Downton Abbey

[hops&dreams]

Originally Posted by Family Fun Mom

I hope they finally expose O'Brian for the incident with "her Ladyship's soap." She is so rotten, I'd like to see her suffer some.

This!!

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[Deb in IA]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertai...downton-abbey/

Shirley MacLaine to Return to Downton Abbey

After a third season in which the popular PBS series “Downton Abbey” lost two of its main characters, PBS is announcing the return of a familiar face and several new ones.

Shirley MacLaine, who appeared earlier this season as Martha Levinson, the outspoken mother of Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), will return for Season 4.

New additions to the cast include Tom Cullen, whose Lord Gillingam is described as “an old family friend of the Crawleys,” and Harriet Walter, who takes on the part of Lady Shackleton, “an old friend of the Dowager.”

Season 4 of the British class drama will also introduce aristocrat Charles Blake, played by Julian Ovenden. New Zealand-born opera star Kiri Te Kanawa — a real-life dame — will also appear as a guest of the Crawley family.

This past season, the show saw the shocking departures of Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley, and Jessica Brown Findlay, who portrayed Lady Sybil.

Now it appears another familiar face may be leaving. Actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays housemaid Mrs. O’Brien, the character fans love to hate, will not be returning for the new season.

Finneran told the U.K.’s Daily Mirror last week, “I’m not doing any more, O’Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being — that was great to play.”

The fourth season will premiere in the U.K. next fall and in the U.S. the following winter.

[Handbag Lady]

I just fine it so odd that everyone likes/loves Edith.

Count me as a Mary. She was SO graceful during the Livania era. I don't know that I could have handled that as well as she did.

And did you all forget about Edith writing to the Turkish ambassador? Unforgiveable!

[RitaE]

Originally Posted by Deb in IA

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertai...downton-abbey/

Shirley MacLaine to Return to Downton Abbey

After a third season in which the popular PBS series “Downton Abbey” lost two of its main characters, PBS is announcing the return of a familiar face and several new ones.

Shirley MacLaine, who appeared earlier this season as Martha Levinson, the outspoken mother of Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), will return for Season 4.

New additions to the cast include Tom Cullen, whose Lord Gillingam is described as “an old family friend of the Crawleys,” and Harriet Walter, who takes on the part of Lady Shackleton, “an old friend of the Dowager.”

Season 4 of the British class drama will also introduce aristocrat Charles Blake, played by Julian Ovenden. New Zealand-born opera star Kiri Te Kanawa — a real-life dame — will also appear as a guest of the Crawley family.

This past season, the show saw the shocking departures of Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley, and Jessica Brown Findlay, who portrayed Lady Sybil.

Now it appears another familiar face may be leaving. Actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays housemaid Mrs. O’Brien, the character fans love to hate, will not be returning for the new season.

Finneran told the U.K.’s Daily Mirror last week, “I’m not doing any more, O’Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being — that was great to play.”

The fourth season will premiere in the U.K. next fall and in the U.S. the following winter.

Mrs. O'Brian???? Wait a minute - that hag was MARRIED?!

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by RitaE

Mrs. O'Brian???? Wait a minute - that hag was MARRIED?!

Certain of the "upper" servants are given the title "Mrs" as a sign of respect.

Though, I thought that she was Miss O'Brien (not sure that a Lady's Maid gets the term "Mrs").

[Deb in IA]

Originally Posted by crashbb

Certain of the "upper" servants are given the title "Mrs" as a sign of respect.

Though, I thought that she was Miss O'Brien (not sure that a Lady's Maid gets the term "Mrs").

May have been mis-quoted in the article - I too remember her being addressed as ""MISS O'Brien".

And I also recall that "Mrs. Hughes" was never actually married. When her old boyfriend showed up after his wife died and asked Mrs. Hughes to marry him, she explained that she became a "Mrs." for her age and station, but had never married.

[MomofKatie]

Originally Posted by Handbag Lady

I just fine it so odd that everyone likes/loves Edith.

Count me as a Mary. She was SO graceful during the Livania era. I don't know that I could have handled that as well as she did.

And did you all forget about Edith writing to the Turkish ambassador? Unforgiveable!

Mary gives as good as she gets in that relationship- she pretty much ruined Edith's chances with Sir Strallen (in season 1). Each has done pretty awful things to the other.

I like both of them for different reasons. Mary is the pretty one who has had to deal with scandal and bumps in the road to a happy marriage (at least until Matthew dies...). Edith is the sad middle child that is nobody's favorite, will probably end up a spinster, and seems to never catch a break in life.

[Lehuaann]

From what I understand there are 2 versions of the series - the one from UK and the other from PBS. Apparently PBS edited it for US viewing...

Now this is what's confusing - although the US DVDs state 'UK Version', I'm reading reviews that the DVDs are STILL edited versions.

Here's the versions I've watched so far - season 1 on Netflix, season 2 on Amazon Prime, and season 3 on PBS website.

Does anyone know where to get the real unedited versions and what specs I need to took look for?

Thank you!

[cabanafrau]

Originally Posted by Lehuaann

From what I understand there are 2 versions of the series - the one from UK and the other from PBS. Apparently PBS edited it for US viewing...

Now this is what's confusing - although the US DVDs state 'UK Version', I'm reading reviews that the DVDs are STILL edited versions.

Here's the versions I've watched so far - season 1 on Netflix, season 2 on Amazon Prime, and season 3 on PBS website.

Does anyone know where to get the real unedited versions and what specs I need to took look for?

Thank you!

I watched season 3 from the UK links early on in the thread. I noticed zero difference between that and any of the episodes broadcast on PBS that I saw. Maybe I missed something, but I don't really think so. If there was anything, it had to be minor, nothing relevant to plot.

[cabanafrau]

Originally Posted by Handbag Lady

I just fine it so odd that everyone likes/loves Edith.

Count me as a Mary. She was SO graceful during the Livania era. I don't know that I could have handled that as well as she did.

And did you all forget about Edith writing to the Turkish ambassador? Unforgiveable!

I know we're supposed to like Mary, but I just don't. I miss Sybill terribly. She was my favorite.

[Lehuaann]

Originally Posted by cabanafrau

I watched season 3 from the UK links early on in the thread. I noticed zero difference between that and any of the episodes broadcast on PBS that I saw. Maybe I missed something, but I don't really think so. If there was anything, it had to be minor, nothing relevant to plot.

I didn't realize there are UK links on this thread, thanks!

I'm trying to find the uncut UK versions on DVD so that I can give them to my mother. She only does TV/DVD - no computers, Netflix, Hulu, etc. But I want her to start with the right version.

[dvcfamily41801]

We just finished season 3 last night at 11:00 pm and what a mistake. I did not sleep at all thinking about it. I LOVED it. My husband watched all 3 seasons earlier in February when recovering from surgery. I had an interest in watching and he said how amazing it was and he would watch it again. So we started season 1 and my 13 year old son and I were hooked. It took us not quite 2 weeks to watch all seasons and now we are just stunned. I can't wait to go back and read the entire thread. After I finish crying. And then we will start over with season 1 I think!!

[Janina47]

Love love Downton Abbey!!!