Downton Abbey Part THREE: Shoehorns and Spanish Fly

[NorfolkNChance]

Soooooooooooooo I still reckon Cora to kick the bucket, shuffle of this mortal coil, sing with the choir eternal etc etc

I bet Jane is handy with a shorehorn for Lord 6, he's been out of action for a while so may need some help.

I think you all are being too hard on Matthew.

He didn't say he didn't love Mary when he broke up with her, quite the contrary. He said he love her, but couldn't trust her feelings for him (because she didn't commit when there was a chance he wasn't a heir). Understandable.
He tried to move on, but the old attraction still tempts him.... Not a horrible thing, is it? It can happen to anyone...He is still tryingto do the right thing, but his heart is betraying him.

and no, I am not a romantic....

But he did move on & seemed perfectly OK with it until Violet stuck he oar in.

Not until he could walk, of course

Has Violet expressed an opinion of Sir R?

I saw her catch Mary's face drop when M&L announced their engagement.

Well obviously Sir R isn´t good enough as he´s not "old money"

She said the same about her SIL, didn´t she-or that his family weren´t "old" or something.

I know I think about this too much-but do you remember the first series & how Matthew was barely good enough to enter the house & they were trying to marry Mary off to well, anyone?

Now suddenly he´s the best thing for her?

I was rather hoping that Matthew wouldn´t fall for Mary due to how he was treated initially.

Violet seems softer and more comical in this series. In fact many of the personalities are evolving very quickly.

Mary has become a better person - but doesn't appear that way right now because she's VERY unhappy.

Found the clip from The One Show.

psychic do you agree with me then lavvie's return was mostly down to Sir R and Cora didn't invite her DIRECTLY although she agreed with Sir R's dec to summon?

That clip made me dizzy.

Notice how Matthew evasively answers 'a while ago' when Mary asks when Granny intervened?

It's more of that special Downton Time. It probably means just before Mr Chamberlain came back with that note from Mr Hitler.

I don´t find it romantic at all-is it supposed to be?

lady Harriet

I am confused, it is rather ambiguous.
Almost like Sir R was forceful in wanting Lavvie brought back, and Cora rather agreed, as she wanted Mary to focus on Sir R.
her reason to lord 6 - you do want grandchildren, don't you?

as in, if M&M married there'd be no grandkids

cora was complicit, as she apologised to lord 6 - 'don't scold me'
but the scene where sir R and Cora plot bringing Lav back, Cora doesnt actually speak, or nod- just looks at him, then looks at Mary thru the window with matthew in the garden.

and the scene where she walks in, everyone is surprised. to the point where Lav doesnt think she's been invited.

Up thread someone asked if it would even be proper for a young single woman to travel unchaperoned on the train with Sir R, they prob had a servant with them, but really?

they just burst into the room after dinner, where was Carson's announcement? Cora could have prewarned everyone that Lav was coming, couldnt she?

dancing clip is beautiful.

so matty's ONLY argument is Lavvie's sacrifice.

JF will therefore

1. out Lavvie as being bribed by Sir R
2. kill Lavvie
3. both of the above.

hope it's both!

If Sir R brought Lavinia back to keep M&M apart, why the flip hasn´t he set a date??!!

they have set dates, they were talking about it. m&m is april - violet said May was a bad month, with a funny rhyme - marry in may...repent all day or sommink

then mary turned to sir R and said we'll have july then... or did I dream that?

actually - the time leaps in the series couldve been easily portrayed with christmas tree in the background for a few scenes to show xmas, then on to spring etc

Yes, you´re right.

What I mean is why didn´t he get a date set as soon as he was worried about M&M spending too much time together?

"Marry in May & rue the day"

suppose he felt jealous but his stupid male ego refused to think a crippled man could threaten his relationship, esp. including the extra 'hold' he has on mary
so even though he was worried he didnt want to rush into a date, he likes to keep the power/stay cool

?? wildly theorizing here

that was me asking about whether it was proper for Sir R to travel with Lavvy.

I just think it's suspicious she'd made no contact at all before that point -not convincing enough for her to say to matthew: I've changed! It's all different now! She hadn't changed, she was encouraged to come.

how can you NOT think the dancing was romantic.

mary and sir r did settle on July. BUT there is no question that these engagements are going on for a ridiculous length of time given the period. I really think they would have just gotten on with it.

I wonder if Sir R will turn up with another woman.

"She hadn't changed, she was encouraged to come."

Maybe-but Matthew could have sent her away instead of setting a date!

Also, if she didn´t want to marry him, couldn´t she have stalled the date setting for Sir R to marry first?

Let's get back onto Lord Fatty Bum Bum and his kissing technique.

talk about devoid of romance - jane's lucky she has any teeth left. that was like the equivalent of shoving an entire krispy kreme in your mouth in one go and chewing with your mouth open. and burping. Yuck. Can't believe she'd go back for more.

Does JF have the habit of giving things away in the dialogue?

Just remembered Lavinia saying something along the lines of "I´ll die if I can´t have Matthew"

Yes he does Diddl. Well remembered.

Any speculation on why they were dancing?

Matthew and Lavinia's wedding maybe?

But then devil's advocate...she gave up fairly easily didn't she...

that dancing seemed to be in a deserted room, totally alone...

any more theories on who killed vera?

yes - but I reckon night before M&L's wedding. Rehearsal dinner or some such.