Downton Abbey: Season 4, Ep 2 *SPOILER ALERT!!!*

[Anonymous]

And what is the point of Cora these days? Elizabeth McGovern used to be a good actress, maybe if the part actually had a point. Every effing scene is her standing there with an empathetic closed mouth smile, head cast down. Im sure women of her standing were useless back in the day but maybe they should just send her on an extended journey to america until they come up with something, anything for her to actually do.

[Anonymous]

Someone referred to her as Henrietta Pussycat. That's all I hear when she has her few lines. Mew mew mew mew!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rape was gratuitous and not needed to set up any tension between Anna and Bates. The tension could be over whether or not they had a child. Tom is so going to fall for new maid, Braithwaite.

Isobel was heartbreaking at dinner, but I think she will rekindle her life with the doctor.

Gregson is clearly shady as he knew how to cheat at poker better than the posh poker cheater. He ingratiated himself to Lord Grantham by saving his hide. How many times is a suitor going to have to save the Lord Most Stupid?

It is devolving into total trash soap opera, but I gotta watch it for the clothes upstairs and the downstairs people who are much more interesting.

It was always a total trash soap opera. Were you under the impression that it was high art?

No. Never thought of it as high art. But it had better writing in the first seasons. But by any standard it is better than 100% of the US network shows and about 75% of US cable shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rape was gratuitous and not needed to set up any tension between Anna and Bates. The tension could be over whether or not they had a child. Tom is so going to fall for new maid, Braithwaite.

Isobel was heartbreaking at dinner, but I think she will rekindle her life with the doctor.

Gregson is clearly shady as he knew how to cheat at poker better than the posh poker cheater. He ingratiated himself to Lord Grantham by saving his hide. How many times is a suitor going to have to save the Lord Most Stupid?

It is devolving into total trash soap opera, but I gotta watch it for the clothes upstairs and the downstairs people who are much more interesting.

It was always a total trash soap opera. Were you under the impression that it was high art?

No. Never thought of it as high art. But it had better writing in the first seasons. But by any standard it is better than 100% of the US network shows and about 75% of US cable shows.

I disagree. I don't think it was ever better than US shows. It just had neat costumes. I don't even think the writing was better. There were a few zippy lines for Maggie Smith's character, but other than that, it was pretty much standard soap opera dialogue with British accents.

[Anonymous]

So so so disappointed so far this year. Last night was the worst. I agree - the writer is just lazy. The characters are not true to what we have come to expect of their behavior. So disappointed.

[Anonymous]

To the 2 PPs Now there are only 27,998,000 viewers. Carson will open the door for your exit.

Enjoy all the great shows you have found on US television.

[Anonymous]

Goodbye m'lady

[Anonymous]

I actually liked this episode.

Mrs Hughes' reaction to the rape was weird. Offering to get her water? So blah. Anna is a strong actress. Scene w Bates in the hall was heartbreaking.

Love Edith's new outfits. Not sure where they are going w the new guy but it is interesting.

Also annoyed by Branson's woe is me thing. Edna bugs me. I had her confused w the girl Lord G kissed a few seasons ago.

Speaking of, both Lord and Lady G are getting annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone referred to her as Henrietta Pussycat. That's all I hear when she has her few lines. Mew mew mew mew!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goodbye m'lady

much better!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this season has been terribly written so far.

I mean, it's always been a trashy soap, but at least it was well-written.

There was no explanation for the house full of guests/party there. None of the seeds they planted last week with Thomas up to his old tricks were followed up on, nor was any more deviousness on display.

Tom's whining is unbearable.

I'm struggling to understand what they're doing with that younger girl (name escaping me).

And what the hell is the point of the sexual assault?

Agree it was weird that the party seemed so sudden. I actually looked back at a summary of last week's ep to see if I'd missed something .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this season has been terribly written so far.

I mean, it's always been a trashy soap, but at least it was well-written.

There was no explanation for the house full of guests/party there. None of the seeds they planted last week with Thomas up to his old tricks were followed up on, nor was any more deviousness on display.

Tom's whining is unbearable.

I'm struggling to understand what they're doing with that younger girl (name escaping me).

And what the hell is the point of the sexual assault?

Agree it was weird that the party seemed so sudden. I actually looked back at a summary of last week's ep to see if I'd missed something .

I think….last week, didn't Edith tell her psuedo-German suitor to come to the party her parents were hosting, so to meet her parents?

[Anonymous]

Whoops, it seems Episode 2 here is different than Episode 2 over there.

I'm up through Episode 2 over there -- that's where Braithwaite starts scheming against Anna, Rose goes to that dance, and Mary gets the letter where she is named his sole heir.

I'm guessing UK Ep1/2 was Ep1 here ... Ugh, who cares? I'll just watch them all on Couchtuner.

[Anonymous]

I just think Bates (Bates? Anna's husband) is waaaay too savvy to buy Anna's story; she was clearly shaken up and I think clearly to Bates was not telling the whole story. Especially when she follows that interaction with him by walking out into the night and him calling after her. No way.

If they have Bates buy her story, it's not consistent with Bate's character.

I suppose she'll get pregnant and maybe try to sell him on the idea that she "fainted" that night due to being pregnant? ugh, if she gets pregnant that would be the ultimate in predicable writing.

I also think that Mrs. Hughes might have be persuaded not to call a doctor from the outside, but that the Dr. was at the house at the time makes her actions much less believable, especially since Anna had blood on her face.

A more interesting take would have been if Mrs. Hughes DID call the Dr downstairs, how would the doctor handle Anna's begging HIM to not tell Bates?

BTW I really like that doctor. Didn't he try to ask out Matthew's mom last season? If so, I like him even more. He's a really interesting character.

[Anonymous]

I like the doctor, too, and would like to see more of him. I'm loving Isobel this season and the way she's handling and thinking through her grief.

I think the whole Tom grappling with his place in the class system story line could be very compelling, but I don't have much confidence that Julian Fellowes has the energy or talent to do it with the depth and nuance it deserves.

The rape scene was almost unbearable to watch. Credit to the acting. I hope it's not going to turn out to be the predictable plot line (alienation from Bates, pregnancy of questionable paternity). Please, Julian Fellowes, surprise me!