Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.

Mary had the exact same haircut as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

[Anonymous]

The whole Thomas storyline is weird. It's like the writers can't decide if they want him to be kind or mean, happy or sad, embarrassed or cocky, etc.

I don't believe he and Baxter are family friends. Something else is going on.

WHO KILLED GREENE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole Thomas storyline is weird. It's like the writers can't decide if they want him to be kind or mean, happy or sad, embarrassed or cocky, etc.

I don't believe he and Baxter are family friends. Something else is going on.

WHO KILLED GREENE?

I wondered if he was Baxter's illegitimate son from a very early pregnancy in her teens or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole Thomas storyline is weird. It's like the writers can't decide if they want him to be kind or mean, happy or sad, embarrassed or cocky, etc.

I don't believe he and Baxter are family friends. Something else is going on.

WHO KILLED GREENE?

I wondered if he was Baxter's illegitimate son from a very early pregnancy in her teens or something.

I mentioned that earlier - that sometimes the way she looks at him seems motherly. If she abandoned him that could explain both his anger and his dependence on / trust in her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.

Agree. They've been trying WAY too hard to make her sound clever. These one-liners have been mostly clunkers for two seasons now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.

Mary had the exact same haircut as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

OMG, you are right!





Who's who?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole Thomas storyline is weird. It's like the writers can't decide if they want him to be kind or mean, happy or sad, embarrassed or cocky, etc.

I don't believe he and Baxter are family friends. Something else is going on.

WHO KILLED GREENE?

I wondered if he was Baxter's illegitimate son from a very early pregnancy in her teens or something.

I mentioned that earlier - that sometimes the way she looks at him seems motherly. If she abandoned him that could explain both his anger and his dependence on / trust in her.

yup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.

Mary had the exact same haircut as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

OMG, you are right!





Who's who?

wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all think of the Thomas storyline?

I love the fact that Baxter has come to his rescue and he's warming to her. She seems like such a caring, thoughtful person. I like their new "friendship".

I do too.

As for the Thomas storyline, I just don't believe it:
1. I don't believe they showed Thomas to hate his sexuality before this. I don't understand why he wants to change. Not that it couldn't be true, but just that they haven't written this well. They've changed a pretty solid character into something more. I also think it's a bit of pandering to audiences to turn the gay villain into a kind of underdog hero.

2. While the doctor's words and perspectives were great, I also don't know that he would have been so wise and understanding at the time. It felt very anachronistic. More like moralizing for us than good storytelling.

I don't know about #1. After the whole episode of trying to kiss Jimmy and getting called out on it, he really seemed to go into a period of self-loathing and hatred. He was mean to everyone. Then when Jimmy returned and they became friends, he kind of mellowed out a bit. Still a jerk, but less overtly cruel to everyone around him (except Baxter - but I still think there's more going on there than we know about). I think it's because he was able to build a close friendship with something that he actually really cared for. Now that Jimmy's gone, he's descended back into self-loathing, and that's made him want to change himself. I think this decision to pursue treatments is directly tied to Jimmy's recent departure.

PPs with the theory about Baxter killing Greene: BRILLIANT! I knew there was more to her story, she never told anyone who coerced her into stealing. It would be a shame to see her taken away, though, I like her character on the show. If she did kill him, hopefully she'll get away with it. The interaction between her and Mosley is so sweet. I also want to know more about her relationship with Barrow - he clearly has more of a hold over her than simply having a sister that she knew.

I want Edith to be happy, I really do. I felt horribly for the Drewes, but Edith needs a chance to live her own life. She's been oppressed by Downton's rigidity for too long, I think she'll do much better out on her own. I hate the way Mary treats her, but having a sister of my own I can totally believe it.

Mary has a strong guard up against letting people get to know her. I keep thinking about Tom's statement to her that "you're a lot nicer than most people know" - which is EXACTLY something that Matthew said to her once upon a time. Those two men both managed to sneak into her heart while she was preoccupied elsewhere and didn't notice how close they were getting. Anyone who pursues her more overtly gets shut out. I like her platonic relationship with Tom and I actually hope they don't get together, but it's amazing how he's managed to break down her barriers the same way Matthew did. I miss that guy!

[Anonymous]

Does anybody else here ever wonder if the posters who speculate have actually already watched this season online? They're faking speculation.

[Anonymous]

^ That would be dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody else here ever wonder if the posters who speculate have actually already watched this season online? They're faking speculation.

I don't wonder that, because some of these seem pretty far off base...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr Clarkson had been in the military and ran the military hospital at Downton. I think he would have known a good deal about homosexual behavior and maybe have developed a kinder perspective than was the norm

During his comments, it occurred to me that Clarkson may be gay. He did ask Isobel to marry him but he may have thought she was too old to care about sex and would be his beard

The fact that he hasn't interfered in Lord Merton's pursuit of Isobel adds to that thought

I have always wanted Isobel and Clarkson to get together, but maybe there is a reason they haven't

Ok if Dr. Clarkson is gay, PP you have broken my heart. Since I can't have him for myself, I want him for Isobel!

btw, one complaint…if Isobel's rationale for marrying Lord Merton is to "have one last grand adventure," why not marry Dr. Clarkson?

Really, what's going on here is I have a crush on Clarkson and while I understand a woman not wanting to date anyone, I don't understand a woman who would date Merton over Clarkson (a woman who isn't interested in money, that is, and we all know Isobel is too idealistic to marry solely for money)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm actually sort of tired of the dowagers one liners, but "oh, I thought that was a man wearing your clothes" was classic.

Mary had the exact same haircut as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

OMG, you are right!





Who's who?

BAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Hysterical!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all think of the Thomas storyline?

I love the fact that Baxter has come to his rescue and he's warming to her. She seems like such a caring, thoughtful person. I like their new "friendship".

I do too.

As for the Thomas storyline, I just don't believe it:
1. I don't believe they showed Thomas to hate his sexuality before this. I don't understand why he wants to change. Not that it couldn't be true, but just that they haven't written this well. They've changed a pretty solid character into something more. I also think it's a bit of pandering to audiences to turn the gay villain into a kind of underdog hero.

2. While the doctor's words and perspectives were great, I also don't know that he would have been so wise and understanding at the time. It felt very anachronistic. More like moralizing for us than good storytelling.

I don't know about #1. After the whole episode of trying to kiss Jimmy and getting called out on it, he really seemed to go into a period of self-loathing and hatred. He was mean to everyone. Then when Jimmy returned and they became friends, he kind of mellowed out a bit. Still a jerk, but less overtly cruel to everyone around him (except Baxter - but I still think there's more going on there than we know about). I think it's because he was able to build a close friendship with something that he actually really cared for. Now that Jimmy's gone, he's descended back into self-loathing, and that's made him want to change himself. I think this decision to pursue treatments is directly tied to Jimmy's recent departure.

PPs with the theory about Baxter killing Greene: BRILLIANT! I knew there was more to her story, she never told anyone who coerced her into stealing. It would be a shame to see her taken away, though, I like her character on the show. If she did kill him, hopefully she'll get away with it. The interaction between her and Mosley is so sweet. I also want to know more about her relationship with Barrow - he clearly has more of a hold over her than simply having a sister that she knew.

I want Edith to be happy, I really do. I felt horribly for the Drewes, but Edith needs a chance to live her own life. She's been oppressed by Downton's rigidity for too long, I think she'll do much better out on her own. I hate the way Mary treats her, but having a sister of my own I can totally believe it.

Mary has a strong guard up against letting people get to know her. I keep thinking about Tom's statement to her that "you're a lot nicer than most people know" - which is EXACTLY something that Matthew said to her once upon a time. Those two men both managed to sneak into her heart while she was preoccupied elsewhere and didn't notice how close they were getting. Anyone who pursues her more overtly gets shut out. I like her platonic relationship with Tom and I actually hope they don't get together, but it's amazing how he's managed to break down her barriers the same way Matthew did. I miss that guy!

Agree with your whole post, especially point #1. I have always thought Thomas was full of self-loathing, always. His evil and conniving ways are his ways of trying to cover his desperate unhappiness. Every so often, we've caught a glimpse of his vulnerable side, the lonely part of him who wants to stop being an outsider. We saw that most poignantly with his feelings for Jimmy. So I find it extremely believable that he would be driven to finally try and "change" himself, as sad as that is. No man during the 1920's is going to be happy about being gay. Unfortunately, homosexuality was looked upon as a perversion, something to be deeply ashamed of. It really touched my heart when the doctor told Thomas it was time for him to just accept who he is. I wonder if he'll be able to do that.