Downton Abbey

[phorsenuf]

Again I don't think that at all - he had no idea why Anna turned away from him and then he overheard her talking to Mrs. Hughes and knew something horrific happened to her. If that was your spouse or child don't tell me you wouldn't resort to "bully" tactics to find out what happened to them!! And I'm sure even had he not been so forceful she would have eventually told him. Bates, Anna and Mrs. Hughes aren't the bad guys here! The rapist is. I think - for the time period - Bates not placing any blame or shame on Anna is very modern day! His rage and want for revenge is very normal in any era.

I have to agree. You are looking at the situation in modern day terms and you can't. You have to put yourself back into that time period and that's how it was.

 

[DWGal210]

And was that a doctor's office she went to in London, instead of where she said she was going? Maybe she's the one who's pregnant, when I thought it was going to be Anna.

OOH I didn't catch that!! I bet you're right.

 

[TinkerBelled]

I have to agree. You are looking at the situation in modern day terms and you can't. You have to put yourself back into that time period and that's how it was.

I guess I'll try to answer this another way. I can't think of a single other marriage on the show where the wife would keep something a secret because she's worried that the husband will go out and murder someone. It's not about the time, it's about his character operating in the time.

I'm not, for instance, incensed that Lord Grantham patronizes his daughter. That seems in keeping with his position in the time. I was also not taken aback that everyone seemed just a tiny bit racist when Rose danced with Jack. Sexism and racism are different in today's mind than in the 1920s. I understand and accept this. But I do think that being such a vengeful and violent man that your wife sublimates her own trauma over fear of your reaction has everything to do with Bates as a character and very little to do with the 1920s as a time.

PS: Edith is def-o pregnant.

 

[Jenn]

Wouldn't be surprised if Edith was pregnant, also wouldn't shock me if her beau was actually "happily" married and dumps her.

But my complaint would be - 3 single/widowed parents in one household in that day and age? Seems unlikely. Doesn't anyone get married, have kids, and live their lives?

 

[mjkacmom]

I guess I'll try to answer this another way. I can't think of a single other marriage on the show where the wife would keep something a secret because she's worried that the husband will go out and murder someone. It's not about the time, it's about his character operating in the time.

I'm not, for instance, incensed that Lord Grantham patronizes his daughter. That seems in keeping with his position in the time. I was also not taken aback that everyone seemed just a tiny bit racist when Rose danced with Jack. Sexism and racism are different in today's mind than in the 1920s. I understand and accept this. But I do think that being such a vengeful and violent man that your wife sublimates her own trauma over fear of your reaction has everything to do with Bates as a character and very little to do with the 1920s as a time.

PS: Edith is def-o pregnant.

I like the fact that his character is flawed - it seems most of the likeable characters in DA are also. He has a violent temper (that he seems to keep in check, except towards people who hurt him or his family).

 

[Laura66]

I am willing to bet it all - that even Anna wasn't afraid that Bates wound seek revenge she still would not have told him. Back then - and still today - women often feel it's their fault, they feel "dirty" and ashamed. She said as much several times. Society usually felt the same then - and even now!
And although rape is the most horrific and horrible thing to happen to the actual victim of the assault - everyone who is a part of their life is also a victim. I think - even if it seems we are focused on how Bates deals with Anna's rape - it's an interesting and valid story line!

 

[TinkerBelled]

I am willing to bet it all - that even Anna wasn't afraid that Bates wound seek revenge she still would not have told him. Back then - and still today - women often feel it's their fault, they feel "dirty" and ashamed. She said as much several times. Society usually felt the same then - and even now!
And although rape is the most horrific and horrible thing to happen to the actual victim of the assault - everyone who is a part of their life is also a victim. I think - even if it seems we are focused on how Bates deals with Anna's rape - it's an interesting and valid story line!

I think we can agree on your first point...and I think it would make a very interesting storyline!

 

[TinkerBelled]

I don't know how many of you watch via itunes or enjoy binge watching, but if you have a season pass and you do, you can download the rest of the season starting right now.

 

[figment52]

I don't know how many of you watch via itunes or enjoy binge watching, but if you have a season pass and you do, you can download the rest of the season starting right now.

I had preordered Season 4 from Amazon and it arrived yesterday. I watched the rest of the season last night.

 

[rigs32]

On a more meta level, my complaint is with Julian Fellows. Anna's rape has really not been about her, but about those around her. It's been about giving other characters growth, not her. Basically, I think the writers had Anna raped to give her husband a storyline, and that grosses me out a bit.

This. 100% this.

This is what happens when many male writers tackle sexual assault. There's a weird disconnect because their experience of sexuality is so fundamentally different.

I threw the first dragon tattoo book across the room. I stopped watching Game of Thrones. And I even had to take a break from Downton because I was upset with the lack of empathy in the way it was handled.

 

[Planogirl]

Truthfully, there wasn't much to say about Anna up to this point because she internalized it completely. I'll be interested to see how they deal with her situation going forward.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I too love Bates personality. He loves and dotes on his wife. He was infuriated with "whats his name". Who wouldn't be?? Bates is intense and kind to those who are the same. He sees right through Thomas and Ms. O"Brien. They are terrible. But this is one reason we are all talking about the show. Killing off Sybel then Mathew was AWFUL but both (real life) wanted out. I can't wait to see what is up with Michael!! That is the mystery of this season. Rose is the wild card and wish she would go to India with Susan. Oh you can bet Bates "deals" with Annas' rapist.

 

[goofinoff]

Anyone watch last night? I loved the moment between Tom, Mary and Isobel when they were remembering their loves. I thought it was sweet.

 

[hops&dreams]

I did. By that point, the big game was unbearable!

I liked that moment too. I think it was nice for Isobel to hear how deeply her son was loved. It was a good moment for the 3 of them, but it was good to see the relationship between Mary and Isobel directly.

I also loved the "oh crap!" look on Robert's face when he walked in and saw the band, more specifically the band leader. And to see how kind Cora was to Anna and Bates.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[goofinoff]

I did. By that point, the big game was unbearable!

I liked that moment too. I think it was nice for Isobel to hear how deeply her son was loved. It was a good moment for the 3 of them, but it was good to see the relationship between Mary and Isobel directly.

I also loved the "oh crap!" look on Robert's face when he walked in and saw the band, more specifically the band leader. And to see how kind Cora was to Anna and Bates.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yes! All of this! I was flipping between the game and Downton. I missed when Bates and Anna first got to the restaurant. Were they not going to be seated because they were "servants'?

 

[U2_rocks!]

Yes! All of this! I was flipping between the game and Downton. I missed when Bates and Anna first got to the restaurant. Were they not going to be seated because they were "servants'?

Yes - the uppity Maitre d' told them there must have been some mistake, there was no reservation in their name. He would have been able to tell right away from their dress and accents that they were not of the sort of class he thought was fitting for the restaurant. I was so glad Cora put him in his place!

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm struggling to really dig into this season & I think it's because for me the storyline isn't flowing very organically. From the beginning the show has carried the overarching idea that the times were changing very rapidly and it was taking down these estates almost like a ship sinking after it was hit by an iceberg, yet we were experiencing it through the lives and times of the stories of these characters. This season I kind of feel like I see the writers' storyboard outlines & I'm having a hard time caring about the people because I'm focused on the diagram of how the writers are trying to get me to feel A, then B, then C about grief and loss, racism, sexual assault, etc, etc.

The scene with Tom, Isobel and Mary seemed so contrived somehow that I couldn't enjoy a plotline that I should have, because all I could see was the writers' machinations to try to put the three alone together to have a conversation about the issue they all have in common. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky, but I'm just not feeling the same way.

 

[nemofans]

It was a fairly boring episode. We pretty much knew Edith is pregnant. Rose kissing the singer wasn't a shocker either. The family all handled the surprise of the band well, even Cora. Tom, Mary, & Isobel was a nice moment since they have so much in common. I hope Isobel has changed Tom's mind about leaving.
I guess now Thomas will find out what happened to Anna & cause trouble. Most likely in the form of telling Bates it was the valet so Bates kills him & goes to prison.

 

[hops&dreams]

Anyone watch last night?

my few thoughts:
Loved seeing Mary out in some hard work. thought it was hilarious that she didn't know Ivy's name. I was surprised she even could do the scrambled eggs.

Edith - does she not have a good relationship with her parents? I mean, Mary felt ok enough to ask Cora for help when she needed it with the whole Pamuk business. Sybil turned to her parents when she and Tom ran into trouble. Does Edith not feel the same way about her parents?

Rose - omg, she's out of control! That little tantrum she threw when they were leaving London early?!? I'm rather surprised no one slapped her!

Ivy - she's rather fickle, isn't she? Poor Daisy! Loved last episode when Daisy told Ivy off, and Ivy turned to Mrs. Patmore and Mrs. Hughes saying "I don't know what that was about" and Mrs. Hughes responds with something like "you had it coming!"

I was also thinking this morning... the suitors are really stacking up for Mary... Gillingham, Napier, and now Blake. Poor Edith - just Mr. Gregson, who's married and now missing!

And I like Rosamund much more after this episode! She's shown her softer side.

Can't wait to see what Bates does with the info he got at the very end of this episode!

 

[minkydog]

I imagine that Edith is acting very much in character for the time. Being the middle child, she has not received the kind of adulation from her parents that her older and younger sisters received. At the moment she is merely the unmarried adult daughter, aka spinster, of the family. She knows her reputation will be utterly ruined by this pregnancy, let alone her seeing a married man. She is probably very aware of her sisters' former missteps and would hope to avoid further disgracing the family. I wouldn't be surprised if she "goes abroad" for the next several months, similar to what lots of normal unmarried American women did even up to the 1970s to save face for their families and themselves. I am glad, however, that she did not go along with the abortion. We'll just have to see how the whole pregnancy pans out. I'm wondering if her suitor is somehow caught up in Hitler's rise to power, perhaps being recruited as a spy against England. If he can be found early enough, perhaps she can be wisked away to be with him in Germany without anyone knowing.

Did you see the look that passed between Anna's rapist and Bates? Given that several of the downstairs staff know about it, I'd say it's only a matter of time before that door blows wide open.