteser]

Am I the only one who thought the friendliness of NH's character was an angle, so to speak, he was a predator who picked his victim carefully and went out of his way to forge some kind of 'friendship' beforehand, either to get his kicks or to justify it in his mind somehow... I honestly didn't see anything to indicate victim blaming at all.

[GeorginaWorsley]

I agree subject shocking but it was shown after 9 pm,in fact rape scene nearer to 10 pm.
There was a warning beforehand re violent content.
I don't agree that Sunday drama has to equal cosy either.
Many years ago the nation was gripped by 'the Forsythe Saga' which iirc featured marital rape or something similar?
Downton has covered 'distressing' topics before,such as first world war,Spanish flu,pre eclampsia,etc
I hope it now explores society's reactions to sexual assault in 1920's.

[Clawdy]

Joanne Froggatt is such a good and versatile actress. Anyone remember her in Coronation Street years ago playing Zoe, a sullen and rather unpleasant single mum? Just about as different from Anna as you could imagine.