tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post5555907281989119870..comments2024-03-05T19:35:48.700-08:00Comments on Booktalk & More: Downton Abbey Series 2, Part 6Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-25800923164380791452012-02-20T18:59:21.610-08:002012-02-20T18:59:21.610-08:00@Rissi - Now having seen the Christmas special, I ...@Rissi - Now having seen the Christmas special, I think Robert's almost affair really changed him for the better in some ways -- made him more understanding fo the times, the dangers, and the pull of society on his daughters. And it almost goes without saying I'm happy about where Cora and Robert end Season 2. :)<br /><br />@EHisCDN - Once I start watching this show I can't stop! Completely agree with you about Richard, he's been horrible! <br /><br />Isobel really got on my nerves this season, but now that I have seen the Christmas special I think (hope) she's turned a corner.<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing your comments and thoughts abou the show, and I am really glad you've enjoyed my recaps! :)<br /><br />@Patti - So in my Christmas episode post, you'll have to let me know if that installmetn changed your thoughts on Cora -- I am really happy with where she and Robert are relationship-wise in that installment.<br /><br />Bring on more Downton! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-36208400304435723482012-02-14T14:57:46.619-08:002012-02-14T14:57:46.619-08:00Well, for a change I am ahead of you on the viewin...Well, for a change I am ahead of you on the viewing! I bought my daughter (Ella) the Season 2 DVD for her birthday, so we watched this past Sunday's episode and next week's season finale this morning.<br /><br />I am probably in the minority here, but I was hoping Cora would be one of the ones who died. I haven't liked her this season at all, and I do believe Robert needs a romantic storyline. Had Cora died, they could have pursued the angle of Robert loving someone beneath his station. But with her living, to pursue the Jane/Robert storyline just makes Robert an adulterer, and I couldn't root for him in that.<br /><br />I love Granny. She has some amazing one-liners. <br /><br />Anyhow, this is a wonderful show. I totally love it. How can we possibly wait for season 3 to air?Patti https://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-21267936684366196032012-02-14T14:46:20.340-08:002012-02-14T14:46:20.340-08:00I love this show! I watched it for probably over 1...I love this show! I watched it for probably over 16 hours straight and all day long today to finish the entire series (I just have the Christmas special left!). <br /><br />I just really want Mary and Matthew to get together already although I am enjoying watching their struggle. I just could not stand if that possessive creepazoid of a fiance of her's actually ended up sticking around. NO ONE likes him. He's abusive and just all around horrible. If you can't get even get along in the honeymoon phase of your engagement or put up with each other what does that say about your marriage?<br /><br />Matthew was kind of annoying me. I know he was doing the honourable thing and sticking by T but in the long run I don't think he's doing anyone any good. I'm so glad Lady Violet spoke to him. At first I didn't like her but now I appreciate her for who she is and find her hilarious. Watching her duke it out with Isobel is always fun. Frankly Isobel kind of annoys me at times although she was kind of walked over about the hospital.<br /><br />One thing about this series is that the characters evolve so much. It also deals with women's rights and their struggle for equality. You see it through all of the daughters and how they gain new skills and in their efforts at choosing husbands. <br /><br />I just love this series! I don't know how I'm going to wait so many months to see more episodes! I also loved your post about the show with all the capital letters and exclamation marks. It was EXACTLY how I felt while watching the show. <br /><br />I also didn't care much for the Jane and Ethel storylines. I wanted to like Jane but she just kind of filled a place and didn't have much of a personality and history other than her son. Ethel is just a pain in the butt and really childish.EHisCDNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00806482871031477305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-85180147274839405472012-02-14T11:33:23.966-08:002012-02-14T11:33:23.966-08:00I have to confess, Robert's character went dow...I have to confess, Robert's character went down a lot in my viewpoint. There was no physical contact apart from those kisses but he mentally cheated on his wife - and had Bates not interrupted, who knows!? Maybe they would have gone "all the way." Jane was certainly "willing." Still... I do feel like Robert changes in subtle ways. <br /><br />Cannot wait to find out your thoughts on the magnificent finale. =)Rissihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378400717440822186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-77440032066977992642012-02-14T06:47:32.404-08:002012-02-14T06:47:32.404-08:00@Kristin - SERIOUSLY! LOL! If Branson will stay fo...@Kristin - SERIOUSLY! LOL! If Branson will stay focused and not get in trouble I have high hopes for his happiness with Sybil long-term. Looking forward to the Christmas special! :)<br /><br />@Ella - Wasn't it marvelous?! :) And Dan Stevens, I really have liked what he's done with the character of Matthew. I do love me some angst and this show delivers in spades. ;)<br /><br />@Anne - I agree -- the fact that Robert is the one who stepped away saved that situation for me. <br /><br />I'm holding out a faint hope that Sir Richard had something to do with Vera's death because of her connection to Mary's story, but who knows?! <br /><br />I'm super worried about Edith but I am holding out hope that somehow, somehow Julian Fellowes has a master plan for her own happy ending!<br /><br />@heidenkind - Ha! I know! Bonneville was clearly not cut out to be a great seducer in this storyline. LOL! And I'm seriously concerned you're right about Bates. :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-56583347494497935172012-02-14T06:43:56.193-08:002012-02-14T06:43:56.193-08:00@Heather - I have the Season 2 DVDs as well -- but...@Heather - I have the Season 2 DVDs as well -- but I'm doing my best to hold off watching them until AFTER next Sunday. :)<br /><br />I'm happy there will be a Season 3 as well, and I'm really hoping that Edith finds happiness sometime soon! With the great character growth she's experienced this season she deserves it. <br /><br />Out of Thomas and O'Brien, I agree, O'Brien seems the most likely to make a permanent turn-around. Mr. Lang earlier this season seemed to hint at that at any rate. :)<br /><br />And EXCELLENT point about Ethel's storyline! I hadn't given it that much credit(clearly, HA!), but you have some great ideas. I wonder if she'll be back in Season 3, because the maid who left to be a secretary in Season 1 disappeared...the position seems to be kind of a revolving door. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-76223752843765554182012-02-13T22:10:03.605-08:002012-02-13T22:10:03.605-08:00Haha! I totally agree that all the moments between...Haha! I totally agree that all the moments between Lord G and Jane in this episode were completely awkward. It was like Bonneville was thinking, "Do I really <i>have</i> to?" There was no chemistry between those two at all. What a n00b.<br /><br />Bates soooooooo killed his wife. hehehe >:)Heidenkindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494625457587427781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-56931040514036896942012-02-13T19:04:07.468-08:002012-02-13T19:04:07.468-08:00Some quick thoughts:
I hated Lord Grantham and Ja...Some quick thoughts:<br /><br />I hated Lord Grantham and Jane giving in to each other, but was so happy that they both knew the right thing to do in the end. <br /><br />Stupid Ethel. What did she think his parents were going to do? Just hand over buckets of money so she didn't have to work and could be respectable again? She looked just as bewildered by their proposal as she did when she got sacked for getting caught with the man in the first place! Where did she grow up--under a rock? <br /><br />Oh, Mary and Matthew! <br /><br />And oh, Bates and Anna! <br /><br />I wonder if the devil incarnate (Sir Richard) is the one who offed Mrs. Bates so she could never sully his wife's reputation? <br /><br />So glad Thomas got his due. I think he should go work for Sir Richard. They deserve each other. <br /><br />And O'Brien showed her true selfish self by wanted to unburden herself while her mistress was dying. I mean, seriously. O'Brien is the only one that benefits from that!<br /><br />And I do worry a bit about Branson and Sybil. I didn't think she made enough declarations of love, though she talked a lot about him being her ticket out of there. <br /><br />Lady Violet just gets better and better. Love her!<br /><br />And poor Edith. i really am feeling sorry for that girl. She needs a good man--and yet, knowing the history of the period, so many good women in England were left without a man to marry after the Great War, so I fear for her future.Anne Mateerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330467138236037032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-9751356019679882192012-02-13T18:04:30.711-08:002012-02-13T18:04:30.711-08:00Of course I'm long winded and I thought I'...Of course I'm long winded and I thought I'd give my thoughts on Ethel's storyline, because I dont see anything as not having a purpose in this show.<br />There are several storylines in this season that has to do with women having the chance to throw convention to the wind and follow her heart, but social constraints make her take pause. Mary is resigned to marry Senor Creepo (his real name I'm sure) because she doesnt want the social ridicule of her Turkish trist. Sybil is ready to throw her reputation, social standing, and family relationships to the wind for Branson, and Anna tells Bates that she will live in sin with him because she doesnt care what people think. Which is all well and good and romantic to talk about, but I think Ethel is the cautionary tale. She shows what happens to a woman in a "Man's World" when she is reckless and doesnt check her passion. Ethel is the 'worst case scenario' for all these women and their passions and adds to depth to why they might pause before committing social suicide.<br />Ethel's predicament is also one that did happen in 'the good old days' and really shows how trapped a woman can be by one bad decision while a man can just walk away. I'm thinking her story will give weight to the women's movement and that wild attitude of independence and free will that women took on in the 1920s.<br />And as for Lord Robert's indescretions with Jane, while I thought they were totally uncomfortable (I think I hid my head and said "nooooo! Dont!!!:) I think it will come in handy for him to relate to his daughters who act in different ways out of reckless passion, and will give him more understanding of their motives and mistakes.<br />That's more than 2 cents, I know...but ah well ;)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01162985502341523594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-12465844427129530302012-02-13T17:12:52.198-08:002012-02-13T17:12:52.198-08:00I love, love, LOVE the Sybil/Branson developments ...I love, love, LOVE the Sybil/Branson developments in this episode. I mean, that kiss in the garage, Branson's face....oh I swoon! Even though I have seen it before, I still swoon =)<br /><br />And the dancing scene with Matthew and Mary. I love it. I hate that I have a problem with Lavinia, but she is standing in the way!!!! That being said, all this angst has given Dan Stevens a chance to do an amazing acting job!<br /><br />I cannot stand Ethel. Why did we have to have that storyline? It was pointless and ridiculous.<br /><br />Yep--I LOVE this show!!Ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361895789616410614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-86579207182163796232012-02-13T17:10:17.120-08:002012-02-13T17:10:17.120-08:00As for Robert and Jane, my thought process was: Yo...As for Robert and Jane, my thought process was: You goober! You want to know why you weren't alerted that your wife was dying from the flu?? You were off somewhere kissing a maid! Good grief.<br /><br />I like Branson now. :) I guess his politics were what kept me from liking him before.<br /><br />All I can say is: Wait until you see the Christmas special! :) There is a scene of near perfection and a line from Lady Violet that still makes me giggle when I think about it.<br /><br />~KristinKristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10592919145644124930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319032275293010502.post-70153198237758006242012-02-13T17:08:44.298-08:002012-02-13T17:08:44.298-08:00I have a confession to make--- I made my husband g...I have a confession to make--- I made my husband go out with my to Best Buy to buy season 2 on friday after a crummy day and we parked ourselves in front of the tv and watched the last 4 or so hours of season 2. AWESOME!!! Now Im just sad that we have months and months to go until season 3, but so glad there will be a season 3! I was just wondering if anyone knows if the creators of this show plan to take it on for several seasons to come. I'd love to see the Crawleys do the jazz age (I have a feeling Edith is going to blossom as a flapper and thank her lucky stars she didnt marry before she got to enjoy the 1920s).<br />Maybe I'm a cynic but I'm wary of Sybil and Branson's longtime happiness, although I;d love to see it happen. I just think going from a princess who doesnt even make her own bed to living in a tenament somewhere in Ireland will be a bit of a shock to Sybil. But I know we're coming upon the Irish Civil War so that will make for some very interesting plot twists for the young couple. <br />And sheesh...I'd been hoping Lavinia would catch the flu but I feel a little bad about it now ;) a LITTLE. lol.<br />As for the bad guys...what I love about this show is that the villains are also well rounded and at some times pitiable. I really hope that Thomas and OBrien have a chance to rise above their pettiness and conniving. O'Brien seems on her way.<br />And Mr. Bates....that man CANNOT catcha break! Good grief! Surely they'll get some happiness. It seems weird to murder someone in a fit of passion with poison. <br />But anyone...love the Christmas special and cant wait for season 3!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01162985502341523594noreply@blogger.com