Comments on: Downton Abbey Season 2 Review: Coupling

By: Trish Fitzpatrick

Trish Fitzpatrick — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:51:01 +0000

I beg your pardon, but Julian Fellowes is pulling off something quite risky in showing a Socialist as anything but saintly. Since the time of the Fabians in Britain, we have had to worship at the altar of the holy working class hero. And Branson is actually allowed to show is naivety when he scoffs at any harm coming to the Russian royal family at the start of the revolution. Thank you, Fellowes, thank you very much. It’s about time we be allowed to see reality.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 16:39:47 +0000

I adore this show! Although I am a Jane Austen fan I have to say that I often find period dramas a bit contrived and dare I say it, a bit ho hum..But DA Series 1 flowed effortlessly.Characters well constructed and balance each other nicely. Hate Thomas & O’Brien – just too nasty for words but then we wouldn’t appreciate Mr Bates, Anna, Mrs Hughes quite as much. Lord Grantham’s character is so likable and Lady Sybil is a honey. But have to agree that Michelle Dockery & Dan Stevens do an outstanding job.& give Lady Mary & Mathew Crawley real chemistry and dimension. Season 2 has just started here in Australia, and I agree the pace is terrifically fast in that it lurches from one scene to another. Reviews indicate that this settles down as the series progresses. Can’t wait to see what unfolds..

By: JCS

JCS — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:44:40 +0000

Why all the Mary haters? Is it eyebrow envy? (Where DOES Michelle Dockery get her brows done?) She’s the most complex and endearing character on the show (though terribly flawed of course). She’s the closest thing to an Austen heroine that we have in Downton. She’s a delightful mixture of Lizzie Bennet and Emma Woodhouse and, more recently, Anne Elliot.

As for her “not deserving” Matthew, there has always been great symmetry in the writing for them. Season 2 (or Series 2, for you Brits) was all about reversals of fortune — briefly alluded to by Matthew himself in 2×05. Season 1, Mary is “damaged” goods as a result of the Pamuk incident, which sets her life on a different course. Season 2, Matthew is damaged from the war, which also alters the direction of his life. Season 1, Mary hurts Matthew terribly with her indecision. Season 2, Matthew gets a little of his own back doesn’t he? Parading Lavinia at Downton; pretending not to notice Mary’s love for him (I mean does he really think Lady Mary Crawley changes bedpans for just anyone?); insisting that he and Lavinia marry at Downton, Mary’s HOME; kissing Mary two days before his wedding to someone else; then cruelly lashing out at her in his guilt-fueled misery over Lavinia’s grave. I could go on with countless other examples of symmetry — some of the lines from the script are almost mirror images: “Would you have stayed if I’d accepted you?” and “Would you stay if I asked you to?” etc., etc.

Whether you like her individually or them as a couple, I think it’s fair to say that Mary gets as good as she gives on the show and … at least she takes it like a man.

By: Sophy

Sophy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:18:36 +0000

I hope Shirley MacLaine brings over a Hollywood starlet, Matthew falls for her and marries her. Would serve Lady Mary right. The presence of Ms MacLaine does not thrill me – she is no match for Dame Maggie, in real life or, I suspect, as a series character.

The Beeb will probably have Lady Edith fall in love with another woman.

Bates and Anna? Yawn. He should get the Beeb to bring back Lark Rise to Candleford. His role as Timmons was a heck of a lot more interesting and not maudlin.

Please, no more fooling around by Lord Grantham. That was pathetic.

Nick, regarding your “virginal” comment concerning Lavinia, she gave virgins a bad name. I think, personally, that she died of boredom on the set.

Too bad Miss Jane Austen can’t be consulted via Ouija board, to improve the script.

By: Ilze Choi

Ilze Choi — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:42:06 +0000

I love the story of Sybil and Branson. Branson has the courage to face off the whole system – the Crawley dynasty, the downstairs family to pursue Sybil. Not only is he working class but Irish! No wonder Lord Grantham is so enraged. Sybil is the prettiest and nicest of the daughters. I wish there was more about their relationship in Season 2 and I hope nothing bad happens to them in Season 2.

By: Nick Miliokas

Nick Miliokas — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:29:10 +0000

Well, Sophy, it’s like this… There’s virgin and there’s virgin, if you know what I’m saying.

By: Sophy

Sophy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:21:45 +0000

You wrote:
“Miss Swire, who still hasn’t figured out that bees come from bees and birds from birds, cries her virginal heart out.”

I thought Lavinia admitted to Mary that she was not a virgin?

By: Nick Miliokas

Nick Miliokas — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:04:23 +0000

I will indeed check it out — thank you.
p.s. Nope. I myself am not a blogger.

By: Tony Grant

Tony Grant — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:57:40 +0000

Well Nick, you really must have a look at my blog, London Calling to find out. You might find me sliding down a snowy slope and also writing about Charles Dickens to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.

http://general-southerner.blogspot.com/

Do you write a blog?

Tony

By: Nick Miliokas

Nick Miliokas — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:34:35 +0000

I’m almost afraid to ask, but … what are YOU up to these days, Mr. Grant?

By: Nick Miliokas

Nick Miliokas — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:10:21 +0000

Never mind Jane Austen. I had to correct him on “Shirley MacLaine,” for heaven’s sake. Vic is safely out of Jane’s reach now, but Shirley is very much alive — again.
p.s. What does espouse mean? Some sort of sword fighting thing, isn’t it?

By: Tony Grant

Tony Grant — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:51:31 +0000

So Martha, what is your view of Vic’s humour(I’m English) and tongue in cheek viewpoint on Downton? I think it’s great!!!! (My use of the word ,”great,” is obviously colloquial and there is nothing wrong with that.)

You suggest, Jane Austen was a wonderful speller. Was she? How do you know? To tell the truth, it doesn’t matter either.