Downton Abbey February 8, 2015 SPOILERS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awesome plot summary, PP.

To other PP, no one gives an F who killed Greene. It is the most drawn-out, boring story line EVER.

True! I don't care anymore! Points to whomever in an earlier thread guessed that Bates would find Anna's (Mary's) contraceptive device. I didn't get this line - maybe someone can explain it to me. Mary gets her hair bobbed. She pays and tips the male hairdresser generously and walks away. He and another female hairdresser gossiip and say "WEll at least she can carry it off - everyone else looks like a bald monkey with that hairdo". Bald monkey?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awesome plot summary, PP.

To other PP, no one gives an F who killed Greene. It is the most drawn-out, boring story line EVER.

Drawn-out and boring, sure. But I still want to know who did it, already. They owe us that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awesome plot summary, PP.

To other PP, no one gives an F who killed Greene. It is the most drawn-out, boring story line EVER.

True! I don't care anymore! Points to whomever in an earlier thread guessed that Bates would find Anna's (Mary's) contraceptive device. I didn't get this line - maybe someone can explain it to me. Mary gets her hair bobbed. She pays and tips the male hairdresser generously and walks away. He and another female hairdresser gossiip and say "WEll at least she can carry it off - everyone else looks like a bald monkey with that hairdo". Bald monkey?

I don't know if there's anything to explain about the bald monkey comment...other than just how unflattering the very short cut looks on most women. I did enjoy that he switched from a French accent to an English one when speaking with his co-worker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somewhat off topic

If Bates killed his wife's rapist, what -- if anything -- do you think your DH would do to someone who raped you?

Hopefully nothing illegal because that would make me feel worse, not better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates is going to kill Isis after Thomas locks her in one of the gamekeeper's sheds. Baxter and Mosley are going to happen upon the scene because they have been canoodling in the underbrush as the underclass should. Mary and either Charles Blake or Evelyn Whathisname or Tom or Tony Gillingham will be riding by (sidesaddle) with Rose and dishy Atticus and ignore the entire incident. Mr. Carson will be forced to tell Lord Grantham about Isis's demise, and the latter will cold cock the former. Cora will stand by helplessly and then Mrs. Hughes will cold cock Cora. Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes will be forced to run off to Mrs. P's cottage where they will form a GirlPower commune with Lady Edith, Marigold, Isobel Crawly, Daisy and the dreaded Bunting.

Lady Violet will look with disdain at Sprat and say "I never liked the dog. She was a bitch like me."

Honey, men don't ride sidesaddle.

[Anonymous]

They ride bareback though.

[Anonymous]

Lets hope Tony Gillingham did not, PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They ride bareback though.

Thomas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Well, it's a brilliant solution to the "Who killed greene?" question . . . but so contrived as to make you want to say "PUHLEEZE" to Julian Fellowes. BTW has anyone else noticed how well written the posts are on this thread as compared to the rest of DCUM.[/quote]

Obviously it says something about those of us who obsess over this guilty pleasure that is DA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Well, it's a brilliant solution to the "Who killed greene?" question . . . but so contrived as to make you want to say "PUHLEEZE" to Julian Fellowes. BTW has anyone else noticed how well written the posts are on this thread as compared to the rest of DCUM.

Obviously it says something about those of us who obsess over this guilty pleasure that is DA

[Anonymous]

Yes, yes I have

[Anonymous]

My main irritation is that my DH will not watch it; he says it's like watching a rock garden grow.

Meanwhile, my neighbor's DH watches it, their ILs watch it, shoot--every husband I know watches it and likes it! grr!

Regarding the cut hair, I was reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," which takes place in the early part of the 20th century, and there was a passage about cutting a woman's hair. The woman speaking said, it was such a shame, because long hair is a gift to the husband--everyone else sees it pinned up, but only her husband, at night, gets to see it down like a mantle or cape around her shoulders. (of course, written much better). It really made me stop and think about the mindset of back then. The long hair as this private gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My main irritation is that my DH will not watch it; he says it's like watching a rock garden grow.

Meanwhile, my neighbor's DH watches it, their ILs watch it, shoot--every husband I know watches it and likes it! grr!

Regarding the cut hair, I was reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," which takes place in the early part of the 20th century, and there was a passage about cutting a woman's hair. The woman speaking said, it was such a shame, because long hair is a gift to the husband--everyone else sees it pinned up, but only her husband, at night, gets to see it down like a mantle or cape around her shoulders. (of course, written much better). It really made me stop and think about the mindset of back then. The long hair as this private gift.

That's why in a lot of cultures/religions women cover/tie up their hair.

[Anonymous]

My DH doesn't watch either. I don't mind.

[Anonymous]

MyDH watches and asks rude questions or makes comments about how hot Mary is, how pathetic Edith is, what a pompous twit Lord Grantham is, and why I would dump him in a Downtonw Abbey minute for Dr Clarkson.