Downton Abbey

magdalene51

I searched online and realized I'd missed episodes, so I was up til two watching and I'm going to watch more today.

BrooksideVT

I did not get the problem as a test of her administrative capabilities, especially as Robert was the one to handle/minimize the problem. Nevertheless, I susect the lady (excuse me--non-lady) has a deeper agenda and will be back. Possibly at Lord Gillingham's?

exbrnxgrl

Yes, but remember, Lord Grantham said that Mary proved herself fit to be estate manager after she told her father she would not have given in to blackmail. I don't believe the incident was set up for that purpose, but it certainly proved to be what made LordGrantham put his full faith in Mary.

rainnyc

I've just watched it online. I don't know--I loved the whole Carson/Hughes/Patmore thing, but the episode felt rushed to me. Too many little bits and pieces. I would have edited out some of the mini scenes. I liked the Edith bit in London, and the whole Denker-Spratt thing was good. The dowager and Isabel were in great form. But did we need two Bates plots at once--the miscarriage AND the resolution of the Mr. Green case? And why did the woman confess to the crime?

Still, it's SO great to have them all back!

DivineMrsM

rain, you make some valid observations. I loved the episode but at times it did seem a bit choppy to me.

exbrnxgrl

Yes, agree about the choppiness, but still enjoyed it

magdalene51

Not quite caught up yet. Seasons 1-5 are on Amazon Prime.

magdalene51

Oh my! Elder love! Sweet peck between Carson and Mrs. Hughes! I teared up.

marijen

you can go to PBS for last seasons, it's free

JWoo

*sigh* Carson and Mrs. Hughes are so adorable together. I can't wait to see how their wedding gets celebrated!

magdalene51

I went back and watched all of season 5 on Amazon prime. I think the UK versions are a bit longer. It was delicious. I had seen some but not all, so I got continuity and tonight watched episodes 1 and 2 of season 6 back to back.

magdalene51

So, will Mr. Mason get Yew Tree Farm now, and will we finally get rid of the detestable Thomas? Will the Bates finally have a baby? And now that Papa knows about Lady Mary's Liverpool tryst with Lord Gillingham, she can't very well be judgemental if she learns Marigold's identity, can she?

Oh the threads! How can it possibly be ending?

swanseagirl

hello all

I'm lucky enough to have started watching the new series back in rhe UK. Then I signed up for expat bbc iPlayer and htv player so I've continued to watch it. The Christmas special finale was good.

There a spook of downton abbey with George Clooney in it. Hilarious. Wish I could put it on this thread.

Just drooped in to say hello and get a warm hug of hope xx

swanseagirl

mad

I have all the answers wink wink

cuddyclothes

My husband and I LOVE Thomas. And everything about the show, except for the interminable Bates Drama(s). Last week EVERY CHARACTER is cheering that Green's murderer confessed, but Anna's sobbing because she can't have a baby. Come on, Anna, get a grip! She and Edith should go for a drink together and discuss the unfairness of being written by Julian Fellowes.

We got the British set of the first 4 seasons and spent the past few months watching them, then recorded 5, which we'd seen most of. I can't remember what got us started. Jeff and I high-five each other each time the Dowager gets off a good line.

DivineMrsM

I was a bit shocked at how anorexic Lady Mary looked during the scene where Anna helps her get into her robe. They were speaking of Anna's troubles, all the while ignoring the elephant in the room: Mary's skeletal appearance!

MsPharoah

Divine.. when I saw that scene, all I could think about was how absolutely awful Mary must look in person, in that the cameras "add pounds"

Love this series!

MsP

BrooksideVT

I noticed it too! I've also noticed that Mary's face appears harder this season. Assumed it was makeup, but perhaps it is the result of too much weight loss.

I absolutely love the delicacy with which Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes need to address the outright demand that they have their wedding at the manor house. I'd always assumed that would be the venue as the location is already available and paid for. Mrs. Hughes, however, delicate or not, could easily prove a worthy opponent for Lady Mary!

Hernie

The fiance of Michelle Dockery (Mary) spent 2015 battling brain cancer and sadly passed away in December. She was with him at the end. It so very sad.

luvmygoats

Here's the George Clooney spoof. It's been removed from a lot of places. Mine was very slow to load so be patient if yours is. Not sure if this is the teaser or the whole thing but It's all I've seen. My original bookmark was a Yahoo one and it doesn't exist any long.

http://uproxx.com/tv/watch-george-clooney-play-geo...

Loved the Julian Fellowes comment from a viewer he met. "Pleeeze let Edith be happy" - I think I have it right.

I missed bits and pieces of last night's show. Appreciate the replay my station does just before the new episode.

DivineMrsM

I saw the spoof of Downton, so comical and just love how the Dowager fawns all over George Clooney.

I'd heard about Michele Dockery's fiance, very heartbreaking.

The little power play between Mrs. Hughes and Lady Mary is unexpected, and I love it! Just figured a wedding between Carson & Hughes would go smoothly. Mrs. Hughes is testing Carson to see who'll be the #1 woman in his life. Mary will be surprised to realize that Mrs. Hughes now plans to be Carson's #1 gal and Carson had no clue this would happen. Of course, it goes right to a man's ego to be in the middle of two women bartering for his attention. I should know, my husband was that way with me & his mom and he had an ex-wife I had to deal with too! Good for Mrs. Hughes to stand her ground. Cant wait so see how that unfolds.

amylsp

Have any of you seen this YouTube Video of Downton Abbey with American Accents? It's a clip from the Stephen Colbert Show. Here's the description - "Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Allen Leech perform a scene from "Downton Abbey" using good ol' American accents, and it's unsettling."

Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's hysterical!

AmyQ

OMG that IS hysterical. Thanks for sharing

rainnyc

Yes, the video of the cast with American accents is funny!

I'm reading a new biography of Maggie Smith by Michael Coveney. Very entertaining.

I enjoyed the 2nd episode more than the first -- though "incompetent cervix" is a term I never thought I'd hear on Downton Abbey -- but am ready for Edith and Mary to get some boyfriends. And I am looking forward to the Carson-Mrs. Hughes wedding, and rooting for it not to be held at Downton!

I'm particularly enjoying watching Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, and Elizabeth McGovern chew the scenery in the hospital scenes!

DivineMrsM

Those American accents, as well as the actors in today's clothing, do take away all the charm and intrigue we relish in the show!


I'm glad you mentioned the cervical incompetence, rainy. (It was something I had and my son was born a premie). Tho Mary and Anna are close, they discuss female issues so candidly, and I wonder if they really were so open about things like that back in 1926. Even for them to discuss it so candidly with the doctor. And the way they toss the word "pregnant" around, as when Mary was mentioning, in mixed company, how Rose was "probably pregnant" by now. I thought they'd refer to it as "being in the family way" or however they would say it without using the word pregnant over there in England

MsPharoah

Mrs. Hughes looked a lovely bride tonight, despite all the drama around her trousseau. Good surprises this week and I won't spoil it for the west coast gals.

MsP

exbrnxgrl

It's still tooearly here, on the West Coast, for the broadcast, but I'm really looking forward to it!

marijen

No comments? I thought it was great as usual. I really like Isabel

DivineMrsM

It was a great episode. I didn't realize Carson and Hughes would marry this week! I loved how all that worked out with the discussion about the location and style of the wedding, loved how Cora interceded to get Mary to back off and loved how the issue of what Mrs. Hughes was going to wear was finally resolved. That reception was so beautifully decorated.

I have always loved Isobel. She cracked me up when she accused the doctor of putting himself before his patients. And the Dowager is always in top form.

What do you make of Robert making a casual comment about having heartburn? Makes me think he may have a heart attack at some point. I have to wonder if they'll kill off any other main character before the series ends.

AmyQ

Will watch the latest episode on Amazon but excited to hear about the wedding.