We’re well into Season 2 of Downton Abbey and some obvious patterns in coupling are beginning to emerge in this historical or historic melodrama. Let’s examine how some of our favorite characters are getting on, shall we? (Caution: there will be spoilers for those who have not kept up with the series. Some might also be offended by the language in parts.)
Bates and Anna: The Daisy Saw Chain of Desire
Yes, we will, no we won’t Yes we will, no we can’t. Yes we hope, darn she’s back!
It’s hard to remain on Team Bates when all this couple is allowed to do is react to circumstances beyond their control. We want to root for them, don’t we? The lovely maid Anna and stoic Bates have won our hearts from the start. After becoming sweethearts against his will (for he is married, after all, a minor matter), they give each other romantic looks and sighs, and confess their modest dream of starting their own inn and family.
Bates and Anna. Image courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE
Then a nasty surprise in the shape of the very inconvenient Mrs. Bates arrives to dampen their plans (but not their ardor).
The wickedly delicious Vera Bates lights up the small screen with her foul plans to destroy the couple and the Grantham family because of her intense hatred for her husband. Bates turns into such a milquetoast when she spouts her venom that you just want to kick his butt to force him into action and whack her one. Alas, he remains a milquetoast.
It is up to Sir Richard to use his nouveau riche power and slap the woman down. Vera more than meets her match in Sir Richard, and frankly, these two spark more fire in their short scenes together than Anna and Mr. Bates ever could.
Poor Bored Lord Grantham
Being the head of a landed estate and master of a multitude of subordinates just isn’t enough to keep him busy, thus poor Lord Grantham is shown reading the newspaper in half his scenes in Series 2. His disappointment at not being given an active commission and sent to the front, where he would stand a 50-50 chance of being killed or maimed, sends him sulking to his small corner of the library.
To make matters worse, now that Cora has won her war of wills over Isobel, she has more important matters on her mind than to keep his lordship entertained. The soldiers must be taken care of: Lists made, sheets folded, accommodations planned, meals ordered, and the day in general organized.
Poor pitiful Lord Grantham is starting to feel neglected and lonely. Rather than working with his steward to reorganize his farms to grow vegetables for the army, and mobilizing his workers to do all they can for the cause, the earl behaves like a spoiled two-year old and attends to matters that are best left to others – namely that of hiring a comely war widow as the new maid. To be fair, Carson consulted him first, but shouldn’t this be Mrs. Hughes’ decision, plain and simple?
The Mary-Matthew-Lavinia Triangle
First Mary didn’t want Matthew. Then she wanted him. Then she changed her mind. Then she changed her mind again, which is when he left her, suspecting that she only wanted him for his eventual title not his humble self. Their parting in Season One gave satisfaction to noone but Mary’s sister Edith.
So Mary had to search in other quarters to snag herself a man. He’s not as pretty or accommodating as Matthew, but boy-oh-boy does her new rough-around-the-edges, no-nonsense and ruthless tycoon promise an exciting romp in bed. In the high stakes game that is the marriage mart, love played absolutely no role in Mary’s decision to bind herself to Sir Richard.
Woebetide Mary.
After rejecting his one true love, Matthew hied away from Downton Abbey, only to return two years later with a fiancee named Lavinia. His choice for a wife is as exciting as a crumpled piece of paper. On their first meeting, Mary sidles up to Lavinia with a polite but fixed stare and welcomes her to the Abbey. Lavinia, in awe of her surroundings and the fact that she will one day rule as supreme mistress of the premises, fails to notice the electric looks of longing and passion that pass between Matthew and Mary.
Masochistic Mary, who’s stiff upper lip is firmly planted in front of her clenched teeth, actually tries to be supportive of Lavinia while pretending to be a mere friend to Matthew.
C’mon, Mary! Fess up! One word from Matthew and you’ll drop Sir Richard like a hot potato and jump into Matthew’s sack. Mary experiences a hiccup in that desire when she discovers that Matthew’s unfortunate paralysis has resulted in his inability to perform those rites of passage that turn a blushing young bride into a woman of the world. But then she consoles herself with the thought that, thanks to Pamuk’s manly charms, she has already crossed that heavenly threshold.
Upon seeing Matthew lying prostrate in bed and learning that his prostate is of no use whatsoever, Miss Swire, who still hasn’t figured out that bees come from bees and birds from birds, cries her virginal heart out. She senses that whatever Matthew is trying to tell her must not bode well for their marital relations (whatever that means!).
As for Matthew’s steadfast love for Lavinia: I scoff. I laugh. I guffaw. Honestly, if both women competed in The Dating Game, Lavinia wouldn’t even come in third.
Upstairs Downstairs Love
First he drove her, now he wants to ride her. Branson’s a brash young Irishman who knows his worth. It’s a new age, and social unrest and the war have turned the world topsy turvy. It’s not unusual for a healthy young servant buck to turn his lascivious eyes on the master’s nubile daughter, but to act on his emotions and dare to declare his love? Now that’s awfully balsy of him…n’est pas?
Branson’s object of desire, Lady Sybil, is no namby pamby miss. She was all for the suffragette movement before the war, and actively supported Gwen’s right to improve her life with a typewriter. Sybil’s become a VAD, or volunteer nurse, and washed men’s bloody stumps and tended to their most intimate ablutions. She’s even seen their parts! (Our lovely Sybil has come of age in more ways than one.)
Still, her attraction to Branson, and his to her, is a social taboo that defies the world order as Lord Grantham and his mama know it. Will they find out? Will our hapless couple overcome all obstacles on their path to true love? Or will they part in sweet sorrow? Stay tuned as their world churns.
Lady Edith and Uh, Uh, Uhm ….
Lady Edith on her fine piece of equipment. Image courtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE
Poor Lady Edith. As if it weren’t bad enough to be caught in the middle of two dynamic and beautiful sisters, she was born with neither personality nor looks. It was Sybil who advised Edith to find her special talents. Well, we know all about one of them – to make Mary’s life hell. But then the war interrupted her favorite sport of baiting her sister. What to do? Drive a tractor, of course, and make sport with the farmer’s wife’s husband after digging deep furrows in his fertile ground. A discreet romp on top of the hay (with all their clothes on) and a joining of moist lips was all it took for the farmer’s wife to aim her proverbial pitchfork at Edith and order her off her man and the land she was plowing.
Poor Edith. Now what? She starts wandering around the house like her papa, with wide vacant eyes, making me wonder if Season 2 is turning into Downton Abbey and Zombies. Then, all of a sudden, Edith discovers the joy of letter writing and transcribing the thoughts of injured soldiers. She plumps up their pillows, fetches their newspapers and books, and takes lessons from the family dog to learn how to become a loyal and useful shadow.
Edith’s good deeds garner her accolades and she blushes from the unexpected glory. Can Edith be saved? Will she turn into an interesting character? So far she’s fooling everyone except Lady Mary, who turning bug-eyed keeping her eyes on both Matthew and her back-stabbing sister.
Yo Mama Wuz Right and U Wuz Wronged
We kind of liked Ethel from the moment we met her, didn’t we? Cheeky and uppity, a bit selfish, too assured, and totally clueless. She’s going to move up in the world and nothing, not even a maid’s position, is going to stop her. When O’Brien plays her tricks on Ethel we laugh,while feeling sorry for her. It’s our first glimpse of the young maid’s vulnerability. She’s all bravado and not too smart.
Caught by Mrs. Hughes in bed with an opportunistic snake, Ethel is cast out of Downton’s downstairs with nothing but the clothes on her back and a growing surprise in her belly. Alas and alack, Ethel’s story arc reflects events that actually happened in the past.
While the Lothario walks away with impunity, the seduced young woman must pay a steep price and become a social pariah.
This Marriage Makes Kim Kardashian’s Seem Eternal
William loves Daisy. Mrs. Patmore loves William like a son. Daisy adores Thomas, but he’s, like, TOTALLY unavailable.
Good old Mrs. Patmore, feeling sad about her nephew’s death, pushes an unwilling Daisy into William’s arm. “C’mon, luv”, she urges the young scullery maid, “It can’t hurt being nice to him – the poor sod is going off to war! What harm can it do?” So a reluctant Daisy goes along with the well-meaning cook and hands William her photo, which is akin to Britspeak for “engaged to be married.” Armed with her image, William knows that he can face a fearless death, which he does, for he returns from Amiens with shattered lungs and takes to his death bed.
Daisy is cattle prodded by the well-meaning staff to marry poor William, who is stoic with the thought that although he is unable to deflower her in his pathetic condition, he can keep her in flour (and butter and tea) for the rest of her life by bestowing her with his name and pension.
The Right Honourable Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham, and Everyone Else
Whenever Violet encounters anyone, the two immediately become a couple, with Violet gaining the upper hand within a milli-second. Take Violet’s scene with the reluctant minister, for example. With a firm grip on her walking stick, a cemented half smile, and an implacable attitude, she twists his aging co hones by sheer force of her will until he succumbs and marries poor Daisy and the near-dead William, whose face has turned blue. Had Violet been born in another time and social strata, she would have become a dominatrix par excellence!
One other couple must be mentioned: Thomas and O’Brien. As thick as thieves, these two villains cannot get enough of each other and their machinations. Of all the couplings in Downton Abbey, surely this one is meant to last.
And now we can all settle in for the next installment of Season 2 and the goings on at the Abbey. From what I understand, Season 3 is guaranteed. Which coupling shall last? Which shall be fruitful and multiply? And which shall wither on the vine and remain barren? Stay tuned.
Jane Austen's World 
Re image of Lady Sybil dewy eyed with love
To me, it looks more like a head cold.
There is so much about Season Two that rubs me the wrong way.
Let’s start with Matthew and Mary. I never thought I would say this, but I’m getting and tired of those two. Fellowes has transformed their “romance” into some maudlin melodrama ripe with cliches (like the war concert reunion and Mary’s awareness that something was wrong with Matthew on the Front) worthy of Barbara Cartland. Poor Lavinia has been used by Matthew as rebound from Mary and we’re supposed to lack any sympathy for her, due to her rank as a member of the middle-class and her bland personality.
Bates and Anna are even more painful to watch. Why on earth would Bates give up his job, due to Vera’s threat of blackmail about the Pamuk affair? The majority of Britain’s high society and their servants suspect this anyway, thanks to O’Brien and Edith. And why on earth would O’Brien send a letter to Vera Bates in the first place? Bates’ masochistic personality is starting to get on my nerves.
What in the hell did Fellowes do to Isobel Crawley? She was the only woman qualified to run that hospital. Yet, Fellowes decided to get rid of her by transforming her into a pushy bore. How convenient. Another middle-class/working-class character shown to be unworthy of the aristocratic Crawleys. His handling of the Thomas Branson character is even worse. Branson’s socialist views have either been mocked by Fellowes or portrayed as gauche, due to the chauffeur’s reaction to the deaths of the Romanovs.
Even with all of their flaws in display, the Crawleys are now being portrayed as either noble, all wise or in the right (with the exception of Lord Grantham)? Why? Is it so important to Fellowes to portray the aristocratic characters in a decent light, in compare to middle-class characters like Isobel or workin-class characters like Thomas, O’Brien and Ethel? Only those working-class characters who are true blue to the Crawleys are portrayed in a likeable manner. And this makes me very uneasy. It almost seems as if Fellowes’ elitist views have ran rampant.
And the time factor for Season Two has gone wacky. Matthew’s constant visits to Downton Abbey, along with Ethel’s pregnancy is testament to this. What in the hell has happened to Fellowes?
If there’s anything Austen eschewed it was melodrama. And here we have maudlin melodrama. She must be spinning in her grave.
I wondered at Isobel’s sudden character shift this series. (Well, those Two Missing Years didn’t help any of the story lines.) But Matthew’s return in dire shape explained it all. If The Harridan Isobel hadn’t come up against sweet-faced, passive-aggressive Cora, she wouldn’t have been driven away to France. She would have been at home to take care of her son. Her absence ensured Mary a chance to re-bond with Matthew.
This series, the wonky time-flow, the “romances” that go nowhere & Lord Julian’s preference for the class he likes to fantasize he was born into have crippled the posh soap opera I enjoyed last year.
I beg your pardon, but Julian Fellowes is pulling off something quite risky in showing a Socialist as anything but saintly. Since the time of the Fabians in Britain, we have had to worship at the altar of the holy working class hero. And Branson is actually allowed to show is naivety when he scoffs at any harm coming to the Russian royal family at the start of the revolution. Thank you, Fellowes, thank you very much. It’s about time we be allowed to see reality.
[” So far she’s fooling everyone except Lady Mary, who turning bug-eyed keeping her eyes on both Matthew and her back-stabbing sister.”]
Wow! Edith is actually doing something decent, and you’re still critical. What is this? You haven’t forgiven her for writing to the Turkish ambassador about Mary and Pamuk? I believe that Edith had suffered the consequences of her actions when Mary, rather spitefully, broke up her relationship with Sir Anthony. Why punish her even further?
That Turkish ambassador business was the lowest of low blows. The loss of Sir Anthony doesn’t BEGIN to make up for it.
In Edith’s case, it did. Trust me. Mary knew exactly what she was doing.
Lady Lavinia, This piece was written entirely with tongue firmly implanted in cheek, I assure you! Edith is such an easy target, even when she attempts to do well.
I was writing that sentence from Mary’s POV, as she must be ever vigilant. Thank you all for stopping by.
I am in love with this series.
I must admit I didn’t think at first there would BE a Season 3 and now I’m so happy I was wrong. Not that it happens very often you understand.
I can’t wait for Shirley McClain’s character as Cora’s mama to do battle with Violet. Does anyone else suspect, like me, that Isobel’s days visiting the Abbey are going to be over?
Shirley MacLaine
I cannot wait to see Shirley MacLaine going toe-to-toe with Maggie Smith in Season 3!
Great post.
If only Thomas could find true love I’m sure he’d be ever so much nicer! You’d be bitter too if you got cruelly out-maneuvered and jilted by a duke (or was it an earl).
Not to worry, sir. That’s coming up in Season 3. Or so I’ve been told.
A duke, Curtis. Yes, Thomas’s back story would be interesting. However, a series based on nice characters would probably not generate the ratings that Downton has.
I am a bit disappointed in Isobel’s story arc, and how poorly Cora is being used. We barely see Elizabeth McGovern unless she’s worrying about something, sitting at table, or carrying a list.
Oh, a duke makes it that much worse!
I have waited to watch this on DVD, in about a week, when the sets become available in the U.S. I was pleased to see Elizabeth McGovern again, so am disappointed they don’t use her more. I also got a bit tired of Bates’ martyr role in Season 1, was hoping they might relent a bit in Season 2.
I’m afraid Thomas will remain unlucky in love, but, yes, it’s his inner misery that makes him so delightfully snarly and nasty to everyone else. It’s a grand performance.
I agree with Curtis — I despise Thomas but obviously kudos to the actor for the magnificent acting!
Excellent and very amusing summary with well chosen photos.
Though Mary is one of the lead characters, I confess to not caring a great deal what happens to her.
Thank you, Unpub. I’ve always been drawn to Mary’s character, which is so pivotal to many stories. It does make you wonder why Matthew is so drawn to her, for he seems to be a decent chap.
I feel the same regarding season 2 as many of you, it din’t do for me what season 1 did. Bates really got on my nerves with his pathetic whao is me attitude. Since I have seen the whole of season 2 and the Christmas special… I will say, be patient..the Christmas special is a redeeming factor and a very good epsiode
Excellent! And thank you for not giving away the plot.
I’ve finished the first season and found much to move and much to grate on me. But I see that the second season is much more serious and better than the first — because so much less popular. I have the second season on a download, the BBC programs unchanged and look forward to it.
Going to make a blog on the 1st season soon,
Ellen
This is good news indeed.
Excellent, Ellen. I can’t wait for your take on the Series. It’s been fun watching Downton, but for me, even with the backdrop of the war and its serious consequences, this Season seems a tad melodramatic.
Fun article, Vic. I’m glad to see Lavinia out of the mix. She was more than bland, she was boring and her engagement to Matthew didn’t make any sense. Right now I’m re-reading Lady Windermere’s Fan, and it reminds me that characters should have more bite to keep the audience’s attention. Lady Cora, and her relationship to Lord G., and Lavinia are in the snooze category.
Very funny, Vic. I can just imagine you writing this holding back the tears or was it over a bottle of wine or two.
The picture that impresses me the most is that of ,”Lady Edith with her fine piece of equipment,” it’s engine throbbing manfully underneath her, her legs spread either side of the gear stick and joyfully looking back to see if anything is coming up behind. Oh the fun of Downton. I shall chuckle forever.
If this will get you to “chuckle forever,” Tony, I know a guy who can send you some stuff that’ll make you delirious.
Vic! Very funny summary, indeed. I just startled my children by laughing so loudly. And yes, of course this season of Downton has been rather soapy and overwrought, but that hasn’t lessened my enjoyment of it in the least. (Long Live Thomas and O’Brien!)
I really feel for poor Edith. While she’s not as pretty as Mary or Sybil, she has potential. She reminds me of Jan in the Brady Bunch always being shadowed by Marcia. I kept expecting Edith to whine about “It’s always Mary, Mary, Mary.” Here’s hoping she finds someone worthy of her in the third series, and doesn’t become the spinster sister. Perhaps she can run for Parliament!
I thought it was rather nice of Mary though to befriend Lavinia despite her feelings for Matthew. And I agree about Bates and Anna. Bates is coming off as a wimp, seriously Anna has more balls than he does!
Have you read Forster’s Maurice? I would love to have Thomas find a nice Lord or upper clas toff or an older actor who is willing to brave convention for him.
I think Edith has to pay the piper for the letter to the Turkish ambassador, and if anyone thinks Mary can waltz over to Matthew with Richard armed and dangerous, think again.
I agree Bates is misguided in his devotion to his tattered marriage to Vera and Anna will always be on the short end of the stick for that.
Can’t wait to see Shirley and Maggie share the screen – wouldn’t it be great to have tea with them?
Bravo! In regards to Edith and the piper, I mean. Bravo!
Screw Lady Mary! Right now, I’m a Lady Edith supporter. I’m getting tired of this unforgiving attitude regarding what she had done back in Season 1. At least Mary has two men who want her, despite what happened with Pamuk. Not even Edith can say this. And instead of realizing this, some fans are still brooding over what she had done . . . LAST SEASON. And they are completely dismissing her better behavior of this new season. It just seem narrow-minded and a bit too unforgiving to me. Which goes to show that humans are incapable of being forgiving . . . even for fictional characters.
Elizabeth K, Mahon and vairarenbeth, the two of you really must get into the spirit of this post. You both seemed to have missed the point.I take it you are not English? Perhaps a pint of beer might help.Downton can be experienced on many levels.
You have certainly taken us on a tour of the lower levels, if nothing else, you chuckling devil, you.
I love this series but I find it so strange that Anna continues to call Mr. Bates, Mr. Bates. Does he have a first name?!?! So much for intimacy.
It was the custom to use formal names, even when engaged. Remember that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet did not call each other by their Christian names even when they were married. One hundred years later, vestiges of that custom remained. One wonders if Anna will call Mr. Bates “John” after their nuptials.
Loved this post, it had me laughing out loud (a dangerous thing at work)! What a refreshing take on the “way the world churns” (loved that line) at Downton Abbey.
Thank you Diuana. This was meant to be fun.
LOL! One thing though:
“But then she consoles herself with the thought that, thanks to Pamuk’s manly charms, she has already crossed that heavenly threshold.”
IIRC, one of the things Pamuk said to Mary (before we see him dead) is that Mary would be able to go to her husband’s bed a virgin. Assuming he wasn’t adding lying to his other vices, he didn’t do anything to Mary that Matthew couldn’t. ;)
Be still my heart !!
Later they smoked.
I always wondered about this, too. I mean, I guess they’re not exactly going to come out and say “they only did oral!” but I wondered if Pamuk was just trying to get Mary to not be so freaked out or if they actually didn’t go “all the way.”
…and I love it all still. Faults included. Julian Fellows writes an excellent soap. Mary and Violet are my favorites, though I didn’t care for Mary at all in the beginning.
For all the inconsistancies and silliness, the characters are allowed to change and grow, and even the villains (with the exception of dear Vera) all show a bit of decency or kindness at times.
I’ve seen all the episodes that have been aired, and am really looking forward to Series 3.
Thank you, Eileen.
Meeting adjourned.
Not only is the 3rd series guaanteed it is already runing in England. And unfortunally I was given an inside scoop on Bates by English frinds who couldnt keep a secret –but I will refrain……..
Mike
Likewise, Mike. Plot details are emerging in North America. Shhhh.
“First Mary didn’t want Matthew. Then she wanted him. Then she changed her mind. Then she changed her mind again, which is when he left her….”
Loved this description of the maddening Mary-Matthew relationship!
He left her yes. For now.
These two are more on-again off-again than the couple on North and South.
They’re more on/off than Burton and Taylor.
Or Taylor and pretty much everybody else, come to think of it.
The tongue in cheek rendering had me disagreeing and upset until I realized it was just that, tongue in cheek. I don’t think that Lord Grantham is sitting around and being all whiney about not getting to serve in the way he had expected. I think his disappointment must have been great as he had served valiantly in the Boer Wars (sp?) and felt he still had a lot to give his beloved country. I see him wandering about his house doing what he can do as his home has become something quite different from before the war. He is used to the aristocratic privileges that worked before. An adjustment would be normal.I think he’s a hero with genuine feelings which he chooses to overcome on behalf of his country and his family.
Isabel and Cora as enemies was kind of an understandable situation. Isabel took over DA without so much as a how do you do. Their relationship should have been one with compromises made as the two of them talked over the needs and the home’s owners’ willingness to give up more and more of their home, not commanded to do so by Isabel. I think Isabel was just too pushy and Cora had had enough of it and let Isabel dig herself into the hole she found herself in. I hope she’s back to stay now that Matthew is back at DA.
I respect Mary’s choices to take the higher road with regard to dealing with Matthew’s fiancee and her love which obviously grown for him. She was totally able to put the ax to that relationship but instead supported it to her heart’s own detriment. Lady Mary has grown up. And she’s doing the stiff British lip thing by agreeing to marry a man while loving another. I fear that her admission to him of the Pamuk ordeal has now given him something to lord over her, literally. I have grown to admire her while hurting tremendously for her.
These are just a few of the thoughts I have about where we are in the DA plot lines.
All of these things will sort themselves out in due course, Karen — trust me. But they’re minor skirmishes compared with the featured heavyweight bout: Maggie Smith versus Shirley MacLaine. I, for one, can’t wait.
p.s. Boer Wars is correct.
Karen, I love it when you stop by and leave your comments. As you are aware, my historical coverage of the series is quite serious. So I thought I’d have a go at sharing my funny side.
England (& other countries) had serious food shortages during The Great War. Why haven’t we seen Lord Grantham being a responsible manager of his estate? Or at least talking to the able steward we’ve never met? Nope, we see him moping about the library–in uniform. Or putting down Poor Edith with Cora. Or casting an eye at the new maid….
There is some sort of agricultural activity–what, exactly, is raised by the tenants? Does Lord Grantham manage any of the farming directly? (In “Parade’s End” we’re informed that Christopher Tietjens’ father “farmed a good deal of his own land.” Can’t wait to see the 5-part series on HBO/BBC later this year, with a script by Tom Stoppard!)
Downton Abbey’s financial insolvency was the reason for the entail on Cora’s fortune–a major plot point in the first series. Is the place only surviving on that next egg? I hope Shirley MacLaine’s role provides more than quip-trading with Violet; some family background would be appreciated.
I’m watching on PBS but spoiled myself by reading UK coverage. Hope nobody blames the slight editing for any plot defects we’ve noticed; most Brits noticed them, too. Next series, with That Nasty War out of the way, let’s hope Lord Julian can get back to writing his posh soap opera.
That’s “nest egg”–not “next egg.” I doubt Cora has any more eggs…..
“That’s “nest egg”–not “next egg.” I doubt Cora has any more eggs…..”
LOL!
Hi to everyone, from Paris, France. I watched Season 2 and agree with certain of the critics above, but Downton Abbey just grows on one. I’m hooked and can’t wait for Season 3.
Have a try watching Gosford Park, much more intensity, marvellous, but Downton Abbey is for me !!!!!!
I adore Downton Abbey, which is why for a very short while I have given over my Regency blog to cover a show set in the 20th century. Gosford Park is one of my favorite films. People who haven’t seen it should.Thank you so much for stopping by.
Jeremy has a blog and analyzes Gosford – he’s very smart.
http://jeremynortham.co.uk/2011/06/23/the-rules-of-the-park-gosford-park-the-rules-of-the-game/
Great Images. I wish have lived at that age… Who knows! I could change ideas with Mrs. Jane.
“Isabel and Cora as enemies was kind of an understandable situation. Isabel took over DA without so much as a how do you do. Their relationship should have been one with compromises made as the two of them talked over the needs and the home’s owners’ willingness to give up more and more of their home, not commanded to do so by Isabel. I think Isabel was just too pushy and Cora had had enough of it and let Isabel dig herself into the hole she found herself in. I hope she’s back to stay now that Matthew is back at DA.”
Have you ever asked yourself why Julian Fellowes had decided to follow this path regarding Isobel? I’ve been wondering. And I’m beginning to suspect that it is an attempt on his part to paint the upper class in a better light, at the expense of a middle-class character like Isobel. It almost seems as if he’s trying to make up for the more ambiguous portraits of the upper class characters in “Downton Abbey”.
One of the comments suggested that a romp in bed would with Richard would be exiting because he’s so ruthless.Since when does ruthlessness and involvement with deals over newspaper scandals make someone attractive?
Not attractive, but dangerous, a quality that many women find attractive, especially those who are bored.
Those of us who like the Matthews of this world (and the Edward Ferrars and Henry Tilneys) would be repelled!
I love your recap of Downton Abbey! You hit on all of the annoyances without being too serious about any of it. (Because, really, life is too short to get upset over a TV series.) You definitely made me laugh. So thank you!
I am a devoted fan, but like others, I wonder at the melodramatic turn of Season 2. And the weird passage of time. I’m hoping the show I love can be saved, though. I loved the cameos of the minor characters that we enjoyed in Season 1–Mrs. Hughes’s former suitor, Carson’s past as a performer, the housemaid longing for an improved life as a secretary. Hopefully they can get things back on track before Season 3
Sybil/Branson are by far my favorite couple. Love love love their story. I don’t like Mary very much, so I’m really not very interested in whether or not she and Matthew ever work things out. Frankly, I don’t think she deserves him.
Please use spellcheck, especially since you espouse Jane Austen’s name on your blog title.
Yup, I need a proofer. Since this blog with its 3-4 rather detailed posts per week is a side hobby, and since I rely on my own tired eyes to make sure everything is copasetic, I take kind advice as it comes.
I also use WordPress spellchecker, which is not infallible, as you can see, and must depend on my fingers to tipe, er, tyep, er, type the words correctly. Then there’s the matter of my sometimes using British spelling, old British slang, and current American slang. I even make up my own words at times. Sometimes my grammar ain’t so good either.
Being human, I am not mistake free. I have been known to find mistakes months after publishing a post and correcting the errors then. I take heart that even our paid publications editor at work will miss spelling errors, catching them only after the document has gone to the printer.
Jane Austen, BTW, was not known for her spelling wizardry. She depended on her editors, and many of her misteaks, er, mistakes, were missed by them as well. My blog friends will quietly email me to let me know the error of my ways and not make them known so publicly.
Want to see a spelling-error prone site online? Try reading the Daily Mail and not wince.
So Martha, what is your view of Vic’s humour(I’m English) and tongue in cheek viewpoint on Downton? I think it’s great!!!! (My use of the word ,”great,” is obviously colloquial and there is nothing wrong with that.)
You suggest, Jane Austen was a wonderful speller. Was she? How do you know? To tell the truth, it doesn’t matter either.
I’m almost afraid to ask, but … what are YOU up to these days, Mr. Grant?
Never mind Jane Austen. I had to correct him on “Shirley MacLaine,” for heaven’s sake. Vic is safely out of Jane’s reach now, but Shirley is very much alive — again.
p.s. What does espouse mean? Some sort of sword fighting thing, isn’t it?
Well Nick, you really must have a look at my blog, London Calling to find out. You might find me sliding down a snowy slope and also writing about Charles Dickens to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.
http://general-southerner.blogspot.com/
Do you write a blog?
Tony
I will indeed check it out — thank you.
p.s. Nope. I myself am not a blogger.
You wrote:
“Miss Swire, who still hasn’t figured out that bees come from bees and birds from birds, cries her virginal heart out.”
I thought Lavinia admitted to Mary that she was not a virgin?
Well, Sophy, it’s like this… There’s virgin and there’s virgin, if you know what I’m saying.
I love the story of Sybil and Branson. Branson has the courage to face off the whole system – the Crawley dynasty, the downstairs family to pursue Sybil. Not only is he working class but Irish! No wonder Lord Grantham is so enraged. Sybil is the prettiest and nicest of the daughters. I wish there was more about their relationship in Season 2 and I hope nothing bad happens to them in Season 2.
I hope Shirley MacLaine brings over a Hollywood starlet, Matthew falls for her and marries her. Would serve Lady Mary right. The presence of Ms MacLaine does not thrill me – she is no match for Dame Maggie, in real life or, I suspect, as a series character.
The Beeb will probably have Lady Edith fall in love with another woman.
Bates and Anna? Yawn. He should get the Beeb to bring back Lark Rise to Candleford. His role as Timmons was a heck of a lot more interesting and not maudlin.
Please, no more fooling around by Lord Grantham. That was pathetic.
Nick, regarding your “virginal” comment concerning Lavinia, she gave virgins a bad name. I think, personally, that she died of boredom on the set.
Too bad Miss Jane Austen can’t be consulted via Ouija board, to improve the script.
Why all the Mary haters? Is it eyebrow envy? (Where DOES Michelle Dockery get her brows done?) She’s the most complex and endearing character on the show (though terribly flawed of course). She’s the closest thing to an Austen heroine that we have in Downton. She’s a delightful mixture of Lizzie Bennet and Emma Woodhouse and, more recently, Anne Elliot.
As for her “not deserving” Matthew, there has always been great symmetry in the writing for them. Season 2 (or Series 2, for you Brits) was all about reversals of fortune — briefly alluded to by Matthew himself in 2×05. Season 1, Mary is “damaged” goods as a result of the Pamuk incident, which sets her life on a different course. Season 2, Matthew is damaged from the war, which also alters the direction of his life. Season 1, Mary hurts Matthew terribly with her indecision. Season 2, Matthew gets a little of his own back doesn’t he? Parading Lavinia at Downton; pretending not to notice Mary’s love for him (I mean does he really think Lady Mary Crawley changes bedpans for just anyone?); insisting that he and Lavinia marry at Downton, Mary’s HOME; kissing Mary two days before his wedding to someone else; then cruelly lashing out at her in his guilt-fueled misery over Lavinia’s grave. I could go on with countless other examples of symmetry — some of the lines from the script are almost mirror images: “Would you have stayed if I’d accepted you?” and “Would you stay if I asked you to?” etc., etc.
Whether you like her individually or them as a couple, I think it’s fair to say that Mary gets as good as she gives on the show and … at least she takes it like a man.
I adore this show! Although I am a Jane Austen fan I have to say that I often find period dramas a bit contrived and dare I say it, a bit ho hum..But DA Series 1 flowed effortlessly.Characters well constructed and balance each other nicely. Hate Thomas & O’Brien – just too nasty for words but then we wouldn’t appreciate Mr Bates, Anna, Mrs Hughes quite as much. Lord Grantham’s character is so likable and Lady Sybil is a honey. But have to agree that Michelle Dockery & Dan Stevens do an outstanding job.& give Lady Mary & Mathew Crawley real chemistry and dimension. Season 2 has just started here in Australia, and I agree the pace is terrifically fast in that it lurches from one scene to another. Reviews indicate that this settles down as the series progresses. Can’t wait to see what unfolds..