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!

Bossybritches - hear hear!

This series is starting to piss me off. My sister claims the newfound soap opera-ness must be due to it getting popular in the US and now the producers feel must appeal to baser American tastes! A bit rich considering we're Canadian

The potrayal of time is awful - How is Matthew always on leave? One moment he's deep in trench warfare and the next he's popped round Downton for a cup of tea. And if all these months are indeed passing, do they never come up with new topics of conversation at Downton? They've been talking about the same three issues for years now!

I also don't like the sheer predictability - Oh, Cora's arrived at the secret soup kitchen! Whatever will her reaction be?! Oh, Ethel's back! Why ever would she have returned?!

I still love it though :) With the way Downton time flies, I figure series 3 will take us to the roaring 20s, then in the 4th we'll hit the stock market crash and Great Depression.

I got annoyed that Ethel said "I'm pregnant" - they'd never have said that then. She'd have said "I'm in trouble" or "I'm in the family way" or some other euphemism. But I wouldn't enjoy it as muchif I had nothing to grump about...

"and now the producers feel must appeal to baser American tastes!"

Oh, I hope not. I have stopped watching Torchwood because it is too American.

makescakes

Oh yes nit-picking & spot the modern terminology/outfit/behaviour is half the fun in our family!

Pedants Corner rules.....

You mark my words, Mrs Bird will turn to back street abortion, have Edith sorted out and still get the soup kitchen sorted out.
Mrs Bird is a shockingly bad actress.

should be, turn out to be a backstreet abortionist.

I can't totally work out why everyone thinks of Branson as a wife beater...

Sir Richard I really don't like. I feel A BIT sorry for Mary - not more or less than Edith (for some different reasons but both have underutilised brains and capabilities!). I dont' feel sorry for SYbil. I think she can hold her own.

I can totally see Sir R thinking he can sell M a story of 'building big things together' but knowing that secretly he can carry on knocking off other women. I have no good reason to believe this, I only feel it. I feel like he's a massive chauvanist and probably has other women on the go. No evidence, I jsut suspect.

Harriet I agree.....he's looking at Mary as a useful commodity in his career.

He'd be getting maids in the family way (not pregnant) all over town, I would wager....

hee hee - almost, but not quite, as irritating as Kate Winslet flipping the bird in Titanic - a filmic moment that still has the power to make my blood boil 15 years later...

I'm obviously not pedantic enough. The only thing I spotted was the three-pin plug sockets in the first episode.

I dont know why I have such a visceral distrust of Pickles. He isn't the sort of man I would want my DD mixed up with that's all.
Where does the dog (Isis) go when she isn't needed for filming? I've never heard any mention of a kennel and she doesn't seem to be fed ever.

Who is Mrs Bird?

Does anyone else think Branston's character has changed? Last series I thought he was dashing, politically progressive and just a little cocky. (Also thought Sybil was falling in love with him.) Now he strikes me as bitter, big headed and potentially very controlling. Not wife beater material necessarily, but trouble.

Isis lives somewhere in the bowels of Downton or in the stables.

She occasionally has a crepe suzette from Mrs P!

Mrs Bird is Coisin Isobels cook- she came to help out when Mrs Padmore had tohave her cataracts done

COISIN???

I agree about Pickles Bue- quite liked him then now he's geting a bit stalkerish.....

Now I remember.

I have come across some spoiler pictures for episode 5 which look very interesting! Should I link or is this a spoiler free thread?

link link link, it is up to everyone else if they can't control their clicking finger.
I had completely forgotten about Mrs Bird helping out at DA.
So glad Isobel has gone, she drives me batty, bloody self important interloper.

Here!

Ooooooh, they do look interesting. Is episode 5 this week's one?

Yes! And now I can't wait!!! Arghhh!!!

Hang on a minute! Why is William in the posh bed and Matthew in the standard one?!

I wondered why he was in such rich surroundings! Maybe he is at Downton recuperating?