Downton Abbey - update required

[StagnantRabbit]

Any big Downton fans out there who can tell me what happened in the very last episode of series 2 and also the Xmas special? Tryin to get ready for the new series on Sunday but is there anything else I missed? (apart from Lady Mary and Matthew getting together that is)

tribpot

No, the Dowager Duchess will not change her clothing. One has only to look at 1953 pictures of Queen Mary to see that although I don't know what she did in private re cigarettes and vodka.

Female members of the Royal Family were still wearing long dresses at Princess Anne's first wedding in 1973.

Or was it Princess Margaret's in 1960?

Even QM didn´t wear long (floor length) dresses all the time though.

here

It´s not short-but it shows her ankles!

I know - I was kidding about Violet becoming a flapper. It must have been very strange having grown up in such a different era.

That was in answer to RB, btw.

Although I doubt that Violet will change from floor length.

QM would have been about 70 in that pic-taken in 1939-and Violet must be mid 70s & it´s only 1920 with the change just happening.

Tall waiter is not O'Brien's nephew.

I don't know who is is yet, but she jumped when she was referred to as his aunt.

Love child?

Toy boy?

Partner in long buried crime?

oooh well spotted Morris a love child from a long ago fling with the master of (another) house perchance....would explain her bitter attitude to them!!

at 'sanding a table'.

I loved it too, absolutely wonderful tosh, as it should be. Carson is very paternal towards Mary I think, because he never had a family of his own. So the Grantleys were/are his family. Came up before with Mrs Hughes and again at the wedding when he mentioned to her about being proud and she replies she is pleased. For her the Grantleys are only her employers.

I have a spot spot for Sir Anthony Strallan, want him to marry Edith but I fear Violet and Lord Fatty Bum Bum will scupper it.

Pickle annoyed me though. The "slipped a mickey" scene was enough (and v enjoyable) without his berating the family at the first dinner. Selfish rude sod, he must have known how much it meant to Sybil to go home.

Fiderer I agree, to Carson The Granthams are his family, he & Lord G have a close working relationship that in later times might have been called friendship.

I too have a feeling Edith will not be encouraged although I think she genuinely likes him as he admires her & she doesn't get much attention!

Pickle is going to come to a sticky end isn't he? Bless him he looked so awkward going below stairs to say hello to his ex workmates.

Crossed so many boundaries Carson loked fit to implode!!

Grantley? You're thinking To The Manor Born! They're the Crawleys.

Err, the Granthams even. The Grantleys were an inferior family of poachers I believe.

I loved how Carson looked furious yet completely correct in terms of etiquette when he stood up when pickle went downstairs. I like the way the servants are angered by the correct order being upset too.

I think I may have been distracted by googling pictures of Sir Anthony.

I loved To The Manor Born and Mrs Pooh. Loved The Good Life too, not Tom and Barbara as much but Margot and Jerry. I still say to the FidBoys "Language, Jerry".

Could the constant references to the 'nephew's' freakish height turn out to be a clue to his parentage?

Or is it something Julian Fellowes will forget to follow up as he's done many times before?

Carson looked apoplectic. Also re etiquette, I only realised after watching it that Thomas is now "Mr Barrow" as he's finally a valet.

Have a soft spot for Molesley too but doubt I'll be googling him.

My Dh once made me a Christmas paper hat out of the daily mirror just so I could refuse to wear it. No one calls me Margot, oh no.

Carson sounds utterly contemptuous when he says mr barrow doesn't he? It's marvellous stuff.

The whole Sybil/Branson being invited-realistic or not?

I would have thought that if they were allowed back it would have been quite informal & not to anything like a pre wedding dinner.

That the staff would have to wait on him at dinner would be bad enough-without the (imo) ridiculous idea that he have a valet!

And that Lady Violet would be so cordial with him at the suit fitting thing.

Still, JF is supposed to know his stuff, isn´t he?
(and it´s not real)

Getting a bit too soapy, though?

Have to allow for the eccentricities of the upper classes. Princess Margaret married a photographer so they made him an Earl.

Yes, but I think he had had quite a privileged upbringing-hadn´t been in service for the family he married into, at any rate

When Ann Boleyn was Queen her sister married the kings groom.

Mind you they were exiled from court so not the best example....

I'm sure many of them married from well beneath. But whether they were invited back and made to feel like anyone else in the family is quite another thing...

There?s marrying beneath yourself and then there?s marrying the help. The most kind and understanding of 1920?s aristos may have stayed in touch with a daughter like Sybil, but invite her and her husband to come and stay for the weekend?

A Saturday to Monday, squoosh please.

Yes I said she married from WELL beneath. I too don't think it's realistic that they'd be invited back in that manner.