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Downton Abbey

999 replies

missmogwi · 18/09/2011 22:18

Bloody mum rang to ask me about how much Internet she can use before it's full. Don't ask.

Why did bates have to leave?? Aaargh missed crucial bit!

OP posts:
hiccymapops · 09/10/2011 23:34

She did actually rethink the soap, and go to move it, but it was too late.

LeBOF · 09/10/2011 23:38

I reckon Anna is supposed to be late twenties, early thirties. They did talk about having a family, so she can't be that much older.

anonacfr · 09/10/2011 23:43

By the way how dismissive was Pickle of Sybil's work as a nurse? He basically told her all she did was serve tea to randy officers!!

Nice to see he respects her then Hmm. I can't believe she didn't comment on that.

LeBOF · 09/10/2011 23:46

He is boorish and rude- I don't understand why his character has changed so much since series one.

celticlassie · 09/10/2011 23:52

I was actually a little disappointed about the thing with Branson and the General - they had a great opportunity to incorporate the 'Irish' political aspect and they turned it into a pantomime sketch.

anonacfr · 10/10/2011 00:02

Worse thing is I can't quite tell if we're meant to be turned off by his creepiness or to find him all romantic. Her lack of reaction seems to imply she's slowly being taken in and falling for him. Or is she?

If that's what they are going for that is one awful miscalculation.

celticlassie · 10/10/2011 00:07

I don't think so - I think we're meant to believe that she is falling for him (or has already) but propriety is stopping her from committing. She's a good girl, is Sybill. (Unlike Edith and the farmer Grin)

Edith is actually becoming my favourite of the sisters. Although Mary is far more likeable this year.

anonacfr · 10/10/2011 00:16

In that case.... Eeeeew!

And yes, Edith has seriously improved. She's quite likeable now.

Northernlurker · 10/10/2011 00:17

Yes - he's passionate not obsessive and creepy - ok then..........Hmm

I used to quite like him but he's getting on my nerves now.

I was delighted Edith got the push. Irritating bism.

No Lavinia this week - nor was she in the trailer for next week.....

Northernlurker · 10/10/2011 00:18

Not Edith - ETHEL - sorry

stepawayfromtheecclescakes · 10/10/2011 00:18

am I the only one who sniggers childishly when someone says Mr Bates Blush

anonacfr · 10/10/2011 00:21

Tee hee.

No you're not Grin

stepawayfromtheecclescakes · 10/10/2011 00:22

oh thank you... tee hee

LeBOF · 10/10/2011 00:26

I was quite amused by the notion of pulling Mr Bates by his stick, it has to be said...

CheerfulYank · 10/10/2011 00:57

Psh, I'm 29 and would snap up Mr Bates in a heartbeat!

limitedperiodonly · 10/10/2011 09:22

Can I just say I correctly predicted Ethel as the fallen woman ?

The war scenes and that adventure of Matthew and Mr Potatohead were a very poor show.

The creators of Downton made a huge play of authenticity in the pre-launch fanfare.

They boasted about filming at a WWI buff's mock-up of the trenches in Ipswich, finding real disabled actors to play the wounded and hauled out a former army officer and equerry to the Queen to comment every five minutes about the way asparagus would have been eaten by nobs in 1916.

JF will probably get all huffy if he read these criticisms just like he did when people spotted TV ariels and yellow lines in the first series. That didn't matter very much but being lazy and trite over the tragedy of WWI is unforgivable.

The film of All Quiet On The Western Front was made in 1930 and was much more authentic in setting, scary in the bombardment scenes and accurately portrayed the mowing down of a generation.

Avantia · 10/10/2011 09:23

Missed the first series so caught up with it when it was repeated but still not clear what the relationship between OBrien and Thomas is - are they just bad 'uns who have found a mutal interest in bringing everyone down ?

Summerbird73 · 10/10/2011 09:38

''anonacfr Sun 09-Oct-11 23:43:38''

''By the way how dismissive was Pickle of Sybil's work as a nurse? He basically told her all she did was serve tea to randy officers!!

Nice to see he respects her then hmm. I can't believe she didn't comment on that.''

anon that was my thought exactly, i was horrified that she didnt challenge him, she is, after all an early century feminist Hmm

I too cried a liddle when Matthew and William walked in, i thought Michelle Dockerys (Mary) acting was fab - you could tell she was desperate to go and stick the lips on him, she even twitched to move forward a couple of times Smile

and OMG the singing - WTF was with the singing! Shock

GeorginaWorsley your story about your Great Aunt is Sad

minko · 10/10/2011 09:39

As regards war authenticity - isn't it a bit odd how Matthew seems to be commuting between Downton and the front every week??

Bossybritches22 · 10/10/2011 09:43

Minko - we said that...he's back & forth as though there were a time machine!!

However we must remember the episodes are a year apart or so....it is hard to get that sometimes.

ppeatfruit · 10/10/2011 09:46

Actually northern I was reading the King who abdicated's memoirs and he went to W.W.1 but was annoyed that he (wasn't allowed) near the muddy trenches. He was living among trees and hedges in huts. It's a very large place northern France,Belgium etc.

ppeatfruit · 10/10/2011 09:53

Oh and what's wrong with a sing song then? It was a Concert Party ffs "They expect it" Grin

harrietthespook · 10/10/2011 09:56

The singing didn't bother me for some reason. Didn't go on very long. I think they might have had some event like that 'back in the day'. I thought it was a good episode last night overall - it's bound to be a BIT corny and I agree in the hands of worse actors several scenes would have been a big risk.

I actually think Matthew might not make it now. I wasn't reassured about him coming back now - I think JF is setting us up for a big ole calamity at the end, with the big 'hint' being that Isobel is in France now.

ppeatfruit · 10/10/2011 09:57

Avantia No one knows the exact relationship between O'Brien and Thomas, not that there hasn't been speculation on here of course! Grin

missismac · 10/10/2011 10:14

anonacfr I think that Mrs Bates said she'd angled herself a job in a grnad London household by exaggerating her connections (i.e. Downton). Within that house there had been much gossip & speculation at the time about the demise of the Turk at Downton, & Lady Mary's involvement. She did a little digging & hey presto she has her story/blackmail weapon. But someone with better recall may be able to retell it more accurately.