Downton Abbey Season 6 - PBS broadcast

[Skate Talker]

I am afraid for Thomas. The show is a somewhat rose colored view of the eras it depicts, but it is still a morality tale of sorts. He is not going to end up in a good place. And really, the actor who plays him is AMAZING. To give a villain like that so much nuance and depth...oh, I can't stand it.

Yes, the totally enlightened view of the main characters that Thomas did not chose to be as he was is totally out of sync with the times in which he lived.

One other thing I have often wondered about. The characters are always using the word "pregnant" including in very formal conversations. IIRC, even in the 50's and 60's one would say "expecting" or "with child" if you go back a bit further. The word pregnant was considered a bit crude, somewhat like one would never say a lady was "sweating", or even "perspiring" since women only every "glow" until the last couple of decades.

 

[JasperBoy]

Thanks, Skate Talker

 

[Matryeshka]

Yes, the totally enlightened view of the main characters that Thomas did not chose to be as he was is totally out of sync with the times in which he lived.

Yes and no. I don't think they've ever condoned him being gay, they're just sympathetic. I'm also not surprised that the doctor says he did not choose to be this way being in the medical profession, but he also did not say go forth and find a boyfriend to be happy!

I also think it's human nature to make exceptions for those you know personally. If you asked any of the characters, do you approve of homosexuality, they would answer with a resounding no. If asked, do you approve of Thomas, the answer would be more nuanced. It's easy to dismiss people; it's harder to dismiss a person. I think it's always been like that.

 

[danceronice]

Yes and no. I don't think they've ever condoned him being gay, they're just sympathetic. I'm also not surprised that the doctor says he did not choose to be this way being in the medical profession, but he also did not say go forth and find a boyfriend to be happy!

I also think it's human nature to make exceptions for those you know personally. If you asked any of the characters, do you approve of homosexuality, they would answer with a resounding no. If asked, do you approve of Thomas, the answer would be more nuanced. It's easy to dismiss people; it's harder to dismiss a person. I think it's always been like that.

Yeah, they're not saying that he was born this way and it's totally natural--their particular cultural perspective would be that he's mentally ill and clearly isn't choosing to be this way, but not because it's a natural way to be. He's sick in their minds and the notion that he could be "happy" with a boyfriend would be just as strange since that would just be another symptom of his sickness. To them, he's someone you pity, the way over on new Upstairs Downstairs they kind of pity the mentally-retarded sister. She's not normal and they would never expect her to do something like debut in society or marry and set up a house of her own, but they feel sorry for her. "Poor Thomas, it's too bad there isn't a cure."

 

[VGThuy]

I couldn't help myself and finished the series. I can't wait for you guys to be caught up so I can join the conversation. It's killing me!

 

[Skate Talker]

I just spent the last week binge watching from the beginning of season 1 all the way through to the current PBS broadcast. I had only seen a couple of episodes in the middle before. and those only recently. Somehow I had managed to resist the allure before now. Maybe too many people raving about it put me off, lol. Anyway, now I can't wait for the next episodes and very sad to know it is quickly coming to an end.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I couldn't help myself and finished the series.

Good for you! What's point of waiting, if they are legally available, if the other half of the world has already seen them, if it is circumstantial that USA is the last time zone on earth where it is aired, and even more circumstantial that it airs on Sundays at 21:00 o'clock....... ..... what if PBS decided to air it in 3 weeks time, on M - W - F? what if it aired at 8 in the morning on Saturday?...... we're not a heard to do things "together when they told us to".

 

[berthesghost]

I just spent the last week binge watching from the beginning of season 1 all the way through to the current PBS broadcast. I had only seen a couple of episodes in the middle before. and those only recently. Somehow I had managed to resist the allure before now. Maybe too many people raving about it put me off, lol. Anyway, now I can't wait for the next episodes and very sad to know it is quickly coming to an end.

Did you find it at all inconsistent? In real time, I felt like it lost all of its mojo with the sudden departure of Mathew, who not only served as viewer proxy as an outsider visiting this rare and insular world, but almost single handedly dragged them into the modern age. The grief period that followed was interesting but once that passed, it's like the writers just pushed the reset button back to ep 1. Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[skatesindreams]

In real time, I felt like it lost all of its mojo with the sudden departure of Mathew, who not only served as viewer proxy as an outsider visiting this rare and insular world, but almost single handedly dragged them into the modern age

IMO, the series shows how difficult the transition was from the insular world, where authority/tradition was followed unquestioned; and the modern age, when asking whether these practices should apply, became acceptable and even expected.

World War I; and the changes which arrived as a result (of which Matthew was a part) was the catalyst.
The "old guard" resisted as much as they could, for as long as possible. In the end, even they have to accept and adjust to the inevitable nature of change.

"Downton Abbey" is a window into this process for one family.
It's not smooth; with much struggle to accept the ramifications of the "new reality", as they wonder what the future will hold.
It's a concept which the Grantham's never faced before; since for them, all was always "the same as it had always been".

The program is a example of "history as transformation".
Watching it unfold has been much more insightful than simply reading about it in a book.
I've enjoyed all the "food for thought" it has provided. The series will remain a part of me for a long while to come.

I will miss something which enriched my life so much.
I'm deeply grateful to all the gifted people who made it possible.

 

[Coco]

Fingers crossed for Lady Edith!

 

[my little pony]

I am afraid for Thomas. The show is a somewhat rose colored view of the eras it depicts, but it is still a morality tale of sorts. He is not going to end up in a good place. And really, the actor who plays him is AMAZING. To give a villain like that so much nuance and depth...oh, I can't stand it.

STOP making bad things happen with your thoughts. or think about bad things happening to edith!

spratt being cassandra is the cutest thing ever

the real unrequited live is between henry and tom. and now they get to live together and be best friends every day. dorks.

 

[Coco]

I'm not entirely sure Mary will be kind about this new nugget of info.

I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY!

But of course, everything works out for Mary in the end. It ALWAYS does...

I vote for Tom and the basket of scones...now that's a match.

But hey - evilbutler survived, and gets to keep his job! That's much better than what I thought would happen.

I'm not going to last two weeks to see how this ends.

 

[Matryeshka]

Our stupid DVR only recorded an hour, not an hour and a half. What happened? The DVR stopped when the Dowager returned and was hopefully about to tear into Mary.

 

[purple skates]

Mine stopped with ten minutes to go. Mary and Edith were talking in her bedroom. It's not available on Prime yet. I hate you PBS! ARRGGHHH!!!

 

[Skate Talker]

I got the whole recording but so sorry to hear others had trouble. Murphy's law - my PBS stations repeat the episode an hour later, and one of them repeats the previous week's episode right before the new one airs as well. Doesn't PBS have their own player on their website? I seem to recall being able to play a couple of episodes of Call the Midwife that I failed to record by accident.

 

[purple skates]

I can get it on Prime tomorrow. Will cost me $1.99 but that's ok.

Will also change the dvr to record an hour and a half. This has happened before with skating following basketball, although I'm surprised it did this time. PBS probably had too many "commercials" that I scrolled through in the beginning.

 

[smurfy]

I got the whole recording but so sorry to hear others had trouble. Murphy's law - my PBS stations repeat the episode an hour later, and one of them repeats the previous week's episode right before the new one airs as well. Doesn't PBS have their own player on their website? I seem to recall being able to play a couple of episodes of Call the Midwife that I failed to record by accident.

I have 2 PBS stations available to me. Both seem to repeat a few hours later. also one of them repeats on Thursday pm of the same week. If that helps anybody.

 

[Matryeshka]

My station does not until Tuesday morning at 2am. I cannot possibly wait that long.

 

[Coco]

PBS will have it online tomorrow.

 

[ChelleC]

Yes, PBS will have it online tomorrow. Actually I think they'll have it available online by 2 am eastern. At least they did a couple of weeks ago when I had to work on Sunday night.

 

[manhn]

Oh, the drama! I was riveted.

 

[Coco]

I snapped and watched Tinami's link. Will be hard to keep it zipped for TWO WHOLE WEEKS. See you then!

 

[danceronice]

Mine stopped with ten minutes to go. Mary and Edith were talking in her bedroom. It's not available on Prime yet. I hate you PBS! ARRGGHHH!!!

Not a LOT...the wedding went off, and Robert is musing about his children while Edith smiles and watches George, Sybbie, and Marigold playing around Sybil's grave.

Baxter saves the day! And say what you will about Mary (if I had everyone shilling Generic Suitor to me 24/7 no matter how many times I say "IT'S OVER" I'd be pissy too, and I both was going "For once, listen to Cora and Rosamund, Edith, not that 'listening to Rosamund' wouldn't have let you permanently avoid the whole stupid problem," and "OH GOD STOP BAITING YOUR SISTER YOU IDIOT HAVE YOU NO SENSE AT ALL") her swipe at her father over Thomas was harsh, but really, fair. Of all the servants, Thomas is the one who has wanted to STAY, not played with going to school, bought other businesses, planned to move out...but we keep trying to toss him on his rear because we don't NEED an underbutler and he's been vaguely evil in ways Upstairs doesn't even really know about. And dear God, I felt for him, because the "You're overqualified but good luck!" cheery-a**hole rejection letter is the worst kind to get. No shinola, I KNOW I'm overqualified, jerk, would I be applying anyway if jobs that I am qualified for were going spare? (Yeah, might be a little projection there but minus the gay part I know where Thomas was and how that might have felt like a very reasonable way out.) And where did Awesome Intuitive Baxter come from?

I was getting really, really, sick of the Henry-shilling. Honestly, it would almost have worked if they'd had Tom reveal he was really in love with Mary and this was a whole fighting-it thing because otherwise it's like they randomly decided "Mary has to marry SOMEONE, this is this season's guy so it has to be him, we'll just repeatedly have other characters tell her how awesome he is until she cracks." The first time I liked him and thought he had any personality at all was when he admitted he's actually nervous. Tom, Violet, Anna...he's not that awesome. Shut up. Weakest writing in six seasons.

Ignoring how it was Edith (who is so traumatized and leaving forever...but leaving the stupid kid that she just HAD to keep which is the root of her problem at Downton because we blew the kid-actor budget giving George a speaking part) mood whiplash...oh, I'd love to have seen more of meeting with "Cassandra." I ROFLd. Edith is a completely different character when she's 'at work', ie likable. Just stay there.

Mary bringing George to Thomas...first, is this the first time George has had real interactive speaking lines? Second...awwwwwww. Thomas, someone likes you.

 

[Tinami Amori]

-Of all the servants, Thomas is the one who has wanted to STAY, not played with going to school, bought other businesses, planned to move out...but we keep trying to toss him on his rear because we don't NEED an underbutler and he's been vaguely evil in ways Upstairs doesn't even really know about.

-Honestly, it would almost have worked if they'd had Tom reveal he was really in love with Mary and this was a whole fighting-it thing because otherwise it's like they randomly decided "Mary has to marry SOMEONE, this is this season's guy so it has to be him, we'll just repeatedly have other characters tell her how awesome he is until she cracks."

-Weakest writing in six seasons.

(i did watch all episodes, but covering only the ones which aired up until now).

I agree it is weakest writing of all seasons, too many cliches, too predictable, too cheezy, same feeling as when a fine restaurant starts serving "fast food". But! i am addicted..

Not once did i get an impression that Tom's character likes (let alone in love with) Mary's character.... she is completely opposite of qualities he would want in a wife/woman, but he does appreciate Mary's good qualities, as a relative. I think he is match-making with such eager (maybe subconsciously) to take part in breaking socioeconomic barriers.

Thomas did a lot of BAD things up until now, and he is a snob and a product of the "current society". He is not trying to "get out the given social set up" but to get ahead with in it by using questionable methods.

Not only he tried to snob, manipulate and blackmail the "weaker ones" in the house (at the time when his job was secured), not only he stole Robert's dog to gain favor by pretending to find him, but he refused few job offers because certain duties where "beneath him". His negative personality traits have nothing to do with being gay or a servant. He is just a difficult person, even if he plays well with Mary's little boy.

 

[algonquin]

Was that the last episode?

 

[Spun Silver]

No! One more.

 

[algonquin]

No! One more.

Thanks. When?

 

[Spun Silver]

Thanks. When?

In two weeks.

 

[JasperBoy]

I felt the lines given to Carson about poor Mrs. Patmore's B&B were quite out of character. In the past, Carson has been severe but loyal to the staff, and certainly was understanding when Mrs. P has had problems. This time he was very judgmental about her B&B being labelled a house of ill repute. He persisted in saying that "the family" would be tainted by being seen there. Bad writing, IMHO. He would have had a better understanding of the circumstances and, despite his blind loyalty to the Granthams, he would certainly not have said such hurtful things to Mrs. P.

Carson's charaacter has been written as more of a stodgy buffoon since his marriage to Mrs. Hughes. I agree, it is fast food writing instead of a gourmet meal.

And, while I am at it, I am getting very tired of Tom being the rational one to whom everyone in the family turns for advice. When did he gain so much wisdom? In America LOL?

Did anyone else notice that Matthew's grave marker was totally blank?

Time for this fascinating series to end before it totally jumps the shark.

 

[Spun Silver]

No, Matthew's grave marker was not blank. I believe it had Reginald as one of his names. I think Sybil's was, though (at least on the sides). But I agree about the writing for Carson being unduly mean, as if Mrs Hughes made him miserable. Impossible!