PP Here, sorry, some of my comments got pushed together (and no "saw" before Matthew)

Great observations and comments coming in ...

There are some changes in the personalities that feel a bit out of place, or too sudden. Edith certainly seems to be showing more of a caring/kind side as she tends to the patients at Downton, but then, like others have pointed out, her lack of concern over Carson's episode at dinner, more worry over her sullied dress, those things don't sit well. Also, I'm not liking all the hostility/impatience toward Isabel -- she's a sweet lady, with such a caring demeanor.

Mary and saw Matthew -- the scene where she sees him off at the train station I thought was quite sweet/touching.

Sybil and Branson -- I guess I can see them becoming an item, but that he doesn't seem to truly care about what matters to her (i.e., helping out with the patients, etc) bothers me.

Anna/Mr. Bates -- storyline is dragging on, but I genuinely like them both.Daisy and William -- too sudden, feel sorry for Daisy

Ethel (new girl) -- can't stand her ...

Apparently, the comedian Patton Oswald live tweets Downtown Abbey, here's his latest stint (start from the bottom):


pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Thanks for gritting your teeth and tolerating me this past hour. See you next Sunday! #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

"Once I heard that wax cylinder of the Crawley Sisters' 1918 Downton concert, I knew my destiny." -- Bono, probably. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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MPenn Michael Penn

@pattonoswalt This guy's headed to Downton: pic.twitter.com/fzwlVQIe

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

Retweeted by @pattonoswalt

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

@thatdanstevens Oh goddamit, Matthew Crawley, will you ever walk down an aisle singing to...to...ME? (sobs) #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Oh God, this scene just got ridiculously beautiful. I'm sure it's the 1994 Benriach, but I'm misting up. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

I feel really bad for @JimNorton right now, having to follow Mary Crawley at this concert. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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yourpalandmine Dora Mishiev

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@pattonoswalt Sad sack Mosely. Always the bridesmaid. Never the bride. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

Retweeted by @pattonoswalt

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Yeah Cora! Occupy Downton! #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

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@amyschumer So your man allows you internet privileges? Or are you one of those suffragette radicals? #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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Rumph Wesley

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@pattonoswalt "That sounds... hrrmm... Like a tough... situation." - Richard Harrow after Matthew explains his relationship with Mary

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

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@amyschumer ...thinking of a joke where I refer to my vagina as my "Downton Abbey." // How. Dare. You. (*dies of stress heart attack)

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

That long-handled shoehorn was the iPhone 4S of 1916. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Is there a form of sexuality called "homo-Bates-ual"? #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Whoo! The shadow of his cane before it hits the stairs! 2nd "gunfighter entrance" for Bates this season. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Yes, sorry, Richard Harrow. #myfansaresmart #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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RJ_Number8 Rita Jean

@pattonoswalt Having breakfast, lunch & dinner w/ the Dowager Countess was probably a form of early century teenage cutting for young Sybil.

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

Retweeted by @pattonoswalt

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Way to get caught with Tony Stark's great-grandfather, Ethel. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

The sight of Sybil standing wordless and beautiful in a field is what Gary Busey sees in his head 24/7. #luckybastard #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

How awesome if Matthew and William ran into a pre-mask James Harrow from BOARDWALK EMPIRE in the trenches. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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morgan_murphy Morgan Murphy

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@pattonoswalt watching Downton Abbey after watching American Idol is like listening to Etta James after listening to explosive diarrhea.

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

More evil is hatched during O'Brien and Thomas' cigarette breaks than 10 board meetings at Nestle. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Oh my God, Edith and Mary were the original lineup of Portishead! #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Iosbel and Cora just had a "brittle politeness" off. #CoraWon #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Picturing the Dowager Countess as a young woman with "crushes" just made me ejaculate darjeeling tea. #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

I want it revealed that Carson invented the phrase, "When there's time to lean there's time to clean." #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

Just realized the 1st image of the DOWNTON ABBEY credits is a dog's ass. Sorry, "arse." #DowntonPBS

23 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

2 mins. to DOWNTON. Might want to unfollow me. (Imagine me saying that the same way Michael Jackson yells "GO AWAY!" in "Thriller" video)

22 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

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pattonoswalt Patton Oswalt

2 HOURS AND 48 MINUTES TO DOWNTON! 2 HOURS AND 48 MINUTES TO DOWNTON! PREPARE TO UNFOLLOW ME! #DowntonPBS

Just saw the latest episode (Season 2, Episode 3) and here are some thoughts:

Did anyone notice the chauffer saying that Lady Sybil's work wasn't very important? I don't think they're going to wind up together, and in fact sometimes I wonder if she'll marry Matthew, which would be an interesting twist.
They are making Edith more likeable, sort of, with her work with the soldiers.
Why are Thomas and O'Brien ALWAYS together.
I can't figure out why but the Bates/Anna story is less compelling to me this season, it seems to be trying too hard, although they are both great actors.
Completely agree that the Ethel story is predictable.
What's gonna happen with William and the young girl from downstairs? Something not good.
Also, I think Matthew's butler is going to get revengeful for not being able to be the valet now that Bates is back, AND because Anna's not into him.
Agree that the concert scene was really ham-handed, my husband called it "enter stage right". haha.

Thanks, had to share!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our faith was not redeemed by last night's episode. Having M & W walk in during the concert was just like watching a Waltons Christmas very special episode in my opinion. Oh so neat and convenient.

It's Tom, Huck, and Joe walking in on their own funeral.

exactly. and I loved it. Complaining about cliched plot lines in DA seems to miss the point of the series- it is such a blatant homage/pastiche of a range of literary & film sources. Upstairs/Downstairs, Jane Austen, Dickens, etc. It is a total soap- it was last season as well, that is part of the fun. The complaints about the characterization on the other hand- esp. the changes in Isabel and Cora, now that I see as totally valid.

+1 -- yes, of course it was cliched, but what did you expect . . . and can you honestly tell me you didn't tear up when Matthew started singing? Not to mention Lord G's greeting him as "my dear boy"!

Also, I loved Mary finally acknowledging the elephant in the room when she pointed out to Robert that he had married Cora for her money.

I can't figure out why Cora has developed a lisp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our faith was not redeemed by last night's episode. Having M & W walk in during the concert was just like watching a Waltons Christmas very special episode in my opinion. Oh so neat and convenient.

It's Tom, Huck, and Joe walking in on their own funeral.

exactly. and I loved it. Complaining about cliched plot lines in DA seems to miss the point of the series- it is such a blatant homage/pastiche of a range of literary & film sources. Upstairs/Downstairs, Jane Austen, Dickens, etc. It is a total soap- it was last season as well, that is part of the fun. The complaints about the characterization on the other hand- esp. the changes in Isabel and Cora, now that I see as totally valid.

Anonymous wrote:Our faith was not redeemed by last night's episode. Having M & W walk in during the concert was just like watching a Waltons Christmas very special episode in my opinion. Oh so neat and convenient.

It's Tom, Huck, and Joe walking in on their own funeral.

Our faith was not redeemed by last night's episode. Having M & W walk in during the concert was just like watching a Waltons Christmas very special episode in my opinion. Oh so neat and convenient. And Cora continues her vast downward spiral. As does the totally predictable Ethel plot.

Also, the coming attractions feature "something happening downstairs" OHMIGOD!

Hey 6:26! I'm from The City too and bothe DH and I skipped the game for Downton. ITA about Edith. She's turned rather sweet this season and I'm wondering if they are setting her up for marriage to Matthew?

We've been watching online so we're not in sync with the televised episodes. What episode aired last night?

My faith has been redeemed! Loved last night's episode -- I don't want to spoil it for others who haven't seen it yet, so will just say that as a San Francisco native I didn't regret missing the 49ers-Giants game tp watch it -- even though it went into overtime and DH and DS kept yelling for me to come downstairs to watch.

BTW, has anyone noticed that Lady Edith looks more and more like Matthew's mom?

PP, I agree with you. I don't know whether it was hyped too much (and I bought into it), or it's just not as good. After this week's episode, I'm kind of turning luke warm on the whole thing. I agree with all of the characterizations you noted, but would also add that Cora seems to have made a 180-degree personality shift. It's bizzare. I'll keep watching for another week or so, but unless is changes significantly, I won't be after that. Just not as good this time around. Too bad.

I'm not liking this season as much as last season. The writing isn't as tight. They are turning Isabel into a domineering shrew, Mary into a one-dimensional lady-in-waiting for Matthew, Sybil into Florence Nightingale, Edith into a symbol of class change, and there are just too many highjinx downstairs. I think Julian Barnes was rushed to churn this out.

It's still good to watch but it's just not as high quality.

Matthew and Mary kissed last season. After he rescued Sibyl from the political rally, Mary ordered up sandwiches for him and Lord and Lady G left M&M alone in the dining room. They had a conversation in which each hinted at strong feelings for the other, but also stated that they couldn't/wouldn't disclose those feelings. Then they kissed -- rather chastely, but it was a kiss.

Anonymous wrote:All of these posts supporting the Mary/Matthew "love" story kind of surprise me. She is horrible. I find that story line the least compelling of the entire series. I really like Matthew's character, but Mary's I find completely one-dimensional, not likable, and not a good match for Matthew. They will probably end up together, but I just find her so not likable on so many levels, them getting together will do nothing for me. Otherwise, I really love this series!

I completely agree. I actually felt sorry for Matthew when he fell in love with Mary because she's so unsuitable. Not a big fan of Edith either. She ratted out Mary and thus betrayed the family. As PP pointed out, she also worried more about her dress than Carson and that was terrible.

The least compelling story line to me is this business with the Turkish diplomat. I can see why it would be shocking and gossip worthy but I find it an annoying stretch when even Mrs. Bates has found out about it supposedly (including details about who carried the body). And how did details about who carried the body leave the house? Did Edith write about that in her letter to the Ambassador? Or Thomas spread the gossip? Whatever folks--deny it all.