For the Downton Abbey Junkies out there

[KayLR]

+1 with bUU...even if it is melodramatic, it sure is better than most anything else on the tube these days. Just how much Law & Order/CSI-type shows do we really need?

And as for the violence of this episode, there was no gratuitous, graphic depiction (as seen every single night on network crime dramas). I thought the co-incidence of the assault at the very same time as the singing performance made it all the more riveting.

This type of thing purportedly DID actually happen to women in service, so why shouldn't it be depicted? Everyone loves Anna, so we hate to see it happen to her, but, I guess sh#t happened in those days, too.

[CathyA]

Spoiler........................




The thing I'll be upset about is if Anna keeps it from Bates for months (after she's probably pregnant from the other guy), and their relationship will no longer be a happy one. I really liked their relationship. If it happens....its the same thing that happens in U.S. soaps....and that's no one can be happy for more than a short time. We'll see.

[CeciliaW]

Someone mentioned up thread that part about Mary ignoring her child. I realized that I thought that was normal for any woman with money who could afford to hire a nanny. Maybe I've watched too many stories about Royalty or what not. Do you remember when they made such a Fuss over Diana actually playing with and holding her own children? Likely just another odd stereotype.

[Gingerella72]

I don't remember which episode it was in in season 3, but the Lady Dowager (Maggie Smith) said something to the effect of only seeing her children for tea time everyday when they were growing up, the rest of the time was spent with nannies and tutors/governess (and she didn't think anything odd about it). I think that was the typical way the rich/nobility raised their kids in those days, so for Downton to depict Mary as hardly ever being seen with her child isn't far-fetched. Although with how rapidly the world and social mores around them was changing, I wouldn't be surprised if in later episodes we begin to see Mary take a more hands-on role in raising her son. At least I hope so.

As for Anna......rape was probably far more common than history records and while it isn't much better for women now, it was practically a death sentence for a woman to report it then. Even if the man was caught, the woman would have lost her position with no reference, no matter how unfair it was.

As "authentic" as they try to be, it is a modern show set in a past era, and I think the storylines reflect that. Playing to modern audiences, I think they play pretty fast and loose with how tolerant the family and butler/housekeeper are of certain situations. In real life, there is no way that Thomas, a homosexual man, would have been allowed to keep his position after he was inadvertantly outed. I doubt that Bates, even after being exonerated, would have been allowed his old position back, because of the scandal and notoriety he would have brought upon the family. And I doubt even that Lady Sybil would have been forgiven for marrying a member of the servant staff as quickly and "painlessly" as she was in the show.

[CathyA]

That's all probably true Gingerella. And I doubt the aristocrats would have ever had all that mingling with the "downstairs" help. In DA, they even all attended the same ball/party. I really doubt something like that ever would have happened.

[IshbelRobertson]

The more elevated strata of the aristocracy often held Servants Balls. Indeed the Royals still hold such balls at Balmoral.

[CathyA]

Hmmm.....I didn't know that. Maybe the richer they are, the less "threatened" they are to mix and mingle?

[IshbelRobertson]

Oh, I think they expected the ghillies, beaters and household staff were expected to know their place.

Here's a more recent report
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...iban-bomb.html

[Tiam]

That's all probably true Gingerella. And I doubt the aristocrats would have ever had all that mingling with the "downstairs" help. In DA, they even all attended the same ball/party. I really doubt something like that ever would have happened.

I notice that one of the things they focus on a lot in DA is how the social class is continuing to change after the war. All these bits that are including in the show are ways of showing the gradual change to society and social classes. Historically it's accurate. Prewar, it probably wouldn't have happened, but post war, bit by bit, things started to change.

[Lainey]

okay, discussing this week's show, so please don't read if you haven't seen it yet:


well, looks like our Mr. Bates did the right thing by Anna, as we thought he would. Although he says "it's not over" so we know some sort of revenge is in the works.
And suitor No. 2 has shown up for Mary. But her sister visiting the doctor's office? a mystery there.