The Time is Coming....

For us to sit back and bask in the inequality of early 20th century England.  Who else is excited?  Anyone? 

News From the Abbey

Last night was the first night in a while without Downton Abbey and I managed, but just barely. My kids have just finished watching all of the seasons so I have now watched some three times.  Given what else is on TV, it is a good way to spend TV time.  All three were stunned and dazed when Matthew died. I should have recorded the reaction.  Just shock.  One minute loving up a new baby and the next Matthew dead.  Not happy with that, Julian!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/shirley-maclaine-will-return-to-downton-abbey-but-others-are-leaving-the-series/

Well, what I wondered about in the season finale has come to pass.  I wondered what the loyalty issue was going to be between O'Brien and Susan's housemaid, I think it will be that she looks to be employed by her (Susan)  and head to Bombay for a "change of scenery" leaving the Abbey behind.  Working with the reminder of her sins has not been easy and I can only imagine that this last experience, where now she thinks even Bates knows her wrongdoing, is proving unbearable. In the meantime she has lost her only "friend" (Thomas) and Alfred seems to be a little less impressed with her.  Sadly, that was her one redeeming relationship.  I feel really bad for her in the end...but having Susan for a boss may be just what she needs.  It may be time to reassess her life.

I love that Shirley MacLaine will return.  The contrast and the power struggle between her and the Dowager is so fun to watch.  "That woman" is one of my favorite lines from the Dowager.

I am still mad about Matthew dying, just really poor timing.  I see that picture of Mary with her baby and I just get angry that she couldn't have a full day to enjoy her new family.  Ergh!!! 

What I can't help but wonder is when Anna comes  up pregnant. It should be soon.  So those are my thoughts for today. 

Do you have any, or have you moved on with real life!  haha!

 

Goodbye Matthew, your angst was getting wearisome anyway

 Go ahead then Dan, see if I care!  Go and pursue your "dream" with no thought whatsoever to my dream!

 My dream?  Oh, you do care after all?  My dream is to have a show that has decent storytelling and beautiful scenery, handsome men and beautiful women living in offensive luxury while a former employee prostitutes herself to feed her illegitimate aristocratic-born son.  Is it asking so much for this middle-aged mission minded mother of three desperado?  I think not!  At least he doesn't think so!

 

 

Atta boy!  You tell him.

 

I can sense his disappointment in you...well, not really cause I think he is the resident heartthrob anyway!  Sigh....

 

Julian is toying with my emotions!

http://t.entertainment.msn.com/downton-abbey-creator-talks-season-4?toc=tv

An article about why there was so much death in season three. I am sure we could have figured it out but the part the got my attention was when he said someone else may take over writing in the next season.  Not sure I am good with that.  Then, he toys with the end of Downton!  What?  It just began!  Has he never heard of The Young and The Restless?

Computer on the Fritz..Matthew dies...so tortured I awake at 3a

Ok, I have to go to PBS.org and see what I missed because when I got to my tv at 9:07 there was already a lot going on!  I did see from then on though, new baby, a boy!  Matthew dying a happy man...I think the new M.O. on DA is bring one, kill one.  But, because I have been researching I was at least prepared for Matthew in a way I wasn't for Sybil.

So I have a new laptop and I have to get used to and sketchy internet.  I will be back later so  I can really go through this.  Sorry Fran!  I knew you were chomping at the bit.  I know others are here too...reveal yourselves!! :)

Points: 

I have been wondering if Dr. Clarkson had a thing for Mrs. Crawley and now that she no longer has Matthew who knows how she will mull over that relationship, her usual "stiff upper lip" may actually be affected here.  Hmm......

Poor Mary....

Poor Lord Grantham...

Poor Cora....

Poor Tom.  He had a real friend in Matthew and when he cried over Sybil last night, I thought my heart would break.  Edna, good try, but all of us watching knew it wouldn't have been love.  I am glad they sent her packing.

BUT!  What about Rose, who upon closer examination is a really character.  Her mother, the bluebird she is!  Jeez Louise! 

Ironically, I am also reading Fall Of Giants by Ken Follatt and there are many parallels at the moment to DA.  One of the women is very much like Susan, it was an interesting thing to witness.

But now, am I mistaken, isn't Mary the official heir?  And now unnamed baby boy?

Ok...Thomas...how is it I am liking him more and more and Jimmy less and less?  Big of Jimmy to be his friend but why would you run and let someone take the beating for you?

Mrs.Pattmore dodged a bullet, didn't she? 

Mrs. Hughes remains my heroine.  Mrs.  Carson kills me.

More later.

Funny!

A freind of mine posted this on FB...well done...though a bit naughty at times.


http://www.happyplace.com/21079/downton-abbey-facebook-recap-season-3-episode-5

2nd Rant of the Day!

Ok...so what is the deal with Edith that she can't find an eligible bachelor who is interested in her?  Why must everyone have these other "things?"  In this case a madwoman in the closet...how very Jane Eyre!  But here she is...and we know what she will do because it is a breathing man giving her attention.  Ugh....give yourself more credit Edith. But I think she will romanticize this just like she did the Patrick impostor. But to her credit there is a kindness there that draws these people to her.  She has really shown a more accepting and gentler side.

Ethel:  How fortunate her turn of events were.  I am happy for her, she gets to occasionally see Charlie and I really like Mrs. Bryant. 

James:  Isn't it funny when he was left to his own devices James was willing to forgive and forget what had happened with Thomas until the spider started making her web around him?  Then he grew indignant and surly and completely unforgiving, because his "conscience" couldn't be ignored.  How funny that his conscience was clean until someone walked through and mucked it all up.  He was behaving in  a more Christian manner before he was encouraged to behave in a Christian manner.  He just got more and more disturbing to me...but in the meantime...after all the gyrations that O'Brien made, he becomes first footman and Thomas becomes the under-butler.   The irony for Bates...he can't win.  But Thomas already admitted to envying him so...he does win.  And Bates didn't even know that it was O'Brien that he had to thank for his wife returning the second time and he was still able to exact a karmic reward for her. So in the end, Bates does win. 

There was a lot of circling around sin and the inability to be in the room with it in this episode.  No one could be seen with Ethel because of her prostitution (still galls me!!) and Thomas is "twisted by nature" because he is gay.  In the meantime, the only person who can see as she enters the room that the sin is in the casting out of these people  is Mrs. Hughes (yes, cousin Isobelle but a lot of that self-righteous indignation too).  I decided last night that I would want to be her if I had to choose my lot in that house.  She is the epitome of decency.  When she mothered Thomas last night, after all he had done, and when her shock about his homosexuality was non-existent (that was funny....everyone knowing but Carson) it occurred to me that she is not only the glue downstairs but the goodness.  There is nothing ever in her actions for her...just the knowledge that she was able to help somehow.  Even when she is horribly uncomfortable with what she is doing, compassion wins out.

 Notable moment:  Carson and Alfred are together in his room talking about Thomas and he says to Alfred, " The world can be a shocking place Alfred but you're a man now and you must learn to take it on the chin." It just made me laugh.

So that leaves us with Mosley....poor Mosley, "He talks a good game of cricket but that is about it."

And who got a chuckle out of the Ponzi scheme reference? 
 

This time I took notes....Episode??

So, last night's episode was so fun for me.  I laughed out loud a couple of times!  The Dowager was in usual form and some lines were just plain good.  But because so much happened I need to break it down by character and their impact on me last night.

Mrs. O'Brien and Thomas (Mr. Burrows):  What a SPIDER she is as she weaves her web around her victim unbeknownst to them!!  Why in heaven's name do any of them listen to her?? If this isn't a case of 'there is no honor among theives' I am not sure what is.  I mean, where did this turn of events really come from.  Her determination to ruin Thomas is a little crazy.  I understand that she wants Alfred to become First Footman, but she is just so far over the line.  And Thomas is reverting to what I am guessing was a former position as bullied schoolboy.  But I felt genuinely bad for him.  Carson with his tactful and sensitive approach "you are disgusting and foul but you can't really help it because you were made twisted" or something like that.  I was pleased that Thomas corrected him a little..."I am not foul."  But it does give some insight as to what homosexuals had/have to deal with...good grief!  Having said that, what the H was Thomas thinking when he went into James' room, (I know what he was thinking) but why would he wait until he was asleep except that he knew in his heart that James wasn't gay (or at least if he is, he is not interested in him).  Sigh!  So many dumb choices.  So I will get back to this later because the other big thing was....



Branson and Sibby:  Handsome Branson is now accepted as a member of the family!  Kudos to Cora, Mary, Matthew and Edith.  And I am not sure, but I think that baby is the most beautiful one I have ever seen on tv.  I loved all the insistence on calling him "Tom"  I equally enjoyed the idea of him playing cricket for the family (and his attire...wasn't that all so pretty!) and him requiring his brother to behave as a deference to Cora.  (There were a couple of times I could actually see Sybil looking down smiling...maybe because the lines of reality and fantasy have blurred lol!)
       ** Notable moment:  At the dinner table when Robert mocks the mass and the only one who laughs is the man who he considers well beneath him...Tom's brother.  Hmmm...well done Mr.
Fellowes.

The two most touching moments though came when Tom was able to bring Robert around by discussing the value of shared strengths and when he told Cora he would live in the house.   Something inside Robert woke up and you could tell that he looked at Tom anew...he was able to connect in a way that Matthew didn't. Likewise something in Tom woke up and he was able to see the value of his baby being loved by her mother's family.  Gone are the impressions of a cold, heartless household, and maybe he is seeing that Sybil didn't end up this way through chance...Cora, for all her faults is a very loving person whose family is her main priority. 

 I was thinking about this and considering how Tom's Irish eloquence and his Catholicism have been used well.  He has been the man who has been able to speak about his feelings, good or otherwise.  He has a wonderful power of persuasion that goes beyond his pretty blue eyes...and he has an integrity that you cannot ignore.  He is definitely my favorite male character because he is the perfect contrast to the perfectly measured responses of the upper class.  Dancing around their feelings and when they speak plainly, as Cora sometimes will, she is accused of "going American" on them.  But here is Tom, part of the British Empire, able to speak the truth in an "acceptable" manner. (I like these little nuances, can you tell?)  The message of each person should be judged as an individual is again spoken to in the differences between Tom and his brother.  All families have their shining stars and their dull pennies.

Speaking of shiny, what was up with the little tartlet who showed up last night? Rose?  Was that to illustrate that times are changing (as they enter the roaring 20's) or is there something bigger going on here?  How much do you love the Dowager with her cunning ways!  She is too much!

   ** Notable moment:  Christening pictures with Granny, Robert and the baby....and the priest.  That had to be  a setup!  haha!


Ok, that must be all for the moment.  Next: Bates and Anna, Edith, Alfred, Ethel....Dowager...Isobelle...wow!  There was a lot to cover!




 

Et Tu Downton Abbey? Et tu??

It was with great difficulty that I placed the last dvd of  Downton Abbey Season 3 back in it's spot at Target.  Well, not tremendous difficulty, it was $29.99.  But I couldn't believe it was already so blatently available.  Gone are the days of JR on Dallas and the cliffhangers.  What a shame since that is part of the fun.

But we are in this together...I hope we all enjoy the process of the wait and the speculation.  Don't listen to the spoilers...let the experience take time.  Savor it.

The View...with Carson and Thomas

I had no idea that Thomas was so handsome.....that's all I'm saying!

Forgiveness and Love in the Abbey

For a second week in a row I was in tears at the end of an episode.  It is hard not not to be touched in various ways when two people who love each other are finally able to share one of the most emotional times their lives will present them.  As angry as I am with Lord Grantham I was was happy that the Dowager Countess was able to exercise some wisdom and help him and Cora get past the barrier of blame.  But part of me is annoyed that once again, the his Lordship is not forced to see what his hand has dealt.  He showed more emotion when Bates was getting ready to leave him in Season 2 for a second time.  I don't doubt that he feels the loss of Sybil deeply, which is why even hearing her name suggested for her daughter is unacceptable, but I really wish that what Cora had laid at his feet were not so much that he didn't trust their family doctor, (MAN! I DO not envy Clarkson!) but more importantly, he didn't trust her maternal instincts.  THAT in my world, would be the singular point, "You didn't trust me."  But since I am hurting for Cora, I am happy that she can now lean a little on the only other person who understands what she has lost.  She was looking colder and colder in her prison so in that sense, I am pleased with the outcome.  Forgiveness is always good.

But as predicted,the women have grown weary of his Lordships outdated version of manliness. In this episode, Mary proved herself worthy of nobility when she was true to her sister's wishes about honoring whatever Tom wanted for the baby.  She could have played dumb, after all, we know what his Lordship thinks of Papists.  But she delivered the best line just prior to telling her father that he had lost on the Christening count.  He had just returned from the luncheon where he acted abominably and recounted who and why he was angry, when Mary pointed toward the truth, 'That isn't why you are angry..."you are angry because the world isn't going your way anymore" and you don't like it'.  Ding! Ding! Ding!  Unfortunately, no bells went off in his head, just more self-pity and more denial!  He can be wearisome.  Thankfully, Mary reminded him that Sybil loved Tom very much...he needs to deal with it.  And three cheers for Edith and Matthew who are trying to incorporate Tom into the family. 

By the by, will Mary and Matthew raise Sybil?  Will Tom stay??

Then there is the Bates story.  By playing dirty himself, Bates makes the problems go away.  Interesting and yet....hmmm...I just don't know what to do about him.  He plays the genial good guy who just has hard luck but something makes me itch!  What is it??

Onto Carson. One point for handing Branson his breakfast plate...otherwise he is the very picture of Christian love this week!  Jeez Louise!  What gives???  Good golly, Ethel was annoying and showed bad judgement but Mary did the same thing and she is a queen in his eyes!  What a hypocrite...but Ethel isn't "his" family!  Many cheers for Mrs. Pattmore and Mrs. Hughes...I love those two.  And hooray for Daisy, who deserves to end her days of service by inheriting property and land more than her??? 

So what do you think?  Does Jimmy prefer her?

 How thick can Thomas be that he can't see O'Brian is setting him up?  The kitchen is crazy.  For the record, the Alfred/Ivy story is just annoying to me.

Love to hear your thoughts!!!



 

Oh My Goodness! I Think I Owe Mr. Bates An Apology!

How did I fall for it!  I was I roped in by the presentation of the death of Mrs. Bates....but after watching the Season 2 episodes again, I can't help but wonder if I was wrong!  So I am bouncing back and forth on this, is he?  ISn't he?? 

Last week, we learned this:

"The official purpose of Mr. Murray's visit was to debrief Anna about the evidence she has procured on behalf of her convicted murderer husband, Bates. It has something to do with a pie and a train and that horrible woman who was hanging up the laundry -- I honestly can't follow it.  (Sorry I laughed out loud on this point!) Basically, they need to get that woman to make a statement without letting her know that it would help free Bates, since she hates him, and their mission will be complicated by Bates' former cell mate and his prison guard buddy, both of whom are still angry about the previous incomprehensible subplot in this series."Recap from Huffpo Blogger Micheal Hogan


I think what he is referring to is a tryst between his wife and the woman hanging up laundry.  Is it possible? In Season 2 we learned that he had information on Mrs. Bates that she had been unfaithful...could it have been with this woman?  Am I really reaching to make some sense out of this?  Obviously, his marriage was not a loving one, do we really know why? (Beyond his wife being evil? With that crazy laugh?)

I guess we will learn only a little more this week since all eyes are on Tom, the baby, Cora and Robert. 

Cute little video from Sesame Street! 

Downton Sixby

I just found this...a departure from the seriousness of Downton (which actually often makes me laugh out loud thanks to Maggie Smith!)  But, it does illustrate a couple of things that one can't help but notice...well, you'll see!

Women!

Thanks Fran for this great article! 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/01/29/the-politics-of-downton-abbey-down-with-the-patriarchy/


The strange thing is that I was having this conversation with a friend of mine just the other day after church.  The disparity between the outcome of one woman's tryst and another woman's depending on who had the money and the connections.  Here I am siting the Ethel/Mary stories.

The other point in those stories is the utter audacity of the men involved.  So, only the men (who no one can tell me are without any relationship issues themselves) can determine the purity/worthiness of the women?

Not only that but clearly the women are who have been supporting the follies of many of the men.  Sybil and Branson, love Branson though I may, when he abandoned Sybil to run away from Ireland the week prior we saw who the strong one was.  Now, grant you, Sybil has the benefit of being the daughter of an Earl but still...he abandoned her when she was pregnant and let her travel alone.  Livinia dies so Matthew can have the woman he really loves.  It is brutal.  But in so many ways, they all gives over their lives for the men. 

But the death of Sybil will change that, at least I think.  Cora could forgive the loss of money but I am not convinced that she will trust his judgement again...so it is a new day for the women of the Abbey.

I was also talking with another friend about what the attraction of Downton Abbey is.  Well, it is historical fiction to me, and I like that. I also enjoy the landscape and the prettiness of everything...especially the dresses and the library.  I like the story since there aren't many of those anymore.  The acting is fun...as she points out...Maggie Smith is a pearl but there are others.  (I walk around saying "Mr. Bates" like Anna) But I think there is also something to the civility.  Which most often I appreciate but when Sybil died I wanted to go and shake his Lordship.  Cora needs to unleash some American on him! 

But I do think that we long for a more civilized society...it is good to see people speak more gently whatever the backdrop.  As when Rosamond says to the Dowager, "You know me Mama, I have to speak my mind."  The Dowager answers, "And why is that?  Nobody else does."  There really is something to that, especially in light of putting in a political context as what's his name from Fox News did (which to clarify his statements are ridiculous!)  :)

Anyway, let me know your thoughts on this. As a side note, the girls and I sat down to watch Season 2 Episode 1 and the power went out....we were all dejected (even though it will make it my 3rd viewing!)

 

Why? Why Would They Kill Sybil???

So this is my first official post on this blog.  I had too, it is not ready as I wanted it to be but after last night, I just couldn't wait until I had time for it to be "ship shape in Bristol fashion!"  I mean....SYBIL!  Why would they kill our dear girl?  Who next? Anna??

I am going to re-watch the episode except for the grueling part which hit a little too close to home for me...(my third daughter was born via c-section because toxemia had begun, so that was close enough).  But the whole while I was ready to strangle Lord Grantham...pride in the end killed his daughter.  When will he learn that the stars are not on his side when he is answering to his pride?  And poor Tom (who I usually refer to as Handsome Branson) to lose his wife in such a horrific way, good thing he is Irish!  But Cora...who knew...and who was not listened to.  Woebegone the man who ignore the mothers intuition.  Poor Cora...

My other thought was a curious one.  Mary witnessing the death due to ecclampsia when she was hoping to get pregnant herself...I wonder what Mr. Fellowes is doing there. 

Thomas, who officially has a heart.  It took a while, but it was good to see.  And leave that poor young handsome footman alone...what do you think is going to happen there?

Bates, who I have been thinking is guilty...I have re-watched the past two seasons and I am no closer to tilting on either side strongly.  There is evidence on both...but there is also something in the look on his face when he is pronounced guilty that makes me wonder if I am wrong...and of course for Anna's sake, I want to be wrong.

So I will end with Matthew and the Dowager Countess.  She made me want to cry at her unsteady walk but she is a pillar indeed. Matthew on the other hand, when did he get so insensitive and unfeeling??  Very disappointed in him last night.

Please share your thoughts!

My Corner View: Going Public with Mr. Bates

My Corner View: Going Public with Mr. Bates: Ok, I know there are a ton of Downton Abbey fans who cheer for the long suffering Mr. Bates.  I am not one of them...at least since the beg...