irritating things about P. Gordon -- yes, whininess (Slate describes his voice as Muppet-like); also that he preys upon Edith's vulnerability in such a cruel way; also that the story line was wrapped up so quickly

I actually don't think the quality has fallen off so much. The plot contrivances and abrupt timing were there last season as well; like all soaps, though, DA still has characters we love -- and those we love to hate -- as well as moments of great writing acting (e,.g, Mary and Sir Richard house-hunting: Sir Richard, trying to lend some pretense of romance to their arrangement -- or perhaps actually feeling a glimmer of affection for Mary -- "Shall we give the house a new chapter?" Mary -- "I suppose one must live somewhere.") that make it worth watching.

Has anyone bought the dvd and finished season 2 yet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't post the Tweets again. Anybody who wants to read them, can go on Twitter.

+1

+1000

+1

Also, what was it about P Gordon that was sooooo irritating?

Does anyone know why the quality has fallen off so much this season?

His whininess and the utter implausibility of his waiting so long to contact the family. Ok, maybe he didn't regain his memory until a few months before (suspending disbelief there), but he could've written a letter.

I agree about the quality, though I'm still enjoying it. I miss the focus on the family/servants -- the broader focus on the war dilutes it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't post the Tweets again. Anybody who wants to read them, can go on Twitter.

+1

+1000

+1

Also, what was it about P Gordon that was sooooo irritating?

Does anyone know why the quality has fallen off so much this season?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't post the Tweets again. Anybody who wants to read them, can go on Twitter.

+1

+1000

Anonymous wrote:Please don't post the Tweets again. Anybody who wants to read them, can go on Twitter.

+1

Please don't post the Tweets again. Anybody who wants to read them, can go on Twitter.

Have to post Patton Oswalt's tweets again. (DH emailed them to me and I rejoined twitter after years just to follow these now).

Again start from the bottom. Apologies to those who are annoyed at me not just "linking to it" but you'd have to have a twitter account to see it.







pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Okay, so -- I will be in Berlin next Sunday. Really. Long story. See you all on February 19th for DOWNTON Tweets. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Wait -- are we ending this episode with a...sudden...stirring...in Matthew's loins? #hopeboner #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

The single, creepy hair protruding from Sir Richard's upper lip during the "proposal/threat" scene; *shudder* #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

The tragic, hint of a half-smile that Carson just gave ABSOLUTELY MELTED all the women in this room. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Edith is taking Jack in the Box's "Marry Bacon" campaign to heart. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Is Daisy the great-grandmother of Sinead O'Connor? #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Matthew just unleashed a spew of self-loathing that would put all of the early-90's Seattle grunge scene to shame. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

"They're not costumes -- they're CLOTHES!" -- @MPenn, just now, out-gaying gay-ness. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Thomas' sixth finger is a lit cigarette. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Just took a poll, @thatdanstevens -- even if they put Matthew in an iron lung, every woman would still fuck you. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Hey X-Men, if you need to recruit a new team member, how about O'Brien? Code name: THE LURKER. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

The revelation during the last scene just made all the women here cheer louder than anything during the Superbowl. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

I would eat hooker-vomit out of that gorgeous chafing dish. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

@TrueCrimeDiary and @morgan_murphy didn't high-five ONCE during the Super Bowl, but have high-fived TWICE during DA. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Not exaggerating -- @MPenn just LEAPT OFF THE COUCH and pointed out (and made me rewind) the scene with the electric switch. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Dear God, Bates in onscreen and @AimeeMann and @morgan_murphy just fainted. #alphaservant #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Oh FUCK YOU, Sir Richard. You do NOT poach Carson. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

"What is this, Weekend at 'Burnies'?" -- @morgan_murphy, just now. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

"Edith gets it on with ANYONE." -- @AimeeMann, just now. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Dame Maggie Smith's nostrils just earned a BAFTA nomination in this scene. #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Really hope Bates and Anna get a chance to open that motel. Wait, no...Bates Motel? #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Mary, let Matt's wheelchair get loose and then chase after it to "Yakety Sax"! #openingshot #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

»



pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Can't believe they're letting Hanks Williams, Jr. introduce tonight's DOWNTON ABBEY. #areyoureadyforsomeclassdifference #DowntonPBS

6 Feb Favorite Retweet Reply

Anonymous wrote:I hate how they tie up each storyline in a nice little package with a bow on top in each episode. Like the Canadian guy. He came at the beginning, and by the end of the hour, voila, not a problem anymore. I don't like that format. I would much prefer that the characters and storylines developed over time. I also enjoyed the two-hour format a lot more than this fragmented, soap-opera version.

No, there were several cliffhangers! Ethel the maid, the dead Mrs. Bates, Robert and the new maid... And I bet the canadian burn guy shows up again. I guess I'm confessing to a fondness for soap operas!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I didn't like her last season and I like her less this season, so I'm not that bothered. Isobel bothers the crap out of me, though. I was rooting for her a bit last season but she is so self-righteous now, she drives me nuts.

I know! Surely you aren't going to just let Downton Abbey be a- a- a- house again, are you cousin Cora? I semi agree that's a complete waste for a house of that size to be for one person, but that seemed excessive.

That's the thing. Of course it would be nice if they wanted to be noble and let the house out as a convalescent home, but it's their choice! Where does Isobel get off thinking she can dictate? Her son isn't master of the place yet, and if the crazy Canadian dude sticks around, he never will be. (I must say I wasn't a fan of that storyline. Aside from being even more soap-opera than usual -- would amnesia really cause him to speak with a completely different accent?! I don't know. I was rooting for the imposter theory, myself, but that made me feel bad for Edith.)

I hate how they tie up each storyline in a nice little package with a bow on top in each episode. Like the Canadian guy. He came at the beginning, and by the end of the hour, voila, not a problem anymore. I don't like that format. I would much prefer that the characters and storylines developed over time. I also enjoyed the two-hour format a lot more than this fragmented, soap-opera version.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I didn't like her last season and I like her less this season, so I'm not that bothered. Isobel bothers the crap out of me, though. I was rooting for her a bit last season but she is so self-righteous now, she drives me nuts.

I know! Surely you aren't going to just let Downton Abbey be a- a- a- house again, are you cousin Cora? I semi agree that's a complete waste for a house of that size to be for one person, but that seemed excessive.

ugh, I'm a huge Downton fan, but this latest ep was ridiculous. Canadian-accented fraud amnesiac lost heir in bandages, Matthew suddenly "feeling something", stretched face newspaper baron going nuclear on Mary, etc, etc. The filming and costumes are still gorgeous, but the writing and story lines are atrocious.

And yet, I can't stop watching...which I suppose is the point. Damn you Julian Fellowes.

PP, I sensed that as well .... Lord Grantham certainly could use an outlet, emotionally, perhaps more, and he seemed to enjoy speaking with the new maid. We'll see ...

It's interesting that everyone's all aflutter over Cora being colder this season. Isn't it obvious that the writers are setting up a storyline about Robert and Cora's marriage? He tells her that she is sometimes "unfeeling." He makes actual eye contact with a maid in one scene this evening. I'm guessing that Robert is going to cheat.