Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.

I can't remember either! For a time, I thought Thomas was going to a good guy, especially after that whole situation with Jimmy last season, and after he and Jimmy became friends. Thomas just seemed so much nicer. Thought he had turned a corner!

Yes, I also thought that he was evolving into a nicer, more sympathetic character. Not so much anymore. Personally, I think he's gathering dirt because he knows that everyone dislikes him, and he thinks that knowing their secrets will give him power. Remember the situation with O'Brian, when she was encouraging James to force Thomas out the door without a reference? Thomas used his knowledge of her deepest, darkest secret (her role in her Ladyship's miscarriage) to blackmail her into reversing course. As a result, he not only got to stay, he got a promotion. I think he learned from that situation, and is positioning himself to have blackmail-worthy material on everyone. Plus, I think he's just a nosy, gossipy busybody.

What miscarriage? Can someone remind me of this story line?

Cora slipped on the soap that O'Brian had left on the floor. Then Cora had a miscarriage from the fall. It was a boy that she miscarried too. Only Thomas knew this secret.

To clarify further, O'Brien put/left the soap on the floor ON PURPOSE to have Cora possibly slip and miscarry. She did this because she had overheard something that made her think that Cora was going to replace her. It was a total misunderstanding and O'Brien, after finding out it was a misunderstanding, did feel terrible. (I liked that, that she was complex and capable of remorse.) I don't remember how Thomas found out; I guess she must have told him because no one else was there when it happened.

And btw the baby was a boy; would have been the heir to DA and the answer to all of the family's problems with keeping the estate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.

I can't remember either! For a time, I thought Thomas was going to a good guy, especially after that whole situation with Jimmy last season, and after he and Jimmy became friends. Thomas just seemed so much nicer. Thought he had turned a corner!

Yes, I also thought that he was evolving into a nicer, more sympathetic character. Not so much anymore. Personally, I think he's gathering dirt because he knows that everyone dislikes him, and he thinks that knowing their secrets will give him power. Remember the situation with O'Brian, when she was encouraging James to force Thomas out the door without a reference? Thomas used his knowledge of her deepest, darkest secret (her role in her Ladyship's miscarriage) to blackmail her into reversing course. As a result, he not only got to stay, he got a promotion. I think he learned from that situation, and is positioning himself to have blackmail-worthy material on everyone. Plus, I think he's just a nosy, gossipy busybody.

What miscarriage? Can someone remind me of this story line?

Cora slipped on the soap that O'Brian had left on the floor. Then Cora had a miscarriage from the fall. It was a boy that she miscarried too. Only Thomas knew this secret.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.

I can't remember either! For a time, I thought Thomas was going to a good guy, especially after that whole situation with Jimmy last season, and after he and Jimmy became friends. Thomas just seemed so much nicer. Thought he had turned a corner!

Yes, I also thought that he was evolving into a nicer, more sympathetic character. Not so much anymore. Personally, I think he's gathering dirt because he knows that everyone dislikes him, and he thinks that knowing their secrets will give him power. Remember the situation with O'Brian, when she was encouraging James to force Thomas out the door without a reference? Thomas used his knowledge of her deepest, darkest secret (her role in her Ladyship's miscarriage) to blackmail her into reversing course. As a result, he not only got to stay, he got a promotion. I think he learned from that situation, and is positioning himself to have blackmail-worthy material on everyone. Plus, I think he's just a nosy, gossipy busybody.

What miscarriage? Can someone remind me of this story line?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I was kind of confused about the roses and Isobel and Violet. Was Isobel trying to set Violet up with Mary's godfather?

No, the roses were sent by Mary's grandfather. He sent two different arrangements, one for each woman, for some reason to just the one address. Love how she was so unapologetic about reading the card, "I read the card."

Godfather, not grandfather.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.

I can't remember either! For a time, I thought Thomas was going to a good guy, especially after that whole situation with Jimmy last season, and after he and Jimmy became friends. Thomas just seemed so much nicer. Thought he had turned a corner!

Yes, I also thought that he was evolving into a nicer, more sympathetic character. Not so much anymore. Personally, I think he's gathering dirt because he knows that everyone dislikes him, and he thinks that knowing their secrets will give him power. Remember the situation with O'Brian, when she was encouraging James to force Thomas out the door without a reference? Thomas used his knowledge of her deepest, darkest secret (her role in her Ladyship's miscarriage) to blackmail her into reversing course. As a result, he not only got to stay, he got a promotion. I think he learned from that situation, and is positioning himself to have blackmail-worthy material on everyone. Plus, I think he's just a nosy, gossipy busybody.

With respect to 9:34s comment, I'm glad he's dead, because if he did that to Anna, he was doing it to other people as well.

Too bad that Mary already talked to his boss, because in retrospect it proved unnecessary and now casts suspicion on the DA household. Bad luck there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The scene with Isobel, the Dowager Countess, and the flowers was priceless.

This ep was on the level of Season 1. Finally!

+1
I absolutely love every scene the Dowager is in. That scene was hilariously understated.

Dame Maggie Smith is able to convey everything without saying a word - one glance at the size of her floral gift, one glance at Isobel's - says it all. She's just priceless. I had the rare treat to see her more than a decade ago in a one-woman play called "the lady in the van". What a treat!

Every scene with her is a true delight. She makes the show.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The scene with Isobel, the Dowager Countess, and the flowers was priceless.

This ep was on the level of Season 1. Finally!

+1
I absolutely love every scene the Dowager is in. That scene was hilariously understated.

Dame Maggie Smith is able to convey everything without saying a word - one glance at the size of her floral gift, one glance at Isobel's - says it all. She's just priceless. I had the rare treat to see her more than a decade ago in a one-woman play called "the lady in the van". What a treat!

Anonymous wrote:

I was kind of confused about the roses and Isobel and Violet. Was Isobel trying to set Violet up with Mary's godfather?

No, the roses were sent by Mary's grandfather. He sent two different arrangements, one for each woman, for some reason to just the one address. Love how she was so unapologetic about reading the card, "I read the card."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I was also wondering, did Violet invite Isobel and Edith over for tea with Mary's godfather, in the hopes of setting him up with Edith? I couldn't quite figure out who she was hoping would catch his eye.

No, I dont' think she intended to fix them up. I thought she didn't care for the guy, he was dull or difficult maybe, & she was now stuck having to host him solo since the rest of the family was unavailable (you know Edith doesn't count )

Loved how she kept eyeing the bigger, rose-laden, & more expensive flower arrangement against the one she received.

'

I was kind of confused about the roses and Isobel and Violet. Was Isobel trying to set Violet up with Mary's godfather?

Anonymous wrote:

I was also wondering, did Violet invite Isobel and Edith over for tea with Mary's godfather, in the hopes of setting him up with Edith? I couldn't quite figure out who she was hoping would catch his eye.

No, I dont' think she intended to fix them up. I thought she didn't care for the guy, he was dull or difficult maybe, & she was now stuck having to host him solo since the rest of the family was unavailable (you know Edith doesn't count )

Loved how she kept eyeing the bigger, rose-laden, & more expensive flower arrangement against the one she received.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go Molesley! The strength bell scene was so sweet.

I think he's my favorite character on the entire show. The range of emotion he conjures on his face is just spectacular in every scene.

I like Mrs. Hughes. She seems like a very good and trustworthy person.

And Mrs. Pattmore. I almost cried when she was praising Daisy near the end. Very touching.

Me, too!

And I love that Molesley's character is getting fleshed out a bit.

Anonymous wrote:I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.

I can't remember either! For a time, I thought Thomas was going to a good guy, especially after that whole situation with Jimmy last season, and after he and Jimmy became friends. Thomas just seemed so much nicer. Thought he had turned a corner!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think Tom will step up and marry Edith at the last minute? And then perhaps she'll miscarriage but they'll be stuck together forever? But then eventually they'll fall in love, just before something awful happens to Tom of course - he's too nice, he's bound to die.

God I hope not. Tom had his run at the daughters and got the one most suitable to him in Sybil. He should now be free to find another woman who is good for him rather than foisting him off on Edith. She needs her type of man as well.

I agree. I love Tom, and I also love his friendly relationship with Isobel. She is so great to him and really respects his views.

I was also wondering, did Violet invite Isobel and Edith over for tea with Mary's godfather, in the hopes of setting him up with Edith? I couldn't quite figure out who she was hoping would catch his eye.

I have forgotten, what is it Thomas is upset about that he feels he needs the dirt? I'd think he would be pretty full of himself for getting to go to New York with the boss in place of Bates. But, it doesn't seem like he was able to kiss up much to him since Lord G said how much he missed Bates.