Downton Abbey

JWoo · February 2016

Bertie didn't give Edith a chance to tell him. She was conflicted, and was on the verge of either telling him or asking for more time, and he just said "i'll take that as a yes" I think she felt that she could not correct him in that instance. And if he really loved her, he would work past it. I hope that is what happens for her.

Glad her and Mary had it out. Edith and they are bitches to each other. It isn't just Mary. I think they have both grown, and I loved what Edith said to Mary when she came back. I think Mary gets it now.

Love that Sprat is the surprise!

Thomas, I feel bad for, but he loves to cause problems for other people. I think Baxter said it best. he is his own worst enemy. Glad she found him in time, and I hope he changes his ways and becomes the man he could be, that he can learn to be.

Tom has been my favorite character since they introduced him.

The end when Edith and the children were spending time around Sibyl's grave was sweet, and made me cry allover again for her death. Mathew, I expected, there was enough foreshadowing in episodes prior, but her, I was just blown away when the complications started.

The scene when Daisy was listening in on Mosley teaching, really touched my heart.

Lots of crying for sadness and joy last night for sure.

And so glad the Dowager arrived home safely. I really got concerned for a bit.

exbrnxgrl · February 2016

Spratt's role as an advice columnist was a funny twist. Edith has not been perfect, but Mary wins top bitch award. Edith was definitely the bigger person when she came back for Mary's wedding. I think Mary gets it for now, but I can easily see her slipping back in to bitch mode. I did feel that it was very unfair that Mary had the happy ending instead of Edith. Bertie seems rather sensitive, so perhaps he will get over it and come back to Edith. She deserves that happiness.

Thomas is so broken. He has had a rough life and he's gay at a time when that was an unspeakable sin. I am not excusing his nastiness, but I doubt that he has had much love or kindness in his life. What's Mary's excuse

marijen · February 2016

Maybe Mary didn't realize how bitter she was over Matthew's death

exbrnxgrl · February 2016

I really want Anna'a water to break in some place that will horrify Carson 😉

octogirl · February 2016

exbrnxgrl: you called it! I SO see that happening! :-)

By the way, I loved the line about, 'You are my curmudgeon' ...I nudged hubby when Mrs Hughes said that...I say that to my hubby all the time.. :-)

Octogirl

Jackbirdie · February 2016

Just in case anyone falls into "show hole" after the last episode, I ran across a 6 part series called The Aristrocrats. A late 90's Irish/BBC production. Much in the same vein as DA.

I found it on YouTube. The quality is therefore not great, but I am enjoying it.

Julian Felllowes plays one of the leading roles! A bit of a gem.

rainnyc · February 2016

You are my curmudgeon--I can see middle-aged women all over the world nudging their hubbies over that one. (Like me!) Lately I've been missing those scenes we've had in the past when Hughes and Carson are in her sitting room, drinking sherry and talking over the day. Since we're clearly not invited into their bedroom!

I've read that the cast--especially Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, and Laura Carmichael--play Bananagrams incessantly, so I assume code word "Bananas" is an inside joke about that. Loved Sprat! I still think he and Denker should do a spinoff series, with equal parts sniping and sexual innuendo!

Am I the only one who has a modicum of sympathy for Mary? Yes, she's a terrible bitch to Edith, and she completely deserves the calling out she gets from all sides. But I was really moved by those scenes that show her at war with herself. She, her father, Carson, and Barrow are the characters who are least able to move with the times, and they all suffer for it. In the end, Edith is really much more able to cruise into the new era--of course owning a London flat and a magazine helps. I just remember those scenes with Matthew when he said that he saw the real Mary.

That said, when Henry FINALLY comes back and Tom says he's done interfering in their courtship, I envisioned him going off to check his match.com profile. It's been, what, five years since Sybil's death? Please, can someone get this man a date?

I've never been a huge fan of Bertie Pelham. I just think Edith will get bored with him. But this whole thing is playing out against what was (I think) a huge shortage of men in their generation after the war. I like Edith a lot; I just think she deserves better.

Loved the scene where Mary and Isabel meet in the graveyard. And the scene when Maggie comes back (you'd have to be a stone not to love that one, right?). And the one where Mrs. Patmore melts down in the kitchen.

I think one of the show's huge strengths has always been that the characters are so multidimensional, neither all good nor all bad. Thomas and Carson both are examples. And did anyone shiver when the other servants started to hoist the unconscious Thomas out of the tub? I couldn't help remembering when Anna and the others carried Kemal Pamuk the length of the house!

And finally: my vote for the sweetest scene ever is in the schoolhouse, with Daisy listening in, as Mosely wraps that classroom of middle-schoolers around his finger. Awww.

One more episode!

cp418 · February 2016

Actually I was thinking Bertie and Edith were suitable for each other as she craves stability and love. Bertie being the emotional type seemed to fill her need. Hoping he returns and accepts her and Marigold. Bertie was quick to assume her acceptance and Edith was fearful to tell him the truth. She learned a critical lesson so hoping her future works out. Mary will be Mary..... Totally enjoy Tom's refreshing insight intro his aristocratic adopted family. So glad he is so honest with Mary - he seems to stump her into "thinking" how she impacts others and that she is not above reproach. I missed some of the earlier seasons - so I invested in the 6 season DVD set from EBAY.

BTW - is there a Downton Abbey novel?

rainnyc · February 2016

cp418, I think there are some companion nonfiction books (The World of Downton Abbey), but I don't think they've sold rights to a novel.

DivineMrsM · March 2016

Less than an hour and a half for the last episode! Bittersweet! Fabulously entertaining.

I wasn't one who watched the series when it first came out. In fact, I heard people talk about it, and frankly, it sounded so dull! How on earthcould that be interesting? I wondered.

Then one summer with time on my hands, I thought, why not check it out. It's free on Amazon prime. I was hooked within 10 minutes, and I had three glorious seasons to binge-watch, which I certainly did.

Let's all enjoy! Will check in tomorrow to see what we all think

exbrnxgrl · March 2016

I had a wonderful,but exhausting weekend, culminating in my dd's baby shower. I could fall asleep right now and it only 5:00pm on the West Coast. But...if I have to prop my eyes open with toothpicks, I am watching Downton Abbey (yes, I have the DVR set just in case). East coast ladies, hold all the last episode tidbits tight until it airs on the West Coast.

cp418 · March 2016

This was a fabulous series! I can't imagine another that will be able to top it. Well Done!!

GG27 · March 2016

I am so totally p*ssed off. The PBS feed screwed up at the 1 hour mark & from then on, we got no sound, couldn't get the pvr to rewind or go forward, it was just stuck. I'm going to have to see if I can find it online or something. Last weeks feed was screwed up as well. aarrrggghhhhh!!! My favourite show & I've missed the final hour.

exbrnxgrl · March 2016

Oh no! I would be livid too. I won't say a word until you've seen it

GG27 · March 2016

Thank you Caryn, I appreciate it. I've got it set to record again but not until Wednesday, it's going to be a long week....

magdalene51 · March 2016

Look on pbs.org. They usually have the current show available.

cp418 · March 2016

GG27 - watch it online. It should be available for about 2 weeks or so. I did this when I missed an episode.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/

DivineMrsM · March 2016

It was sooo sweet.

Here's something that did NOT happen, but that I'd read online, prior to the final season airing, that a viewer thought would make great story line: We find out Lady Edith is really the daughter of Lady Rosamond, who, because she was not married, gave her to Robert and Cora to raise. I thought that would have been a fascinating plot twist and would have fit in well with Rosamond spending so much time with Edith.

Another clever idea I read in a summary of one episode but did NOT happen was what if the Dowager was really the ghost writer for the advice column and used Spratt as a cover.

As for Thomas Barrow, I never doubted that he would live. I knew it would havecast a huge shadow over the acclaimed series if they were to kill off this gay character.

DivineMrsM · March 2016

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365679989/?utm_source=fa...

Season six, Final Episode

Above is the link to watch the finale online, available there for a couple weeks.

octogirl · March 2016

So, I am eagerly waiting till we can talk about the series and finale, and keeping waiting for comments, but I guess no one wants to print spoilers...when can we start?

In the meantime, I can talk about my favorite line of the show without saying any spoilers when it comes to plot line...delivered by the Dowager, of course...She was asked why she thought the British acted the way they did...her answer: 'Well, some people say it is our history...but personally I blame the weather.'

:-)

Octogirl

GG27 · March 2016

I expected to come here & see spoilers all over the place! Finally got to watch it tonight. Thank you to all who PM'd me about watching it online, but DH & I wanted to watch it on a big screen & don't have a cord to plug our laptop in (I guess we'll have to get one)

As far as I'm concerned Maggie Smith got most of the best lines in the whole series, but yes Octogirl, that was one of the best.

Anyway I'm looking forward to a conversation about the show, the way it ended, the way it should have/ could have ended differently?? Do you think they left a lot of storylines open for a movie or a Christmas special? Cheers, Dee

rainnyc · March 2016

I think we were waiting for you, GG27! Glad you've had a chance to watch it.

And welcome back, DivineMrsM!

There was so much to think about. One of the moments that has stuck with me is Mary undressing her maid and getting her into her own bed, then Robert bringing up a tray of champagne for the Bateses. What a reversal of roles! And then I think about the nursery a year or so hence, with the first generation of children (Sybbie and George) and the 2nd (baby Bates and Talbot). So interesting!

cp418 · March 2016

I very much enjoyed the ending and thought it made for a reasonable conclusion. The role reversals mentioned were lovely to show the closeness and caring of family members to their servants. I must say I'm glad the dowager and Isobel Crawley saw through the manipulating Amelia - she was a wicked character. Daisy I simply wanted to shake her silly. Very glad that Barrow returned as the butler - it was a changed person and needed another chance. Spratt is perfect when the dowager discovers his alter ego.

DivineMrsM · March 2016

Dont read further if you're trying to avoid spoilers!

My favorite scene of the last show was Edith descending the staircase in her wedding attire. It surprised me that I got kind of emotional about it, very unlike me. And the scenes of her wedding in the church were also beautifully filmed.

I admit, tho, that the last season seemed rushed and would have liked a bit more intrigue and plot twists. They could have left a few more open story lines without wrapping so many up in a nice tidy bow. Nevertheless, I will miss the beauty of the series

MsPharoah · March 2016

Well, sadly the series is over! I admit that I was on the edge of my seat because I expected some really horrible things to happen, but they didn't. I thought that each character had shared their good and bad behaviors with us and they ended up OK. Just like the rest of us....we always have a chance to redeem ourselves.

MsP

GG27 · March 2016

I will say it too, spoiler alert, though if they've read the last 3 posts, the jig is up!

I have to say that I always thought that Mary had a good side, but she was the first born & so desperately wanted to have the same rights as a first born male that she couldn't allow herself to show many kindnesses. But she was changing along with the times & I did like that she was helping undressing Anna, that was sweet. I agree, Robert bringing up the champagne was over the top.

In the paper this morning Julian Fellowes talked about the possibility of a movie. I think they left enough storylines to do one, whether it would be good or not, who knows?

I thought Edith looked lovely in her wedding gown & likewise, I was a bit teary, which is unlike me as well.

I enjoyed it & hope it's on again in it's entirety because for me being an antiques dealer, alot of the initial appeal was the sets & the costumes. I would roll back to look at the background of the room or one of the dresses, driving my DH crazy.

Mominator · March 2016

I was holding back until everyone had a chance to watch it.

In the meantime, we've been having fun over at the ABC game, where the current category is Downton Abbey.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/31/topics...

JWoo · March 2016

Loved it all! cried like a baby through the whole thing. I will miss this show tremendously!

ceanna · March 2016

I loved the whole series and will miss my yearly installment!! The actors, the scenery, the costumes, the details, were grand. It did seem like they rushed the ending and didn't fully develop the reasons certain couplings and feelings came about so quickly. The ending was a little too tidy, but maybe a followup movie can explain a few things and leave little messes so yet another movie, or series, could follow!!

rainnyc · March 2016

I've said it before, but Downton Abbey was really special to me in giving me a diversion from this tough, tough year of breast cancer. My mother and sister had been after me to watch it, and I finally watched the first four seasons last winter, just in time to see the fifth season when it was on the air. Then I was diagnosed in April, and during that long summer of weekly chemo, I watched it again every Friday during my infusion. It was actually something I looked forward to, crazy as it seems. And when I lost my hair, I took pleasure in the hairstyles of the women in the show and their lovely hats. I found a blog devoted to the hats of Downton Abbey, and I even found a summer hat that looked like one of Isabel Crawley's. The characters are so well-conceived and the writing is so good; all in all Downton Abbey has been a gift that has gotten me through one of the worst patches of my life. And I am grateful.

Downton Abbey

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