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Downton Abbey Xmas special details revealed!

158 replies

Cerseirys · 15/11/2015 13:34

Some spoilers that aren't particularly spoilery here. And as suspected, Patricia Hodge will be playing Bertie's formidable mother!

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-13/first-look-at-unforgettable-downton-abbey-christmas-special---plus-new-plot-details-from-the-final-ever-episode

OP posts:
spilttheteaagain · 26/12/2015 15:51

She thanked Rose for a wedding present so they did get married.

Clawdy · 26/12/2015 15:57

As I counted at least six happy soon-to-be couples, it could have finished with a wedding for all six! And Anna and Mary sitting beaming in the front pew, clutching babies!

diddl · 26/12/2015 16:14

Missed Isobel thanking Rose for a wedding present!

Would have loved to see her &Dickie marry.

Rather than Rose & Attius or even Carson & Mrs Hughes!

tribpot · 26/12/2015 16:17

Preposterous nonsense as ever, Anna giving birth in Mary's bed, apparently resulting in pristine white sheets and then Mary offering a place in the nursery to Master Bates (surely not the first mention of that joke?) utterly ludicrous.

Still, I was glad in the end that Michael Gregson didn't reappear. I had visions of him turning up and Bates killing him, but that's because I caught a message from Tom Holland on Twitter about 10 more mins and Bates will have got away with it. Have been avoiding Twitter ever since!

So glad they didn't kill off Violet. Viva everyone.

Yseulte · 26/12/2015 16:50

I watched the first series and then none until the final episode. I'm so glad I didn't sit through the rest of the pap.

tribpot · 26/12/2015 17:21

Yseulte, other than blisteringly hilarious one-liners from Maggie Smith, you've basically missed nothing.

omri · 27/12/2015 00:39

Just watched it tonight... Quite dull have to say. Delighted for Edith, and Mrs. Crawley and Lord Merton, etc. But have to say I'm left feeling a little disappointed.
Would've been fun to have something disastrous happen.

Sum314 · 27/12/2015 00:43

I've just watched it on the ilayer. it was torture. argh!

Sum314 · 27/12/2015 00:47

whatever about anna giving birth in lady mary's bed, i thought the car sales show room on the high street was a stretch too far! and lady mary said she couldn't be more proud... hmm.

tribpot · 27/12/2015 07:10

Although I think we were meant to believe Mary was sincere about the car show room, what could she really say? 'Er, well done on giving up the profession that scares the bejeezus out of me but I don't like this one either'?

I would have liked to see Sybil and Matthew in flashback, or them acknowledged a bit in all the hallmark moments.

diddl · 27/12/2015 08:52

Yes, precious Lady Mary having a car salesman as a husband, what on earth was JF thinking??

Sum314 · 27/12/2015 10:28

I know! As if. It wouldnt have happened and i wondered if JF wrote this series.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 27/12/2015 10:33

I loved it. Sappy yes, but I loved it all being wrapped up in a neat little bow and I'm really going to miss it come October. Sad

Sum314 · 27/12/2015 11:18

It would have been more realistic to have mary rush off to gather herself in private. Knowing that she would have to quell her horror or have her husband lose all get up and go and hang around the house getting under her feet all day. Maybe though, when cars were new, it wasn't embarrassing? Maybe JF could defend that saying no it would have been like selling insurance at lloyds. Not a raison d'etre, not what you wanted to be when you were four, but not bringing shame on the family. Peut etre.

Davros · 27/12/2015 22:15

Utter drivel, loved every minute!
I thought Carson must have Parkinsons or Parkinson must have Carbons!
Omfg, Anna having her baby in Lady Mary's bed which was dry and clean and then the offer for her brat to be brought up in the Downton nursery, just one sl that made my sides ache.

JeffreysMummyIsCross · 27/12/2015 23:50

Was Marigold in it at all? I only remember seeing George and Sybie?

What a load of twaddle it all was. I'm quite relieved it's all over as I felt inexplicably compelled to keep watching in the hope that it might end up being as good as the first series. But it went further downhill every series.

MuttonWasAGoose · 27/12/2015 23:58

George and Sybie said goodbye to Thomas whilst the nanny held Marigold in her arms.

CadburysTastesVileNow · 28/12/2015 14:22

A great many 'gents' went into the car business after the first world war. They were a rich man's toy, after all, to start with and quite glamorous.

BeStrongAndCourageous · 28/12/2015 15:07

I've just caught up now, and I agree with Gasp0de, I thought it was lovely. I got a bit weepy at times, and generally just enjoyed the sappiness and everything getting satisfactorily resolved.

I will miss it, Autumn won't be the same without it.

hollyisalovelyname · 29/12/2015 10:08

It was lightweight and soppy and everything came together so neatly at the end but I really liked it. With all the awfulness in the world at the moment we need a bit of lightness.
I thought Bertie's mother would be more difficult. I remember seeing Patricia Hodge in something years ago and thinking she was so classy and elegant.
What now for Julian Fellowes?
I'd love if he wrote a series on the lives of the children of Queen Victoria. She had lots and they intermarried with European and British aristocracy.

Davros · 29/12/2015 10:32

Isn't there talk of a Downton film?

tribpot · 29/12/2015 17:16

God, I sincerely hope not. Unless maybe a flashback to Rawbert's courtship of Cora, since the story has all been tied up like a neat little bow. (Plus Violet would surely have to be dead).

Chippednailvarnish · 30/12/2015 23:21

Well I've just watched it and My God it was dull...

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Cerseirys · 30/12/2015 23:23

I kept thinking Patricia Hodge was Gillian Anderson! She doesn't usually look like her but in her Downton getup the resemblance was striking.

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oneowlgirl · 30/12/2015 23:45

I loved it all - soppiness included! Maggie Smith is by far the best character & her 1- liners superb Grin