DowntonTheory - Your Thoughts (Warning, spoilers)

[elephantsteaparty]

When I was watching the last episode yesterday I had an idea of the hook on which the next series is going to hang, and I wondered what you guys thought. I have to say that I gave up with series one half way through, so am not sure whether what I am about to say would be nagated by something that happened there, but:

a) O' Brien wanted Cora's forgiveness about something that happened 20 years ago

b) There's been speculation here (and elsewhere) that Thomas is O' Brien's son

c) Lord G's dalliance with Ethel shows that he's not above getting his end away with the staff

d) Thomas always seems to act as though being a servant is below his station

SO.....

Are we going to find out that Thomas is the result of an affair b/w O' Brien and Lord G, and thus a bastard heir to Downton.....?

Or have I got completely the wrong end of the stick!?!?!?!?!?

I only started watching Downton this series and I thought Thomas was O'Brien's son, then realised that it was wan't explicitly mentioned, but the little hints were there so I've wondered about it too.

Was there more involvement from Lord G in the first series? Because I thought his character wasn't involved much, just moping about in the background, being ignored by the busy women, then snatching a few kisses with Jane the new maid.

I did find out last night that Sybil and Bransen are a couple in real life though.

i thought she wanted forgiveness for the soap incident. but wouldn't put it past lord g though.

Was the soap incident in series one? But I'm sure she mentioned 20 years last night. Will see if I can find the spot on iPlayer.

yes, series one, she thought cora was going to replace her so she hid a bar of soap near the bath, cora slipped and lost her baby boy.

Yes I thought it was for the soap thing. If OB had had an illegitimate son that would be very close in plot to Gosford Park - also written by Julian Fellowes wasn't it?

Oh well, I must have been reading too much into it. Dunno why I thought O' Brien was talking about 20 years ago tho', really will have to listen to it again at some point.

My first thoughts when reading this was that personally I don't think o'brien is old enough to be Thomas's mum. So I had a look on the net at their ages in real life. He is 35 and she is 45. Although of course she is made to look quite severe in Downton which would make her look older. By the way, also found out that in real life she is married to PC Bellamy from Heartbeat.