BTW, best scene of the movie was Lord Grantham asking mary if the reason she was marrying was because of the dead turk in her bed. That scene was so well-done, such a complex scene and they made it perfect.

I LOVE this show! Couldn't watch it Sunday and have been dutifully staying away from this thread. Finally got to watch it and here I am. Was DYING over the "use it to crack your nuts" line. Love the countess aka chicken lady. I loved everything about that show. One thing I know I'll catch flames for. I actually thought the actual proposal between matthew and lady mary was a bit anticlimactic. All the emotion between them, and yet the moment was so restrained. I'm not saying it wasn't awesome and I didn't cry a little, but I thought it might have been more rewarding after all of that build up. As weird as the past few episodes have been, I was totally into the scene with mary and matthew dancing (when Lavinia interrupted). I have such a huge girl crush on Mary's character. I just think she is so divine. I can't get enough of the show!

But boy, they're not even trying to be realistic with the staff relations anymore, are they?

The other great Dowager line is from Season one where she sits in a swivel chair and asks what the heck this newfangled invention is. Lord Grantham replies it's not new -- Thomas Jefferson invented it. To which she replies, "Why must everyday involve a fight with an American?"

Did no one else cry when Mr. Mason asked Daisy to be his daughter?? "I've never been special to anyone, not like that..." *snif*

And bad CGI snow notwithstanding, I clutched the cat sleeping in my lap when it became clear Matthew was going to propose. Much to the cat's offense. Silly unromantic cat.

Anonymous wrote:Did you catch all the Dowager Countess humor?

....


Dowager (opening a gift): Oh, what's this?
Matthew's mother: It's a nutcracker. I thought you'd enjoy using it to crack your nuts.

I giggled a lot at this line because of Matthew's mom saying that with such an innocent grin.

As the mom of 3 sons, I loved Isabel telling Matthew to stop using Lavinia as an excuse for rekindling his romance with Mary. Isabel has been sanctimonious at times, yes, but I admire her for being frank with Matthew.

I predict Lady Mary will do something crazy and she and Matthew will not get married, at least not until the last show. The ending is just too, too, "happily ever after." Other predictions: Anna is pregnant and Bates is exonerated; the truth about Thomas' "war" would will surface and the truth about the dog and Lord Grantham will give him the sack. Somehow Ethel and child will come back and Patrick will cause some trouble. Guess I'll have to wait until Jan. 2013 unless the PP who moves to England clues us in.

The he's Dowager line for me s from season 1. Mathew is explaining that he can work at his law practice during he week and the estate on the weekends and the Dowager asks, "What's a weekend?"

Anonymous wrote:No, the best Countess line was "This game isn't called Charades, it's called The Game." Hahaha.

I didn't really get that one.

No, the best Countess line was "This game isn't called Charades, it's called The Game." Hahaha.

Anonymous wrote:Did you catch all the Dowager Countess humor?

Thomas: Will you dance?
Dowager: Yes, since it's a waltz, not that new foxtrot.
Thomas: Or the Black Bottom.
Dowager: Yes, so long as you hold me upright and don't drop me on mine.


Dowager (opening a gift): Oh, what's this?
Matthew's mother: It's a nutcracker. I thought you'd enjoy using it to crack your nuts.


Sir Richard: I suspect that this is the last time we'll see each other.
Dowager Countess: Promise?

Agreed! She was the best character in this episode, and I really came to appreciate Maggie Smith.

Did you catch all the Dowager Countess humor?

Thomas: Will you dance?
Dowager: Yes, since it's a waltz, not that new foxtrot.
Thomas: Or the Black Bottom.
Dowager: Yes, so long as you hold me upright and don't drop me on mine.


Dowager (opening a gift): Oh, what's this?
Matthew's mother: It's a nutcracker. I thought you'd enjoy using it to crack your nuts.


Sir Richard: I suspect that this is the last time we'll see each other.
Dowager Countess: Promise?

I've loved this show! I was so relieved and happy that it ended with Mary and Matthew getting engaged. I was a little worried that they would drag it out next season, which would have made me crazy. Re the sappiness/soap-operaness of it all but with period costumes, I saw a great review about the Christmas Special in The Daily Mail online TV blog, that was so great I had to save it. Here it is:

"Indeed, there are always moments when Downton is as corny as a corncob drenched in corn sauce being eaten at exactly corn o'clock by a corncrake in a corn field on the feast of St Corn's Day. Yet last night's two-hour festive special hit new peaks of soapy brilliance. "

So funny!