Downton Abbey

[missmogwi]

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!

Yep, ole Matthew is going to die, shortly after Mary gets together with him.

Lonely spinster hood for her beckons.

We're not supposed to like the Irish chauffeur because he's er..... Irish at a time when suspicion and bigotry abounded. He's a cock and he's going to hurt Sybil, maybe even sexually assault her.

I sobbed at Mary and Matthew last night, fantastic manipulation.

I am really curious at how Sir Richard is going to deal with the news of Mary's episode with Pamuk. Looked pretty angry in the preview!! Hope he gets a fair crack at showing what he's about - not just three minutes here and there.

But if Matthew doesn´t come back, what will the point of the series have been?

And what will the point of series 3 be?

You're right missismac.

She'd exaggerated her Downton connections to get an interview at the London house (I think). Then she got into conversation with the servants as you would.

Out of the blue someone mentioned 'the scandal' about which Vera knew nothing. She pretended she knew all about it but said she couldn't say anything directly. But if they told her what they knew she'd confirm or deny with a nod...

Cunning thing; the News of the World's fake sheikh in a bonnet.

we def. need some O'Brien 'backstory' more than a mention of the favourite brother, who also said that she was his favourite in a ouble sibling favourite reference...

pickles needs to wind his neck in, for real. sybil is oddly hypnotised, wanting to rebel but aware of what she'd lose, also think he pissed her off a tad when he reduced her nursing to 'giving randy old soldiers hot drinks'

mary shouldve run toward matthew then remembered herself, much to everyones shock, would have given a stronger message of strapped down feelings of love

and yes Iam team Matthew he DOES NOT have the eyes of a goat
but the pale blue eyes of a majestic eagle.

bates can piss right off. Glad Thomas got a dressing down by the sarge-doctor guy. sad he's paying daisy back by being an arse.

and Ethel!! so shocking for 1917. i thought her character, so obsessed with moving up in life, wouldve been far more careful, more protective of herself

and for the love of moustaches

someone tell Earl G about PAMUK

and also earl g peed me off assuming edith wouldnt have kept the secret of matthew missing to score points over mary, glad mary defended her.

we need edith noticing more of what sybil is doing too, they hardly ever interact...
she couldve compared farmer/chauffeur flirtations

muddy fingers vs oily fingers

violet was good last night, also good when edith said - yes, I know william' to dasiy - upstairs>downstairs there, like she knows all the names of the staff

edith's character is growing good to see, she should find a nice hubby - wheres the old rich farmer guy who took her in his car?

"wheres the old rich farmer guy who took her in his car?"

My goodness, don´t tell me that another one of the "gels" is "no better than she ought to be"?

I agree Diddl - series 3+ would limp on w/o Matthew.

BUT - I just feel like JF doesn't always know what's good for him!!! I feel like this missing thing was just a teaser...lull the fans into a false sense of security.

What is the rampantly able-bodied Major Bryant doing in a convalescent hospital?

As soon as Matthew walked in I didn't cry but did stop breathing...for several minutes afterwards!! Awwww SUCH good Sunday evening TV!! Finding the whole Branston/Sybil thing a bit odd. I don't think she really loves himself - just finds his politics and passion appealing and, of course, a declaration of undying love is always nice for a girl to hear. However, his nasty dismissal of her hard work as a nurse revealed his true colours - run for your life Sybil!!

I suppose it depends what the "point" of the whole thing is.

Is it about an heir for Downton, Matthew/Mary, or just a comment on things that were going on at the time?

He's gone too far along with the romance part of the story being important to conclude that it's more about social commentary. Upstairs Downstairs could and arguably did go that route but not this show.

NorthernLurker - I think I love you a little bit. Fab explanations and knowledge.

My predictions:

Sir R decides not to wed Lady Mary and spills the scandal (atfer it looks like she confesses ahead of accepting his proposal in his newspaper). Lady Mary is ruined.

Something has to happen to Lavinia (LOVE the idea of her and Earl G if Cora dies of influenza) so that gallant Matthew promises to marry Mary despite her fallen reputation... but then is seriously wounded to the extent that he will never produce an heir, but the marriage goes ahead anyway.

Daisy is going to be guilted into marrying William when he is next on leave OR will be honest and he'll sacrifice himself to save Matthew in a sort of suicide because of what Daisy said OR William will die and Daisy with posthumously realise his worth but anyway, poor William will die to represent all the poor young men who didnt come home.

Sybil will eventually run off with Pickle and regret it almost immediately. She will die in the influenza epidemic due to her nursing duties.

Edith will be an old maid. Poor Edith.

Anna and Mr Bates are not destined to live happily ever after.

Are O Brien and Thomas related? I feel like they are but think they are not. Is he her son do you thnk?

I like the way the characters aren't black and white - the 'baddies' showing their softer side (even Isabel's butler opening the house up to the wounded poor - too wounded to be at Downton )...the 'goodies' having their bitchy moments.

I think Matthew will break down about what he has been through and seen - not to his future wife, but in Mary's arms....

Sorry that was meant to be - too poor to be at Downton (not officer class)

I think Matthew and Mary will end up together,but not until some tragedy has befallen them,ie wounded at the front.

Twas me that suggested Cora fr the flu and Earl Grantham and Lavinia getting together.And producing an heir.

Sybil will perhaps elope with Branson but regret it.Lots of mileage in that story.

Edith may be the old maid I fear.

William injured/dead.

But it's scurrying along so quickly that there's almost no time for Matthew and William to finish their sing-song and make their way back to the front to get killed.

It's summer 1918 judging by the lush woodlands through which they were fleeing the Hun.

Still some maiming time to go until the guns fall silent but it's not very realistic. Matthew's been in it from the start and as northern says, junior officers had the life expectancy of a mayfly.

Perhaps Mary & Matthew will end up together after her "secret" comes out & she´s not considered good enough for anyone but a lawyer else.

Think it is supposed to be spring 1918 as daffodils out in some scenes last night.
I think a death/wounding will come right at the end,as it did to my great aunt's fiance and one of the poets,Wilfred Owen I think??
My aunt found out her beau had died after the Armistice.He died on 10 November.
Twill be added poignancy.

I think Lavinia could be handily dispatched by flu- that would be very convenient.

That's very true Georgina. It could happen any minute.

I don't want to be a curmudgeon because I'm enjoying it but Downton and its acquaintances are mysteriously charmed.

Ethel will have the baby - a boy - she will die in child birth and the Earl and Countess will adopt it .

Meanwhile Mathew will die or get seriously injured at the 11th hour of the war but marry Mary - but no heir as someone has already said.

So Ethels boy will inherit Dowton !