Downton Abbey

[SteelBlue]

Wow. Who saw that coming?

Spoiler for S3 E5:

I realized in season 2 that I'm basically watching Falcon Crest with British accents, but I still watch. Never would have imagined them killing off Sybil. Crazy.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Sheesh, Steel Blue. Did you stay up half the night watching all of the Sunday episodes?

[The_Douger]

I thought season three didn't start until Jan?

[SteelBlue]

Sheesh, Steel Blue. Did you stay up half the night watching all of the Sunday episodes?

Pretty much. Not a real wise decision either. I'm sleepwalking through my work day.

[SteelBlue]

I thought season three didn't start until Jan?

True in the USofA, but the Brits are 5 episodes in.

[The_Douger]

True in the USofA, but the Brits are 5 episodes in.

How can we watch?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Looks like the one (or first) new star to emerge out of the show has become busy outside of the show.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Wow. Who saw that coming?

Spoiler for S3 E5:

I realized in season 2 that I'm basically watching Falcon Crest with British accents, but I still watch. Never would have imagined them killing off Sybil. Crazy.

Ha. Not me. I was just saying to my wife that this season was kind of boring.

[HauteCoug]

OK, HaUTEcoug. I need to figure out how to do that spoiler thingie. We need to get talking. I've seen episode 3 & 4 now too. Where are you?

I've been so busy with work. Finally have a few days off, which means I just watched the latest episode and I couldn't even believe it. We must talk. The spoiler thing is up at the top; it's next to the calendar looking button.

Spoiler for spoiler:

THE HOT ONE WHYYYYYY. And let's talk about how awkward Matthew and his worry about his functions is...

[PaloAltoCougar]

Our Manhattanite daughter sent this photo tonight accompanied only by the comment, "Lady Mary who?"

[Mrs. Funk]

Our Manhattanite daughter sent this photo tonight accompanied only by the comment, "Lady Mary who?"

Bahahaha. That's awesome.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Bahahaha. That's awesome.

I've told her I'm fine with her being Rebound Girl after the Kemal Pemuk thing.

[SteelBlue]

Spoiler for Today's episode:

This episode gets a huge eye roll from me. I was very curious as to how they'd portray the early 20th century reaction to homosexuality. I think it was a huge copout to have the entire house essentially give it a shoulder shrug and a "who cares?". Yeah, these are the same people who think its scandalous to even speak to the former prostitute now employed as a cook in a house across town. Not buying it.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Booooooo! Two big thumbs down.

Spoiler for Season 3 Finale:

I echo SB's comment in the previous post. The whole treatment of Thomas's homosexuality was colored by a 21st-century viewpoint to the point of absurdity. So Carson (Mr 19th Century) is going to opt for a low-key approach and tell Thomas he understands that it is not his fault that he is wired that way? The same guy who thinks just being in the same building as a former prostitute is scandalous. Riiiiiight... Even a bigger stretch for Lord Grantham. Mr. tradition and "I-can't-believe-my-granddaughter-will-be-a-catholic" doesn't even flinch when learns his footman is jumping another male servant in his sleep? Not only that but he heroically stands up for him and then promotes him to be Carter's assistant? Seriously, crap like that insults the intelligence of the audience. Mushy-headed PC bullshit.

The other thing that bothered me about the finale is how neatly every single loose thread was buttoned up by the end of the episode. Yes indeed, that is just how life works isn't it? Lord Grantham and his wife are reconciled, edgy Irish SIL suddenly catches the vision of the cushy English aristocrat lifestyle and agrees to stay help run the estate, Lord Grantham agrees to participate in the christening, Mary gets a surgery that makes her fertile, gay Thomas becomes a sympathetic character, everyone exhibits 2012 liberal attitude on homosexuality, Bates is freed from prison, the Ugly One gets a nice writing gig in the big city, the former hooker maid not only gets a job, but gets to by her son, blah blah blah...

Sadly, they are even ruining the Dowager by overusing those pithy one-liners to the point they aren't that funny anymore.

This season started out slow, picked up a little steam in the middle, and crashed and burned at the end. Not even looking forward to next season.

[SteelBlue]

Booooooo! Two big thumbs down.

Spoiler for Season 3 Finale:

I echo SB's comment in the previous post. The whole treatment of Thomas's homosexuality was colored by a 21st-century viewpoint to the point of absurdity. So Carson (Mr 19th Century) is going to opt for a low-key approach and tell Thomas he understands that it is not his fault that he is wired that way? The same guy who thinks just being in the same building as a former prostitute is scandalous. Riiiiiight... Even a bigger stretch for Lord Grantham. Mr. tradition and "I-can't-believe-my-granddaughter-will-be-a-catholic" doesn't even flinch when learns his footman is jumping another male servant in his sleep? Not only that but he heroically stands up for him and then promotes him to be Carter's assistant? Seriously, crap like that insults the intelligence of the audience. Mushy-headed PC bullshit.

The other thing that bothered me about the finale is how neatly every single loose thread was buttoned up by the end of the episode. Yes indeed, that is just how life works isn't it? Lord Grantham and his wife are reconciled, edgy Irish SIL suddenly catches the vision of the cushy English aristocrat lifestyle and agrees to stay help run the estate, Lord Grantham agrees to participate in the christening, Mary gets a surgery that makes her fertile, gay Thomas becomes a sympathetic character, everyone exhibits 2012 liberal attitude on homosexuality, Bates is freed from prison, the Ugly One gets a nice writing gig in the big city, the former hooker maid not only gets a job, but gets to by her son, blah blah blah...

Sadly, they are even ruining the Dowager by overusing those pithy one-liners to the point they aren't that funny anymore.

This season started out slow, picked up a little steam in the middle, and crashed and burned at the end. Not even looking forward to next season.

An excellent summation. We held out some hope midway through the season that the show was headed somewhere interesting, but alas, as you say it crashed and burned. As I mentioned before, we're pretty much watching Falcon Crest with English accents. I don't think the shield of Masterpiece Theater can change that fact.