Downton Abbey

[harrietthespook]

Ladies....as we were?

That's awesome Satsuma.

I'm really wondering if there won't be resolution to the Matthew Mary saga this series though. If they really think it would acceptable to string it out even further - regardless, I think Christmas is the earliest we'll get any answers. They haven't filmed that episode yet apparently.

I think JF could be waiting to see how the wind blows in terms of what 'the audience' seems to respond to, to decide how to wrap things up. The whole thing feels a bit fly by the seat of one's pants-ish so it wouldn't surprise me.

Agree Sybil is going to go off with Branson and barely be noticed.

I think they need to get at least one of those daughters married off. War or no war, you wouldn't get 3 daughters like that not married would you? I mean I know they can't inherit but wouldn't they have come with a dowry or something? Surely they'd have more suitors sniffing around? As someone pointed out earlier they're be left on the shelf if they get to their late 20s.....

If there isn't a resolution then I think JF will lose a few million viewers TBH. It's all very well leaving people in suspense but that would be taking it too far and surely Mary et al are getting on a bit in terms of marriagability. I'm surprised none of the sisters are married yet TBH, it seems very unusual even with a war on. Sybil was presented in 1913 if I remember right.

How many episodes are there left of this series?

'they're'? they'll even

"Ousts her to the dower house surely?"

Why?

She´s not Matthew´s mother!

Cross post AKMD but great minds think alike :)

We're on to episode five right? SO 5,6,7 then the XMAS one.

Kind of dismayed to see yet more characters coming in next week - the vicar. Could be panto value, yes, but still.

I don´t think that any of them have any dowries.

That´s why someone like Sir R would be "good" as he could afford to "keep them in the style to which they are accustomed".

Didn´t some of the estates "change hands" after WW1 due to deaths in the war death duties, so no heirs & no money to keep them going?

(Or was that after WW2?)

I'd like to see a threeway fight between Isoble, Cora and Violet. I absolutely loathe Isobel, bossy arriveste.
I think Violet could possibly have her on her own using only the walking stick. Cora is a bit drippy TBH and Isobel has the insiders nursing knowledge of where the most painful bit of a fanjo is when kicked.

They do have dowries. Remember that conversation that Lord G had with the wayward Duke who thought he'd get in there when it looked as if Mary was going to inhert. "You'll find the settlement generous." There is pin money coming their way. It's position they need. (But not of the ilicit Pamuk variety.)

RIPS: "....most painful bit of a fanjo..."

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When Lord G dies and Matthew inherits, she will be the Dowager Countess and hence have the right to live at the Dower house, which existed on huge old estates like DA for the sole purpose of getting the old Baroness/Viscountess/Countess/Marchioness/Duchess out of the way to make sure she and the new holder of that title weren't fighting it out in the main house. Matthew's mother would definitely not get the dower house but would more than likely stay at Crawley house in the village.

It makes sense really. Who really, truly, wants to live in their MIL's old house with her still there and thinking she's still in charge? Look how quickly the wife and daughters get thrown out in Sense & Sensibility.

Yes Biscuits, glad someone else thinks it's odd! :)

Although there would be a definite lack of suitors - Sybil said in ep 1 something like "I feel like every boy i ever danced with is dead"

Which leaves only ageing dodgy editors and randy car polishers / farmers...

But they were all 'out' before the war, Mary and Edith for some time. you would have thought they would have met someone. I'm still waiting to see what happens when Evelyn Napier shows up for a bit of R&R though.

"Matthew's mother would definitely not get the dower house"

Wouldn´t that be for Matthew to decide?

My money's on Edith to snare Napier. BUT he found her quite odious, it seemed, that she spread the rumour about Mary. However, she's chhhhaggggeddd for the better. So we'll see.

Thinking, it´s Cora being the widow of Lord Gthat would give her the Dower house, isn´t it, not Isobel being the mother of Matthew?

I thought that Napier wanted to marry Mary, but couldn´t afford to?

Or was that a Duke who had been "seeing" Thomas?

Exactly Diddl. It would be a massive, huge, huge, huge insult to Cora if Matthew installed Isobel at the Dower house. Everyone would be very, very shocked. You just wouldn't do it.

Napier is very rich and did want to marry Mary but was put off by her being rude to him while falling over herself to get to Pamuk. It was the Duke who was in it for the money (and the money only, clearly!).

So there would be a fanjo gouging fight?
I imagine the incumbent of DA's mother lives in the Dower House. That's where Violet lives.
I would prefer the one that Isobel lives in now. In fact I'd like to buy it now and live there where people from unknown numbers can't get me.

Yes, Cora to Dower. But if Violet is still alive it poses another problem it wuld seem.

Isobel bunking in at DA - now wouldn't that be fun. Matthew likes living with her tho.

"what shall we call each other." Violet/Cora to Isobel.

"I is Cinderella and you is the Ugly Sisters."

I guess you also have to hope that everyone conveniently dies in the right order!

Could you imagine if Matthew inherited whilst Violet was still alive-and Isobel didn´t want to be by herself in the village any more!

There could be 2 Countess(?) Granthams plus a MIL all under one roof

Great minds Harriet