Downton Abbey--

**ONLYOLTL** · 01-23-2012, 02:39 PM

I just love Downton Abbey. The complete opposite of my fav shows, The Walking Dead and now Alcatraz.

Sure hope that someone finally gets that Thomas guy, cause I can't stand him.

Love Dan Stevens from the time I saw him in the Sense and Sensibility movie.

**lovessoaps5319** · 01-27-2012, 08:28 PM

I'm with you. Really enjoy Downton Abbey. This season is a little choppy compared to last, but it still has fascinating characters. That Thomas guy needs to meet a grizzly end!

**ONLYOLTL** · 01-27-2012, 10:24 PM

Hi lovessoaps!

I can't wait to see Sunday's episode. That Thomas guy is such a creep--don't know why he keeps getting help.

You know, I don't understand how that maid to Cora can live with herself after causing Cora's miscarriage. She and Thomas need to go. UGH

I also think Mr. Bates' wife is a you know what.

This show is primetime soapy goodness. I could have lived with OLTL as a primetime series too.

They had a xmas special too. I wonder if we get to see that here too.

**lovessoaps5319** · 01-28-2012, 11:17 AM

I love the music- sets such a great mood, brings back another time and place. Mary definitely loves Matthew, but now they're pledged to others. Soap goodness to watch!

**sudsnfun** · 01-29-2012, 08:29 AM

I love period shows like these. The acting is outstanding and everything is recreated that you are transported to that very time and place.
Excellent show and I hope it runs for years, perhaps all the way to World War II.

**ONLYOLTL** · 01-29-2012, 11:42 AM

^^^lovessoaps and sudsnfun, I am a Jane Austen fan too. Hugh Bonneville (the Earl) was a dufus character in a film version of Mansfield Park. I love him so much more in this role. Although I don't get why he wants to wear a uniform so much. I guess he wanted to be more of presence in the war effort, but something held him back. Medical maybe??

The ladies' costumes are so beautiful and the actress who plays Mary has got to be completely skinny cause tv puts on 10 pounds.
I think they got the go ahead for a third season. It is a complete hit in the UK. I think it won a Golden Globe or something too.

The DA web page on PBS.org has got lots of short videos featuring the performers and the making of DA. The episodes are there to watch if you miss one too. My local PBS station replays the episodes at midnight and 1am during the week if I miss it(but I don't, lol).

**lovessoaps5319** · 01-29-2012, 12:22 PM

The costumes are so beautiful. I dug out my grandmother's photo albums and there she was wearing similar (but I'm sure less expensive) clothes. I remember how she told me when I was very little that when she was young she loved hats and once spent $50 on one! That's what's great about period shows, they tap generational memories. Tonight I'll have to decide between watching Downton live or the new HBO series Luck with Dustin Hoffman. Think it'll be Downton, I can watch Luck anytime on demand. (am a Dustin Hoffman fan)

**ONLYOLTL** · 01-29-2012, 01:52 PM

I love period costumes...are your ancestors from the UK??

My husband's ancestors are mostly British with a little bit of Scottish. Someday I would love to visit the UK and see lots of the country houses featured in these shows.

**kaylay123** · 01-29-2012, 10:06 PM

Maggie Smith= perfection! I just started watching the show, and I'm loving every miniute of it!

**lovessoaps5319** · 01-29-2012, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by ONLYOLTL

I love period costumes...are your ancestors from the UK??

My husband's ancestors are mostly British with a little bit of Scottish. Someday I would love to visit the UK and see lots of the country houses featured in these shows.

Missed all TV tonight as had to do a whole bunch of stuff for work. Hopefully, can watch tomorrow. Some of my ancestors were from UK and travelled there in the teens Love Maggie Smith. Man she aged, not exactly gracefully, but wonderfully still. Tart tongue!!

**ONLYOLTL** · 01-30-2012, 12:52 AM

Oh this episode was absolutely wonderful. I love the Dowager Countess. She is so spunky and she was lovable beyond belief.

"I have a cold", so sweet.

You will enjoy it.....

Still hate Thomas and the first Mrs. Bates....ugh!!

**bluzmama** · 02-02-2012, 12:51 AM

Hopefully Thomas and OBrien will be turned out without reference. I think Thomas actually cared for the blind officer who killed himself, so I guess he has some heart. And O'Brien was sorry about causing Nora to slip on the soap and lose her baby.

Hopefully Matthew will not be permanently paralyzed and Bates' evil wife will kill off Mary's Ruppeatert Murdoch wannabe (altho this character existed before Murdoch). Then Bates and Anna and Mary and Matthew can be together.

**lovessoaps5319** · 02-04-2012, 10:21 AM

Finally watched last Sunday's epi. It totally pulled me in, tears were flowing. So sad, so real. Beautifully done show.

**ONLYOLTL** · 02-06-2012, 12:25 AM

Oh, I just can't stand Cora's maid and that Thomas guy.

I love the family, especially the dowager Countess.

How come the maid hates the family so much?? And the guy claiming to be the heir from Canada. I don't know if he was being conniving or what.

**lovessoaps5319** · 02-12-2012, 12:27 PM

Downton is getting soapier than ever with a return from the dead and hint that Matthew may walk again. Love it!

**kls** · 02-12-2012, 11:25 PM

Certainly was good tonight and some rather surprising stuff. However, good to see my second favourite pirate. Kevin McNally doing a stint as a semi-bad guy; he almost sounded like his alter-ego, Gibbs from Pirates.

**Lenafreed** · 02-13-2012, 01:29 AM

I just discovered Downton Abbey and went to Hulu plus to see season 1 - What a wonderful series! If only our US soaps were written half as well as this one they would surely stay alive.

**ONLYOLTL** · 02-13-2012, 10:07 AM

Already aired season 2 episodes can be seen in full on the PBS.org website BTW.

I am sooo exhausted. I got to see two great series last night. I think they showed two hours of DA cause they released season 2 on dvd already.

It was another wonderful soapy episode. Next week's Christmas special(the finale for the season 2) looks beautiful.

I think Thomas has finally gotten some of what he likes to dish out. Has he turned into a better person now??? And poor Mr. Bates!!

**kls** · 02-13-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by ONLYOLTL

I think Thomas has finally gotten some of what he likes to dish out. Has he turned into a better person now??? And poor Mr. Bates!!

Maybe Thomas did learn something......he did take over duties without pay or expectaions, at least on the surface. He seems to have lost O'Brien as his partner in crime as well.......wonder what she is hiding and was going to confess to Cora.

One thing about British mini-series, they ARE soapy, regardless if period pieces or contemporary. For some reason, the Brits manage to draw in 'big name' actors to these types of works - David Tennant in SIngle Father, Downton Abbey with Maggie Smith, other Masterpiece Series with the likes of Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Timothy Spall, and on and on, the list reads like a Hollywood who's who.

**ONLYOLTL** · 02-13-2012, 12:41 PM

^^^ I think O'Brien (Cora's maid?) feels guilty because she left a bar of soap on the floor so that Cora would fall. I am pretty sure she knew Cora was pregnant at the time. O'Brien thought that Cora was going to replace her, but it turned out that Cora was looking for someone for Matthew's household(I think).

Cora lost the baby (a son). O'Brien seems like she resents the family a lot anyway. But she did look after Cora a lot during her illness and put herself at risk too.

Still don't like the maid though.

Thomas was actually doing work for "rent", basically for free. I kind of thought he turned a corner.... Still not sure if I can like him though. He was so sneaky before.

ITA with your opinion on British tv. Big name stars (movie or otherwise) will do these shows all the time. Lucky us!

They are trying to redeem them both. lol

**lovessoaps5319** · 02-19-2012, 01:07 PM

Looking forward to the last epi tonight. Will miss it. Such fun soap, great production.

**Lenafreed** · 02-19-2012, 11:57 PM

Loved the finale - this show has never once let me down - great writing and acting. I think we have an interesting set up for next season. Mary and Mathew expecting to inherit Downton but there could be a fly in the ointment in the character of Patrick. If Patrick the original rightful heir is alive and marries Edith that sisterly rivalry/nastiness is bound to explode!

**ONLYOLTL** · 02-20-2012, 07:42 PM

I think they are already starting to film season 3. YAY

Last night was great. I felt so bad for Bates, but at least they saved him from the worst and they hope to help him get out.

I loved the servant's ball. I wonder if that was something the great houses always did or just a tradition at some.

And Maggie Smith was again so funny as the dowager Countess. "Do you promise?" haha

**lovessoaps5319** · 02-21-2012, 09:31 AM

Awesome finale. The music is still ringing in my ears. Things are set up nicely for next season. I loved the servant's ball too. Shirley MacLaine as the American grandma will be great counterpoint to Maggie Smith! Too bad we have to wait almost a year.

**ONLYOLTL** · 02-21-2012, 10:14 AM

^^^ I can't wait to hear the sassy back and forth between the two grandmothers. I wonder if they will be frenemies. Cora came from big money to save the Grantham family.

Loved the last 3 minutes.

**GoodWillTalking** · 03-25-2012, 11:36 PM

Just found this Primetime Page, I didn't realize it was here all these years! Downton Abbey is a marvelous show. You can't get much better than Maggie Smith. I look forward to another season with great enthusiasm and anticipation.

**newattitude** · 03-31-2012, 07:57 PM

LOVE the show! I was so busy last year I never got to watch it but my mom bought both seasons so I did DA marathons! Its so beautifully written and acted I can't take my eyes off the screen I can't get enough of it!

**Jupiter Jane** · 04-10-2012, 01:49 PM

DT Abbey was well into the series before I ever heard about it. So I eventually rented Season 1 from the library but the first disc was damaged; however, I saw enough to know I would love it so I bought both Season 1 and 2 from Amazon. I do not normally buy DVDs but felt this was a show worth owning.

Spent all yesterdayu (Monday) watching the entire Season 1 - couldn't stop; so now I have Season 2 to look forward to.

I am a big fan of the incomparable Dame Maggie Smith - great to see her and no-one can deliver lines like she can. Love Hugh Bonneville as Earl Grantham; and also like Elizabeth McGovern as Cora. My favourite of the 3 sisters is Sybil, the youngest. Lady Mary leaves me cold. But the entire cast is superb. There is an extra piece on the DVD showing the making of the show which includes brief interviews with various cast members; while Dame Maggie IS getting on in years now, she is still made to look much older in the show.

**Penelope P** · 04-10-2012, 06:48 PM

I just ordered and received Season 1 and 2 because I heard it was a great series. Can't wait to start watching it.

**Holly99** · 04-10-2012, 08:17 PM

Maggie Smith ( Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham) is one of my all time favourites.
I’m also enjoying Penelope Wilton as “Isobel Crawley” ..
and Rob James-Collier (the late “Liam Connor” on Coronation Street) as “Thomas Barrow”.

IMO .. Brendan Coyle (John Bates) “steals” every scene he’s in.
Back in January .. he spoke about his character & the series on Antena3.

http://www.antena3.com/series/downto...012000207.html

The link is to a Spanish site .. but .. it's in English .. with Spanish subtitle.

**Jupiter Jane** · 04-10-2012, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Holly99

and Rob James-Collier (the late “Liam Connor” on Coronation Street) as “Thomas Barrow”.

IMO .. Brendan Coyle (John Bates) “steals” every scene he’s in.
Back in January .. he spoke about his character & the series on Antena3.

Thanks for the link; I only listened to half though as I haven't seen Series 2 yet and he started to talk about what happens with his character. I do agree about Brendan Coyle though - love the Bates character.

OMG is that creepy Thomas really the late Liam from the Street??? I can't believe it, I had no idea. Goes to show what a different persona, hair, make-up, dress can do - and different era. I always thought "Liam" was quite cute; Thomas not so much lol.

**Holly99** · 04-12-2012, 06:22 PM

For Canadian fans of Downton Abbey .. if you missed any episodes of Season 2 ..
or would like to watch it again .. Vision TV is running it now.

Here's the link to the Downton Abbey promo on Vision TV's web site ..

http://www.visiontv.ca/shows/downton-abbey/

**Penelope P** · 04-16-2012, 06:33 PM

I'm well into the second season and I just love this series. Maggie Smith is priceless.

**GoodWillTalking** · 04-16-2012, 10:34 PM

This is a part supposition, part spoilerish, so don't continue reading if you don't want to know. I read an interview, recently, with the director, I think it was, of Downton Abbey, and she said a major player would be killed off next season. Later in the interview, she said that Maggie Smith, who she said was a BIG deal to sign up for the series because she's such a fantastic actress, was notoriously difficult to work with. I hope that putting the two facts together doesn't add up to Dame Smith being the person to be killed off. She really dominates every scene she is in. I would hate to see her go.

**journmsu** · 04-16-2012, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by GoodWillTalking

This is a part supposition, part spoilerish, so don't continue reading if you don't want to know. I read an interview, recently, with the director, I think it was, of Downton Abbey, and she said a major player would be killed off next season. Later in the interview, she said that Maggie Smith, who she said was a BIG deal to sign up for the series because she's such a fantastic actress, was notoriously difficult to work with. I hope that putting the two facts together doesn't add up to Dame Smith being the person to be killed off. She really dominates every scene she is in. I would hate to see her go.

I hope Maggie Smith is not killed off also. They are bringing on Shirley MacLaine and I heard they will have some great scenes together.