Downton Abbey

Who's Your Favorite DA Character?

  • A Grantham daughter (Mary, Edith, Sybil)

    Votes: 6 54.5%

  • A Grantham in general (Lord Grantham, Cora)

    Votes: 2 18.2%

  • Dowager Countess

    Votes: 6 54.5%

  • Mr. Bates

    Votes: 5 45.5%

  • Anna

    Votes: 3 27.3%

  • Mrs. Patmore

    Votes: 3 27.3%

  • Mrs. O'Brien

    Votes: 1 9.1%

  • Carlson

    Votes: 2 18.2%

  • Other servant character

    Votes: 2 18.2%

  • Other (say who in the thread!)

    Votes: 1 9.1%
  • Total voters
    11
I believe Anna's reason for not telling Bates is precisely that he would hunt down and kill the man responsible because it's the type of man that he is. Remember, we kind of got introduced to that side of Bates in seasons 1 and 2, maybe part of 3. Since he's a convicted felon, Anna fears that if he kills Green [the rapist], he would receive no mercy from the courts this time. And she'd be right.

O'Brien is, kinda unfortunately, gone for good. The actress who played her wanted to leave the show.
 
Aravis Kenobi said:
I believe Anna's reason for not telling Bates is precisely that he would hunt down and kill the man responsible because it's the type of man that he is. Remember, we kind of got introduced to that side of Bates in seasons 1 and 2, maybe part of 3. Since he's a convicted felon, Anna fears that if he kills Green [the rapist], he would receive no mercy from the courts this time. And she'd be right.

O'Brien is, kinda unfortunately, gone for good. The actress who played her wanted to leave the show.
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Anna says that she doesn't want Bates to hang, and that makes sense why she doesn't tell him, but it's just the kind of thing you can't keep inside ... and then she is also leaving him, and he doesn't understand. She has to tell him something...

I think she told Mrs Hughes something to the effect it would be better for him to be unhappy and alive than to be aware of what had happened and executed for killing the offender. It is a tough thing, but I think she has to tell him and convince him not to throw his life away in vengeance.

I am quite curious to see what happens next.
 
"Better a broken heart than a broken neck", to quote Anna exactly. It will be very interesting to see how this story plays out over the next few episodes. Hopefully it won't end in a cliffhanger for the finale!
 
Aravis Kenobi said:
"Better a broken heart than a broken neck", to quote Anna exactly. It will be very interesting to see how this story plays out over the next few episodes. Hopefully it won't end in a cliffhanger for the finale!
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Oooh, it probably will! They have done it before ... Yes, you're right, that's what Anna said. But it doesn't have to be one or the other. She has to tell him, and he has to keep his temper, and they have to be smart together about it ...

So is Edith going to Germany with her boyfriend, or is she going to wait in England for his divorce? That's a pretty crazy storyline, too. Are her parents completely unaware that he is married? I guess they must be or they would be trying to get her to quit seeing him. That was pretty funny her aunt busted her for staying out all night. I am curious if maybe she will be the one who gets pregnant now. That would be a mess.

Also, what was Tom thinking that night at the night club, not to rescue Rose from her drunken suitor? I blame him for the singer having to come to her aid, and then finally Tom gets up and snubs the guy. I wonder what will come of that connection, too. Rose and the singer, whose name I can't remember ... That would be another scandal.
 
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Thoughts on last night's episode? The last minute of the show left me with chills.

*spoilers*

I KNEW Mr. Bates wouldn't leave the matter alone. Not only because it's in his nature, but also because he will do anything for the woman he loves. I'm glad that the truth about Anna's issue is out in the open, and the moment where she falls into Bates' arms and cries with him is just. Man. It was beautifully written and acted. Those two need Emmy's. Seeing Mr. Bates upset over Anna's assault, especially as what Mrs. Hughes told him started to hit home, I nearly got choked up. But I did blubber over the Anna/Bates moment. Not going to lie there.
 
Aravis Kenobi said:
Thoughts on last night's episode? The last minute of the show left me with chills.

*spoilers*

I KNEW Mr. Bates wouldn't leave the matter alone. Not only because it's in his nature, but also because he will do anything for the woman he loves. I'm glad that the truth about Anna's issue is out in the open, and the moment where she falls into Bates' arms and cries with him is just. Man. It was beautifully written and acted. Those two need Emmy's. Seeing Mr. Bates upset over Anna's assault, especially as what Mrs. Hughes told him started to hit home, I nearly got choked up. But I did blubber over the Anna/Bates moment. Not going to lie there.
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**Spoilers**

I agree! That was very well written and acted. And very moving.

I still couldn't agree with their telling half the truth, though. Bates knows who did it; he knows they're lying to him still, obviously. I think if Mrs hughes were going to tell him, she should have started by telling him that Anna was convinced he would do something crazy and land himself back in prison if he knew, and that she (Mrs Hughes) was not going to tell him unless he promised that he would not react in the way Anna feared he would. She could have exacted that promise before she told him, and then told him the truth. If she were going to tell him. Really it wasn't her place to tell him.

I am still very upset about Tom's threat to take Cybby and leave! He may think she would have a better chance in America, but he's mistaken. No one cares anymore that he was once a chauffeur, and everyone loves Lady Cybil's daughter, so he should just knuckl down and make the best of it for her sake. IMHO.

** End Spoilers **

This story line with Anna and Bates is very intense, and like you, I found the final couple minutes of the episode very gripping!
 
I'm so glad you guys are enjoying it so far! I was horrified with what happened to Anna but I must say it really has shown another side to her character. She knows her husband and keeping the man's name a secret really is brave of her. Yeah i loved that scene too, with them crying over it- they are such a wonderful couple!!

Oh and Jack Ross!! That scene where he rescues the girl was really nice! A true gentleman! ...unlike the snobs- but then it shows how snobby most people were back then. Love love how realistic this show is :D
 
I am following a Jane Austen blog which also review DA, and here are some questions the blogger had about the new season so far:

Lady Mary -- made wooden by her grief, or generally a wooden character?

Lady Edith -- a disgrace to her family (for her illicit romp with her lover) or good for her for getting a life?

Baby Sybil -- destined to be a spoiled brat if she stays at Downton, or ruthlessly torn from her family if Tom takes her to America?

Bates and Anna -- destined for a little Batesy, or doomed to more turmoil over the attack and Bates' response?

Ivy and Daisy -- eventual best friends or doomed to a huge blow-up over Alfred?

She had some others, but I can't remember. Anyway, what do you think?
 
inkspot said:
I am following a Jane Austen blog which also review DA, and here are some questions the blogger had about the new season so far:

Lady Mary -- made wooden by her grief, or generally a wooden character?

Lady Edith -- a disgrace to her family (for her illicit romp with her lover) or good for her for getting a life?

Baby Sybil -- destined to be a spoiled brat if she stays at Downton, or ruthlessly torn from her family if Tom takes her to America?

Bates and Anna -- destined for a little Batesy, or doomed to more turmoil over the attack and Bates' response?

Ivy and Daisy -- eventual best friends or doomed to a huge blow-up over Alfred?

She had some others, but I can't remember. Anyway, what do you think?
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About Lady Mary, I'm split on that. Mary stated in the premiere that Matthew brought out a side in her that no one else had, and I think that's true. Matthew brought out the side of Mary that was kind, selfless, loving, etc. I think Mary is capable of being such a person without him, but lots of people become petrified by their grief. I don't personally know any such people, for my grandmother moved on with life when my grandfather died [though I know it hurt her deeply and they had spent 50+ years together]. Isobel's deep depression is understandable; Matthew was her only son [and the only one who could carry on her husband's name], and she is also a widow. The combination of those two things would make anyone depressed and gloomy.

If you think about Edith, she's always been kind of the black sheep of the family. She loved Patrick [?] Crawley in season 1, who didn't return her affections [I think]. She was jilted at the altar by what's his face. She found love at the tail end of season 3, with a married man. Who is now willing to go to another country to be with her. Who sees nothing wrong with having an affair while he's married [even if it's to an insane woman]. I've never liked Edith, and I really don't like her lately. She just...grates on me.

[speaking of Edith: my sister suggested to me, with a measure of disgust, that they might be having Edith get pregnant then have an abortion to hide it since she visited a doctor's office in that last episode. Thoughts on that happening at all, even if abortion didn't happen?]

I think the latter on Baby Sybbie. I think if Tom stays, she'll have a sense of her simple birth/parents [even though Sybil was a lady, she abandoned that for Ireland].

I'd love for Anna and Bates to have a baby. However, with everything that's happened, I think it's too soon. Things with Mr. Bates need to cool down before a baby is in the picture.

Don't see that happening with Ivy and Daisy. I think Ivy and Jimmy will head off together, to be honest. I'm probably totally wrong. But I can predict.
 
About Lady Mary, I'm split on that. Mary stated in the premiere that Matthew brought out a side in her that no one else had, and I think that's true. Matthew brought out the side of Mary that was kind, selfless, loving, etc. I think Mary is capable of being such a person without him, but lots of people become petrified by their grief. I don't personally know any such people, for my grandmother moved on with life when my grandfather died [though I know it hurt her deeply and they had spent 50+ years together]. Isobel's deep depression is understandable; Matthew was her only son [and the only one who could carry on her husband's name], and she is also a widow. The combination of those two things would make anyone depressed and gloomy.
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that's a good analysis; i didn't think about mary's idea that matthew made her a better person, but i agree with you - i think she can be that person if she tries, and she has been coming out of her shell a little. isobel's situation is worse, i think, for the reasons you say. i wonder if maybe she will decide to love the doctor after all now that she's completely alone?

If you think about Edith, she's always been kind of the black sheep of the family. She loved Patrick [?] Crawley in season 1, who didn't return her affections [I think]. She was jilted at the altar by what's his face. She found love at the tail end of season 3, with a married man. Who is now willing to go to another country to be with her. Who sees nothing wrong with having an affair while he's married [even if it's to an insane woman]. I've never liked Edith, and I really don't like her lately. She just...grates on me.
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i like her all right; it seems like she was always second fiddle to mary, so no wonder she keeps getting into bad relationships; she thinks that is all she is worthy of. she should have run from this married man ... but she didn't, and now she is in love. poor thing. i think she definitely is going to be pregnant, but i don't have any idea how rich families back in the day dealt with that. will they send her away? that's what happens in jane austen novels; the pregnant women gets put away in the countryside somewhere and forgotten about. i can't see them doing that to edith ... an abortion sounds about right for all the issues the scriptwriters seem to be embracing, but that would be very tragic.

I think the latter on Baby Sybbie. I think if Tom stays, she'll have a sense of her simple birth/parents [even though Sybil was a lady, she abandoned that for Ireland].

I'd love for Anna and Bates to have a baby. However, with everything that's happened, I think it's too soon. Things with Mr. Bates need to cool down before a baby is in the picture.
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i agree on both counts.

Don't see that happening with Ivy and Daisy. I think Ivy and Jimmy will head off together, to be honest. I'm probably totally wrong. But I can predict.
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do you think? i still wonder if ivy wont come around to loving alfred after all because he has more character and substance ...
 
^ It's interesting to read how deeply you two get into the episodes and the characters. :D

The Ivy and Daisy situation is somewhat resolved by the end of the series and fully in the Xmas special...
 
Sir Cabbage said:
^ It's interesting to read how deeply you two get into the episodes and the characters. :D

The Ivy and Daisy situation is somewhat resolved by the end of the series and fully in the Xmas special...
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Gah! you can see into the future, you lucky old thing!

Is the Bates/Anna situation resolved by the end of the season?!

I don't watch a whole lot of TV ... so if I do get into a program, I do usually get all caught up in it. I think the writing is pretty good on DA, and the acting, because it does keep you interested in the characters ...
 
Hey Sir Cabbage I watched it!

Spoilers (American fans no peeking!)

Aawww I loved that American valet! He was so funny when he kept questioning everyone and fancied Daisy. And I like the budding romance of Branson and the school teacher. I mean Sybil will always be my favourite but it's nice that he's found someone after her being gone- and especially not that horrible maid who was in the beginning episodes.
And that was a really sweet ending with Carson and Mrs Hughes! Soo nice :p
 
I just watched the latest episode here in the USA. This is the one where there's a band for Robert's birthday. It was a watchable episode, but not much is happening at the moment. I will be anxious to see how the various plot lines develop ...

**Spoilers**

Rose's romance: doomed or not? I heard Europe was Ok with interracial relationships long before the USA was.

Lady Mary and the guy she now can't stand: love in the works?

Edith and Michael (is it?): happy marriage and baby or another tragedy for Edith?

Bates/Anna vs. Thomas/Baxter: is Baxter going to find out what happened to Anna and tell Thomas, and will Thomas tell Bates in hopes of getting him executed eventually? And why is Thomas so mean?

Tom: will he stay? I liked that Isabelle is trying to convince him he has a place there.

Looked like in scenes from next week that the grandma gets sick. Maggie Smith is not planning to leave the cast, is she? That would be bad.
 
I got really scared in that episode when she gets sick... I mean, Maggie Smith is one of the main reasons why I watch this show! But that was a really cute scene when the two women settle their differences over a card game :D
 
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