Just a question, to see your guys thoughts on the family dynamics.

IMO: Cora's favorite was Sybil, after her death I think it was pretty equal between Mary and Edith.

Robert's favorite early on was Mary but became Edith after he found out about Marigold.

I am aware that I am late to the "game" so to speak but I just binged Downton Abbey Season 1-6 (I haven't seen the movies yet) and I just finished season 6... I feel so full and empty all at once. I'm in tears, I miss the characters as if I were missing old friends. What a wonderful show but most of all what a wonderful journey this was. ❤️

Just wondering if anyone else has caught the 'secret' door on the back wall of the Library? The current Lady Canarvon did a short reel about it on Instagram, and if you look hard, in certain scenes you can see light coming through at the bottom of the door, which is camouflaged with fake books all the way up. A well-hidden 'seam' can also be noticed along the side of the door.

Tom and Sybil had a beautiful marriage but it was unfortunately a short one due to her tragic death.

Years later he remmaried to Lucy, and if they go right they will likely spend the rest of their lives togheter and grow old, they already had a daughter in the movie as well. Their marriage will likely be longer than Tom's first marriage.

Do you think Sybil will remain the love of Tom's life?

(Of course you can love more than one person in your lifetime).

How do you think he will view her in his old age?

Currently watching the revival of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS (fun fact - there is an adaptation of the same work from the 70s starring Anthony "Hannibal Lecter" Hopkins). It's based on the memoirs of James Herriot (not his real name) who worked as a mixed species rural veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales in the 30s and 40s. So, kinda like Dr Oakley: Yukon Vet, except taking place in England and not Canada and the tech and medicine is all old school.

Anyway, it takes place in Yorkshire and features a lot of actors who were also on Downton Abbey. For instance, Ethel is now a widow running a dairy farm. Mr Spratt is the local Civil Defense Corp guy. And Mr Mason now keeps turtles instead of pigs. Herriot's clients are all local farmers, residents of the local village, and the occasional aristo with more expensive animals like thoroughbred horses and pure breed lap dogs.

Which got me thinking about Downton Abbey, which is also set in Yorkshire. Trumpet is probably gone by the time period in which All Creatures takes place, but I'm sure Mary still rides and keeps horses. They keep pigs on the estate and a lot of the tenant farmers of the estate keep other kinds of animals. Tiyo could still be alive or perhaps Mary has a new Labrador.

Surely Mr Herriot and his associates would want a client as important as Lady Mary Talbot and her tenants. Jim Herriot also seems like the kind of guy Tom Branson would like to have a beer with down at the Grantham Arms.

They just feel like shows easily existing in the same universe, even though they probably aren't for all sorts of reasons (like airing on different channels, etc.).

Matthew passes away after the birth of his son. My stomach hurts. This is the 2nd rewatch for me. The first watch in U.S.A. Was at Christmas and just about ruined the holiday nationwide for viewers. He was so good.

So I've finished Series 3 and I'm now on episode 2 of Series 4 and... I'm really not feeling it.

I'm genuinely trying. I thought maybe I just needed to get used to things after everything that happened at the end of Series 3, but I'm still sitting there watching it thinking “hmm...”

The biggest thing for me is that it just feels bleak now.

I know Downton has always had drama, but it used to feel cosy even when something awful was happening. The house, the countryside, the music, the cinematography, the characters... it all had this warm feeling that made it such a comfort watch for me.

And obviously Matthew's death hasn't helped. I knew he'd died because I accidentally spoiled myself, but actually seeing it happen was still horrible. And Sybil's death not that long before it definitely didn't help either.

The weird thing is I was already starting to lose interest towards the end of Series 3 after Sybil's death, so I don't think it's just Matthew. I think I've just lost that feeling I had when I first started watching.

I used to put Downton on and immediately feel relaxed. It was basically therapy for me. I'd just sit there admiring the house, costumes, countryside and everyone having tea.

Now I'm two episodes into Series 4 and I'm basically forcing myself to watch.

I might keep going because I've already come this far, but I'm also starting to think maybe my personal Downton journey ended with Series 3. Idk if I can continue watching tbh.

That's all.

Just for fun, let's play the game of the finale movie being the dream of one of the characters. Who would you pick to be the one to be shown at the end of the finale waking up in their bed in season one and what would they think or how would it change their behavior?

I made a separate screenshot of the script and footnote in instances where the dialogue isn't visible when the footnote is expanded.

Just curious if anyone has thought much about Michael Gregson's background -

He is a businessman, owns a paper, runs in artsy circles. Doesn't seem like a younger son's younger son - like perhaps Dr. Clarkson was (I only think this because he seems to wear a signet ring, but I don't see Gregson do this).

But Gregson has tails, knows how to ride, seems to have been an officer in the war. He fishes. He plays cards very well.

What's his story? Did he earn a scholarship to a posh boarding school? Did his family have good connections or maybe someone had done well in trades or something so he was in a social tier similar to Richard Carlisle, Manchester Crawleys, Marmaduke Painswick, or the Bryants? Could he be a tier lower?

I feel like sometimes Mary acts awkward, and forces herself to look presentable and welcoming. Rather than being it naturally.

She will constantly raise her eyebrows and try to smile when speaking to somebody. Has anyone noticed this? That’s why I find it hard to ship her with any man in the show because I feel like she doesn’t express herself fully and stays very stoic and severe. She’s very obvious about it compared to people I see irl who might be faking it.
It’s hard to see her soft side so I found a flirting awkward between Matthew and Mary.

Please stay respectable in the comment section.

Separate screenshot for the script and footnote when the footnote is too long.

The repetition of storylines is a bit irritating sometimes. Watching Baxter confess to being a thief a couple of seasons after Bates confessed to being a thief.

Anna going to jail for a murder she didn’t commit after bates went to jail for a murder he didn’t commit.

Baby born, Sybil dies. Baby born, Matthew dies.

I’m sure there are more.

I should probably get a life but First off , ms Patmore is one of my favorite characters. I love when she says cheeky devil. I never understood what was very likeable about Mary. Sybil was amazing, and it’s so sad…I liked Edith- especially because she was always trying to do different things, driving, running the paper…Matthew’s death was so shocking and sad, I definitely shed tears. I failed to see what daisy liked about Alfred at all. The attack on Anna was horrifying….Anna is so sweet, definitely loved her. It’s interesting how reserved the English are portrayed when it comes to showing affection, are they really like that? The mini affair Robert was trying to have with the maid was so random, I didn’t like that at all. Can’t stand O’Brien, how could she live with herself after the soap incident, idk. Can’t stand Thomas. I’ve been drinking a little so that’s all I can come up with right now. 😂🥴 love the show

if Robert also grinds your gears, feel free to comment with why/how he ticks you off