Downton Abbey ITV1 22nd September 9pm

[Count Zero]

Are we having another time jump at the start of the next season? Do we know? It seems a lot of storylines have made it to a point where they could take a jump into the 30s. The line about the brownshirts made me wonder...

It's still 1923 when things are getting interesting in Munich regarding the brownshirts for the first time. There'll be their attempt at a coup on November 9th. I'm secretly rooting for an episode set during that with Edith in Munich searching for Gregson.

 

[Gov Kodos]

I had the impression this Christmas was December of 1924 in the show? Though Edith in Munich in time for the Putsch is a neat idea.

 

[Count Zero]

At one point there was a caption saying it was 1923. And it didn't look like Christmas time. I think ball season is probably in spring or summer. So, the possibility is there, especially since Edith will travel to the continent, anyway, and might not be able to resist going for a look herself.

 

[Garak]

Really enjoyed the Christmas special, it was nice and light and good fun.

Set up a couple of things too I suppose, like the hunt being on for Mary's beaver pelt and Edith's "NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER!!" crusade. I wonder if Martha's verbal beat down of Violet will have any effect on the way Violet acts in the future.

The ending was the best part though, Mr Carson holding hands with Mrs Hughes. Awwwwwwwwwww.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Did not make it to the end.
I'm fed up of watching Edith getting shit on and Mary being chased by men.

 

[Garak]

Yeah but Mary is good looking and Edith isn't.

 

[Gov Kodos]

At one point there was a caption saying it was 1923. And it didn't look like Christmas time. I think ball season is probably in spring or summer. So, the possibility is there, especially since Edith will travel to the continent, anyway, and might not be able to resist going for a look herself.

True, I don't suppose a lot of folks would be crazy about paddling around a beach in late December would be a fun outing. I was assuming Christmas because of the show being on at Christmas. Assumptions.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Yeah but Mary is good looking and Edith isn't.

Some men and women I know think Edith is pretty.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Yeah but Mary is good looking and Edith isn't.

Some men and women I know think Edith is pretty.

Edith is lovely. While the actress who plays Mary is quite pretty, Mary gets uglier with every episode.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Yeah but Mary is good looking and Edith isn't.

Oh, I disagree. Edith is far more attractive to me than Mary.

 

[JoeZhang]

Listen here you colonial and foreign types, it's series 4 - what-ho.

:-)

 

[gturner]

I just watched the series so far and I have some questions.

During winter scenes the Granthams almost invariably have fires in the fireplaces, but never once does any servant carry any firewood down the halls, chop wood, or stack wood. Are British fireplaces somehow loaded automatically from the rear, or perhaps is the manor equipped with fake natural-gas fireplaces?

Also, nobody ever seems to clean up the dishes after a meal, or wash dishes. All the staff does is cook and serve. Are the clean-up duties outsourced to low-bid Indian contractors?

Finally, where do they get the petrol for their cars? There doesn't seem to be any filling stations anywhere.

 

[Relayer1]

The used plates (along with surplus poor people) are burned both in the fireplaces and to power the cars...

 

[gturner]

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Yeah but Mary is good looking and Edith isn't.

Some men and women I know think Edith is pretty.

Edith is lovely. While the actress who plays Mary is quite pretty, Mary gets uglier with every episode.

I think Edith is very attractive and has grown as a person. I can't imagine the Edith of series 4 sending the letter that she did in series 1.

Mary is more conventionally pretty and a less appealing person. But I don't see her personality as getting progressively uglier. I think she was at her worst before she finally decided to marry Matthew; he was a good influence on her. And although she's lost (at least temporarily) much of the softness he inspired, I don't think she's back to where she started. With one exception: when she was considering reporting Bates. That was both ugly and bizarre.

The first few episodes of this series were pretty depressing. So much sadness. If I'd been watching on scheduled TV, I might've given up. But I was binge-watching, so things improved quickly, and I ended up really enjoying.

 

[Yoda]

Edith vs Mary? Eff that. The sister that caught "Shamrock Fever" or bust.

 

[gturner]

She ran off an married her chauffeur. Obviously she lacked something in the breeding department. I wouldn't be surprised if her real father was some immigrant gardener.

 

[Yoda]

I dunno you been watching the show? That chauffeur seems way more competent at running Downton than the dad from Alias.

 

[J.T.B.]

During winter scenes the Granthams almost invariably have fires in the fireplaces, but never once does any servant carry any firewood down the halls, chop wood, or stack wood. Are British fireplaces somehow loaded automatically from the rear, or perhaps is the manor equipped with fake natural-gas fireplaces?

Wasn't Daisy shown making a fire early on? Or was she hauling ashes? Anyway, it was preferred for servants to be somewhat invisible; all the work was supposed to be done when The Family wasn't around. Some houses even had hidey-holes placed throughout the halls for servants to duck into if their superiors approached.

Finally, where do they get the petrol for their cars? There doesn't seem to be any filling stations anywhere.

My guess is the estate had its own fueling tank(s), filled by a supplier, but I don't know.

 

[Kirby]

During winter scenes the Granthams almost invariably have fires in the fireplaces, but never once does any servant carry any firewood down the halls, chop wood, or stack wood. Are British fireplaces somehow loaded automatically from the rear, or perhaps is the manor equipped with fake natural-gas fireplaces?

Wasn't Daisy shown making a fire early on?

I think it was one of the first scenes in the very first episode. It was early morning and Daisy was admonished because it was getting late and she might be seen by a member of the family.