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If Miss Bunting finds aristocratic airs and privilege to be intolerable, then the proper solution would be for her to decline invitations to dine with them. Once she has accepted however, she has obligated herself to gracious behavior while she is in their home and eating their food. At the very least, if she feels compelled to express disagreement, she may register it politely, but not in an openly provocative manner which she knows will infuriate her host.
Rose keeps inviting Miss Bunting because her character likes living on the edge, stirring the pot, and the excitment of the drama. She is intoxicated by the thrill of experiencing the forbidden, just as she developed an attraction for the jazz singer, another forbidden fruit. Otherwise, her life is pretty boring. She can vicariously feel daring, rash behavior by watching Miss Bunting, while she must remain correct.
As a poor school teacher, how in the world was Miss Bunting able to get hold of an appropriate dinner dress?
In one of this episode's opening scenes, they were in the parlor and some topic (can't remember what) come up. Cora was seated and started to offer an opinion on it but Robert cut her off, then he turned to Tom and Mary as they entered and started discussing the land sale with them. The camera lingered on Cora and it looked like smoke was fairly coming out of her ears.
The Robert/Cora tension is probably my favorite story line of this season. I like it because it's believable, and in fact it's inevitable given their differing backgrounds and the changing times. They'll mend the relationship by the end of the season, of course, because there's a lot of love there. But I like watching it play out.
All the other current story lines are a little too melodramatic or stale for me, with one exception: Mrs. Patmore and the war memorial. I was very surprised at how diplomatically yet sincerely Robert comforted her. That was a nice scene.
No matter how long she's dealt with English custom, we've met her mom, and she didn't mince words. I don't think she'd have liked Miss Bunting much, but then she would have said so. But Cora is at the age when women start taking back, and having some interest in her views and just some conversation is going to be desired. And Richard is sinking into a poor me, the world's changing too fast mode.
I vote for Miss Bunting be fed to the farmer's pigs.
Also, does Isobel need to be at EVERY dinner?
I think Mary essentially screwed herself when she screwed Tony. Her being above it all attitude doesn't bode well when there are consequesces to her behavior. I think it has come to bite her in her high and almighty arse.
The "art issue" is getting tiresome. It seems relentless. Mr. Brinker's effusiveness is over the top especially when he is among the family.
I agree with those who thought the last episode was boring or unimpressive.
Isobel is family and an older relative. They took care of extended family in those homes. Isobel could just as easily live at Downton, as does her grandson.
The 'art issue' is probably a fairly standard form for taking advantage of opportunity. Brinker knows how to play his cards.
I don't think Mary's escapades will do her any harm. Chivalry is/was a two way practice. While a woman could expect a man to be chivalrous, there were certain reciprocities expected from women. A man would do as much harm to himself if he were to expose a well positioned Lady as the Lady would suffer from the exposure. It just wasn't done - or shouldn't be. Tony won't harm Mary as long as she doesn't harm Tony. That's probably a point where 'chivalry' fails today.
I didn't find the episode boring but find the entire season to be relaxed and enjoyable. This is re-runs for me. I take the episode as moving us on to the next point of interest in the continued drama...
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If Miss Bunting finds aristocratic airs and privilege to be intolerable, then the proper solution would be for her to decline invitations to dine with them. Once she has accepted however, she has obligated herself to gracious behavior while she is in their home and eating their food. At the very least, if she feels compelled to express disagreement, she may register it politely, but not in an openly provocative manner which she knows will infuriate her host.
Very true. Plotwise, it would make more sense if Tom would run into her at political functions and they actually seemed to like each other. That she's being continually invited to Downton for dinner by people who aren't Tom who've seen her in action stretches the imagination.
Last edited by fleetiebelle; 01-27-2015 at 10:38 AM..
Very true. Plotwise, it would make more sense if Tom would run into her at political functions. That she's being continually invited to Downton for dinner by people (not Tom) who've seen her in action stretches the imagination.
I would hardly call Tony's response to Mary refusal as chivalrous. He essentially threatened her. I was surprised to see her dutifully following him after she told him no.
During this time, children of aristocrats were mostly raised by nannies. I remember an early episode when Isobel made a comment about Violet spending time with her children, and Violet said, "Yes, but it was for an hour every day."
That seems to be the way that George and Sybbie are being raised. We see them ushered in by the nannies for their daily audience with the adults, except for Robert, who promptly leaves the room. They've been fed and dressed so the parents don't have to worry about mundane things like that. This is just the way they're used to raising children.
However, this certainly wasn't the way Tom was raised. I'd expect to see him spend more time with Sybbie, maybe taking walks to the village with her and Isis. The one hour a day visits seem out of character for a person with Tom's background.
I also wonder what Marigold's life would be like if she lived in the big house. I don't think Edith would be content with one hour a day. Edith seems to be a lot more interested in Marigold's life than Mary is with George's. A true aristocrat would be content with leaving the child in the hands of the nanny, but Elizabeth doesn't seem to want to leave everything up to Mrs. Drewe.
I would hardly call Tony's response to Mary refusal as chivalrous. He essentially threatened her. I was surprised to see her dutifully following him after she told him no.
Me too. I'm hoping that she was following him closer to the pond so that she could push him in! I'm also hoping that she finally accepted they other guy's proposal at dinner the night before -- didn't he suggest that there was a way to let Tony down easily?
What a contrast with the 2 couples -- both women being pursued by the men, in VERY different ways! The older generation scored big time in this episode!!
I wonder though -- what was the reason that Isobel turned down the doctor? Was it just that she was settled/satisfied with her solo life? Is there a way that she could accept this new proposal without hurting the doctor?
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