Downton Abbey - Season 2

[SBETigg]

I hope you aren't right, but I definitely think it's going to get bad. Next week's previews look like someone (Carson maybe) is waving a newspaper at Lord Grantham. I think Vera is going through with her threat. Man, she's evil.

Yes, I just caught up again. But we know who can make a bad story go away, as long as he gets what he wants. Drat! This doesn't bode well.

[PirateLover]

Yes, I just caught up again. But we know who can make a bad story go away, as long as he gets what he wants. Drat! This doesn't bode well.

And wasn't he (Sir Richard) also having a meeting with Mary in the preview? Saying something about "Who would've thought it, the cold and careful Lady Mary Crawley..."

[Melanie]

Super depressing episode.

And now Mary is trapped/endebted to Sir Richard, just as you predicted Sherri.

[SBETigg]

Super depressing episode.

And now Mary is trapped/endebted to Sir Richard, just as you predicted Sherri.

I hate when I'm right. I hoped for just a minute there that I was wrong. Especially since he is taking such pleasure in her degradation. Ew. I think she might save herself yet. But yeah, this one was a downer, a bit of a tearjerker, too.

But still some great lines from the Dowager Countess.

[Melanie]

But still some great lines from the Dowager Countess.

Always!

So what do you guys think of the casting of Shirley McClaine as Lady Grantham's mother? I love her, but have a hard time seeing past Ouiser when I see her in anything. I do think she can pull this off though.

[PirateLover]

Funny, I was actually thinking that now I've CHANGED my opinion and I DO think Matthew and Mary will get together, now that he's "freed" Lavinia. It won't be an easy path for Mary and based on the preview, I would bet that Sir Richard releases the story if she cuts off the engagement, but I think they will end up together eventually. But who knows! One thing I LOVE about this series is how fast it moves.

[SBETigg]

Always!

So what do you guys think of the casting of Shirley McClaine as Lady Grantham's mother? I love her, but have a hard time seeing past Ouiser when I see her in anything. I do think she can pull this off though.

I think she can definitely do it. I really don't associate her with any one previous role. She has done so many different things. I do think of her personal life, or lives I should say. But it should be good.

Maryanne, yes, it could eventually work out our way.

[TheDuckRocks]

Wow, that was certainly a Downton downer!
Although I did love the parts where the Dowager Countess stood up and got William home and wed. Can't wait to see the interaction between Shirley McClaine's and Maggie Smith's characters. You just know it's going to be a bit prickly.

[MNNHFLTX]

So what do you guys think of the casting of Shirley McClaine as Lady Grantham's mother? I love her, but have a hard time seeing past Ouiser when I see her in anything. I do think she can pull this off though.

I think it should be very interesting to watch. My first thought was that she would have to rein herself in a bit as an actress, but then again, she will be the (another) foil to the Dowager Countess, so she can't rein it in too much! I wonder if she will have the red hair in this role? Lol--I know that's a silly to speculate, but Cora has such dark hair, it would be a strange contrast for a mother/daughter.

[Melanie]

I think they are filming, or getting ready to start filming, season 3, so maybe a pic of Shirley McClaine in character will leak soon.

So what do you think of Patrick? True?

And Vera dead? Wow.

Lots of twists last night!

[AgentC]

I think they are filming, or getting ready to start filming, season 3, so maybe a pic of Shirley McClaine in character will leak soon.

So what do you think of Patrick? True?

And Vera dead? Wow.

Lots of twists last night!

I'm really torn on Patrick. On the one hand, he left so you would think he is a fake. On the other hand, when he made a cross over his lips, Lord Grantham questioned it which make me wonder if that was something Patrick had done. Then again, he could have seen Patrick do it.

I think Vera being dead is setting up Bates to be accused of murder since he was wishing she was dead.

All in all a great episode and it looks like we are getting back to Lady Sibyl's romance next week.

[Melanie]

All in all a great episode and it looks like we are getting back to Lady Sibyl's romance next week.

I'm still not sure whether I like him or not, but he's definitely a looker.

OH, and what about the new maid? I'm thinking she's got a thing for Lord Grantham or something. I sure hope not, but it sure seems like it.

[SBETigg]

I'm still not sure whether I like him or not, but he's definitely a looker.

OH, and what about the new maid? I'm thinking she's got a thing for Lord Grantham or something. I sure hope not, but it sure seems like it.

It didn't occur to me that she had a thing for Lord Grantham, but I'm going to be watching for it now. I thought maybe she was just going to use the connection for what she could.

I don't know, Patrick seemed like a fake to me. But then I was wondering. I think this story might come back. Sir Richard is really creeping me out now though. She can't marry him. She can't! And it won't be smooth sailing for Bates, yes, thinking some accusations are coming.

[Melanie]

It didn't occur to me that she had a thing for Lord Grantham, but I'm going to be watching for it now. I thought maybe she was just going to use the connection for what she could.

I thought so as well the first scene where they were discussing her son getting a scholarship. But the second scene they were in where he walked out of the room, she just stood there staring at him walking away and I just got a weird feeling. Not sure....

[PirateLover]

I totally agree with you Mel about that maid. I don't like where that storyline is headed. They wouldn't give her so much "alone" time with Lord Grantham if they weren't developing something... ugh.

I don't think Patrick was really Patrick. Can't be sure, but the way the actor reacted when Edith mentioned Peter seemed shocked/nervous that they were on that trail. Maybe that's how they wanted it, so we'd be confused as viewers!

Matthew didn't seem to be thrilled at all about Lavinia. And how about when Bates was pushing him, he said he "felt" something??? More and more I'm leaning towards Matthew and Mary finally getting together, if he is able to overcome her story that Sir Richard is sure to release once he is "jilted."

About Bates, I hope he didn't have anything to do with Vera's death, although I think they want us to question that with Lord G. telling him not to lose his temper and then his returning with that cut on his forehead.

Did anyone catch the parody they did of Downton Abbey on Saturday Night Live? Gave me a few chuckles. They used actual clips from the show but did a voiceover for it as if it were a show on the SPIKE network. The funniest part was probably how they mentioned that people are always overhearing things they shouldn't... and then it happened again in last night's episode! Lol.

[SBETigg]

Did anyone catch the parody they did of Downton Abbey on Saturday Night Live? Gave me a few chuckles. They used actual clips from the show but did a voiceover for it as if it were a show on the SPIKE network. The funniest part was probably how they mentioned that people are always overhearing things they shouldn't... and then it happened again in last night's episode! Lol.

So funny! I loved that.

[BriarRose0708]

Another Downton fan here! I can't believe I haven't seen this thread before! I am a fan of Masterpiece and watched season 1 when it aired last year and I had no one to talk to about it because it hadn't caught fire yet. So glad you're all here to discuss season 2!!!


SPOILER!
I just watched Sunday's episode last night. Patrick? Really? I was torn between if it was really him or an imposter. I feel like if it was an imposter set upon inheriting the money he would have stayed and done everything he could to convince them he's the real Patrick. Why leave when all that money is at stake? And poor Edith gets her heart broken again. I do like the possibility of him coming back...

Dowager Countess had some great moments as usual, I loved when she was manipulating Isobel to find another cause so that Downton can go back as a private residence.

I love, love, love Mr. Bates and although I did rejoyce inside when Vera died I think O'Brien actually had something to do with it. Just the way she was listening to Bates tell Anna he's not divorced after all and the fact she feels super guilty for 1) making Cora miscarry and 2) and writing to Vera earlier in the season and is now trying to protect Lady Grantham's reputation. But, Bates will probably get fingered for it anyway.

I'm not sure how I feel about Sybil and Branson, but looks like we'll find out what happens with them next week! With the end of the war came the end of the British class system as they had known it and Sybil being the political rebel of the bunch I wouldn't be surprised if she runs away with him. Wouldn't be the first scandal for the Crawleys! Although the Earl doesn't know about the Turk yet...

There's got to be some juicy plot line back story for Jane and Lord Grantham. Like he's actually the father of her child or something. Maybe he had a drunken fling with her twelve years before and doesn't remember her. But that would make her son the heir! I don't know if that's true but leave it to Downton to come up with something crazy like that!

Can't wait to discuss what happens next week!

[SBETigg]

Another

SPOILER!
I just watched Sunday's episode last night. Patrick? Really? I was torn between if it was really him or an imposter. I feel like if it was an imposter set upon inheriting the money he would have stayed and done everything he could to convince them he's the real Patrick. Why leave when all that money is at stake? And poor Edith gets her heart broken again. I do like the possibility of him coming back...

I think that's exactly why the real one would have stayed, to do everything he could to reclaim his family and his place. The impostor would face criminal charges if they found out while he was still there, and he knew they were getting close by looking into Peter Gordon. Avoiding jail time is a very good reason to leave with the money at stake. But the real Patrick? Would he have given up so easily? I'm not sure, but I think he was hoping it would be much easier. Edith is an easy mark.

[AgentC]

I think that's exactly why the real one would have stayed, to do everything he could to reclaim his family and his place. The impostor would face criminal charges if they found out while he was still there, and he knew they were getting close by looking into Peter Gordon. Avoiding jail time is a very good reason to leave with the money at stake. But the real Patrick? Would he have given up so easily? I'm not sure, but I think he was hoping it would be much easier. Edith is an easy mark.

I thought so too Sherri and they certainly left it ambiguous with the "P Gordon" on the letter.

Though I suppose if you had almost drown in the Titanic, lost your memory, and then been horrifically burned, your reactions might not be normal.

I'm back to being indecisive.

[BriarRose0708]

I think that's exactly why the real one would have stayed, to do everything he could to reclaim his family and his place. The impostor would face criminal charges if they found out while he was still there, and he knew they were getting close by looking into Peter Gordon. Avoiding jail time is a very good reason to leave with the money at stake. But the real Patrick? Would he have given up so easily? I'm not sure, but I think he was hoping it would be much easier. Edith is an easy mark.

I don't know, it could have gone either way. I also question his accent. When his memories supposedly came back wouldn't his accent come back with them? There are lots of forms of amnesia and aphasia but it would seem to me you'd regress to your inbred accent. Any speech language pathologists out there that would know?