Downton Abbey - ITV1

I found it interesting that Head Butler (can't remember his name) told her that she was his favourite.
But maybe she was a charming child before she grew up to be a self important madam.

I did like her reaction (during the seduction scene) when Famuk said that HIS family wouldn't approve of HER..!
 
Don't know it for certain but I have a feeling that the lady's maid has some motivation for what she did in relation to Bates beyond simply being mean. She seems to be very protective, certainly as thick as thieves, with Thomas which seems strange. What's in it for her to get Bates booted out so that Thomas can be the valet? Maybe she just likes causing trouble.

I am disappointed that the Duke went so quickly. Had a thing for Charlie Cox since Stardust and the guy from Corrie is gorgeous too, would have enjoyed that a lot! Still never mind, there's still a gay character there so who knows what's going to happen with him!
 
One criticism tonight...oh well, two then.

1. Selective deafness - would the cook in a 1912 country house be familiar with this expression? I suspect not.

2. "I trained as nurse during the war". I was going to ask which war, but then dear PW mentioned the war in southern Africa later on. Would she really have trained for that? How old is she supposed to be? The war in Africa was less than 20 years beforehand. Wouldn't she have spent her time bringing up Dan and any siblings at the time? I realise that she's representing the "modern woman" with her ideas about the use of that new fangled adrenaline and whatnot but I doubt that she'd have been in South Africa with a 13 year old to look after and he's definitley a grammar school boy.
 
I thought earlier this episode that Sybil might end up being a bit Fingersmith and now that get up and the whole suffragette thing makes it even more believable.
 
The Duchess of Duke Street flipped her lid when two of her staff wanted to get married. She eventually let them marry and continue in her employment, but only after a couple of episodes of her standard unsympathetic, selfish beligerence.




I wondered about the timescale, too. I spotted the MAY poster, so we must be ploughing through 1913.


Watched eps. 3 and 4 last night, having got a bit behidn with it. It's really outstanding: ep.2 was a bit limp in comparison, but things have perked up a bit. Some outrageous scenestealing from Maggie Smith: her encounter with the swivel chair had Mrs Chuff and I in fits.
 
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