Downton Abbey tonight

[Stargazer]

What a farce!

[TOWIE]

Arrr why ? I thought it was lovely - though cannot understand why Anna was still calling her new husband Mr. Bates (:o(

Matthews face was slightly overdone with the white face make up in the run up to Lavina's funeral....

[NOX]

If you're going to have a melodrama/ soap opera set in a 1920's esque aristo household then let it be as broad as possible- quite like it myself- and clearly another series in someone's mind- too many cliffhangers for there not to be.

[Stargazer]

Tonight it was just OTT. It really was rediculou to cram what could have covered four or five episodes all into one. I thought His Lordship grabbing the maid and kissing her passionately was ridiculous as a few episodes back it was obvious that he still (unusually apparently) slept in the same bed with his wife, And it was nude, nudge, wink, wink to us gullible viewers. Arresting Bates was stupid. He wasn't even there when his wife took poison. The bedroom scene with Bates and his new wife in bed naked was just out of place in this particular drama. The Butlet looked far too bis for the bed he was balanced on. Lady Mary was a bit familiar being in his bedroom alone with him. Lavinia conveniently died just a short while after she had waltxed down the stairs surprise surprise just on cue to see and over hear the kiss and conversation between Mary and Matthew. There were about six different intriguing themes all mixed ip in this episode and it turned out to be laughable.

[Ann]

I agree stargazer - things moved so quickly it was plain stupid ....but I suppose it had us all fooled, many of us thought Cora would die, and Jane would announce she was pregnant with Lord Granthams child and lo and behold that child would become heir to Downton ......but it could still happen in the next series, mark my words I bet she is pregnant!

[NOX]

Things moving quickly is just to get to a plot point and to do with production costs- it's a drama not a documentary.

[Ann]

Too rushed though - not enough detail, not very good writing IMHO from Julian Fellowes!

[craft1948]

I haven't enjoyed it as much as the last series, but I will still watch the next series if only for the Dowagers punch lines..........

[TOWIE]

One thing that I found strange - when O'Brien was nursing Cora, Her Ladyship - she called for some more ice to bring her temperature down - I didn't think they had fridges or freezers, but kept food cool in large pantry cupboards - where would the ice have come from?

[BigDave44]

@ Towie - big houses had ice houses like this one at Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire.

http://www.ancientmon...ents/9776-307-800.jpg

[TOWIE]

Thanks BigDave - I didn't realise. (:o)