Who is your favourite Downton sister?

[AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit]

Having a Netflix binge. I bloody love Edith I'm rooting for her! She's constantly getting hurt and being overlooked by everyone. I know she comes across as bitter and downtrodden but yet she's kind and helpful and supportive. She's the one I'd want as a friend :-)

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

I love the Robert/Cora backstory. I wish they would do a prequel (except they would have to find an actress as good as Maggie Smith for Robert’s mum). The conflicts around the whole thing must have been super dramatic.

The prequel I want to see is Violet Goes To Russia! Her meeting with Prince Kuragin and her adventures there.

The prequel I want to see is Violet Goes To Russia!

Yes!

Dan Matthews was in a television discussion programme about new novels. He tore apart my sister's novel in a petty, spiteful way and as the programme ended, he called out another nasty comment about her book, smirking. Needless to say, our family have hated him ever since, and we watched the tv death scene happily!

Oops, meant Dan Stevens, of course!

Boo Cousin Matthew and his lack of literary taste!
Tbh I would not expect him to know anything about literature. I mean, if it was Edith that had slagged off your dais’s book that would be different, but Matthew? What does he know?!

@JaneJeffer

The whole thing was ridiculous. He practically forced himself on her. I'm sure young ladies would have kept their doors locked at night.

I still don't understand (other than Mary panicking) why when Cora asked "did he force himself on you", she didn't just say "yes"!

He was dead, it wasn't like he could defend himself...

I agree- she 100% should have said yes. He pretty much did anyway. She turned him down and then he blackmailed a servant into telling him where her room was told her he didn’t want to marry her but was sleeping with her anyway…

Is it possible if it got out that he’d forced himself on her possibly his death would have looked suspicious?

Loved Sybil, she was so sweet. Mary and Edith are equal in terms of appeal, but for different reasons.

Anthony Strallen was a creepy old lech, Bates is a bit, I loathed O'Brien, absolutely hated Edna Braithwaite and find Aunt Rosamund to be a twat as well. Mr Greene- I hope his death under the wheels of a bus hurt a lot:

I liked Thomas, because I think I understood him a bit where no-one else at the time would have done. The part where he holds the lighter up in the trenches and his fear.... I thought that was done really well and of course they were all terrified seeing their comrades dying every day. Everyone forgets the trauma the medics went through, but they had such a hard experience. Sure, he did some twattish things and I hated the way he was with Miss Baxter, but she understood him as well. He was just alone in a world that didn't accept him.

I really liked Lord Merton.

Rose and atticus ❤️

Tom.... he was rather demanding and controlling. A wee bit groomy. And I especially disliked the scene where he seemed to hold Sybil responsible for what happened in the uprising in Ireland. "Don't say you were not at your best" but with the hard stares and the popping veins. Fuck that, you aggressive wanker. I'd have reported him to papa within the hour after that.

Speaking of dear papa- Jane?! Oh, Lord Grantham. While your wife was at death's door, you absolute fucker.

@AppleKatie

Mr Bates name was John. (And yes I snigger too).

She does eventually say ‘we have a son John’ but it’s ambiguous about whether or not that’s the baby’s name!

The boy's name is John and his name is John.

"John Bates. You have been found guilty......"

And in the movie Bates called the little boy "Johnny"

@SylviasMotherSaid

I liked Edith and Mary at different times would love to have read Edith’s magazine ! I enjoyed the storyline with Alfred ,Ivy,Daisy and Jimmy from what I’ve read about big house life that one seemed quite life like . Hated all of the Bates storylines so much needless depression with those two didn’t enjoy the storyline with the fake Patrick or Ethels never ending baby dramas . My favourite character is Isobel I thought she was always true to herself and admired her for having principles even when everyone else disagreed with her . I thought the movie was a bit strange so will be interested to see what the second one is like , I felt the first film felt like everyone’s voices had been speeded up .

Agree about the voices!! Cora and Mary sounded all high and girlish!

@drinkingwineoutofamug I was surprised how small Highclere actually looks in real life. It looks huge on screen. I find it expensive and a bit disappointing. I walked down the stairs pretending that Ri wet and Carson were waiting for me at the bottom though.

Surely Marigold is going to have major attachment issues. Taken away from Edith, then the foster mother, then Mrs Drew. Taken to Downton and put in the nursery with strangers.

Oh and then taken to Brancaster.

The fake Patrick was the most ridiculous storyline ever.

I love reading this thread having watched only half of it and trying to work out what happened that you’re all alluding to.
I can’t believe they let Edna Braithwaite back. She is clearly trouble.

YY fake Patrick was ridiculous I was so glad when he sodded off.

I don’t think Mary was worried about being accused of killing him if she said he raped her. I think she was in massive shock and terrified that she had done something wrong (common reaction in women who have been coerced…)

I've just binge re-watched Dowton and I'm not sure which sister I prefer. Sybil is probably the easiest to like, Mary is haughty but likeable at the same time and Edith is kind of dull but deserves the happiness she eventually gets.

I always thought it would've been a more interesting dynamic if Matthew had fallen for Sybil as she was the youngest daughter.

I think they were missing a fourth sister, one who was laidback and maybe a bit horsey and fond of an afternoon sherry.

Cousin Matthew was an awful wet lettuce and Cora seemed permanently sedated, all she did was bat her eyelashes and say 'Oh, Rawbard'

Branson was the worst Republican ev-ah. As soon as his chonky ass got used to the comfortable seats above stairs he gave up all his ideals. He was such a bore.

Definitely Mary.
Edith is so tedious and whiny and while I understand why she didn’t like Mary, she could be horrible to Sybil as well, when Sybil was generally perfectly fine to her.

I find it odd that I don't like or get any of the sisters. You'd have thought there'd be one, wouldn't you.

Whereas virtually all the other characters are blinders.

So pleased when Lady Rose rolled up, all flappery and bright.

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@drinkingwineoutofamug I was surprised how small Highclere actually looks in real life. It looks huge on screen. I find it expensive and a bit disappointing. I walked down the stairs pretending that Ri wet and Carson were waiting for me at the bottom though. [/quote]
Think the room looked smaller due to the amount of antiques in the room. Love Napoleons desk and chair though and the fire places. Loved the library, nearly 6000 books!
And the amount of rooms, would of loved to of seen more , they just seemed to show rooms used in the show , would of been interesting to see rooms not shown. It felt very rushed.
The grounds were superb with the ancient trees and the monks garden.
Thought the gift shop was very expensive.
Interesting to know there's 1300 years of history and some really scary paintings 😂
Went and visited Bampton as well, beautiful village, 1 rude local but I understood what they were saying. Saw Crawley house , the church etc beautiful. Chosen apparently due to no yellow lines according to one shop keeper!

I have found my people! I watched the whole thing when it was first out and now rewatching it again with my 13 year old DD. It's now her favorite program ever (it used to be Pride and Prejudice). Sybil was my favorite sister and even the second time I cried when she died and Cora was talking to her body. I have 3 DDs, too close to home. I can't stand Mary, she's awful. Edith grew on me. We are on season 4 now. My DD adores Violet and even she can see what a total idiot Robert is. Downstairs I love Mrs Hughes and Carson. I think the whole Thomas story is really well done. Comes across as an evil shit but he has his demons to deal with. Speaking of Thomas, one of the best lines ever was when Jimmy was going on about the Thomas kissing him, and Robert said something like if he screamed every time someone tried to kiss him at Eton he would have lost his voice or something. It made me cackle, went over innocent DDs head though. We trying to get through it all before the movie comes out in March. Would love to visit Highclare Castle.

Totally off topic but why are Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore ‘Mrs’ when they have never been married? If they are widows it’s never been mentioned? Is it a status thing? O’Brien was Miss.

@drinkingwineoutofamug fab pics so jealous! I can’t wait to visit.