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Downton Abbey’ recap: The season finale
The Washington Post ^ | 2-24-14 | Joe Heim

Posted on 02/24/2014 9:50:46 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic

Wait, did the season finale of “Downton” leave us with more questions than it answered?

Here’s what we still don’t know:

Did Bates kill Green? Will Mary choose Blake or Gillingham or Napier? (Okay, probably not Napier). Will Edith ever locate Michael Gregson? What dirt does Barrow have on Baxter? (And, related, why do the names of so many characters on “Downton” begin with B? Bates, Blake, Barrow, Baxter, Bunting, Branson, Braithwaite. I’m out of breath).

I doubt the last question will be answered and it looks like we’ll have to wait for next season to find out about the others.

Until then, I hope this scientific analysis of this season’s final episode will suffice.

It’s mid-summer 1923 and London is sinking under the weight of toffs, all in town for debutante season. Our friends from Downton Abbey are here for the presentation of ditzy Rose to the king and queen and for her debutante ball.

It’s not just Americans who think this is a strange ritual. “Seems odd to me that a curtsy and a nod from the throne turns a girl into a woman, but that’s the way they do it so who are we to argue,” says Mrs. Hughes.

There’s not quite as much room in the Granthams’ ramshackle London digs, so they are “squeezed in like sardines,” as Rose puts it. Poor dears. Cora says that there may have to be some doubling up to which Mary responds: “I’d rather sleep on the roof than share with Edith.” That seems a bit mean, but would you want to share a room with Edith?

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: downtonabbey; drama; fiction
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To: LibWhacker

I quite enjoy the show, but inevitably it is compared to “Upstairs: Downstairs” and comes up short in the humor department.


21 posted on 02/24/2014 11:53:54 AM PST by Churchillspirit (9/11/2001 and 9/11/2012: NEVER FORGET.)
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To: SkyDancer
Sort of disagree..to some extent. I've been a fan of the show from the beginning..but I think that this season it may have jumped the shark. It's devolving into a soap opera.

The writer/creator..Julian Fellowes.. was obviously caught way off guard by Dan Stevens' ( Matthew Crawley) last minute decision to walk away from the show..they had to kill him off in the car accident the last episode...and he hasn't been able to refocus the show since.

There are far too many characters, and far too many plot lines..they all can't be developed, let alone followed.

This season's ls scene..with Carson and Hughes holding hands in the surf, was really awful..not the fact that they finally connected, but the complete lack of drama..no high note....where's the excitement for next season????..are we to hold our collective breath till next season to see if they do in fact "hook up?"..I mean..there was NO Viagara in 1923..

The "big" story of the last episode, saving ( for a while) the reputation of the Duke of Windsor, was easy peasy TV..we all know how THAT turned out...and without all the cute references to "he'll do it again, no doubt."

There were so many ongoing subplots that could have been developed, instead of the Windsor thing...and still have the ball scene..

You have to remember..one guy has been writing all of this...he may just be worn out...

BTW...take a look at a few pics of Phyllis Logan ( Mrs. Hughes) Utterly amazing make-up job....

Penelope Wilton, IMHO, steals the show...especially the way she plays off/with Maggie Smith. ( Smith can't steal anything..she owns it)

Given the age of many of the stars, actuarial tables suggest that one, or might, might depart this mortal coil and leave the writer in an even bigger quandry..

22 posted on 02/24/2014 12:14:18 PM PST by ken5050 (I fear a world run by adults who were never spanked as kids and got trophies just for participating)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
They really blew by Edith's pregnancy and Bates' possible murder of Anna's rapist. Maybe they will revisit but I suspect those plot lines may go the way of the distant relative(heir to Downton) that went down with the Titanic.
23 posted on 02/24/2014 12:14:45 PM PST by Cyman (We have to pass it to see what's in it= definition of stool sample)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Bates snuffed Greene
Mary will choose Blake
Gregson was detained by the Brownshirts, years before Hitler
Barrow has nothing

Un asked....
Which of the two sisters will marry Tom Branson.
What is Ms Bunting’s religion?


24 posted on 02/24/2014 12:22:59 PM PST by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Did Bates kill Green?

The evidence we've seen strongly...*very* strongly...suggests that he did.And there can be little doubt that Lady Mary thinks he did.But because of Bates's "outstanding service" to the family she chose to burn that train ticket rather than contact the police,which she seemed determined to due for a short time.

25 posted on 02/24/2014 1:22:48 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Stalin Blamed The Kulaks,Obama Blames The Tea Party)
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To: Cyman
They really blew by Edith's pregnancy and Bates' possible murder of Anna's rapist. Maybe they will revisit...

At some point they'll pretty much have to revisit both matters.And as for Bates I'd say "*very* probable murder".

26 posted on 02/24/2014 1:26:10 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Stalin Blamed The Kulaks,Obama Blames The Tea Party)
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To: Churchillspirit
I quite enjoy the show, but inevitably it is compared to “Upstairs: Downstairs” and comes up short in the humor department.

Of course it will be compared to Upstairs/Downstairs.Although the quality of the episodes for U/D was uneven it's best episodes were far superior in every way but technically to Downton,excellent though it is.Downton is outstanding,U/D is classic.

27 posted on 02/24/2014 1:34:43 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Stalin Blamed The Kulaks,Obama Blames The Tea Party)
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To: SkyDancer
BTW, what happened to his hand that was injured to the point he couldn’t use it.

He always wears a flesh-colored brace on the hand (in the show).

28 posted on 02/24/2014 2:30:39 PM PST by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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To: diamond6

Yes, they fast forwarded 8 months. They mentioned it briefly at the very beginning.(”Lady Edith spent 8 months in Switzerland, but she looks so tired...”) and (”It is considered better for the child if the mother weans the baby before it is adopted...”)


29 posted on 02/24/2014 2:53:44 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Tijeras_Slim

So only Aunt Rosalind (who I think has really shined in the previous episodes) and granny know of the child?


30 posted on 02/24/2014 2:57:00 PM PST by diamond6 (Behold this Heart which has so loved men!" Jesus to St. Margaret Mary)
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To: SkyDancer

Not a good enough comeuppance, IMO. Thomas needs to be fired.


31 posted on 02/24/2014 3:06:01 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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To: diamond6

Yes.


32 posted on 02/24/2014 3:16:30 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Not sure. In a perverted sort of way I like him. He’s evil, snarky and sinister. I have a feeling he will get his due where he’ll be out on the street with no references; which in those days was pretty much a career ender.


33 posted on 02/24/2014 3:20:34 PM PST by SkyDancer (I Believe In The Law Until It Intereferes With Justice.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Bfl


34 posted on 02/24/2014 4:17:41 PM PST by katykelly
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To: katykelly

The Brits, got to love them. Well except that 8 shows + 1 special Epi. is considered a season, rather pathetic.


35 posted on 02/24/2014 6:59:51 PM PST by DAC21
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