Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

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:
Biscuitsandtea · 10/10/2011 17:13

Surely the downstairs matter must be Mrs Bates threatening to tell all about Pamuk?

Pentagram · 10/10/2011 17:13

Esp as she will rely on Matthew's good nature and benevolence in future years....

Biscuitsandtea · 10/10/2011 17:15

Jackster that doesn't quite fit either timing wise though, for example at the start of this episode they were talking about the concert and then that happened at the end of the episode? I kept trying to mentally insert weeks in if I could - perhaps Earl G had known about Matthew for weeks before he told anyone etc etc, but then, for example he went 'tomorrow' to get Bates and he came back the same day so all looks too compact. I'm befuddled.

And DH won't watch it so I can't even quiz him on it!

diddl · 10/10/2011 17:16

I had wondered if Isobel will die due to leaving.

I suspect I might have been the only one who inwardly cheered when Matthew said that since his Isobel wasn´t there he might as well spend all his leave with Lavinia.

And the sing song-just toooooo corny!

Jacksterbear · 10/10/2011 17:20

Biscuits, I was meaning the previous episode (3?). Episode 3 opens in 1917, episode 4 (this week's) in 1918. But if Ep 3 happens over a number of months there isn't necessarily a time gap between the end of ep 3 and the start of ep 4. Either way though, the passing of time is not very well portrayed.

fivegomadindorset · 10/10/2011 17:22

Did Mr Napier ever turn up to recupirate?

Biscuitsandtea · 10/10/2011 17:24

Don't think so re Napier

I see Jackster maybe that is how is was supposed to be - but it is still confusing if one episode is over a few months and the next over a few days. I can't really recall what happened last time in terms of the timescale.

I am a simple person - IO don't need to be confused BlushConfused

Jacksterbear · 10/10/2011 17:25

I agree Biscuits, most Confused-ing

Georgimama · 10/10/2011 17:34

We've all read too many relationships threads and too much wikipedia. I think we are supposed to see Branston Pickle as a desperate romantic and we all see Narcisstic Personality Disorder.

Pentagram · 10/10/2011 17:37

Georgimama Grin - i think we could probably come up with a disorder for most romantic males in fiction:
Mr Darcy
Heathcliff
Mr Rochester
That bloke from Twilight

diddl · 10/10/2011 17:38

I think the Napier thing was so that Lord G would throw his toys out of the pram & Lady G would get pissed off with Isobel.

diddl · 10/10/2011 17:41

"That bloke from Twilight"-being a vampire?Blush

Georgimama · 10/10/2011 17:42

they do all have NPD - defo.

Pentagram · 10/10/2011 17:44

Vampire thing not the worst part though is it - being a misogynistic controlling arse much worse.....

Pentagram · 10/10/2011 17:46

........sorry to derail thread....Blush

dapplegrey · 10/10/2011 18:24

Diddl - I think Molsley was allowed to work at Downton because he was only working for Lord G, rather than with the convalescents, and therefore outside Thomas's remit.

Re. what is going on downstairs that Cora needs to see - could be Ethel going into labour?

Pedantry alert: would they have said 'pregnant' in those days? I would have thought they'd have said 'expecting a baby' or 'with child' though I don't know for certain.

diddl · 10/10/2011 18:27

"and therefore outside Thomas's remit."

Exactly-so why does he boss the staff around when the are all downstairs?

diddl · 10/10/2011 18:30

JF missed a trick with Ethel´s pregnancy.

The Grantham´s could have found out, hidden her away, pretended that Cora was pregnant...

And lo & behold, an heir!

Biscuitsandtea · 10/10/2011 18:31

They still might Diddl.....

Jacksterbear · 10/10/2011 18:33

Yes I was thinking that earlier when it was pointed out that adoption wouldn't work.

LeBOF · 10/10/2011 18:37

You know they say that there is never a gun mentioned in the First Act that won't be fired by the Third? Well I need to know what is going to happen with Lord Grantham and the shoehorn...

CheerfulYank · 10/10/2011 18:55

I can't keep up!

I am getting them from Amazon the first possible second (in January :( ) and then sitting down and watching them all straight through .

WillieWaggledagger · 10/10/2011 19:03

i am struggling a bit with this series - it feels a bit like I'm watching edited highlights. though it's not stopping me enjoying it overall

lol at 'Lord Grantham and the shoehorn'

Jacksterbear · 10/10/2011 19:09

CheerfulYank - can you not view it online on ITV player? I guess it doesn't work in the States...?

CheerfulYank · 10/10/2011 19:10

No, it doesn't. I tried that. :(