Dishing on Downton- Downton Abbey Season 5

I really love Cora this season. Last season, she was so simpering and helpless, and this season we have a more take-charge Cora-- at last. I'm glad they brought her back to a Cora we can appreciate. I also love Violet reminding Mary that a lack of sympathy can be as vulgar as a show of emotion, and her confession about missing her companionship with Isobel was really well done, too, especially her "have some cake" recovery from it.

SBETigg;2447174 wrote: I also love Violet reminding Mary that a lack of sympathy can be as vulgar as a show of emotion.

A loud "Yes" and a fist pump caused my husband to look at me as if I was from another planet. Oh well, after 52 years you'd think he'd be used to me by now.

Did anyone catch the Dowager vs. Isobel clip that ran after the credits?

After the show ended I was fast forwarding (as it always seems to end 4-5 minutes prior to the hour on my dvr) and as I was getting to the end they had a special 2 minute or so segment on the quips/barbs between Violet and Isobel, and then started to keep score, like in a tennis match

The Dowager one 8-3, or something like that, although Isobel did land a couple good one-liners.

The scene with Cora-Rosamund-Edith in the publishing house actually for once showed Cora as somewhat commanding instead of someone who seems to be self medicating. Ironically, from what I understand that was an added scene on PBS and not shown in the original UK airing. Unfortunately that same scene increased my dislike for Edith as she once again gave not one whit or care about how the Drewe's felt about her actions. Edith has gone from an annoyance to probably my most disliked character on Downton. The idea that she somehow went from an inexperienced lady of the house to a columnist to now running the company(???) is unbelievable at best, and I hope that Julian Fellows simply comes up with another Robert line like "I just talked to Murray and the company is sold, Edith is off the hook" and then forget that story arc ever existed.

Watching Cora and Edith try to hatch a plan came off more like dumber and dumber imo, and is doomed to blow up. Makes Cora a hypocrite in my book, as she blasted the Dowager for not telling her that she has a grandchild, but now is apparently fine hiding that secret from Robert, in his own house!

There are really a lot of mediocre story arcs going on this season; continuance of Anna/Bates/Green, Mary and her suitors, Edith and child, Barrow and his issue of the day, I really hope they just wrap these up and move on fresh in Season 6.

BTW, that was a great dinner party, only made better if Ms Bunting somehow had been there.

Still in disagreement on Edith. I can suspend some disbelief and buy into her running a publishing company, as much as I can believe that Mary is a sought-after beauty despite being an ice queen or that Robert was willing to take money from Matthew and let him co-manage the estate. And I can let go of the Drewes. I think even they realize they have served their purpose and it's time to move on. It is, after all, a soap opera style drama. I think we have to let some things go as far as the reality checks and complete accuracy. Though of course, you're free to dislike Edith. She remains one of my favorites and I prefer her to Mary by far.

I was underwhelmed by this episode. Edith going off with Marigold only to come back the next episode was anti-climactic. It would have been much more interesting if she had stayed in London as an independent woman (and yes, owner of a publishing company).

Really, the best part of the show was the bittersweet ending with Isis. That was a scene that I could definitely relate to as far as Cora and Robert's emotions.

I guess the thing that bothered me regarding this episode was Anna gossiping about seeing Mr. Drewe and the child on the train. She of all people should understand the consequences of gossiping. It seemed very out of character to me.

So is all that is left is the Christmas episode?

I'm very tempted to go looking for spoilers to see how things shake out with Anna. I'm over the Bates in eternal trouble storyline and although I never do spoilers, I'm ready to know on this.

Melanie;2447691 wrote: So is all that is left is the Christmas episode?

I'm very tempted to go looking for spoilers to see how things shake out with Anna. I'm over the Bates in eternal trouble storyline and although I never do spoilers, I'm ready to know on this.

Yes, I think that is correct. Just one left. It's so funny you posted this. I was just trying to decide the same thing myself.

magicofdisney;2447652 wrote: I guess the thing that bothered me regarding this episode was Anna gossiping about seeing Mr. Drewe and the child on the train. She of all people should understand the consequences of gossiping. It seemed very out of character to me.

Yes. I though that was a bit of a weird scene too.

AgentC;2447695 wrote: Yes. I though that was a bit of a weird scene too.

I don't think so. If you look at the entire context. I think it was right after the fire, as Anna and Mrs. Hughes were straightening up Edith's room, Anna found the picture of Marigold under Edith's pillow.

Also, keep in mind, Mrs. Hughes was I believe the only staff person, other than Bates, to know about Anna's rape by Mr Greene, so that in and of itself, kind of secures a bond between the two.

Fast forward to the train station, it wasn't surprising that Anna started putting two and two together (even Robert did somehow :confused:). So for her to discuss it with Mrs. Hughes I didn't find to be gossip, just one more piece to the puzzle. Now if she had been saying it to Barrow or Mosesly or Daisy, then yes I could see it as out of character gossiping about Mr Drewe and Marigold. But as her confidant was Mrs. Hughes, it seemed natural.

What didn't seem natural was Robert figuring out Marigold's true parentage, not by recognizing her as a child of Edith but instead by recognizing the resemblance to Gregson, someone he only met a couple of times (as an adult). That and his casual acceptance of the fact of an illegitimate granddaughter seemed a bit unrealistic.

Best part of the episode was when the inspector arrested Anna and Mary shouts out "I AM LADY MARY CRAWLEY!!" and called for her release, to which the inspector from Scotland Yard replies "I don't care if you are the queen of the Upper Nile". That was a great line and an excellent scene overall. Its just too bad its taking 2+ seasons to get thru a story arc that nobody really cares about.

Barrow finally had a good turn, turning the tables on Denker, that was a nice little one-off, as is the continuing battle of the servants at Dowager house.

Its a strange show, in one sense most of the characters are still in the same position that they were two years ago; Anna/Bates still unresolved, Mary again back to no suitors, Edith still wallowing in self pity, Tom not sure if he is staying or going, Barrow being his nasty self etc. The show is just so well done its easy to look past the fact that it has started to evolve into a somewhat poor soap operaish feel and that the stories really haven't gone anywhere for quite some time.

I watched the after the show stuff for the first time and it was all about getting all the manner stuff period correct. It was great info. I didn't know they have been doing this, wondered why there was 5 minutes more on my recording after the episode was over. Duh - :blush:

The Hitchhiking Ghost;2447832 wrote:

What didn't seem natural was Robert figuring out Marigold's true parentage, not by recognizing her as a child of Edith but instead by recognizing the resemblance to Gregson, someone he only met a couple of times (as an adult). That and his casual acceptance of the fact of an illegitimate granddaughter seemed a bit unrealistic.

I agree on this, and about Anna. I think Anna went to Mrs. Hughes out of concern/sharing information between them, and Mrs. Hughes pretty rightly shut her down (none of their business, even as much as they care about the family). In that sense, it was a tad out of character for Anna, but also completely understandable that she seems to think Mrs. Hughes knows all and she's offering maybe a heads up that if she could figure it out, someone else will (which is exactly like Anna, to try to stop a problem in the making out of her loyalty to the family).

Robert's reaction puzzled me, too. I expected him to say how much she resembled Edith as a child, and instead he comes up with the likeness to Gregson? That's not a natural leap considering he wasn't that close to Gregson and hadn't seen him in a long time. Also, the easy transition and acceptance. Robert's not usually that easy when it comes to such matters, especially as far as Cora having kept it from him.

SBETigg;2447836 wrote: Robert's reaction puzzled me, too. I expected him to say how much she resembled Edith as a child, and instead he comes up with the likeness to Gregson? That's not a natural leap considering he wasn't that close to Gregson and hadn't seen him in a long time. Also, the easy transition and acceptance. Robert's not usually that easy when it comes to such matters, especially as far as Cora having kept it from him.

Unless there is a Bunting in the room, "Old Donk" has been made into a softie this season.

Too many of the things Robert has done this season seem more appropriate to a man of this age rather than 1924. Being the ceremonial lieutenant of the regiment I'm not sure that Robert would be that quick to put up a plaque for Archie, Mrs. Pattmore's nephew. It made for nice teary tv, but I think Julian Fellows has progressed Robert a bit to quickily, imo.

In one episode alone, keeping in mind that it is 1924, Robert did the following; placed a war memorial plaque for a soldier shot for cowardice, approved of an interfaith Jewish marriage (nearly had a coniption when his own daughter not only married out of class, but catholic) and gracefully accepted that the had an illegitimate granddaughter.

Maybe a wee bit too much feel good here.

Melanie;2447691 wrote: So is all that is left is the Christmas episode?

I'm very tempted to go looking for spoilers to see how things shake out with Anna. I'm over the Bates in eternal trouble storyline and although I never do spoilers, I'm ready to know on this.

I must confess that I've been talking spoilers with my friend from the UK (I know, no surprise there--you know I don't mind spoilers). I am also very tired of the way the Anna/Bates storyline has played out and just wanted to know what direction they were going.

I do find it interesting that they would feature an interfaith marriage for Rose--it does seem very unlikely for the times.

MNNHFLTX;2447939 wrote: I must confess that I've been talking spoilers with my friend from the UK (I know, no surprise there--you know I don't mind spoilers). I am also very tired of the way the Anna/Bates storyline has played out and just wanted to know what direction they were going.

I do find it interesting that they would feature an interfaith marriage for Rose--it does seem very unlikely for the times.

Julian Fellows seems to use Rose as the radical one, especially with Sybil gone. Last season she was dating (not sure which would be seen as worse for the time) a musician who happened to be also a man of color. Rose was kind of the instrument to get us into the roaring 20's. Which, considering how her relationship ended up last season made it all the more odd that she was somehow tending Russian refugees this season. I never quite figured that one out.