Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Freshsnarkdaily. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Downton Abbey; Inheritances, Dowagers, Cads, oh, my!
Topic Started: Jan 10 2012, 06:29 PM (4,448 Views)
pixie
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Loved the Anne of Green Gables reference. Fiction is meant to be analyzed!

I know what you mean about homely = bitchy and I'd feel offended if it weren't for the fact that the "pretty" daughter, Mary, is, in my opinion, much more spiteful, despicable, and cruel than Edith. I don't know how Sybil missed being tarred with the bitch brush, but she did. I completely agree about Bates and his wife. The secret is already out. Everybody knows about Mary and the Turk. If it could have been published it would have been published but there's not enough proof to publish it. Bates falling on his sword for Mary, who doesn't deserve the sacrifice anyway, was frustrating because it was completely unnecessary except as a plot device to separate Anna and Bates and to serve as a way to further establish Bates as an honorable, noble, and selfless character.

Momo, whatever you do, don't look at the Wikipedia page for Downton Abbey unless you want to have Anna's fate spoiled!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Momo
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
pixie
Jan 12 2012, 01:37 PM
Loved the Anne of Green Gables reference. Fiction is meant to be analyzed!

I know what you mean about homely = bitchy and I'd feel offended if it weren't for the fact that the "pretty" daughter, Mary, is, in my opinion, much more spiteful, despicable, and cruel than Edith. I don't know how Sybil missed being tarred with the bitch brush, but she did. I completely agree about Bates and his wife. The secret is already out. Everybody knows about Mary and the Turk. If it could have been published it would have been published but there's not enough proof to publish it. Bates falling on his sword for Mary, who doesn't deserve the sacrifice anyway, was frustrating because it was completely unnecessary except as a plot device to separate Anna and Bates and to serve as a way to further establish Bates as an honorable, noble, and selfless character.

Momo, whatever you do, don't look at the Wikipedia page for Downton Abbey unless you want to have Anna's fate spoiled!

Oh Good God. She's gonna die, isn't she? Fuck all.

I think, in Bates' view, he didn't do it for Lady Mary. He did it for Lord Granthom. He knew that, so far, Lord Granthom hasn't heard a word of the rumors about Mary and the Turk. He knows that it would seriously affect not just Mary but the whole Crawley family to have such a thing published. I think Bates did it because he was loyal to Lord Granthom, not Lady Mary.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
pixie
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Yes, he did it for Granthom but it was still a wasted gesture and it still benefitted Mary who's just not worth anyone's time and trouble. It's the worst kept secret in England and Granthom's reaction when he found out that Bates kept his peace to protect the family tells me he might have caught a whiff of that particular rumor.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
discomom
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Even though we have a book thread, I thought I'd post this here. My daughter just posted it on my FB page.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/business...-list.html?_r=1

I'll have to check it out, although I just bought another Alison Weir book on sale at B&N tonight.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Momo
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Oooh! Which Alison Weir?!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
discomom
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
One about Katherine Swynford. I particulary love her story. John of Gaunt finally made an honest woman out of her.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Momo
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Crap, I'm pretty sure I have that one but haven't read it yet because I need to read a quick history of John of Gaunt first.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
discomom
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Also, if you want historical fiction, Anya Seton wrote a really good book about her as well. That's the book that originally sparked my interest.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
weaver
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I was hoping Mary, who was my favorite in the first series would fall in love with the publisher (a la Scarlett and Brett) and they would become a power in London, she with her social connections, he with his publishing connections.

It almost seemed to me that they just didn't know what to do with Mary in series two and it disappointed me. I didn't want to see her with wimpy Matthew.

Oh, I just learned there was a two part Christmas special in the UK following up the stories. I hope that is added on to the PBS version.







Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Momo
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
They're going to be filming a third season of this! Yay!

Matthew's mother is starting to get on my nerves. Give her a bit of power through nursing and suddenly she's Lord AND Lady of the Manor. Irritating.

Good to see Edith doing something useful with her life. Maybe she'll stop macking on married farmers now.

Anna and Bates. Sigh. My favorites.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Camo
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I also love Anna and Bates -- I'm invested in them being together. I'm an anti-fan of Edith, but I like this path, being compassionate and useful and getting some notice in that manner.

I can't help it -- I'm into Mary and Matthew. I like the slow build (rebuild?) between them.

I don't care much for the subplots involving Lang and his PTSD, Thomas and his promotion to Sargeant and being tasked with running Downton, or Mrs. Crawley's power struggle with Cora. I don't look forward to the return of Mrs. Bates, and am indifferent to Sybil and Branson, though I did call that Branson was going to try and humiliate the officer, not kill him -- my husband assumed that that was Branson's goal.

weaver, you're a Mary fan, too? She's also my favorite. I can't wait to see exactly how Mary, Matthew and the publisher play out over the season.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Momo
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I don't hate Mary either, Camo. I think Mary has the kind of personality that just doesn't easily accept being told how to run her life. Couple that with her station and her ability to 'save' Downton by conveniently marrying the heir (whomever he should be) and she feels stuck between her 'duty' and her 'nature.' She's also got a wide enough streak of contrary in her nature that she dislikes doing what is good for Downton despite it being what her heart wants,

Given that she feels that way, it's no wonder that she is so easily swayed by the advice of others. She can't make up her mind so she turns to others for help and gets conflicting advice. While she dithers, she loses Matthew.

Then there's the issue with Mr. Pamook and the idea that she has to marry off quickly before the scandal becomes public knowledge (too late!) and I think she just froze in her tracks like a deer in the headlights, unable to move in any direction much less the one that will bring her happiness.

I think she's finally started to learn to lean on her OWN counsel and do what she feels is the right thing. Whatever happens between her and Matthew, at least she is willing to see Lavinia as something other than an evil rival and she is attempting to forge a friendship with Matthew outside of her romantic feelings for him.

So, I dislike the way Mary has jerked around her suitors and made poor choices but I see them as a product of her struggle between her nature and the era in which she lives (and thus the expectations placed upon her).
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
weaver
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Quote:
 
weaver, you're a Mary fan, too? She's also my favorite. I can't wait to see exactly how Mary, Matthew and the publisher play out over the season.


Yes, I'm a huge Mary fan. Thought the actress was wonderful. I was able to find the Christmas special which ran in the UK on Christmas day, its an extra hour and a half and is 1920 and wraps some things up a bit. Mary gets a bit more of a chance to reveal her real character, but not enough. I think the writer wasted the actress' talent.

But there is always Series Three!! And of course more Maggie Smith!

I HATED Bates and Anna.............
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Camo
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Great recap for episode 2...I find myself agreeing with basically all of it.

http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/01/downt...home-front.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
weaver
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I agree with all in that review, plot trumps character by a mile in the Second series to the detriment of the show.

Slightly redeemed by the Christmas special, but not entirely. There is also a "Behind the Scenes" special that I've downloaded but haven't watched yet.

It was nice to see Elizabeth McGovern again, she was a big rising star here back in the day. She ended up marrying an Englishman and living there. Its also so nice to see middle aged women who aren't pushed and pulled and surgeried.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community.
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Other TV Shows · Next Topic »
Add Reply