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)

What was that thing in Bates's bed. It looked like a cigar. And what the significance of a bit rubbing off on the wall?

I believe it was what prison dwellers call a shank.

A homemade knife.

Someone here mentioned someone getting a shanking the other day. I fear Mumsnet is becoming too edgy for me

I thought he was shoving it into a gap in the mortar in the brickwork.

squoosh you are so terribly 'down with the crims' your knowledge can be useful to us laydees

chubfuddler i thought he was hiding it too

liking the new Bates storyline we have cooked up

Soupdragon The paradise has improved I'm glad I gave it another chance, not fantastic but watchable; it was like "Larkrise goes shopping" though

I had last night's on in the background and it was indeed better than episode 1. Not sure I'll be upset to miss it though :)

A shank! OOh learned something new. BAtes is changing, a bit tougher, no limp. MAybe he's going to knife the guard and do a bunk, leap over the prison wall.

THe bit of language I found strangest this time round was when they had the picnic at the other house and commenting on it being so much smaller, the earl says they'll need "8 servants, tops". Tops? I am fairly sure he would never have said that

Tops! Hahaha. So silly. I have the rule that if DH's Grandma (titled, born in 1910) wouldn't have said it, then it shouldn't be on Downton. She would NEVER have said "we will need 8, tops".

I only just watched the episode - bloody hell about Edith. Did not expect that. Totally wrong - yy a gentleman like Strallan wouldn't have jilted her but also Strallan the character wouldn't have. It's really bad storytelling. We had all the wavering and backing off and concerns, all resolved. Was it supposed to be that talk with Lord 6 after Branson and Matthew left to play billiards that scuppered his resolve? V poor if so.

And she looked lovely, great dress.

Am not usually bothered about bad storytelling in DA, my Toshometer? being very resilient - but pah!

Apart from that, some wonderful tosh again. The Letter. Branson in black tie. The picnic. Lord 6 striding out onto the lawn. Lady Violet's comment about the food. The Clues we're all going to be shouting to Anna next week: "The pies!" "The halo!"

If I had to live with one character from Downton Abbey it would most definitely be Mrs Padmore. That woman certainly knows how to put on a spread.

Oh God yes - what the HECK happened to Bates' LIMP?!

Didn't the limp get fixed after he bought and got rid of that daft leg contraption?

He couldn't even stand without that stick and now he's sprinting around the prison quite unmerrily.

They should leave him in the clink it's clearly doing his health the world of good. Limp gone, pounds on, renewed violent streak spirit . . . .

No, that didn't cure it.

I was thinking last night I might have to watch the episode from Series Two when Matty gets the tingles again. Remember that scene when they all go RUNNING down to the front room? Hilair.

squoosh's post.

STRALLEN: hey, maybe he's had a LETTER too???

Do you reckon? Something arriving in the post that am. He did look unnaturally pale...

I know the limp corrector didn't fix Bates but I thought something else did afterwards. I am scanning the episode summaries but can't find it.

I wonder who's got it in for Bates, if it is someone outside the prison at all. It could just be his cell-mate hates him and knows that Bates saw him giving/taking something from the prison guards, wants to get rid of him and get a more easily frightened and submissive cell-mate.

Can't see Sir Rotter being bothered about a valet in York. No story any more, he's been convicted of murder.

Someone closer to home? From the trailer for next week it seems as if someone (must be the guards?) has been intercepting the letters between Bates and Anna to make each think the other was giving up on them. Could still be the nasty cell-mate and guards. Who else would want to get at Bates?

I've got it in for Bates. As this is TV rather than RL I wish they'd just hanged him. Storylines dragging on and on and on are the most rubbish part of DA.

thought he always had the cane soupdragon

Maybe it's one of those things where he thought he needed the cane more than he actually did (physical and psychological crutch) and didn't realise if he got rid of it, or was forced to do without it, he could manage better than he thought?

SlightlySuperior IKEWYM

Sometimes I wonder if J~F just comes up with storylines, someone writes all the ideas down, they're given to a script writer who's 'hip n wivit innit', and then they just get the actors to act it all out, then leave it to the editor, who's so confused with all the plots, sub plots and general shennanigans, (and who may or may not be spending crucial hours posting on MN) thus the consistency of the storyline and plots may be a little hap hazard, if not just bloody ridiculous.

I do feel MNers could come up with a far more, exciting and believeable story line, with heaps more frocks, romance and few dalliances with a few top notch male leads and a plethora of yummy recipies thrown in. DA MN-style!

Yes nother I'm sure that happens a lot; did you watch The Hour? it must 've been written by a group of airheads too. If JF has any sense he might do something about it.