Worst Downton Abbey storylines

[DressingGownofDoom]

I love Downton but there have been some really awful storylines. Like at least one per episode Think my least favourite is when the soldier guy turned up at Downton pretending to be cousin Patrick, who had survived the Titanic, got amnesia, and his memory returned to him suddenly in a blast in the war, and Edith actually believed him

That seems the greatest plot hole of all: Earl's daughter appears to have developed a strong friendship with newspaper editor and is seen in public with him. Newspaper editor then dies and leaves his property to her and not to his poor wife to defray her medical costs. Nobody gets suspicious at all. Then Earl's daughter mysteriously appears with mysteriously acquired orphan to whom she seems extremely attached. Nobody gets suspicious at all. The press isn't interested, the wife's relatives aren't interested, the Earl isn't interested. I suppose it's possible that downstairs don't gossip because they're quite fond of Edith and scared of Mrs Hughes, but what about the village? Don't they have tongues?

Good points, Polkadots and corythatwas. So has she adopted Marigold with Bertie? The new baby (and babies) won't treat her as a sister, will they?
Mind you, that's an odd nursery with the servants child in among the toffs. Will little John Bates talk like George, Marigold and Sybbie??

Not so much a plot weakness, although I admit there are many. I'm always amused at how many times, throughout the series, something monumental happens in a conversation, which then raises some massive point and the next line is "We'll discuss that later."

No suggestion that she has adopted her. No suggestion that Marigold has been given any instructions as to what she is even to call her mother. No suggestion that anybody has actually thought through the question of her social status.
And yes, indeed, an odd nursery, Maireas. I suppose as Johnnie Bates gets older he will spend more and more time downstairs, and move out completely from the nursery once he starts school.

Maybe fall in love with Marigold and have a happy future together!

It irritates me that they all keep secrets. Just tell the truth it makes life easier!

And all the men chasing Mary looked to similar. I couldn't tell them apart .

I spent the entire series after O'Brien the scathing ladies' maid stole away in the small hours (and the opening moments of a new season) expecting that she would make a dramatic return at a significant moment.

Never happened.

It was disappointing that O'Brien just went into oblivion after such a star turn as the plotting and conniving maid to Lady G.

@Toddlerteaplease

And all the men chasing Mary looked to similar. I couldn't tell them apart .

It didn't help that they kept turning up in different combinations as well.

It was a bit disappointing that she didn't marry Julian Ovenden because he was the only one I could recognise!

I had just been dumped after an 8 year relationship when I got into downtown. I was so broken hearted I completely lost myself in it, I cried so much when they killed Matthew, I think I went slightly mad, I even started speaking like I was some sort of lady at work, my colleague bought be one of those lady titles the Christmas after

Thanks downtown for keeping my broken heart together.

Happily married with a ds and one on the way now and I'm a lady!

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams which one was he? Never heard of him!

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams which one was he? Never heard of him![/quote]

Charles Blake I think

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams which one was he? Never heard of him![/quote]
Yes, Charles Blake. The one who got down and dirty in pig muck with Mary.

Yes, sorry — I meant I knew the actor, so could tell his character apart from the others.

It's Bertie Pelham and Evelyn Napier that I always got muddled

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Yes, sorry — I meant I knew the actor, so could tell his character apart from the others.

The funny thing about them all liking the same was that they were all completely the opposite to Matthew

The BBC ‘s continuation of Upstairs, Downstairs set in the 30s leading up to WW2 was far better in storyline, acting and scripts than Downton.
Maggie Smith was wonderful, and Joanne Frogget, but the rest were mediocre.

I don't know about the acting, Phoebe- I thought there was plenty of good acting at Downton (Jim Carter, Robert James-Collier, Penelope WIlton, Phyllis Logan). The scenes to do with Mrs Hughes' imminent marriage (will I have to undress before him?) I thought were brilliantly acted.

One thing I noticed was that as time went on the storylines became much less inclined to challenge the status quo or suggest that there might be problems with the upstairs-downstairs relationship. In one of the early series, there are some rather brilliant scenes where the Earl tries to suggest he thinks of Bates as a friend and Bates' expression makes it totally clear that this isn't something you can feel from the other end of the social ladder. The starting sequence of Series 1 with Daisy walking through the house underlines that total divide. By the time we get to the film it's all warm and sweet and fuzzy, Branson the revolutionary has forgotten all about his early ideals and is set to marry an heiress, and everybody enjoys knowing their lot.

@corythatwas I loved that storyline, when Carson says he wants a full marriage with everything that entails, their love is so pure!

I agree that the acting, especially Carson, Mrs Hughes, Thomas, Mrs Patmore and Daisy has often been excellent. Sometimes the storylines and/or scripts let them down. In the movie, Thomas is so lonely, he's just so happy to find a friend like that other servant. Heart rending.

Princess Mary wanting to leave her husband. Queen Mary would never have discussed it while they were out in public. And would have been furious at the prospect of a separation. From what I've read it was actually a happy marriage.
The bit where Cora asks the Queen is Bertie could be excused from the African tour. She'd never have agreed to that either. Duty to the crown came before anything else.

The Princess Mary marriage thing was silly - and taking marriage counselling from Branson! Also it would be unlikely for Lascelles to reprimand his wife about the children while she was having guests for afternoon tea.

Yes. I can't believe he'd ever behave like that. And Tom would have known who she was.