Downton Abbey

emeraldstar · 21-09-2011 10:06am

So you've got the entire first yet series to watch. I hate you

iguana · 21-09-2011 1:15pm

I've got to say I was more than a bit disappointed by this. I thought it was a pity we came into mid-late 1916 and missed the earlier part of the war as one of the most interesting aspects of WW1 was the juxtaposition of the joy most people felt at the start of the war and the slow realisation of the horrors of the reality of that war. In fact the end of series 1 was pretty off as everyone seemed upset and frightened at the announcement of the war, whereas in reality the majority would have been happy and the church bells would have been ringing joyously while lots more parties were organised.

I'm also disappointed at the missed opportunity of Branson. I always thought the point of having a revolutionary/socialist minded Irishman on staff was to make something of the Irish dilemma at the start of the war, should he join the Irish volunteers or support the republicans. Or if he stayed on the fence (in order to remain in the show) to show his reaction to the fallout of the 1916 Rising, especially Connolly's execution. But instead there is no more reaction from him than a chuckle when he is handed a white feather.

I had really hoped series 2 would have such a strong seam of great stories to mine from history that it would eliminate some of the annoying tweeness from the show but it's still falling a bit flat. I wouldn't mind so much but ITV are investing so much in the production of the show, such a radical departure for the channel, that it's a pity the weak scripts are letting it down and preventing it from being as great as it should be.

goose2005 · 21-09-2011 3:41pm

iguana wrote: »

I've got to say I was more than a bit disappointed by this. I thought it was a pity we came into mid-late 1916 and missed the earlier part of the war as one of the most interesting aspects of WW1 was the juxtaposition of the joy most people felt at the start of the war and the slow realisation of the horrors of the reality of that war. In fact the end of series 1 was pretty off as everyone seemed upset and frightened at the announcement of the war, whereas in reality the majority would have been happy and the church bells would have been ringing joyously while lots more parties were organised.

I'm also disappointed at the missed opportunity of Branson. I always thought the point of having a revolutionary/socialist minded Irishman on staff was to make something of the Irish dilemma at the start of the war, should he join the Irish volunteers or support the republicans. Or if he stayed on the fence (in order to remain in the show) to show his reaction to the fallout of the 1916 Rising, especially Connolly's execution. But instead there is no more reaction from him than a chuckle when he is handed a white feather.

I had really hoped series 2 would have such a strong seam of great stories to mine from history that it would eliminate some of the annoying tweeness from the show but it's still falling a bit flat. I wouldn't mind so much but ITV are investing so much in the production of the show, such a radical departure for the channel, that it's a pity the weak scripts are letting it down and preventing it from being as great as it should be.

Yeah, the first episode was a mess except for the bits with Bates. Not to mention how incredibly fake the battle scenes were

coolhandspan · 26-09-2011 11:36pm

will branson take part in easter rising or are we past that in first episode??

FouxDaFaFa · 27-09-2011 12:13am

coolhandspan wrote: »

will branson take part in easter rising or are we past that in first episode??

They were past it and there was no mention of it which was a little disappointing. It seems redundant to have made such a fuss about Branson being a republican when he first came to Downton and then leave him twiddling his thumbs.

mikemac · 27-09-2011 1:41am

He was the grandson of a manufacturer :eek:
You mean he worked for a living :eek:

A good thing she made up for any social deficiencies so...

Reminds me of last season when they looked down on doctors and lawyers.

Fair play to the writer, it's a like a whole other world that he knows about

mikemac · 27-09-2011 12:11pm

So how is everyone watching this?

On ITV?
Or is TV3 a week behind?

iguana · 27-09-2011 12:50pm

Dammit! I can't believe this show is going down hill while depicting WW1. It's actually becoming boring, which just shouldn't be possible in this era. This is one of my very favourite periods of time and so much could be done here that isn't happening. As I watch I keep wishing I was watching Upstairs Downstairs for the first time instead.

Quite a bit is pointlessly factually incorrect too. The bit at the start with Lang, the new valet, saying people were looking at him wondering why he was not at war, he would have been wearing his invalid uniform whenever he left Downton and probably most of the time that he was there. Why not just have him in uniform as he would have been?

Edith and farmer Drake was comically bad. Every single time they spoke up popped Mrs Drake. Like a farmer woman would have had the time to sneak around after her husband. And when she decided to replace Edith with a labourer it might have been nice to have mentioned the Land Girls, as the Land Army movement was well under way in late 1916.

And storyline wise I think they should marry Mary off to Richard Carlisle, get rid of Branson and Lavinia and have Sybil and Matthew get married. The two are the most suited to each other and I've always gotten a "Little Women" vibe from Mary/Matthew/Sybil.

Lady Chatterton · 27-09-2011 1:00pm

mikemac wrote: »

So how is everyone watching this?

On ITV?
Or is TV3 a week behind?

I'm watching it on ITV as I couldn't bare to be a week behind.

I can't wait for Bates to return, I missed him this week,

I think Bates and Anna are brilliant characters.

mikemac · 27-09-2011 1:02pm

They're a lovely couple alright

On another note, putting your hand up to get a "blighty" could get you in front of a firing squad.
That's how I thought the story was going to go, would have added a lot of drama to it

mikemac · 03-10-2011 4:13pm

The thread is so quiet

I didn't think the Irish guy was going to kill the General but a shame he didn't get to do what he was planning

The writer put in some research as there were civilians shot on North King Street

As for Lady Grantham and Mrs Crawley, meow
The preview for next week showed who gets the upper hand

Justask · 03-10-2011 6:36pm

I missed the first series, s I ordered it on Amazon because of all the talk about it and im Sky+ th scond series.

Looking forward to gettig into it and actually knowing what people are talking about :rolleyes:

iguana · 04-10-2011 12:07pm

mikemac wrote: »

The writer put in some research as there were civilians shot on North King Street

They were, but on the other hand the Military Service Act never included Ireland, despite the 1918 attempt, so I don't think Branson could have been conscripted.

Lady Chatterton · 04-10-2011 12:13pm

Does anyone else feel that the name "Branson" was a bad choice of surname for the Irish lad???

goose2005 · 04-10-2011 3:24pm

Every scene that Irish guy is in is idiotic. A servant at a conservative country house mouthing off about Lenin and Kerensky? And why was he going to throw crap at him, kill him or do nothing. I assumed that he knew the heart problem would kill him soon so he'd little to lose.

iguana · 04-10-2011 5:49pm

goose2005 wrote: »

I assumed that he knew the heart problem would kill him soon so he'd little to lose.

He was found to have a heart murmur which can be entirely benign or only mildly problematic. Unless the murmur was a symptom of a more serious heart problem it would have no impact on his life.

I'm finding it quite difficult to discover whether he would have been conscripted or not. The Military Service Act stated that all male British subjects in his age group, resident in Britain would be eligible so that means he would be. However I can't find any reference to what would have been thousands or even tens of thousands of conscripted Irishmen in the breakdowns of Irish soldiers in WW1. Which is very sad if that happened.

There was a famous case during WW2 where an Irish citizen resident in England was conscripted into the British army and appealed it on the grounds that he was an Irish citizen under the constitution of the Free State, so that suggests that before the foundation of the state Irishmen in England would have had even less protection from conscription. But maybe as Ireland was exempt from the Military Service Act specifically because of the political situation with regard to Home Rule and Irish Nationalism the conscription of Irishmen resident in England may have been discouraged?

Either way Branson wasn't caught between a choice of prison or army like other British subjects. He could have returned to Ireland and avoided either. He could then easily have joined the republican forces if he so wanted to avenge his cousin's death. It would have been about a million times more effective than pouring a slop on a general who was not involved in Ireland.

goose2005 · 04-10-2011 6:50pm

iguana wrote: »

He was found to have a heart murmur which can be entirely benign or only mildly problematic. Unless the murmur was a symptom of a more serious heart problem it would have no impact on his life.

I know that, but maybe he didn't and assumed he was doomed, giving him a reason to do something reckless like mess up some guy's uniform.

mikemac · 10-10-2011 4:35am

I can't call you unprofessional as you've never held a profession
Such bitchiness in this program.

True comment though, Lady Grantham never had a job in her life

Ethel getting herself "in trouble"
Quite the scandal, back then she you'd be shunned

Felt sorry for Mosely, he was doing his best and his dream was dashed, aw bless

And even more scandal next week from the promo at the end
Tbh, those promos give far too much away, already know what's going to happen Lady Mary and Mrs Bates next week.
Might be an idea to switch off for the last minute of the show

As for a trained valet working in a pub???
I think the servants are more class conscious and aware of different jobs then their employers upstairs

squeakyduck · 10-10-2011 11:34am

mikemac wrote: »

As for a trained valet working in a pub???
I think the servants are more class conscious and aware of different jobs then their employers upstairs

I HATE the amount of slack that Mr. Bates gets in the show. I love his character he's so kind and thoughtful. I hate O' Brien and Thomas...they want to make everything so horrible for every one.....

mikemac · 10-10-2011 2:46pm

Do you mean flack and not slack?

squeakyduck · 10-10-2011 2:49pm

mikemac wrote: »

Do you mean flack and not slack?

Toe mato - Tomato..... It's all the same right?!

.....

iguana · 10-10-2011 3:19pm

squeakyduck wrote: »

Toe mato - Tomato..... It's all the same right?! .....

No they mean pretty much the opposite of each other, slack means leeway. If you hate all the slack Bates gets then you'd be like O'Brien.

The timeline on this show makes me laugh. Mary and Robert were discussing the letter Richard sent to him describing how he proposed to Mary and apologising for not asking him sooner as if it happened a month or so ago - as it did for the viewer. Yet that happened in 1916 and this episode was 1918.

Lady Chatterton · 10-10-2011 6:15pm

mikemac wrote: »

Felt sorry for Mosely, he was doing his best and his dream was dashed, aw bless

I don't like Mosely at all, the man gives me the creeps. I reckon he is up to no good. I feel he had an alterior motive when he offered to help out in the big house.

mikemac · 10-10-2011 6:26pm

He's harmless Mrs D

Sure he was chatting to the other servant about his future and his dream
"Look at him there, the valet to the Earl of Grantham"

It was a step up, a promotion
He's such a dedicated worker he wants to keep busy and always do his best

Lady Chatterton · 10-10-2011 7:13pm

Mikemac, you could be right but there is something about him that I don't trust, I reckon he has a devious side.

Anyway, I'm keeping my eye on him

:D

Sleepy · 10-10-2011 11:43pm

Are you forgetting the way he managed to avoid getting conscripted?

Is his "cowardice" what's making you think he's devious. Maybe it's the benefit of hindsight, but I don't think I'd blame any man for doing anything he could to avoid the hell that was the trench warfare of the first world war.

mikemac · 10-10-2011 11:56pm

I thought Mr Mosley was unfit for service, some sort of skin condition on his hands

And rather then put him through a medical they just got him an exemption
Have I remembered it incorrectly?

Lady Chatterton · 11-10-2011 12:00am

mikemac wrote: »

I thought Mr Mosley was unfit for service, some sort of skin condition on his hands

And rather then put him through a medical they just got him an exemption
Have I remembered it incorrectly?

No, he exaggerated his condition to avoid being conscripted.

Lady Chatterton · 11-10-2011 12:02am

Sleepy wrote: »

Is his "cowardice" what's making you think he's devious

I'm not sure, I just have a very strong feeling that this guy is going to be trouble, I could be completely wrong though.

Hrududu · 11-10-2011 10:41am

mikemac wrote: »

I thought Mr Mosley was unfit for service, some sort of skin condition on his hands

And rather then put him through a medical they just got him an exemption
Have I remembered it incorrectly?

He never had a condition. Maggie Smith made it up so that he'd get out of being conscripted. She admitted it and the doctor said he'd write to the army to tell them he was fit and well. Mosely accosted him and pretended that he really did have a condition. The doctor knew well that he was lying but went along with it.

pinkypinky · 11-10-2011 12:58pm

iguana wrote: »

The timeline on this show makes me laugh. Mary and Robert were discussing the letter Richard sent to him describing how he proposed to Mary and apologising for not asking him sooner as if it happened a month or so ago - as it did for the viewer. Yet that happened in 1916 and this episode was 1918.

Really? This is mad! I missed the opening credits on weeks 2 and this week.

I've been confused about the timeline all through this new series. The last series ended on the outbreak of WWI, so August 1914.

From wikipedia so open to correction
Season 2
episode 1: Nov 1916
ep 2:April 1917
ep 3: circa July 1917
ep 4: sometime early 1918

That is really racing through the war.

iguana · 11-10-2011 1:21pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

Really? This is mad! I missed the opening credits on weeks 2 and this week.

I've been confused about the timeline all through this new series. The last series ended on the outbreak of WWI, so August 1914.

From wikipedia so open to correction
Season 2
episode 1: Nov 1916
ep 2:April 1917
ep 3: circa July 1917
ep 4: sometime early 1918

That is really racing through the war.

Yeah it's really odd. Mary and Violet discussing Mary's decision not to tell Matthew about Lavinia's responsibility for the breaking of the Marconi Scandal was another odd one. They were talking as if Mary made the decision yesterday when several months had passed. I was puzzling that one out when the even weirder conversation about Richard's letter to Robert was discussed.

mikemac · 12-10-2011 5:11am

On an offtopic note, getting into Upstairs Downstairs, seems promising

Was wondering why some of the early episodes were black and white but seems there was a strike on at the time with the production team

The butler is Enda Kenny

Sounds exactly like him and looks like him too

Lady Chatterton · 12-10-2011 11:42am

mikemac wrote: »

On an offtopic note, getting into Upstairs Downstairs, seems promising

I have the Upstairs Downstairs boxset too and I've lost count of the times I've watched the it. You're in for a real treat.

There was an Upstairs Downstairs TV Special last Christmas, Jean Marsh (Rose) appeared in it but it didn't have any of the magic of the original series.

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/18068928/Upstairs-Downstairs/Product.html?searchtype=allproducts&searchsource=0&searchstring=upstairs+downstairs&urlrefer=search

iguana · 12-10-2011 12:45pm

I love Upstairs Downstairs. It's a fantastic show. I especially love seasons 3 and 4, which timewise equate to seasons 1 and 2 of Downton. I know they aren't the same show but it kicks Downton's ass.

Last year's mini-series was very disappointing though. And they are currently producing a new longer series and afaik, it won't even have Rose in it.:(

emeraldstar · 16-10-2011 3:55pm

Heh?

Mrs Ron Burgundy · 16-10-2011 4:29pm

mikemac wrote: »

Season Two, dropped the baby on the floor

Flash of something white went scattering, I thought it was the skull bashed open and the infant was killed :eek::eek::eek:

Sarah using a doll as a trick :rolleyes:
It wasn't funny

Anyway, looking forward to next episode of DA

What the hell? I'm confused by that comment.

Does anyone else think this forum has turned into a bit of a history lesson?? Who cares if the show isn't completely historically accurate, just enjoy it I say.

I don't like the acting of the guy who plays thomas, his accent seems totally unnatural. I quite liked him when he was in corrie but he just seems a bit strange here.

Love downton abbey and I wanna see more of branson, I think that guys a good actor.

mikemac · 16-10-2011 4:31pm

It was in reference to the two posts above it

But yeah, it was offtopic

Alicat · 16-10-2011 9:17pm

Ooooooh I hate Vera! :mad:

Lady Chatterton · 16-10-2011 9:24pm

Alicat wrote: »

Ooooooh I hate Vera! :mad:

Agreed.

I love the Dowager Countess of Grantham, we are seeing a really kind and sensitive side to her tonight. Maggie Smith is a wonderful actress, I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role now.

SarahBM · 16-10-2011 11:16pm

MrsD007 wrote: »

Agreed.

I love the Dowager Countess of Grantham, we are seeing a really kind and sensitive side to her tonight. Maggie Smith is a wonderful actress, I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role now.

"I have a cold" she sniffed at the "wedding" - brilliant! Maggie Smith rocks!

Lady Chatterton · 16-10-2011 11:18pm

SarahBM wrote: »

"I have a cold" she sniffed at the "wedding" - brilliant! Maggie Smith rocks!

It has to be said that Julian Fellows has written some wonderful lines for her too.

SarahBM · 16-10-2011 11:27pm

MrsD007 wrote: »

It has to be said that Julian Fellows has written some wonderful lines for her too.

Brilliant writing this wk. The Dowager Countess does get some wonderful lines, as does Mrs. Hughes "I may not be a woman of the world but I wasnt born in a sack" LOL

squeakyduck · 17-10-2011 5:51am

Poor Daisy, she looked absolutely gorgeous for the wedding! Real little cinderella. Poor William. I really liked him as a character.

I had to compose myself several times watching this....nearly cried!

Mrs. Bates...what a bitch....I hope everything works out for Bates. Loving the Branson story line too!

emeraldstar · 17-10-2011 10:28am

Can't believe there are only two episodes left in this series. Far too short!

At least there's the Christmas special

iguana · 17-10-2011 11:49am

Not bad episode, the first one I enjoyed in a long time. The war is almost over at this point, the battle at the start was Amiens, according to the text at the start. That was the beginning of the 100 Days Offensive, though it ended after 95 days on Nov 11th.

I thought for a while, given the dubious medical information (it was way too early to tell if Matthew would be completely impotent) that they were paving the way to show the false assumptions made by early 20th century doctors and that William would pull through and Daisy would be stuck married to him. As we hadn't actually died yet I'm still a bit suspicious that will happen.

At this point the 2nd wave of Spanish Flu epidemic would be getting under way. I wonder if Fellows will use it to off a few of the barrier characters. Look out for Vera Bates or Richard Carlisle coughing or sneezing next week. It'll be the back of them.

emeraldstar · 17-10-2011 1:27pm

iguana wrote: »

As we hadn't actually died yet I'm still a bit suspicious that will happen.

He did die at the end though? When Mr Mason said to Daisy that William doesn't need her anymore now, it was because he'd just passed.

mikemac · 17-10-2011 1:58pm

Just William died at the end

He doesn't need anyone anymore

iguana · 17-10-2011 2:17pm

Crap I forgot that bit. I was remembering Bates telling Mary that it wouldn't be long.

Wolfe Tone · 17-10-2011 2:46pm

I've enjoyed the second season, but it requires you to leave a portion of your brain at the door due to its inaccuracy, but its not meant to be a documentary!

Last nights episode was good, I'm pretty sure William is dead.

I hate Daisy though, she has consistently been the most irritating character for me.

Downton Abbey

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