Downton Abbey (1/28) (spoiler alert!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Barrow have some sort of STD?

No. He's trying to cure himself of the gays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was yelling "no, no" when Lord Merton proposed to Mrs Crawley. She wants Dr Clark and he has to man up and come get from smarmy Lord Merton.

I will go down in flames rooting for Dr Clark and Mrs Crawley

Me too! I love Dr. Clark. They are such a good match.

Well he practically did propose to her at the fair a couple of seasons ago and she shut him down cold. So I would say that ship has sailed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, so ludicrous that the police would be staking out Lord Gilliham's house. What in case some random woman shows up, whom they don't know b/c she wasn't interviewed by the police yet and who met the valet once maybe twice?

Also, it's really annoying how Tom can be such a limp fish faced with how nasty and rude Bunting is. Sybil is rolling in her grave.

Yeah, it bothers me because Sybil was so passionate and so was Tom. Now he's become so confused and passive. I don't think Bunting is the answer for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Barrow have some sort of STD?

No. He's trying to cure himself of the gays.

My guess is chemical castration. Fairly common at the time in England, most famously used on Alan Turing, father of modern computer science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Barrow have some sort of STD?

No. He's trying to cure himself of the gays.

I would appreciate that story line more if they had shown him wrestling with his attraction more. Except for the Bateses, all the staff are celibate, so Barrow isn't anything special.

It's crazy that the police would be spending so much time and energy investigating the death of a servant.

I like the pig guy. I hope Mary chooses him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Barrow have some sort of STD?

No. He's trying to cure himself of the gays.

My guess is chemical castration. Fairly common at the time in England, most famously used on Alan Turing, father of modern computer science.

It wasn't in use in the 1920s. Used first in 1944 and only after someone was convicted:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_castration

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what Blake was getting at when he told Mary there was a way to soften the blow to Gillingham (that she didn't want to marry him)? Mary didn't seem to get it, either, so I"m not sure if the audience was supposed to. The only thing I could think he meant was that she should tell G she's marrying him (Blake), but I don't see how that would help.

If Mary does end up with Blake, does she have to tell him about her sleeping with G? What about poor Mr. Pamuk? That seemed like such a big deal with Matthew, but it doesn't seem to have hardly come up in Gillingham v. Blake.

Agree that Barrow is trying to cure his homosexuality. The brochure that the other maid found had the word "Choose" in bold on the ad. I assume it's along the lines of "Choose your sexuality." Sad. Although I like that their giving Barrow a story line beyond being a jerk.

How has no one else, esp the wife, figured out the Marigold is Edith's child? I mean, the secrecy about her placement with the other family, and Edith's obsession with the kid. It seems like it wouldn't take much of a leap.

Q about Cora -- she said her dad was Jewish. I don't know if this was ever explained, but I'm curious (having some sense that her being Jewish was probably a very big deal back then, but not really understanding exactly how it would matter): did Cora's dad convert to some Christian faith, or did her mom convert to Judiasm and Cora was raised Jewish? Or was she raised both? Would it had been possible to marry Robert if either of the latter two were the case? Or could she have been raised Jewish and then converted when she got married to Robert. The way she said "my father was Jewish" made it sound like she was not, but I was curious. Also, her brother's being Jewish never came up when he visited and was being hit on by some of the English upper class, so that made me also wonder if maybe Cora's dad converted or, at the very least, the kids were not raised Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Barrow have some sort of STD?

No. He's trying to cure himself of the gays.

I would appreciate that story line more if they had shown him wrestling with his attraction more. Except for the Bateses, all the staff are celibate, so Barrow isn't anything special.

Original PP here. I agree that it doesn't make sense really. He's never seemed ashamed or regretful of his feelings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what Blake was getting at when he told Mary there was a way to soften the blow to Gillingham (that she didn't want to marry him)? Mary didn't seem to get it, either, so I"m not sure if the audience was supposed to. The only thing I could think he meant was that she should tell G she's marrying him (Blake), but I don't see how that would help.

If Mary does end up with Blake, does she have to tell him about her sleeping with G? What about poor Mr. Pamuk? That seemed like such a big deal with Matthew, but it doesn't seem to have hardly come up in Gillingham v. Blake.

Agree that Barrow is trying to cure his homosexuality. The brochure that the other maid found had the word "Choose" in bold on the ad. I assume it's along the lines of "Choose your sexuality." Sad. Although I like that their giving Barrow a story line beyond being a jerk.

How has no one else, esp the wife, figured out the Marigold is Edith's child? I mean, the secrecy about her placement with the other family, and Edith's obsession with the kid. It seems like it wouldn't take much of a leap.

Q about Cora -- she said her dad was Jewish. I don't know if this was ever explained, but I'm curious (having some sense that her being Jewish was probably a very big deal back then, but not really understanding exactly how it would matter): did Cora's dad convert to some Christian faith, or did her mom convert to Judiasm and Cora was raised Jewish? Or was she raised both? Would it had been possible to marry Robert if either of the latter two were the case? Or could she have been raised Jewish and then converted when she got married to Robert. The way she said "my father was Jewish" made it sound like she was not, but I was curious. Also, her brother's being Jewish never came up when he visited and was being hit on by some of the English upper class, so that made me also wonder if maybe Cora's dad converted or, at the very least, the kids were not raised Jewish.

I couldn't figure out what Blake meant either. And she seemed puzzled through to the end.

How did I miss Cora saying her father's Jewish? When does it happen?

[Anonymous]

I thought Blake meant she should sleep with Tony first, i.e., break-up sex. I believe he knows Mary slept with Tony, or at least deeply suspects it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought Blake meant she should sleep with Tony first, i.e., break-up sex. I believe he knows Mary slept with Tony, or at least deeply suspects it.

But wouldn't she have understood that kind of cheeky joke? They made a point of clarifying she didn't know what he meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what Blake was getting at when he told Mary there was a way to soften the blow to Gillingham (that she didn't want to marry him)? Mary didn't seem to get it, either, so I"m not sure if the audience was supposed to. The only thing I could think he meant was that she should tell G she's marrying him (Blake), but I don't see how that would help.

If Mary does end up with Blake, does she have to tell him about her sleeping with G? What about poor Mr. Pamuk? That seemed like such a big deal with Matthew, but it doesn't seem to have hardly come up in Gillingham v. Blake.

Agree that Barrow is trying to cure his homosexuality. The brochure that the other maid found had the word "Choose" in bold on the ad. I assume it's along the lines of "Choose your sexuality." Sad. Although I like that their giving Barrow a story line beyond being a jerk.

How has no one else, esp the wife, figured out the Marigold is Edith's child? I mean, the secrecy about her placement with the other family, and Edith's obsession with the kid. It seems like it wouldn't take much of a leap.

Q about Cora -- she said her dad was Jewish. I don't know if this was ever explained, but I'm curious (having some sense that her being Jewish was probably a very big deal back then, but not really understanding exactly how it would matter): did Cora's dad convert to some Christian faith, or did her mom convert to Judiasm and Cora was raised Jewish? Or was she raised both? Would it had been possible to marry Robert if either of the latter two were the case? Or could she have been raised Jewish and then converted when she got married to Robert. The way she said "my father was Jewish" made it sound like she was not, but I was curious. Also, her brother's being Jewish never came up when he visited and was being hit on by some of the English upper class, so that made me also wonder if maybe Cora's dad converted or, at the very least, the kids were not raised Jewish.

I couldn't figure out what Blake meant either. And she seemed puzzled through to the end.

How did I miss Cora saying her father's Jewish? When does it happen?

It's been brought up a couple times. At some point, they mentioned her maiden name was Levinson, which is apparently a Jewish name. I missed it that time, so I don't know if anything more was said than that, but I think it was when her brother was visiting.

In the past episode it was brought up when she was out for the evening with the art dealer and they were walking back to Rosamund's, and she was talking about when she first moved to London. She said that she was new money, and her dad was Jewish, so they didn't really fit in that well in Cincinnati, much less New York, and her mom thought she might make a better match in London (I would guess the exact sort of match she did make).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what Blake was getting at when he told Mary there was a way to soften the blow to Gillingham (that she didn't want to marry him)? Mary didn't seem to get it, either, so I"m not sure if the audience was supposed to. The only thing I could think he meant was that she should tell G she's marrying him (Blake), but I don't see how that would help.

If Mary does end up with Blake, does she have to tell him about her sleeping with G? What about poor Mr. Pamuk? That seemed like such a big deal with Matthew, but it doesn't seem to have hardly come up in Gillingham v. Blake.

Agree that Barrow is trying to cure his homosexuality. The brochure that the other maid found had the word "Choose" in bold on the ad. I assume it's along the lines of "Choose your sexuality." Sad. Although I like that their giving Barrow a story line beyond being a jerk.

How has no one else, esp the wife, figured out the Marigold is Edith's child? I mean, the secrecy about her placement with the other family, and Edith's obsession with the kid. It seems like it wouldn't take much of a leap.

Q about Cora -- she said her dad was Jewish. I don't know if this was ever explained, but I'm curious (having some sense that her being Jewish was probably a very big deal back then, but not really understanding exactly how it would matter): did Cora's dad convert to some Christian faith, or did her mom convert to Judiasm and Cora was raised Jewish? Or was she raised both? Would it had been possible to marry Robert if either of the latter two were the case? Or could she have been raised Jewish and then converted when she got married to Robert. The way she said "my father was Jewish" made it sound like she was not, but I was curious. Also, her brother's being Jewish never came up when he visited and was being hit on by some of the English upper class, so that made me also wonder if maybe Cora's dad converted or, at the very least, the kids were not raised Jewish.

I couldn't figure out what Blake meant either. And she seemed puzzled through to the end.

How did I miss Cora saying her father's Jewish? When does it happen?

It's been brought up a couple times. At some point, they mentioned her maiden name was Levinson, which is apparently a Jewish name. I missed it that time, so I don't know if anything more was said than that, but I think it was when her brother was visiting.

In the past episode it was brought up when she was out for the evening with the art dealer and they were walking back to Rosamund's, and she was talking about when she first moved to London. She said that she was new money, and her dad was Jewish, so they didn't really fit in that well in Cincinnati, much less New York, and her mom thought she might make a better match in London (I would guess the exact sort of match she did make).

You're right that it does seem like it would've been a bigger deal. Looks like they're setting up for relevance in the future (is this the last season?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was yelling "no, no" when Lord Merton proposed to Mrs Crawley. She wants Dr Clark and he has to man up and come get from smarmy Lord Merton.

I will go down in flames rooting for Dr Clark and Mrs Crawley

+1 but Lord Merton is a nice catch too. I LOVE how these older women are having these men chase them! They're more interesting than the younger women's story lines.

Mrs. Bunting was raised in a barn. She has no manners at all. I can't believe that everyone keeps asking her back, and not getting upset at how she goads Lord G. I mean, she's not just attacking Lord G, she's attacking everyone--Cora, the Dowager, everyone--everyone should be pissed off, not just Lord G.

She just comes off so badly because she's invited in their house and attacking the host. Repeatedly, now. If it were on neutral ground AND if she had been provoked, ok. But to come in and provoke the host…so uncool. And even after Tom politely asked her not to. She is a discredit to her class.

[Anonymous]

I thought it meant that Mary's liaison with Gillingham's no secret--after all the Dowager's butler can't shut up about what he saw and Clark's heard about it.