Downton Abbey--Upstairs/Downstairs, Stiff Upper Lips, and Tea!

[aliceanne]

It was a subplot in the first episode of Season 1. Thomas had a relationship with the Duke who came to call on Mary and suss out her inheritance prospects. The actor who played the Duke, Charlie Cox, also plays Owen on Boardwalk Empire.

Who was the guy who came to pick up Mary in his new car, but ended up with Edith instead. He seemed easily discouraged when he came to propose to Edith and Mary scared him off. Was he a goldigger also?

[PRlady]

No, he was a rich, middle-aged neighbor. Edith wanted to marry him but Mary told him that she was 'dreading a proposal that night from some old bore' so he never asked.

In Mary's defense, she was retaliating for her sister's outing the Pamuk episode.

[manleywoman]

No, he was a rich, middle-aged neighbor. Edith wanted to marry him but Mary told him that she was 'dreading a proposal that night from some old bore' so he never asked.

In Mary's defense, she was retaliating for her sister's outing the Pamuk episode.

Which I always thought was stupid . . . it only was going to help everyone if Edith married a rich guy. Sure, she was spiting her sister, but getting her married and out of the house would have helped Mary too.

[danceronice]

Mary doesn't always seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, to be fair. Edith isn't the only one prone to stupid vindictive behavior. Run, Sibyl! Get out while you can!

I have to feel sorry for the chauffer. Seems like he's doomed to be the working-class guy falling for the upper-class lady (Allan Leech played Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in Rome, where they had him, accurrately or not, falling for Octavia.)

[aliceanne]

What was the Pamuk episode about? I gather Mary and her mother were dragging around some corpse connected to the Turkish Embassy. Did Mary actually do something scandalous, or was it all about innuendo?

[D&Sfan4ever]

What was the Pamuk episode about? I gather Mary and her mother were dragging around some corpse connected to the Turkish Embassy. Did Mary actually do something scandalous, or was it all about innuendo?

The turkish diplomat forced himseft into Mary's room (with Thomas's help) and basically convinced her to sleep with him. After "having fun" in bed, he suddently collapsed and died.
Before anyone asks, no, it was not rape, Mary admitted she wanted to do it.

[aliceanne]

Dear me, Thomas does get around.

[kittyjake5]

Finally got to watch the first episode of the new season, loved it. Mary who imo showed such a strong character in the first season seems a little wimpy. I was expecting some fireworks between her, Matthew, and his fiancé, maybe next week. Sorry to see Bates go. Maggie Smith was gloriously funny as always especially when she found out that Downton Abbey may be used as a convalescence home for the injured soldiers.

[Reuven]

Jim Carter was also Mr. Brehgert in The Way We Live Now. I luurves that basso voice of his.

[Fergus]

Likeability of her character notwithstanding, IMHO it's Michelle Dockery who should be getting the Best Actress nominations for "DA", not Elizabeth McGovern.

(My apologies to any and all rabid McGovern fans.....I loved her in "Ragtime"!)

[PRlady]

Likeability of her character notwithstanding, IMHO it's Michelle Dockery who should be getting the Best Actress nominations for "DA", not Elizabeth McGovern.

Agreed. Of course she's mesmerizingly beautiful, it's hard to separate that out from her acting talent, but that role is challenging. Mary can be a mean girl, a doofus, oddly dignified and loving, all in the same episode.

[viennese]

Agree 100% about the actress playing Lady Mary - I change my mind about the character about 10x an episode.

[danceronice]

Dear me, Thomas does get around.

Well, in fairness, in that case Thomas got his own blackmail turned back on him a bit--he made a misjudged pass at Pamuk (he's Turkish, not in a Turkish prison, Thomas) and Pamuk basically said "You help me get into Lady Mary's room or I tell your boss you're a filthy pervert."

Okay, Michelle Dockery? Did not recognize her, but no wonder she can be a bit frosty, she's Death's granddaughter.

[vesperholly]

Which I always thought was stupid . . . it only was going to help everyone if Edith married a rich guy. Sure, she was spiting her sister, but getting her married and out of the house would have helped Mary too.

Not just spite, but wouldn't it make Mary look like a failure if her younger sister married before her as well?

Spoiler

I know Sybil does, but she "ran off" with the chauffer and after the Great War as well, so it's a bit different.

[manleywoman]

^ I guess.

[aliceanne]

Not just spite, but wouldn't it make Mary look like a failure if her younger sister married before her as well?

Spoiler

I know Sybil does, but she "ran off" with the chauffer and after the Great War as well, so it's a bit different.

That and especially a younger sister who is perceived as unattractive (the parents have apparently written her off as a spinster - "she can take care of us in our old age" - ouch! No wonder she is spiteful.

[nubka]

That and especially a younger sister who is perceived as unattractive (the parents have apparently written her off as a spinster - "she can take care of us in our old age" - ouch! No wonder she is spiteful.

I'm always rooting for Edith!

[Fergus]

That and especially a younger sister who is perceived as unattractive (the parents have apparently written her off as a spinster - "she can take care of us in our old age" - ouch! No wonder she is spiteful.

^ And His Lordship's ambiguous response: "What a ghastly thought".

For whom? The two of them stuck with picklepuss in their twilight years or Edith stuck babysitting the geriatrics?

[my little pony]

but edith did damage to her own marriage chances when she wrote the letter to the turkish embassy or wherever since it could cause scandal for the whole family

just an aside, she reminds me of the poem "pointy birds" from the man with 2 brains

another aside, i have a friend who keeps writing me about "downtown abbey" and it is driving me crazy. i asked her if she used auto correct and she said no.

[aliceanne]

but edith did damage to her own marriage chances when she wrote the letter to the turkish embassy or wherever since it could cause scandal for the whole family

just an aside, she reminds me of the poem "pointy birds" from the man with 2 brains

another aside, i have a friend who keeps writing me about "downtown abbey" and it is driving me crazy. i asked her if she used auto correct and she said no.

I thought it was Downtown Abbey too, until I saw the show and the name was on the train station.

I'm with Nubka, I think Edith will turn out all right after the war. Thomas was at least kind to the suicidal soldier, Mary is the one who seems like an awful pill. I hope no one nice gets stuck with her.