Rose + Atticus spin-off - 1920s NYC Cora + Robert prequel - 1890s old money meets new Young Violet prequel - Edwardian spectacular ft. Russia and Prince Kuragin obviously

What makes her style choices dowdy in comparison to Mary?

Mine are:

1. Sybil’s debutante ball
2. Sybil’s wedding to Tom and life in Dublin until they moved back to Downton
3. Matthew and Mary’s honeymoon
4. Thomas’ trip to America with Robert (because why did Robert seem weirded out when they both came back?)

The implication was that he would have authority over Carson, but I'm wondering what he actually did all day with regard to operating the house.

I think Cora (and Isabel) handled nurse's schedules, meal schedules, etc. I'm sure Mrs. Hughes handled the housekeeping requirements, and Mrs. Patmore handled meals. Carson managed the silver and the wine and whatever other duties a butler had.

So what was left for Thomas? Monitoring the patient's ongoing health, making sure there was follow-up treatment when needed, and ordering medical supplies and equipment?

I'm not sure why he felt he was above Carson, and able to boss Daisy around over cold tea.

EDIT: I have been informed that JF is not playing Emma, but instead she plays the part of Mrs Weston. My apologies- but it is still a great audiobook- I still got that part right!

Recently, I purchased the audiobook version of Jane Austen's classic novel Emma. Instead of straight narration, there is a narrator (Emma Thompson) but all dialogue is played by actors- and our own Joanna Froggatt plays the starring role of Emma Woodhouse.

It is a delightful rendition of this book and faithful to the original text. From what I can tell, very little dialogue or narration is abridged. Joanna does not use the accent she uses for DA, but it is still easy to tell that it is her. EDIT-obviously not to me!

One of the other characters is even named Bates! But in this case, it is Miss Bates (or her mother Mrs. Bates).

It’s only now rewatching the series that I see Robert as the perfect reason they didn’t survive. He really is clueless. His youngest child marries the chauffeur. He blows the family fortune & not just once. Speaks of Charles Ponzi in esteem. His wife is being flirted with right under his nose & he’s worried about the dog being flirted with by a man. His 2nd eldest falls pregnant & brings the child on to the estate & he is still twiddling his thumbs. And god forbid he be shown where he lacks good judgement he behaves like a wounded toddler. I imagine life would have been interesting for those around them

Every time any of the servants they know gets married or ends up in a different position that should suggest a name change, they resist.

When Anna and Bates get married, can't adjust still have to call her Anna.

When Tom marries Sybil, they struggle and eventually get there, but there is plenty of Branson along the way haha.

Molesley gets hired as a footman and suggest he is going to be called Joseph, nope in the middle of dinner ask Carson to let them keep calling him Molesley.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes get married, gotta stay Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes within the household.

It is just so funny how they struggle with the idea and the relief they feel when it doesn't have to change.

I think it's such a shame he wasn't in it earlier on, I find him very amusing. Violets staff were non existent for some time and it would have been good to see Spratt sooner in the show. Also I didn't like Denker at first watch but she's grown on me and I do like the interactions between her and spratt.

I'm especially talking about the men that Mary is courted by. All these generic white dudes look the same to me. And they keep visiting Downton and are talked about like I'm supposed to know them but I can't tell them apart because they all look "very generic man" and they all wear almost identical tuxes/tails. I usually have good facial memory but they just all have nothing to them. Neither when it comes to look nor personality wise. (I'm currently watching episode 5x02)

Are you on your 10th rewatch of Downton and just need to get something out of your system without having to make a whole post about it? Or maybe you're a new viewer with a simple question that you just need answered?

Then this is the place for you!

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Just for a bit of fun, what song would you pick for each characters theme song?

I'm choosing

Common people by Pulp for Sybil

Heaven knows I'm miserable now by The Smiths for Thomas

Bitch by Meredith Brooks for Mary

Maybe I'm the only one for me by Purple mountains for Edith (Or true love will find you in the end by Daniel Johnston if I'm being less harsh)

This suit of Mary's is my very favorite outfit of hers. Especially when she and Matthew are discussing the telegram to Rosamund (season 1)

It seemed odd to me that after Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore, and probably Mr. Carson found out about Jimmy making inappropriate advances on Ivy, he faced no consequences. They always seemed to be quite strict about any kind of impropriety. Like with "footmen going to Crawley House" when Ethel was working there. Or does this just reinstate the attitude of all the responsibility and caution being put on women's shoulders - like in case of Ethel they dismissed her after the fact straight away, or Edna's first dismissal. I felt like they just ignored his behaviour, until it reached the point of no return when his old employer came to visit.

Of course perhaps something was done about it off screen, but I didn't see any signs of that.

Why does Barrow show animosity towards Tom only when he returns from New York in s4e9?

At this point the Fam had already adopted Tom and made him an agent of the estate. So it doesn’t really make much sense that Barrow laments serving Tom since Tom is part of the Fam.

It's been a minute since my last rewatch I've forgotten how wonderful this show is.

Just rewatching and thinking how much I like Dickie Merton. When Isobel breaks up with him it's very touching. I wish he had been firmer with his sons, but I do like him, he's perfect for Isobel.

How many times has Mary been ordered to marry the man sitting next to her at dinner? Let's count - Patrick, Duke Crowborough, Matthew, Evelyn Napier, Anthony Strallen, Tony Gillingham? Have I missed anyone?

https://i.redd.it/nakx96mo944e1.gif

What if Rose and James fell in love, and James became Flintshire’s son-in-law? They lived together in a house the whole time. But why didn’t such a plot happen?

I feel like it was implied a few times that Molesley had a drinking problem. It becomes more striking with each rewatch.

1. When he got too carried away and drunk when he was standing in for Mr. Carson for the dinner during the Spanish flu episode.
2. When on the trip to the Highlands, he didn't register how strong the drink was, that Ms O'Brien refused to drink. He chugged it right down and never flinched. Then he, again, quickly got drunk again.
3. When we are told he acquired 15 pounds of debt after Mathew's death. That sum seemed very odd to me, as he was living with his father and my assumption was he just got carried away in pubs or even gambling. 15 pounds translates to 566 pounds today and a standard valet salary would be around 20£ and 30£ at that time (according to the internet :D ).

I am not sure if his tolerance was too low as he never drank or he couldn't stop once he had a sip because he has a problem.

For no reason, I was suddenly wondering who washed the clothes in the DA household (like I've got nothing better to think about).

Anyway, it would've amounted to an a$$load of laundry per person per day, (plus their bedsheets, pillowcases, etc) & I just wanted to know who got stuck cleaning all that.

After all, the staff had to look immaculate at all times, & the family changed several times a day.

Also curious...who dry-cleaned the men's suits?

I am rewatching Downton after many years. I watched it first several years ago and may be cus I am older now but the Isobel being a literal war propagandist and Clarkson being completely heartless and having no regrets over that blind soldier dying... I don't remember these two characters being so horrible back then.

We never really see them do something again or before IIRC, so what was the point in gathering everyone? Were they planning to beat her or something?

Rewatching Me Before You for the first time since I first saw DA and Bates is Emilia Clarke’s father!

I'm watching the miniseries, Daniel Deronda. It has Hugh Bonneville in it. It is based on George Elliot's last book, Daniel Deronda. It's got very pretty scenery, and I like it.