Posted on 01/07/2012 5:12:32 PM PST by randita
Program: Masterpiece Episode: Downton Abbey 2: The Critics Can't Stop Talking
The critics can't stop talking about Downton Abbey season 2 on MASTERPIECE! Watch the season premiere, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 at 9/8C. See why USA Today's Robert Bianco said "Lightning can strike twice" and US Weekly declared "With six Emmys and an endorsement from Will and Kate, the delicious period drama returns, and is even more grandly addictive."
Duration: (1:00) Premiere Date: 01/08/2012 Episode Expires: Never TV Rating: NR
Speaking of the actors, did you ever see this:
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Mansfield_Park/60000480?trkid=4428686
Hugh Bonneville plays a buffoon in it, convincingly, but it’s like night and day from Lord Grantham.
Also, I think it’s interesting to see some of the characters “glammed up”.
Like so:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3882295/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1890784/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0296219/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0630149/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1405398/ (Ralph Feinnes?)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1142271/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3018580/
For more, just go here and click on the characters listed at the bottom:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/
Michelle Dockery is outstanding and has really come to the fore during the past two weeks.
She has the stoic demeanor, but there is just the tiniest nuance of pain that comes through in her eyes and tightness of lips. Only those who knew her best would be able to pick that up (and of course it’s conveyed to the camera for us to see).
There was a comment last night to Mary from one of the help (can’t recall who said it) about “you people know how to hide your feelings - we don’t”.
The relationship between Sybil and the driver intrigues me. She was the first of the sisters to break the mold, yet she is so resistant to embracing a relationship with him. So she still has a foot in the old ways that she can’t release.
I was going to get a lot done this morning, and here I sit....following all your links in #81 to see what the cast members look like in the real world....then following links in the links, then following links in the links in the links, then following.......someone helpppppppppppppme......
Leni
I beg your pardon, my lady. I hope you tore yourself away eventually and managed to salvage some of the day.
I’m toying with the idea of watching Season ! all over again. A week is too long to wait for a “fix”.
So what do we think about Patrick? Seems like a faker to me.
The Patrick twist was very bizarre. It made me uncomfortable and I don’t really know why. Edith seemed convinced and Lord and Lady Grantham at least tried keeping an open mind. The others weren’t convinced at all, but maybe they didn’t want to be. No idea where this story will go, but I don’t think it’s over.
Who killed Mrs. Bates? Mr. Bates got injured during his time in London. My hunch: Mrs. Bates got offed by the newspaper guy because she threatened to spill her story to a competitor and demanded more money from him. Mr. Bates will be framed. Remember, Carlisle and Bates rode together to the train so Calisle knew Bates would be with in London visiting his wife. Also Carlisle was late coming back, arriving with Lavinia after dinner was over.
Well know we know that Matthew will recover at least somewhat, so that question has been put to rest.
What did Carlisle do to get Lavinia back in the picture? He must have offered her a tidy sum. Were his threats to Mary a foreshadowing of what is to come? He is a ruthless man, for sure. If they do marry and end up in that monstrosity of a house with Carson there and Carlisle pulls any stunts, I can’t imagine Carson will stand for it. He is like a second father to Mary.
At least the drama of Matthew's impotence has been handled with restraint and delicacy by the writer of the series making it quite believable.
Last night was chock full of enjoyment, from Super Bowl touchdowns to Super-Series Downton. In my area, a documentary on Queen Elizabeth from her early Princesshood through her courtship with Phillip and their marriage followed Abbey. It had film clips I hadn't seen before....and it was a delightful precursor to the upcoming celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on the throne.
Rule Britannia!....LOL.
Leni
Some thoughts from last night: I switched to the last three minutes of the SB and had to go back and watch the rest of D. A. later..so it was a little confusing for my TV addled brain last night.
But here are some observations:
I hated the Patrick thing too. Julian needs to be careful that he doesn’t lapse into silliness of which he teeters on the brink of sometimes.
Patrick is wretched and needs to to away.
Butthe hand gesture to the mouth that Lord G. commented on has peaked some interest.
P. could still be an fraud if a friend on the Titanic noticed this mannerism and copied it for imposter effect!
don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.
What’s with the maid and Granthom? Cora has been distracted and this opens the way for something to happen here.
Will Bates go to trial for Vera’s murder? He has a wound on his face..not good.
Who killed her? I think it was Richard, Mary’s fiance. V. went back on her promise to go away after he paid her off. He couldn’t have his new wife’s rep. sullied.
Daisy is so noble to not take William’s pension. Shirley needs money for her baby...hmmmm.
What’s with Cora being sick next week? Looks like O’Brien is going to spew about the soap and offing of the heir. Maybe she thinks Cora is dying. But if Cora pulls through and O’B. has confessed, she’s gonna be in deep doo doo.
Anyone else have some insights/predictions from last night? It’s fun to just ask the questions too and leave ‘em out there to ponder.
Namely, I read that he's writing actress Shirley MacLaine, 78, into next season's series as Cora's American mother.
MacLaine, of course, is notable for being waaaaaay into New Age spirituality, the occult, reincarnation and the like. Her best friend is left-wing actress/singer, Barbra Streisand. She is godmother to the daughter of flake left-wing congressman, Dennis Kucinich. She was fundraiser and organizer for the presidential campaign of the left-wing George McGovern.
'Nuff said.
I'm getting a headache just thinking of her presence polluting the aura of Downton Abbey.
Leni
Shirley MacLaine is a moonbat, for sure, BUT she is a terrific actress and if you can forget her personal life, just imagine all the humor that could be derived from her going toe to toe with Violet. That could be an absolute hoot.
Yes, Lord Grantham and the exchanges with the maid were quite interesting.
I hope there’s a very good reason for the Patrick twist because it was just so out there. If it leads to more intrigue and down the path of more twists and surprises, then it could be good.
We could find out by searching British message boards on the topic as they’ve already seen the full season over there, but I’m not going to and don’t you dare either. :)
Found an interesting blog on the cast of DA and pics of them out of their characters’ costumes and make up. Look for Mrs. Hughes!
http://www.papermag.com/2012/02/downton_abbey_stars_out_of_cos.php
Great! Thanks so much. Some of them don’t look all that different, but Mrs. Hughes-wow. I would never have guessed. O’Brien as well.
wait, what?
Where can I get pix of O’Brien and Hughes? Waiting with “Bated” breath.
Sorry. See Post 91 for the link.
Got it. thanks.
I can’t find O’Brien or Mrs. Hughes though so if you have those, please send me the link. Thanks. MM
I just went to the link and I saw Hughes and O’Brien. Strange.
I would post the photos, but I’m away from my normal base of operations and have minimal internet signal so can’t upload photos.
Check again. The photos should be there. I just saw them.
I guess I just have this weakness for smouldering Irish actors with British accents, LOL.
I wonder if that's his baby in real life....he sure looks proud.
Counting the hours till tomorrow night.
Thanks for the wonderful (and illuminating) post.
Leni
Leni
LOVED last night’s episode. Even got hubby hooked on it.
Sybil’s gonna do it. Good for her.
Lavinia dying was sure a surprise. I thought she’d be dispatched in some way or another, but not that way. She became so dispirited after seeing Matthew and Mary dancing and smooching.
Anna/Bates’ wedding kind of got short shrift. Wish we’d seen more of that. The fact that they got married so quickly after Mrs. Bates died will raise the suspicions all the more. I still think Carlysle offed Mrs. Bates - through a hit man probably.
Thomas is just moving right in and taking over. He got just desserts with his black market venture.
Ethel and the baby - what will happen there? Hughes was right in that the grandmother would have the soft spot. I wonder if eventually Lord Grantham will be talked into hiring Ethel back - maybe in place of Freddy’s Mom (forget name) who just resigned. I hope so. Ethel added a little spice to the mix and hopefully she has been sufficiently chastened to be good.
O’Brien almost apologized. That would have been choice. Wonder what would have happened to her if she had gotten the words out.
Was anything said about Patrick? If so, I missed it entirely.
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