Downton Abbey Discussion continued...

[ErikNorseman]

Here!

I can see Edith becoming a roaring feminist. What with her wild ways, becoming a rebellious writer and Granny predicting her appearance in a London Revue

Something that made me smile last night - the Dowager saying 'yes yes the decision lies with the chauffeur'

Well they kept that secret very well didn't they? Yes as soon as Sybil told Mary how she felt I thought oh oh pre eclampsia that's it; as did most of you no doubt .

I agree the acting was good but I've always thought that. IMO There's too many histrionics in the normal soaps now so everyone expects high end emoting all the time! It's one of the reasons I like DA so much it's usually a bit calmer and not ashamed of it.

I honks with laughter when Mary said "blimey"! And when lord FBB told Tom to "go to bed" the week before. They seem to be ignoring the fact that bates is Irish too and surely would at least have an opinion although I Do realise he's a bit busy now. Big spread on cover of today's Radio Times about Bates, guilty or not? Haven't looked inside yet to see what they have to say. Avoid if you don't like his ugly mug

But Sybil used to be the one that stood up for Women's rights. Its almost like they liked the idea but wanted to kill Sybil off so they are making it Ediths crusade.

And strong, fiercely independent Sybil suddenly being Branston's submissive wife.

It'll be interesting to see how the new footman? deals with being set up by O'Brien. He's cute.

I didn't realise that in that time so called Christians talked about prostitutes as if they were shxx on their shoes.

But Bates was Northern Irish and I'm guessing a Protestant, therefore he wouldn't have shared Branson's political views. So wouldn't have been seen Irish in the sense that 'johnny foreigner' Branson is.

I have to say when M&M were walking round that farm talking about the tenant farmer, I loved that. Mary automatically assumed that Matthew was going to throw the man out of his home, but Matthew's idea of giving him a retirement cottage and renting out the farm to someone else was genius for the time.
It made me feel very positive for the estate's future, so if JF writes in that M&M's relationship is strained and there won't be a baby of their own, I will be furious.

He doesn't sound northern Irish even if he's supposed to be

Totally agree vagaceratops. Was so very disappointed when Sybil seemed to forget her previous principles. And it was maybe a bit too convenient that Edith picked the feminism this series before sybil. But Edith did really enjoy getting stuck into doing things in the war, so it's not too cringey for her to pick it up now.

That's true Vag I'd forgotten how strong she was. But she was in Luurrrve with Pickle wasn't she?

But I just remembered she was trying to organise him on her deathbed wasn't she? It was as if she knew

He sounds Northen Irish to me.

I hear SoCoDu

Are he and the actress who plays lady sybil still a couple in real life?

oh sorry you're talking about Bates. I didn't hear NI in his accent!?

Hmmm, just had a listen on youtube, I hear bits of SoCoDub but also definite shades of Norn Iron.

Are you telling me he is going out with actress who plays Sybil????

No Branston.

He has an Irish mother and a scottish father so maybe his accent is from both.

That's sweet!

They were a couple for a while anyway yes! no idea if tehy still are. mioght have been a brief while. twaz in the dm on line...

oh my first love was half NornIron and half Scottish, he had the sexiest voice ever

Oh I thought you meant Bates and Sybil. Couldn;t quite picture that!

interesting parallel with his real life because branson got to do scenes at highclere manor and obviously worked with the upstairs crew, and other scenes in the studio in ealing with the 'downstairs' crew.

just listening to a clip on you tube, an interview with he and sybil. i don't hear any NI in there! he has a totall normal accent ie, the same accent i have

i mean as an actor and as branson

I was talking about Bates' accent not Bransons. I hear shades of NI in Bates' accent. Bransons accent is the same as mine.