Downton Abbey Season 6 - PBS broadcast

[skatesindreams]

I'm sure that you would enjoy that.

 

[skatingfan5]

But in Gosford Park there's a fun scene on the first night of the weekend party where all the maids and butlers are in a room doing shoes, pressing clothes and making repairs.

Maids and valets, yes? I just can't imagine Carson shining shoes or pressing clothes, thought he might assign a footman to that duty in a pinch.

My favourite Upstairs Downstairs is when the King comes to dinner.

That was definitely quite the night, what with Sarah returning to Eaton Place and hustled upstairs just in time to give birth to the Bellamy's first (very short-lived) grandchild.

 

[Jenny]

Maids and valets, yes? I just can't imagine Carson shining shoes or pressing clothes, thought he might assign a footman to that duty in a pinch.

 

[danceronice]

Well, I would not exist, if my grandparents hadn't found one another while "in service"!

You wouldn't exist if they had found each other at Mrs Hughes and Carson's ages, either!

For having parlor-maids do double duty, the Bellamys are not just with a smaller staff on U,D, they're a little down the social ladder from the Granthams. Especially after Lady Bellamy makes the same ill-fated travel decision Robert's original heirs did as she was the better-born one, her husband Lord Bellamy wasn't born to his rank, he was a politicians (and then his second wife was a commoner.) No ancestral estates or noble titles there (hence their living in town most/all of the time.)

 

[Artemis@BC]

For having parlor-maids do double duty, the Bellamys are not just with a smaller staff on U,D, they're a little down the social ladder from the Granthams. Especially after Lady Bellamy makes the same ill-fated travel decision Robert's original heirs did as she was the better-born one, her husband Lord Bellamy wasn't born to his rank, he was a politicians (and then his second wife was a commoner.) No ancestral estates or noble titles there (hence their living in town most/all of the time.)

But I wonder how much of the staff difference was to do with socioeconomics, and how much to do with just the size of the house. Downton Abbey is easily 5 times the size of 165 Eaton Place, possibly more, so obviously needs a bigger staff.

BTW, in addition to the house-parlourmaids doing double duty, the Bellamy household also didn't have a housekeeper.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I was just looking ahead in the PBS guide, and spotted that even though episode 8 airs on Feb 21, we do not get the final episode on the 28th -- instead they're doing a marathon repeat of episodes 1-8, followed by a new special, "More Manners of Downton Abbey." (hmm, pledge drive anyone?)

The March guide isn't available yet, but if we don't get the finale on March 6 I will not be a happy camper.

At least that's the schedule for KCTS Seattle, I'm assuming it's the same across the board as it usually is for new Masterpiece broadcasts.

 

[topaz]

Okay, Daisy is rude and acting like a child. WTH?

Also, I almost felt sorry for Thomas. Almost.

 

[manhn]

I don't buy Thomas' sob story. Even if Carson really is an ass. And my goodness, is Daisy infuriating. Where is the old Padmore who would kick her ass?

 

[Japanfan]

Where is the old Padmore who would kick her ass?

She's softened up because she's sweet on Mr. Mason, like a giggly school girl.

 

[berthesghost]

I don't buy Thomas' sob story. Even if Carson really is an ass. And my goodness, is Daisy infuriating. Where is the old Padmore who would kick her ass?

As annoying as they've made both these characters in their personal lives, they are both excellent at their jobs. If anything, they highlight how service was not a meritocracy, but another form of the old boys club that ran the aristocracy and until recently, the country. Despite being sources of unending drama the bateses inexplicably have job security just because they're liked.

 

[danceronice]

#ShutUPDaisy is neck in neck for #ThomasNeedsAHug (seriously, though, this is "poor communication kills", just someone own up "Your footman's illiterate and Thomas is the only one observant enough to have caught it.") Carson isn't very tactful, but he is also making the point that an underbutler is kind of...why do we even have this any more? Between that and no matter what he does, everyone treating him like Evil Thomas (which he doesn't help by reverting to type) except the Bateses who are downright bipolar about him (I mean, they alternately treat him as badly as the rest of the staff and commiserate with him and then BLACKMAIL O'BRIEN for him) I can't blame him for Carson's telling him basically "You're going" being the final straw. Double irony for no one upstairs being NEARLY as negative on Thomas as the downstairs staff. Robert clearly feels sorry (but if they're letting staff go, Thomas certainly has a better shot at making a new career than someone as old as Carson, whose only real options are stay on or retire) and Mary clearly isn't 100% comfortable with it. But as Robert said...George can always hire him back.

Daisy, SHUT UP. Or quit and find something you'd rather be doing since apparently that flirtation with being a serious cook and learning Mrs Patmore's job never went anywhere. And stay out of people's lives. Maybe poor Mosley, though, will wind up a teacher. (Hopefully not Daisy, though, she'd be a horrible one.)

 

[Artemis@BC]

Did anyone else think it was odd that no one in the family knew much about the house and its fixtures & fittings? I mean, I would understand if they couldn't find their way to the laundry room or hadn't the slightest idea how much a pint of milk costs, but you'd think that a family that places so much emphasis on tradition and heritage would know a little bit more about the history of their own home.

I'm sure Fellowes was trying to prove some kind of point there ... but I'm not really sure what.

I did like how Bertie dove in though and told them exactly how to organize things. A nice way to show that he has a great deal to offer (though it will take a while longer for Cora and Robert to recognize that).

And Detective Mary is still on the Marigold case. If she really cares, why doesn't she just ask either her mother or Violet outright, instead of all these not-so-subtle hints with Anna and Tom?

BTW, Mary's gold and green dress at the restaurant was my favourite one yet this season, and probably my second-favourite of all time (my first favourite being "Beadith").

 

[skatingfan5]

Did anyone else think it was odd that no one in the family knew much about the house and its fixtures & fittings? I mean, I would understand if they couldn't find their way to the laundry room or hadn't the slightest idea how much a pint of milk costs, but you'd think that a family that places so much emphasis on tradition and heritage would know a little bit more about the history of their own home. I'm sure Fellowes was trying to prove some kind of point there ... but I'm not really sure what.

I'm not sure what point, if any, Fellowes was trying to make, but I didn't think it particularly odd that none of the family would know that much about their home -- they likely took it all for granted and weren't especially curious about its history as it had always been a part of their lives (except for Tom). Violet's wondering why anyone would want to visit a “perfectly ordinary house” kind of sums it up in a nutshell for me.

 

[berthesghost]

I seem to remember a few snarks about drooling gawkers and a few brush offs about who would be interested in little old us. Then to have them caught off guard by a knowledgable public asking hard questions they couldn't answer... I think it was just another scene to make them seem potentially unprepared for modern life. Or maybe it was just a shout out to that Cary grant Deborah Kerr movie
Eta "the grass is greener"

The Earl and Countess of Rhyall (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) are facing financial troubles and are therefore forced to permit guided tours of their stately home.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I guess what really struck me as odd is that Mary & Cora had this plan for opening the home ... but then didn't stop to think what would happen next. Did they really think that people would pay the admission just to ooh and awe, and not have any questions? I know the writers like to set up the family as being kind of clueless in a lot of real-world aspects, but in this case it didn't fit for me.

 

[skatesindreams]

Did they really think that people would pay the admission just to ooh and awe, and not have any questions?

I think that's exactly what they expected; particularly since opening a stately home to the public was a novel idea, at the time.

 

[snoopy]

BTW, Mary's gold and green dress at the restaurant was my favourite one yet this season, and probably my second-favourite of all time (my first favourite being "Beadith").

Yeah that gold and green dress was to die for.

 

[Erin]

Did anyone else think it was odd that no one in the family knew much about the house and its fixtures & fittings? I mean, I would understand if they couldn't find their way to the laundry room or hadn't the slightest idea how much a pint of milk costs, but you'd think that a family that places so much emphasis on tradition and heritage would know a little bit more about the history of their own home.

I had the exact same thoughts, especially with regards to the paintings. I didn't buy it at all.

BTW, Mary's gold and green dress at the restaurant was my favourite one yet this season, and probably my second-favourite of all time (my first favourite being "Beadith").

I lurved it too. And that's coming from someone who often doesn't even notice the fashion, so that's how I know it was really spectacular

 

[Tinami Amori]

Yeah that gold and green dress was to die for.

It is a take-off from Erte's "Victoire"
http://www.paragonfineart.com/images/erte/erte-bronze-victoire.jpg

 

[smurfy]

I guess what really struck me as odd is that Mary & Cora had this plan for opening the home ... but then didn't stop to think what would happen next. Did they really think that people would pay the admission just to ooh and awe, and not have any questions? I know the writers like to set up the family as being kind of clueless in a lot of real-world aspects, but in this case it didn't fit for me.

I found it odd their lack of knowledge. Granted they may not know everything, but living there - they had to know something.
As it safe to assume that at least some of the portraits are their ancestors. Loved Violet's -whatever # earl collected horses and women.
Plus there was that art guy that was interested in Cora - she showed him some art in the house.

 

[Artistic Skaters]

Thomas may have had his moments, but he is not vile. He spends more time playing with the kids & making them laugh than their own family. He's misunderstood & seniority should count for something . Carson is a mean, mean bully & hopefully old man Grantham will see the light like Mary before Thomas is cast off into the dark night. I'm waiting for Carson's new wife to whack him with a rolling pin the next time he wants to because there is no lemon or horseradish for his supper.

 

[my little pony]

i love evilbutler.com! there, i said it.

 

[IceAlisa]

Did anyone else scream NO! at Carson when he smuggled in some alcohol for Sir Robert? I did. Not on a freshly perforated ulcer!!! I was so relieved Robert didn't do it.

 

[Artemis@BC]

Did anyone else scream NO! at Carson when he smuggled in some alcohol for Sir Robert? I did. Not on a freshly perforated ulcer!!! I was so relieved Robert didn't do it.

I yelled something much ruder than "no!" Talk about killing him with kindness ...

But I laughed pretty hard at Carson later forgoing wine with the missus in solidarity. How long is that going to last I wonder?

 

[Coco]

Lol...I totally held my breath thinking we were going to get red dinner 2.0.

And Lady Mary really didn't come off well at the dinner party arranged by the long suffering Evelyn Napier.

 

[IceAlisa]

Lol...I totally held my breath thinking we were going to get red dinner 2.0.

That's what I thought too.

And Lady Mary really didn't come off well at the dinner party arranged by the long suffering Evelyn Napier.

She didn't? I was too busy looking at her dress. She rocked that frock.

 

[Coco]

She made some comment about them all being singletons at their age and what a feat it was for Evelyn to find that many. One of the woman remarked that they were war widows. And of course Mary corrected her by pointing out that she was not a war widow. That drew some side eye.

 

[my little pony]

i dont know why they were bitchy though. mary is a widow too.

 

[Spun Silver]

Thomas may have had his moments, but he is not vile. He spends more time playing with the kids & making them laugh than their own family. He's misunderstood & seniority should count for something . Carson is a mean, mean bully & hopefully old man Grantham will see the light like Mary before Thomas is cast off into the dark night. I'm waiting for Carson's new wife to whack him with a rolling pin the next time he wants to because there is no lemon or horseradish for his supper.

Calm down. Mosely is going to move up in the world (becoming a teacher) and the evil or not so evil butler will get to stay. *Prediction, not spoiler!*

 

[my little pony]

was i imagining things but was molesley trying to interject and help out cora with the painting ID and she just moved on the the one she knew more about? he would LOVE to do the tours.