tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post6233781425720159451..comments2024-03-28T21:51:23.376-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Downton Abbey: A Journey to the HighlandsBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-73478050736918087382021-12-27T19:08:06.397-05:002021-12-27T19:08:06.397-05:00This was quite a boring episode as you rightly not...This was quite a boring episode as you rightly note. I don’t really see Rose as Sybil-like, though. Sybil may have been reckless but she was never frivolous. I can’t imagine Rose becoming a nurse, and if she were to run off with a servant it would be somebody like Jimmy not Tom. If anything, she reminds me more of the young Mary.<br />On the season as a whole, I was as bored as you were by Anna/Bates and the Daisy/Alfred/Ivy/Jimmy drama. And I had problems with Thomas’ story line as well. I know we’re intended to be sympathetic to him (and certainly prison would be far too harsh) but the fact is, Jimmy has been putting up with unwanted touching the whole time he’s worked there because Thomas outranks him, which is textbook sexual harassment. And I’m pretty sure if Alfred had gone into Ivy’s room and kissed her while she was sleeping, Carson would have fired him immediately without a reference. And you’re right to note the plot recycling with Mrs. Patmore/Jos Tufton, but Tufton was such an unpleasant man, while Mrs. Hughes’ suitor was quite charming. What really struck me about Edna was that she told everyone how she was going to meet “Tom” for lunch at the pub when he hadn’t even agreed to it and had seemed distinctly uncomfortable in the sexy shirtless scene. I think he was just so lonely, he wasn’t thinking how it might have appeared to her.<br />Sybil’s mid-season death shocked me, but I’ve enjoyed Tom’s story as a widower. To this point the only significant character deaths on the show were William (telegraphed LONG in advance; I was surprised he lasted as many episodes as he did) and Lavinia’s death by plot convenience. Sybil’s death was totally unexpected, as was Matthew’s (though clumsily foreshadowed in the episode itself). Maybe they just didn’t know what to do with his character, which is a shame. <br />magrittenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9598172613437706622013-10-09T17:46:47.357-04:002013-10-09T17:46:47.357-04:00 Re the title, I think it depends whether Robert l... Re the title, I think it depends whether Robert lives a few more years or not, as the internet tells me the entail laws changed not long after this, though they might apply just to the property, not the titleJuliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203399623895589924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9795587448186810172013-10-09T17:41:44.766-04:002013-10-09T17:41:44.766-04:00Watching this again, I really liked it. Stripped o...Watching this again, I really liked it. Stripped of Christmas expectations and ignoring the last two minutes, it was good fun. I especially love Branson's storyline, the way he's caught between two worlds - though I hate Edna, she's too pushy on someone still recovering from his wife's death and while it would very hypocritical of Tom to refuse someone because they're a servant, he and Sybil were a lot more subtle about it until he left downton. (also, Branson should always be shirtless. Yum.)Juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203399623895589924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-4616205372896333712013-02-23T05:41:43.582-05:002013-02-23T05:41:43.582-05:00Wow, sunbunny, you're right. I hadn't tho...Wow, sunbunny, you're right. I hadn't thought of that. With Matthew dead, the title will pass to his eldest son -- as yet unnamed.<br /><br />I wasn't sure how the Dowager title worked, so I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, "A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or dower, derived from her deceased husband." It seems to me, therefore, that Cora, as the widow, will inherit the title of Dowager at Robert's death and Mary will never be able to use the title of Countess of Grantham. The part of me that strongly disliked Mary in this episode is appreciative of the irony.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843864158239536750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-90405406660017895992013-02-23T05:17:16.310-05:002013-02-23T05:17:16.310-05:00I hadn't thought of that Sunbunny! But I'm...I hadn't thought of that Sunbunny! But I'm sure people will call her the Countess anyway... or perhaps someone will finally find a way to repeal the entail... :pCrazyCrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17512240982215608638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-41854065205107064302013-02-23T04:42:31.184-05:002013-02-23T04:42:31.184-05:00Also, Matthew's death means Mary will never be...Also, Matthew's death means Mary will never be Countess of Grantham, right? When Robert dies, her son will inherit the title and she'll be a Dowager Countess, just like her grandmother. Or am I wrong?sunbunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553429350476841139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9982279555448179382013-02-23T03:22:33.871-05:002013-02-23T03:22:33.871-05:00I didn't realize how repetitive the whole thin...I didn't realize how repetitive the whole thing was until I read this and I was like...oh...yeah. I did catch the Edna/Ethel similarities and the Edith unlucky in love thing.<br /><br />I actually liked this one! I thought Thomas and Jimmy were sweet, and Bates and Anna were terrifically cute together (good catch about the beer, though!). I was so afraid Mary would go into labor at the ball and Anna wouldn't get to show off her little dance. That was such a sweet scene. I loved Rose teaching her as well.<br /><br />Seeing Tom cry totally made me cry. He's still so in love with her...sunbunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08553429350476841139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-34197114087601429202013-02-21T18:37:44.715-05:002013-02-21T18:37:44.715-05:00I saw what was coming as Matthew was bowling speed...I saw what was coming as Matthew was bowling speedily along the road - and I was thrilled. Matthew and Mary's story was over - what else is there to say about a happily-married couple? Breaking that up gives the potential for much more interesting stories for Mary in the future. <br /><br />I do think though, Chris, that you're being a little hard on Mary. She was indeed snappish but then again she was nine months pregnant - that would try the patience of a saint. Also in the counterbalance is the way she stuck with Matthew this season when he was being so stupid about the legacy - she was unhappy about what he was doing but she was still loving towards him (more than I could have managed!). And as for her comments about doing her duty, I think these were perfectly reasonable given her position - the pressure to produce an heir, even today, is absolutely enormous and always produces relief when the deed is accomplished. (We're going to see a lot of that when the Duchess of Cambridge gives birth.) I don't think anyone could think, looking at her holding her son, that she didn't also love him to distraction - the fact that he was the heir is an extra bonus. <br /><br />Gavrielle Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-47864461312421587002013-02-21T07:51:18.368-05:002013-02-21T07:51:18.368-05:00To me Downton Abbey has never been this outstandin...To me Downton Abbey has never been this outstanding series a lot of people claim it to be. It´s good but there are series which are a lot better (all the acting award nominations still bug me) . <br /><br />Especially this fourth season was disappointing in my opinion. And I think ChrisB`s review is accurate in all accounts.<br /><br />I am not sure though if Matthew`s death is a good thing or not. On the one hand it will bring necessary development to the story but since they focused so much of the story on this M&M relationship that it is quite disappointing to end this. They could have developed more interesting stories with the other characters for example instead.<br /><br />I hope the next season of Downton will be the last. Julian Fellowes already expanded Downton (I read somewhere that 3 seasons were originally planned) because of the raitings and critics and that bites him now in the ass with one of the main character´s leaving. I don´t what that to happen again. <br /><br />My compliments to ChrisB fo the reviews. They have been a fun and interesting reading. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-5661382424682374022013-02-21T01:08:54.023-05:002013-02-21T01:08:54.023-05:00I was fortunate enough to not be spoiled, but the ...I was fortunate enough to not be spoiled, but the last 5 minutes I was yelling at the screen "you're going to die!".<br /><br />It was so heavily signposted it felt like there was no other option. <br /><br />great review - lets see what silliness season 4 will bring. bekswhoknitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05380576974520403198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-88527233826754040592013-02-21T00:55:59.395-05:002013-02-21T00:55:59.395-05:00Great review, Chris! I agree with everything you s...Great review, Chris! I agree with everything you said...but the beautiful shots of the Scottish highlands made me love this episode. They also made me want to go to Scotland. Damn, that was gorgeous. Josie Kafkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892717530356699008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-80041530450323996852013-02-20T16:45:11.448-05:002013-02-20T16:45:11.448-05:00I was fortunate and miraculously had not bee spoil...I was fortunate and miraculously had not bee spoiled about Matthew. I was in shock. I predicted it as he was driving along looking so happy and not watching the road, though. The show used to be subtle. What happened? I agree with most of your commentary, Chris B. I still get delight from watching the show because of the great acting, but the story lines are beginning to feel repetitive. Why does Edith always have a catch to her relationships? How many is this now? I am also not looking forward to Mary being mean to Edith again.Suzannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-85906277582535130922013-02-20T13:40:17.260-05:002013-02-20T13:40:17.260-05:00I saw this at Christmas, but also knew it was comi...I saw this at Christmas, but also knew it was coming (happened upon the spoiler that he hadn't renewed his contract, so that left only one option for the character). I expected it much sooner in the episode though! I was sure he wouldn't get a chance to meet his child and thus was very thankful that he did! Ironic that he died in the same "new car" that he and Mary were driving back on their honeymoon...<br /><br />Like you said in a comment for the previous episode Chris, the Christmas special is a bit "apart", so I guess it's normal for it to be an independent story that will just provide a bit of character development or plant the seeds for the next season. I quite enjoyed it! The whole Scotland part was fun!<br /><br />Has anyone else done the Math on the new Downton heir? The family might have to go through the whole inheritance deal again in 20 years when this little baby dies in World War II... :o( What do you think? RAF pilot?<br /><br />Poor Mary!!! CrazyCrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17512240982215608638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-87062070343524558652013-02-20T13:06:24.364-05:002013-02-20T13:06:24.364-05:00Totally agree. I knew what was coming, and by the ...Totally agree. I knew what was coming, and by the end, I almost didn't care. DA is better than this!<br /><br />Terrific review, Chris. You said everything I wanted to say.Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.com