Downton Abbey

Radio5

They were laying it on heavy about changing times, staff cutbacks, neighbours selling up, old way of life gone etc. I thought they might have put a bit of context on it though.

Why were things changing? Was it economic reasons, aftermath of the War, loss of income from estates in Ireland, changes in politics and Law in the the UK? Without giving a full blown history lesson, it would've been good if they referred to some reasons for all the change and upheaval.

The actor who plays Carson is top class.

pinkypinky

Increasing industrialisation led to better job prospects. People who had always been domestic staff could now look to shops, factories, etc. This meant that there were fewer people willing to stay and work the land. Don't forget that in 1925, the economy would still be recovering from WWI in terms of produce and staff (millions of men died created labour issues).

Radio5

pinkypinky wrote: »

Increasing industrialisation led to better job prospects. People who had always been domestic staff could now look to shops, factories, etc. This meant that there were fewer people willing to stay and work the land. Don't forget that in 1925, the economy would still be recovering from WWI in terms of produce and staff (millions of men died created labour issues).

Thanks. It would have been great if all that was explored in some way. Maybe it will happen in later episodes. And what about the houses they were building on Downton Land during Branson's time in charge?

It's on Wednesday this week on TV3 cos of the rugby.

cactusgal

Radio5 wrote: »

It's on Wednesday this week on TV3 cos of the rugby.

What time on Wednesday, do you know? Thanks!

njs030

cactusgal wrote: »

What time on Wednesday, do you know? Thanks!

9pm

Snoopy1

God I love Anna but she's driving me mad.
She won't listen to bates just keeps being dreary, and blaming herself for everyone

FloatingVoter

Snoopy1 wrote: »

God I love Anna but she's driving me mad.
She won't listen to bates just keeps being dreary, and blaming herself for everyone

She's had a miscarriage and nobody is listening to her except for bull**** responses like "Cheer Up, we'll have a good cry, I'm a new man, me" and "The Magic Doctor will fix you".
The correct phrase of "**** you, I know more about me and my past than you" would not be apt for the times or the character.

snubbleste

"and heaven offend we lowly folk should do anything to contradict the blessed Lady Mary"

messy tessy

snubbleste wrote: »

"and heaven offend we lowly folk should do anything to contradict the blessed Lady Mary"

Love Mrs Hughes!!

December2012

Jesus I felt sorry for Mrs Drew.

That woman has been put through the mill.

And the fact that Mary could not foresee that Mrs Drew might be upset by seeing Marigold shows how little empathy and maternal instincts she has.

pwurple

December2012 wrote: »

Jesus I felt sorry for Mrs Drew.

That woman has been put through the mill.

And the fact that Mary could not foresee that Mrs Drew might be upset by seeing Marigold shows how little empathy and maternal instincts she has.

Seems reasonable for the character to me. Mary thought Mrs Drew would like to see her own child from time to time perhaps? She doesn't know the story with the kids being abandoned and picked up later at all.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

pwurple wrote: »

Seems reasonable for the character to me. Mary thought Mrs Drew would like to see her own child from time to time perhaps? She doesn't know the story with the kids being abandoned and picked up later at all.

Marigold was never supposed to be Mrs. Drew's though. The story was she had taken in a relatives child, wasn't it? Still, she might like to see her from time to time.

brian_t

Radio5 wrote: »

It's on Wednesday this week on TV3 cos of the rugby.

It was on Tuesday last week on TV3 cos of the rugby. It's on Wednesdays from today on.

Snoopy1

I really hope Mrs Hughes stands up to Mary

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

December2012 wrote: »

Jesus I felt sorry for Mrs Drew.

That woman has been put through the mill.

And the fact that Mary could not foresee that Mrs Drew might be upset by seeing Marigold shows how little empathy and maternal instincts she has.

So, I've just watched the episode and while I too feel sorry for Mrs Drew I have to say it's bloody Edith who is to blame. She had her baby adopted than took her back from that family, presumably devastating them, then she gives her to the Drew's, allows Mrs. Drew to get attached then takes her back from them too. What's the bloody difference between having her raised by the Drew's and having a fleet of nannies raise her? She's still pretending she's not her mum, the child doesn't know any different? Bloody Edith! :mad:

Misty Moon

snubbleste wrote: »

"and heaven offend we lowly folk should do anything to contradict the blessed Lady Mary"

<pedant hat on>It's "heaven forfend", not "offend" </pedant hat off> Sorry, had to say it, it would have bothered me all day otherwise (yes, I am that sad) and it's bad enough in work at the moment.


I was bothered by the scenes with Mrs. Drew as well but I honestly couldn't decide why. Just all seemed unrealistically done , both for the time it's set in and for today. Can't believe Mr. Drew is just going to roll over and head off into the sunset. Surely the Granthams should at least offer a very generous financial gift to help them on their way. I assume they dragged it up as a storyline so that Mr. Mason will now get the Drew's farm?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I was bothered by the scenes with Mrs. Drew as well but I honestly couldn't decide why. Just all seemed unrealistically done , both for the time it's set in and for today. Can't believe Mr. Drew is just going to roll over and head off into the sunset. Surely the Granthams should at least offer a very generous financial gift to help them on their way. I assume they dragged it up as a storyline so that Mr. Mason will now get the Drew's farm?

I'll eat my hat if that's not where that story is going.

Mrs Drew kidnapping Marigold bothered me because he was gone for all of about 20 seconds before they noticed and yet everyone just accepted Edith's explanation that she was at the Drew's farm. Mrs. Drew must have been touching the road in spots if she got back to the farm that quickly.

FelineOverLord

Misty Moon wrote: »

<pedant hat on>It's "heaven forfend", not "offend" </pedant hat off> Sorry, had to say it, it would have bothered me all day otherwise (yes, I am that sad) and it's bad enough in work at the moment.


I was bothered by the scenes with Mrs. Drew as well but I honestly couldn't decide why. Just all seemed unrealistically done , both for the time it's set in and for today. Can't believe Mr. Drew is just going to roll over and head off into the sunset. Surely the Granthams should at least offer a very generous financial gift to help them on their way. I assume they dragged it up as a storyline so that Mr. Mason will now get the Drew's farm?

Ah, but now Daisy's father in law can take over their farm, so that's why they've done that.

Lady Chatterton

The Mrs Hughes/Mr Carson wedding is very similar to the old Upstairs Downstairs storyline, in the final series of UD, Mr. Hudson (the Butler) sets up home with Mrs Bridges (the Housekeeper).

I loved Downton Abbey in the beginning but it lost its way about three series ago. I think it's time to start watching my Upstairs Downstairs box set again, for anyone who hasn't seen it, it's well worth a watch, it's one of my favourite period dramas of all time.

iguana

The Drew => Mason farm storyline was actually super disturbing. I just watched the episode feeling like I was seeing peasants in refrigerators.

snubbleste

MrsD007 wrote: »

I loved Downton Abbey in the beginning but it lost its way about three series ago. I think it's time to start watching my Upstairs Downstairs box set again, for anyone who hasn't seen it, it's well worth a watch, it's one of my favourite period dramas of all time.

It died with Isis.

Radio5

The Drew and Mason storylines show the power that Landlords had over their tenant's lives. It was the same in Ireland. I agree it was all very clumsily done though.

The hospital storyline is going around in circles now, surely there has to be a conclusion soon.

Seemingly no line of suitors for Mary now. Another sign of the decline of the big house.

syklops

Radio5 wrote: »

The Drew and Mason storylines show the power that Landlords had over their tenant's lives. It was the same in Ireland. I agree it was all very clumsily done though.

The hospital storyline is going around in circles now, surely there has to be a conclusion soon.

Seemingly no line of suitors for Mary now. Another sign of the decline of the big house.

How old is Mary now? 33 or 34? That was ancient back in those days.

njs030

syklops wrote: »

How old is Mary now? 33 or 34? That was ancient back in those days.

Plus there was a severe shortage of men around her age after the war. Most of the suitable men who weren't killed would have been married by that age.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I thought Matthew Goode was supposed to be Mary's new suitor? Or was he just a one off in the Christmas special?

December2012

Go Edith!!!!!!

JillyQ

December2012 wrote: »

Go Edith!!!!!!

What did she do?

FFS keep missing Downton Abbey ....was it on tonight ??

FloatingVoter

Deleted User wrote: »

FFS keep missing Downton Abbey ....was it on tonight ??

Yeah, its on TV3 again on Wednesday.

leahyl

Omg an unexpected but very welcome suprise tonight!

antonymin

I can't imagine any man wanting to wed Lady Mary as she is such a cold cow. A bit like Zara in "Doctors".

December2012

JillyQ wrote: »

What did she do?

Fired the editor, took the job on herself (did she use a picture of Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge?), and it looks like she's going to embrace modern living.

She seems to like the agent too and has increased her flirting game.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Tom and Mary sitting in a tree.....

Richard Hillman

I had a feeling that the Chauffeur would be back after the letter but I still had to should Oh My God when he strolled in.

Something is definitely array with Lord Granthams health. In the first episode he was quite tired after he left his horse. Mary asked if he was ok but responded with "Yes, but don't tell your mother". Then in the latest episode he had indigestion.

It may possibly tie in with the hospital storyline.

magicmushroom

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Something is definitely array with Lord Granthams health. In the first episode he was quite tired after he left his horse. Mary asked if he was ok but responded with "Yes, but don't tell your mother". Then in the latest episode he had indigestion.

It may possibly tie in with the hospital storyline.

Definitely. My bet is he will have something like a heart attack, end up in hospital, need to use a new modern machine to save him and his Mother will then agree with Cora and Isobel
Then they'll all be best buds again.

northgirl

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I thought Matthew Goode was supposed to be Mary's new suitor? Or was he just a one off in the Christmas special?

Yipee he's back!!

syklops

The hospital storyline is really starting to get tiresome.

leahyl

Does anybody think there is actually a chance that Branson and Mary will get together? I think they'd be a great match but I don't know, I can't see it happening...

MaryMD

sad that its the last series!!!

FloatingVoter

leahyl wrote: »

Does anybody think there is actually a chance that Branson and Mary will get together? I think they'd be a great match but I don't know, I can't see it happening...

As said above, last series...so I can see Lord Grantham dying (although it only looks like gout to me at this stage) with Branson and Mary uniting in the aftermath.
It really depends on whether they want to end the show full stop or leave open the possibility of a "Back By Popular Demand" thing in a few years.

somesoldiers

At least that bloody Mr Mason story is done...I hope

iguana

With all the talk from Mary's suitor about car racing did absolutely nobody think that fast cars might be a somewhat difficult subject for her seeing as it's how her husband died?

Stinjy

Lord G isn't going to be able to drink until Christmas again and we'll have another drunken speech :P

Love love love Tom! Hope he doesn't get with Mary shes still a miserable cow but I do like her, she's so good to Anna!

The hospital debacle has to end... seriously... as does the Mr. Mason issue...

As for the car racing guy.... well I think Mary is going to loose a second husband to the motor car!

Loved the story about Sybil. Thank you Mr. Barrow for bringing it up!!

syklops

iguana wrote: »

With all the talk from Mary's suitor about car racing did absolutely nobody think that fast cars might be a somewhat difficult subject for her seeing as it's how her husband died?

When you say "Absolutely no-one", do you mean boardsies? Because to me its as obvious as Mr Mason getting the farm. Or did you mean to the characters? Some of them can be a bit dense to be fair.

Mary shes still a miserable cow but I do like her, she's so good to Anna!

Ah here, didnt Anna have to remind Mary about her carrying the Turkish fella down the hall for her. Anna has been a guardian angel for Mary, and all Mary has had to do was buy a few train tickets and fit the bill for a small out patient operation.

HeidiHeidi

Ah crap, couldn't make head nor tail of the last few posts - and then realised that you've all seen it on UTV!

I gorged on the first three episodes (best way by far for watching these things!) and will get to gorge on the next two now as I've missed this week's and will be away for next week's one.

Maybe I should leave the lot for Christmas altogether.....

Have to say the thought of Branson and Mary getting it together crossed my mind - why on earth else bring him back?

At this stage I've forgotten what on earth the Anna/Bates/police story is actually about, apart from the fact that Anna (and previously Bates) seemed to be under constant threat of being hanged in the morning. Thank goodness they finally seem to have brought that to a close.

Did Isabel not get it together with yer man with the long face who's on her side in the hospital debate? (I really should pay more attention when I do get around to watching these things, I've the memory of a gnat for stuff I watch).

iguana

syklops wrote: »

When you say "Absolutely no-one", do you mean boardsies? Because to me its as obvious as Mr Mason getting the farm. Or did you mean to the characters? Some of them can be a bit dense to be fair.

I mean the characters, not one of them even paused for a moment to think it might be a touchy subject. Though the more I think about it, Tom suddenly remembering his background in cars and expressing an interest in becoming a car racer. Makes me think that he'll have a bad accident toward the end of the series prompting Mary to break down as it feels like Matthew all over again, and realise she loves Tom.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

They must have gotten a new writer in this week because that episode was actually pretty good. It was hilariously funny at times and on purpose!

I hate Mary's boyfriend. I was kind of hoping his appearance in the Christmas ep was a one off. I'll never forgive him for Leap Year. NEVER!

I remember Gwen from the earlier series but is she also in Game of Thrones now? You know nothing, Jon Snow?

paulbok

That's her. You do know something Elmo:D

Classic Barrow, you start to feel sorry for him and wonder is he going to change, then he pulls one of his stunts.
There are focusing on him a lot and his copiing of being let go and struggling to find new employment, I think there may be a big plot line to come from him.

It does look like Lord G is on the way out.

Loved Lady Mary's reply as to why she saud something nice to Edith, "monkeys with a pen would eventually write the Bible" or something along those lines.

Thankfully the Mr Mason story is done, Daisy was really in need of a slap with her ranting.

jezzer

Anyone watching Downton Abbey this season?

I though the first couple of episodes were poor but I was glad to see branson come back into it, he was a big loss, I can see that its on the wind down and they are trying to depict the changes of the time.

syklops

There's a lively thread on the series here