Downton Xmas special?

[Tryingtobecalm]

Anyone watching?

I loved Thomas in this episode too .

I can't bear Bates either. Poor Anna- abused by her stepfather, attacked by the valet, and shackled to Sweaty Bates for all eternity...I bet she was secretly overjoyed to be facing execution, but he ruined it.

Absolutely no need, none whatsoever, for all the sodding carolling.

Overall v disappointed. Not a single death or near death experience.

And where was bloody George C?

Actually it's probably to flog the Downton Christmas CD cynic

Lady Mary might not want to hook up with another car nut...

I did enjoy all the Molesley Investigates stuff.

at BOFster Bates by name, Bates by nature.

Loved it!!! Especially Carson and Mrs Huges, kept nudging DH saying "aah isn't it lovely/brilliant" and he just raised his eyebrow at me.

I'm hoping that was a suitor set up for Edith in the next season, was there a reason we should realise he wasn't (I can miss some obvious stuff!). Did anyone else think he was similar to the last too, not jn looks like Marys are, but in the bumbling awkward way?

Loved Barrow in it, he's so smartly wicked!!!

The only thing I didn't particularly like was how Rose's FIL (forget name!!) Became nice suddenly towards them, completely nice and friendly, rather than grateful but still a prig. Also the very last scene with Anna and Bates, too smalchy, especially with the door closing, mind you the whole Anna in jail is a bit too much of a rehash of the Bates in jail regarding the storyline. Though it did give us the "Can't have you wobbly at both ends" line from Barrow.

Oh there was a second page!!! As I said I can miss some obvious things!!!!

Another identical suitor for Mary, what the hell is wrong with the casting people? I spent half the show trying to work out if that was Tony or Charles just being a bit distant. Is Mary really likely to be impressed by someone's car when her husband was killed in one last year?

The interminable murder storyline does not seem to have been resolved, why would the police decide Bates' confession and subsequent exoneration undermined the case against Anna? Left hanging for the whole bloody thing to crop back up next season.

I'm hoping Lord thingy Isobel's suitor will now give his son what for.

Why has Daisy ceased being a radical now that the schoolteacher has disappeared? Very disappointing.

But farewell to Pickle. All those years spent polishing the bonnet of the car (not a euphemism) whilst gazing longingly at Sybil have brought us to this moment at last.

When Mary, Pickle and Edith joined hands in the nursery and Mary said a prayer to Sybil: 'Wherever you may be...' I thought: 'She's downstairs, cursed to endlessly hang decorations on the tree with Lord Donk like some kind of Downton Circle of Hell.'

Then I realised I was thinking about Sybbie and I'd completely forgotten about her tragic Mama.

Matthew Goode has exciting possibilities!

Is he the one who leaped into the car at the end without opening the door?

Bit like Dukes of Hazzard but with less call for hot pants.

George Clooney was in a Downton parody for Text Santa last week. Didn't see it then, but found this just now. There are two video clips on this page, each about 4 minutes long. Part 2 picks up where Part 1 leaves off. Mr Clooney is mostly in part 2. Made me laugh! Good to see they all know how utterly ludicrous the whole thing is.

Really enjoyed the special last night. I do feel that we are now working up to the series finally ending next year, though. I'd put money on Mrs Hughes and Carson getting married in next year's Christmas episode and after that I reckon it's all up.

Have just watched the "text Santa" clips.
Hilarious!

I used to love this programme, I am now finding it just funny to watch. It is starting to remind me of the French and Saunders parodies of the House of Elliott (House of Idiot)....

Do we think that there will ever be a happy ending for Edith, or that actually being able to live with her daughter will be "enough"?

I liked it even though not much 'happened '
I think the new agent man that Edith liked may cone to Downton to do Branson's job so potential love interest there.
I like Matthew Goode so look forward to seeing him again.
I think lots of new storylines were set up last night as opposed to finished off and it was a nice change to have a Christmas special actually set at Christmas

Do we think that there will ever be a happy ending for Edith, or that actually being able to live with her daughter will be "enough"?

Diddl There was something in the Daily Mail Downton Special - I buy it so you don't have to - about Lady Edith's Job-like existence.

Laura Carmichael said that Julian Fellowes has a theory that some people are just unlucky, and that's the role he's carved out for Edith

Ooh yes - agent man at Downton as Edith's new beau

How does Mary attract so many blokes? She's a bitter harpy with a bad hairdo.

She also can't carry a tune in a bucket SirChenjin.

I've just cried through CTMW, miles better Christmas Ep IMHO.

Although I like the theory of the agent replacing Pickle very much. He's also third cousin of a dead someone aristo so Mary won't Lord it over Edith if they do get together.

How does Mary attract so many blokes? She's a bitter harpy with a bad hairdo

Because she's the key to the Downton fortune even though sex of any variety with her spells death and no matter how many times other posters have explained it, I still don't understand the entail thing.

Her hair looks a bit better than on its last outing.

I liked Rose's hair better. I fancy Atticus too.

I quite fancy Lord Sinderby but when I remind myself that he was Creepy Uncle Geoffrey in Bridget Jones's Diary its like a cold shower.

I just find it all a load of Tory propaganda - "Look how lovely everything was when we all lived a life of servitude and serfdom!".

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I wish someone (BBC? C4?) would do a gritty, realistic and honest version of Downton.

Well Downton isn't a documentary, is it, just a drama!

It was enjoyable, I was quite pleased for Mrs Hughes and Edith.

I hope they keep Rose and Atticus in the programme.

Gosford Park was definitely a bit more gritty and harsh. JF wrote that too.

Mary doesn't attract many men, she just attracts the same one over and over again. Seeing two of them in one room at the same time was a trick of the light, or poss a delusion in the style of A Beautiful Mind.

A realistic Downton would be very interesting but utterly grim.

Was that really Mary singing? I thought it was dubbed.