Downton Abbey - No spoilers!!

[Anonymous]

Why don't they fire the librarian before Barrow? Seems like there's a lot of excessive employees around.

Also, as for Barrow being good with George...when have we seen that before this episode? Hardly counts in his favor...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But in other episodes they did know the history of things important or of interest to them personally. Antiques Roadshow and the like are popular shows because people don't know the history of things in their relatives/parents homes. I'm sure can find instances paintings and other valuable objects found in the trash or garage sales. Plus, if their librarian knows why should they need to know? I'd want to know, but not everyone does.

Yeah, the writers of DA can read the internet on grand estates of England:
http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/top-11-stately-homes-in-england-best-english-manor-houses/

Pulling the "librarian" out of the hat--a character not mentioned in 6 years of a series and over the passage of 10+ years in DA is weak writing b/c they used this lame plot device to wheedle out of actually writing dialogue.

Antiques Road show is basically what happens after the great estates are sold off like they were in one of the previous episodes of DA this year. IRL, everything would have been meticulously inventoried, especially b/f converting the house into a hospital during the war. The housekeeper at the very least would have known the details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think it was probably really realistic for them to be like "Oh, wow -- I never even noticed that. It's definitely someone...." They lived with that stuff, but it's not like they picked it out or anything. They said they had a librarian that was in charge of it all (and apparently on vacation or something the one day they needed him?).

And, honestly, if you pulled out your grandmother's photo book.....would you be able to ID the people in it? Or would you be like "I think that was Great Aunt Phoebe. Or wait, maybe that was Grandma's best friend. Definitely one of those, unless it was her cousin Rose. Might have been her." Or who painted the random landscape hanging over your mother's piano?

My grandmother had one photo of her family, and I could identify everyone in it. My mom didn't have any paintings unless she did them herself let alone a piano.

However, my MIL had a long family history and heirlooms to go with it, so yes, I even knew who the people in the photos and the paintings were. Sometimes she would tell me and sometimes I would ask after seeing something repeatedly for years--and I only visited.

The women should have at least known who painted the paintings, there's a few by Van Dyke and it's not as though the writers had to be incredibly lazy by inventing some never before seen character. They have a historical advisor to the show as well lots have been written about Highclere Castle:
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/antiques-of-downton-abbey.htm

Ok, you know your family history, but how many friends and acquaintances know theirs? I know plenty of people who struggle to name second cousins (people who have a common great-grandparent), let alone their great grandparents names.

No the point is, I we didn't have paintings of dead relatives or famous artists. But if we had Napoleon's desk, we'd definitely know it.

Great houses like Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, put on lavish parties, entertained for most of their existence--of course the host/hostess/heir would know the history, style of architecture, and what century the tapestries came from, or who painted the frescos. Also, everything would have been inventoried to the last tea spoon b/c of inheritance laws.

It just shows the lazy writing of the show and made the characters look simple minded.

You've been educated in a different period of time. Mary specifically stated that the women's education was limited to leading etiquettes and French. Why would they be taught history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But in other episodes they did know the history of things important or of interest to them personally. Antiques Roadshow and the like are popular shows because people don't know the history of things in their relatives/parents homes. I'm sure can find instances paintings and other valuable objects found in the trash or garage sales. Plus, if their librarian knows why should they need to know? I'd want to know, but not everyone does.

Yeah, the writers of DA can read the internet on grand estates of England:
http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/top-11-stately-homes-in-england-best-english-manor-houses/

Pulling the "librarian" out of the hat--a character not mentioned in 6 years of a series and over the passage of 10+ years in DA is weak writing b/c they used this lame plot device to wheedle out of actually writing dialogue.

Antiques Road show is basically what happens after the great estates are sold off like they were in one of the previous episodes of DA this year. IRL, everything would have been meticulously inventoried, especially b/f converting the house into a hospital during the war. The housekeeper at the very least would have known the details.

I thought the librarian was mentioned during that period when Cora was being pursued by that other man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barrow? Meh - he made his bed...

Daisy is so over the top isn't not believable and starting to get annoying.

Wow, so harsh! What about:

-he saved one of the daughters after she caused the fire from the letter

-he is kind to George (child)

-he lost his money in the fake investment

-his awful treatments he endured trying to cure him of being gay

-his time in the service

-the one relationship he had turned out with the guy mocking him as he told him it was over and that he would deny their relationship

-knowing you're the only one being let go and everyone else knows it

He's a lost soul with bad luck. At least they show a soft side to him so that you have to realize he had had pain and disappointment most of his adult life. Much, much more like able then the dowager's maid. They show nothing to explain why she is how she is.

Completely agree! Even back when Thomas was doing vile things, I still felt there was more to him that caused him to be so bitter and unhappy. And there really is so much more. I think he's the most anguished character on the show, and for good reason. I guess I've been rooting for him all along, and especially after Barrow decided to help him, even when he didn't want her help. He is a lost soul trying desperately to find meaning in his life and to be a good person. Even with his snarky asides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Carson is being really boorish with his new wife, and aside from how he diminishes her constantly with all his demands and criticism, can you imagine how horrific it must be for her to have him lying on top of her huffing and puffing like a walrus? Sweet mystery of life.

I'm hoping he'll expire in the act, and she'll squirm free, with a nice future running the B&B. And Barrow gets to step in as butler.

Maybe her and Mrs Patmore can run away together.

I want Mrs. Patmore and the pig farmer to get together, but the two women running the B&B together would be great too.

That would make a great spinoff! I'd watch it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think it was probably really realistic for them to be like "Oh, wow -- I never even noticed that. It's definitely someone...." They lived with that stuff, but it's not like they picked it out or anything. They said they had a librarian that was in charge of it all (and apparently on vacation or something the one day they needed him?).

And, honestly, if you pulled out your grandmother's photo book.....would you be able to ID the people in it? Or would you be like "I think that was Great Aunt Phoebe. Or wait, maybe that was Grandma's best friend. Definitely one of those, unless it was her cousin Rose. Might have been her." Or who painted the random landscape hanging over your mother's piano?

My grandmother had one photo of her family, and I could identify everyone in it. My mom didn't have any paintings unless she did them herself let alone a piano.

However, my MIL had a long family history and heirlooms to go with it, so yes, I even knew who the people in the photos and the paintings were. Sometimes she would tell me and sometimes I would ask after seeing something repeatedly for years--and I only visited.

The women should have at least known who painted the paintings, there's a few by Van Dyke and it's not as though the writers had to be incredibly lazy by inventing some never before seen character. They have a historical advisor to the show as well lots have been written about Highclere Castle:
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/antiques-of-downton-abbey.htm

Ok, you know your family history, but how many friends and acquaintances know theirs? I know plenty of people who struggle to name second cousins (people who have a common great-grandparent), let alone their great grandparents names.

No the point is, I we didn't have paintings of dead relatives or famous artists. But if we had Napoleon's desk, we'd definitely know it.

Great houses like Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, put on lavish parties, entertained for most of their existence--of course the host/hostess/heir would know the history, style of architecture, and what century the tapestries came from, or who painted the frescos. Also, everything would have been inventoried to the last tea spoon b/c of inheritance laws.

It just shows the lazy writing of the show and made the characters look simple minded.

Agree. I was rolling my eyes during those scenes. Could they have made those characters look any more shallow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barrow? Meh - he made his bed...

Daisy is so over the top isn't not believable and starting to get annoying.

Wow, so harsh! What about:

-he saved one of the daughters after she caused the fire from the letter

-he is kind to George (child)

-he lost his money in the fake investment

-his awful treatments he endured trying to cure him of being gay

-his time in the service

-the one relationship he had turned out with the guy mocking him as he told him it was over and that he would deny their relationship

-knowing you're the only one being let go and everyone else knows it

He's a lost soul with bad luck. At least they show a soft side to him so that you have to realize he had had pain and disappointment most of his adult life. Much, much more like able then the dowager's maid. They show nothing to explain why she is how she is.

Completely agree! Even back when Thomas was doing vile things, I still felt there was more to him that caused him to be so bitter and unhappy. And there really is so much more. I think he's the most anguished character on the show, and for good reason. I guess I've been rooting for him all along, and especially after Barrow [b]decided to help him, even when he didn't want her help. He is a lost soul trying desperately to find meaning in his life and to be a good person. Even with his snarky asides.

PP here - sorry, I meant Baxter, not Barrow. All these names!

[Anonymous]

And the characters did know the name of the architect--just couldn't remember all the other famous houses he designed. And we're very familiar with the decent art--like the one halfway decent Reynolds--just not all the other crap on the walls.
My mom has a Hudson School landscape painted in the style of Church that someone in the family got from someone more wealthy like 100 years ago. It's our one painting and I still can't remember the painter's name. I'm lucky I remember that Church is like the lead painter of that particular school...I'm sure more of those paintings were painted by some schmuck that studied under Reynolds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the characters did know the name of the architect--just couldn't remember all the other famous houses he designed. And we're very familiar with the decent art--like the one halfway decent Reynolds--just not all the other crap on the walls.

Crap on the walls? Ha, ha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has had some bad luck but he still was a jerk for a long time. And he acts all pouty about his job. He should feel lucky he's getting a recommendation after all that he's done.

I blame the other ladies maid. Her name escapes me now. But Barrow stopped being such a jerk (except reflexively, like when the former house maid came to visit) after she left.

What was her name again?

[Anonymous]

O'Brien

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think it was probably really realistic for them to be like "Oh, wow -- I never even noticed that. It's definitely someone...." They lived with that stuff, but it's not like they picked it out or anything. They said they had a librarian that was in charge of it all (and apparently on vacation or something the one day they needed him?).

And, honestly, if you pulled out your grandmother's photo book.....would you be able to ID the people in it? Or would you be like "I think that was Great Aunt Phoebe. Or wait, maybe that was Grandma's best friend. Definitely one of those, unless it was her cousin Rose. Might have been her." Or who painted the random landscape hanging over your mother's piano?

My grandmother had one photo of her family, and I could identify everyone in it. My mom didn't have any paintings unless she did them herself let alone a piano.

However, my MIL had a long family history and heirlooms to go with it, so yes, I even knew who the people in the photos and the paintings were. Sometimes she would tell me and sometimes I would ask after seeing something repeatedly for years--and I only visited.

The women should have at least known who painted the paintings, there's a few by Van Dyke and it's not as though the writers had to be incredibly lazy by inventing some never before seen character. They have a historical advisor to the show as well lots have been written about Highclere Castle:
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/antiques-of-downton-abbey.htm

Ok, you know your family history, but how many friends and acquaintances know theirs? I know plenty of people who struggle to name second cousins (people who have a common great-grandparent), let alone their great grandparents names.

No the point is, I we didn't have paintings of dead relatives or famous artists. But if we had Napoleon's desk, we'd definitely know it.

Great houses like Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, put on lavish parties, entertained for most of their existence--of course the host/hostess/heir would know the history, style of architecture, and what century the tapestries came from, or who painted the frescos. Also, everything would have been inventoried to the last tea spoon b/c of inheritance laws.

It just shows the lazy writing of the show and made the characters look simple minded.

Agree. I was rolling my eyes during those scenes. Could they have made those characters look any more shallow?

The purpose was to add some humor, and yes make fun of the characters a bit, maybe a little hit to the crawly pride.... We're so proud... Wait a minute, we've no idea what we're proud of

[Anonymous]

Does Anna know about Marigold?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think it was probably really realistic for them to be like "Oh, wow -- I never even noticed that. It's definitely someone...." They lived with that stuff, but it's not like they picked it out or anything. They said they had a librarian that was in charge of it all (and apparently on vacation or something the one day they needed him?).

And, honestly, if you pulled out your grandmother's photo book.....would you be able to ID the people in it? Or would you be like "I think that was Great Aunt Phoebe. Or wait, maybe that was Grandma's best friend. Definitely one of those, unless it was her cousin Rose. Might have been her." Or who painted the random landscape hanging over your mother's piano?

My grandmother had one photo of her family, and I could identify everyone in it. My mom didn't have any paintings unless she did them herself let alone a piano.

However, my MIL had a long family history and heirlooms to go with it, so yes, I even knew who the people in the photos and the paintings were. Sometimes she would tell me and sometimes I would ask after seeing something repeatedly for years--and I only visited.

The women should have at least known who painted the paintings, there's a few by Van Dyke and it's not as though the writers had to be incredibly lazy by inventing some never before seen character. They have a historical advisor to the show as well lots have been written about Highclere Castle:
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/antiques-of-downton-abbey.htm

Ok, you know your family history, but how many friends and acquaintances know theirs? I know plenty of people who struggle to name second cousins (people who have a common great-grandparent), let alone their great grandparents names.

No the point is, I we didn't have paintings of dead relatives or famous artists. But if we had Napoleon's desk, we'd definitely know it.

Great houses like Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle, put on lavish parties, entertained for most of their existence--of course the host/hostess/heir would know the history, style of architecture, and what century the tapestries came from, or who painted the frescos. Also, everything would have been inventoried to the last tea spoon b/c of inheritance laws.

It just shows the lazy writing of the show and made the characters look simple minded.

Agree. I was rolling my eyes during those scenes. Could they have made those characters look any more shallow?

The purpose was to add some humor, and yes make fun of the characters a bit, maybe a little hit to the crawly pride.... We're so proud... Wait a minute, we've no idea what we're proud of

I think it was to show that they take it all for granted - it's just there and that's the way they live. They don't see what's so special about the luxury and history that they live amongst, because, of course (to their eyes) everyone lives like that!