Downton Abbey

[Vintagejazz]

I believe it's back on Sunday. Hurray!

I really hope though that they focus more on Edith and less on Mary and her boring, all look the samey, suitors.

The advert that Barrow called about was in the magazine

And it didn't look like normal Gillingham because of the daft hat

i think Thomas has syphilis.

Don't know what Lady Mary would see in Gillngham but even less so in Blake- obnoxious man. Evelyn Napier is the nicest but too smart to be caught by her selfish ways.

What Anna sees in Bates baffles me too- the dullest man in the whole series- he has no part to play except to be suspected of crimes.

Everything is a bit up in the air at the moment.

Surely someone, somewhere is going to find romance and be happy.

eddie i do too.

Why are the Bateses obsessing about Green so much? Surely they'd both want to forget it all as much as possible?

Bates does have one major redeeming feature - he's played by Brendan Coyle

We thought the same about Gillingham...he looked like Prince!

Dull dull dull this week. Feel like none of the plots have moved on. Even Mary "turning down! Gillingham - he still "won't accept it" and is going to continue to harrass her and bore us for the rest of the series. Disappointed.

I feel the same, Sock. It feels like every episode is filled with indecisiveness on everyone's part: should Mary marry Gillingham? Should Thomas leave Downton? Should Isobel marry the Lord Whoeverheis? Should Edith tell anyone about Marigold? Should Cora sack Baxter? (At least that was resolved!)

I quite like Shrimpy though. Rather a refreshing character. So he'll probably last about ten seconds and we'll be back to the whole dull Edith-looking-forlorn saga.

Christ this is dull. What have they done with Penelope Wiltons character? She was all big mouth and social justice before, now she simpers over rattling teacups.

They can't marry any of the girls off, or let Branston find happiness either, as they are major characters and needed at home.

Lady Grantham becomes more pathetic by the episode. She's lost a daughter and a son in law in horrific circumstances but she just giggles and twitters about like bloody Snow White.

Do better, Julian Poshtwat.

What accent is Cora doing, btw? I know it's American obvs, but is it of the period, from a particular city and social stratum? There are times she's like Loyd Grossman on helium.

Which would make her accent late 19th century poshtwat Boston. Or maybe Elizabeth McGovern's just making it up as she goes along.

Anyone else think that the book and contraceptive will be found in annas possessions and she will be suspected of having an affair with greene and she will be the one linked to his murder?
Agree it was another disappointing episode. Thw scene where daisy and the cook were brought to the dining room was incredibly cringy

"What accent is Cora doing, btw?"

Elmer Fudd?

smokeandfluff, agreed. Especially when Daisy started banging about 'choices'.

Blimey - just had a look at Elizabeth McGovern's wiki page - she comes from a pretty amazing family and has a more interesting life than Cora's, that's for sure

Didn't Mary tell Gillingham that Green had 'done something bad' so he should get rid of him? Surely if the police come to Gillingham and ask him more questions, he could tell them he knows something. He can hold this over Mary - maybe say she will have to marry him or he'll let on to the police what he knows.

I can't believe the police are so over-staffed they have a detective standing outside Gillingham's house based on not very much evidence.

I want to straighten Cora's head up...it's always on a tilt and it annoys the tits off me

Shrimpie (Peter Egan) was not the older vet in All Creatures...that was Robert Hardy.

I don't understand why they would put a plain clothes detective on watch of the Gillingham house. In the order of things for the time, Greene was "only" a valet, and they have only the rather weak testimony of one witness to suggest it was murder rather than an accident. It seems a huge waste of police resources. Particularly as the whole thing was supposed to have happened over a year ago. I love the show, but am ludicrously bored by this entire storyline.

Ah missed citruslemon saying exactly the same thing a few posts up

I agree with those who are finding all the story lines dull. The only thing I want to keep watching for is to find out what Barrow is up to. Logically, I think he's trying to become straight. As someone said upthread, I don't think he's had the opportunity to catch syphillis. So what on earth is he injecting himself with? Oestogen? Must keep watching to see if he starts sprouting breasts.

Also agree about policing budgets.

VBoring last night....

The storyline with the detective/Bellingham's dead valet/Anna and Bates is Boring Now....

The Teacher who is rude is simply unrealistic. She would NOT continue to be invited to dinner if she behaved like that NOW yet alone then.
As for inviting the kitchen maid up into the dining room to ask about her 'self improvement' via lessons - it just wouldn't happen.

Mary is becoming a caricature.

I think JF himself got bored after it became a huge success (esp in America etc) and just couldn't be bothered writing any more so just rehashed random old plot lines.

But I still love it.....and I thought the marriage proposal was lovely.

i love Isobel's beau, can't he marry Mary?