Let's talk about: Downton Abbey Season Three

I wanted to sit down after having finished season three of Downton Abbey with my mom and do an overview of the season much like I did with season two. 

But I can hardly bring myself to do it.

Why?

Because although there were so many things that happened this season (good and bad) they are all overshadowed by the two events that broke my heart!

*Major Spoilers Ahead*

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At this point in the show I had exactly two main favorite characters. 

There were a lot of characters I loved (and still do) but two that I just adored. 

Sybil and Matthew.

Let's talk about Sybil. 

Sybil is the most beautiful (in my opinion), kind, and generous of the sisters. 

I love her and Tom together. 

I was so happy that they were having a baby and that they ended up back at Downton. 

Then that episode. 

We were given this wonderful moment of Tom and Sybil with their adorable little baby girl. 

But then you knew there was too much build up and drama to have her just have the baby and then be okay so I was very nervous. 

And for good reason.

Losing Sybil was absolutely heartbreaking. 

Made the more so, I think, because of the incredibly heart wrenching acting of Allen Leech. 

Then we get the reactions from the rest of the house and that just added to it. Sybil was a character that was loved by everyone. You know that you have lost a good person when even Thomas, who sometimes can be so heartless, is heartbroken. 

So we dealt with this heartbreak. 

We moved on. 

Mary finally gets pregnant. 

Everything is looking up. 

I don't think I am alone in the fact that I was worried that something was going to happen to the baby or Mary after what they did to us with Sybil. Every time she acted a little off  I worried. 

Then I was on a friend's blog and saw a comment that said that Matthew died. 

I didn't want to believe it so I let myself believe that they would end the episode and season on a cliff hanger to make us think that he died.

 I was waiting for the rest of the season to see what would happen. 

Then Mary had their baby. 

This was such a beautiful moment with this little family. 

You are allowed to be so happy for them while you are watching. 

Then he started driving home. And I just knew.....

Then it happened. 

I was still waiting for the credits to roll and we wouldn't know for sure.

Then they showed him. And I knew he was really dead. 

And I lost it.

I have to say that is the hardest I have ever cried over a fictional character. 

It was bad. 

This time, watching with my mom, I didn't cry quite as hard. But I did still cry. 

It is just so, so sad. 

Oh Downton, why did you have to break my heart like this?

*Did you know what was coming when you watched Season three?

*Which was the hardest death for you?

*Did you cry as hard as I did?

 

Let's talk about: Downton Abbey, Season Two

I just finished watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey with my mom. 

I will take today to reflect on some of the biggest moments from the season. 

 

 

*****Spoilers ahead*****

 

 

We began the season in the middle of the Great war. 

Downton has become a convalescent home for wounded officers. 

Cora and Isobel are constantly struggling for power over running the home. 

Thomas is back as an acting-Sergeant and just as mean as ever it seems. 

 Much of the season dealt with Mr. Bates' very unpleasant wife Vera. She is a really horrible person that seems to want to ruin Bates just because he is happy with someone else while her affairs and life have made her unhappy. 

I wasn't sad to learn of her death at the end of the season, but I was anxious about Bates' and Anna's future. 

I was very pleased when Anna was finally able to marry the man she loves so much. 

Anna deserves happiness. 

Mary is engaged to Richard. Ugh. 

Richard makes me want to punch someone. 

He is so controlling. I felt weird about him from the beginning but it wasn't until he threatened Mary that I think we really got a glimpse of his true nature. 

While I think his behavior is mostly driven by his jealousy and the fact that I believe he truly does love Mary, it is still a frightening moment. 

I am sure that if Mary had ended up with him she would have been miserable. 

I was so happy when Lord Grantham finally found out the truth and released her from any responsibility of scandal. He gave her the freedom in that moment to not have to marry Richard. 

Love is in the air this season as Sybil finally realizes that she truly loves Tom Branson. 

I was SO happy. 

I really like Tom. 

He has his faults, especially in these first few seasons, but I really love him. 

I was really glad that they didn't elope though and so happy when Lord Grantham finally gave them "permission" to be together. 

They obviously would have been together no matter what but once again he gave one of his daughters the freedom to do what they needed to do without worrying about what he would do/think. 

I was so happy when they received a letter from her after the marriage telling them that she was pregnant! And I loved Cora's happy response. 

Daisy gets a parent. I was happy for William's dad and for Daisy. I understand how bad she feels about pretending to love William and only marrying him because he was dying. 

But his dad needed her. 

And I think she needed him. 

Matthew spends a lot of the season engaged to Lavinia. 

I had a hard time with Lavinia. 

Because I liked her. 

When we first met her I expected there to be a catch. 

Something had to be wrong with her because Matthew was supposed to end up with Mary!

But then that other shoe never dropped. 

She was sweet and kind and a good person. 

It was so sad that she died from the flu, especially when she seemed to have the least serious case of it. 

But I admit I was glad that Matthew would now be free. I felt like a terrible person for thinking that. 

I promise, I did get teary eyed when she died!

The war ends. The last of the injured soldiers begin departing. 

Downton is finally going back to its old way of life.

It is such a happy thing and yet it seems that everyone is now forced to figure out where they fit in. Especially Lord Grantham. 

It seems like he and Cora are moving away from each other more and more every moment. 

She seems selfish to him. 

He seems cold. 

And then Jane comes along. 

I liked Jane.

She seemed like a nice woman. 

But man, was I upset with him for kissing her!!

I was really glad when they finally decided that her leaving would be the best plan. 

I felt like Cora almost dying helped him to realize what he could lose. 

I hoped that was the turning point. 

One of my favorite moments of the season was when Matthew got out of his wheelchair!

It was such a tearful and happy moment!

It opened his life back up to him. 

And, of course, my favorite thing to happen during the entire season happened at the very end.

Mary finally told Matthew about why she thought he would despise her. 

He was surprised but supportive of course. 

As soon as he knew, I knew that she was now free to let herself love him if he gave her the chance again. 

Then this moment came...

And I was the happiest viewer in the history of Downton.

Best moment yet!

*What were your favorite moments of Season Two?

*I know I didn't write about so many of them! Which ones were your favorites that I missed?

Let's talk about: Dame Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith was born Margaret Natalie Smith on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, Essex, England. 

She changed her name to "Maggie" as there was already a Margaret Smith working as an actress when she started out in the profession.

Her Scottish mother, Margaret Hutton, worked as a secretary, and her English father, Nathaniel Smith was a teacher at Oxford University. 

Maggie Smith's career began at the Oxford Playhouse in the 1950's. 

She made her film debut in 1956 in Child in the House. 

Since then she has been in over sixty films and television series. 

She has been nominated for an Oscar six times and won twice (for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite).

She is one of only six actresses to have won the Academy Award in both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories.

She is also one of only twelve actresses to have won the "Triple Crown of Acting" which means she has an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy. 

"I've won two Oscars and I still don't begin to understand film acting."

She has been married twice. She married actor Robert Stephens but they divorced in 1974. 

She then married playwright Beverley Cross and they were married until his death in 1999. 

 "I still miss him so much it's ridiculous. People say it gets better but it doesn't. It just gets different, that's all. Even in my dream I kept saying to him, 'You are dead. You can't be here'"

She had two sons with her first husband. 

Their sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens are also actors. 

(You may know Toby from playing Rochester in the 2006 Masterpiece Theater version of Jane Eyre.)

Maggie has been conferred with honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Bath, University of St. Andrews, and the University of Cambridge.

She was one of the first people to have a star on the Avenue of Stars - a British version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Seven other  Harry Potter actors also have one.

In 1990, she was appointed Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire.

in 2014, she was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. 

Maggie Smith battled cancer while filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 

"It's true I don't tolerate fools, but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies."

With Dame Maggie Smith there are just too many good roles to mention!

But my two very favorite are, of course: 

1. Harry Potter

The character of Professor McGonagall is one of my favorites and Dame Maggie really brought her to life. She is extraordinary in this role. 

Daniel Radcliffe said, "I worked with her on David Copperfield and then she came on to Potter as McGonagall and said to the director: 'You need to audition this boy'. So I kind of owe her everything, so to Maggie I just say my fairy grandmother."

2. Downton Abbey

She is so perfect as the Dowager Countess!

I can't imagine anyone else playing this character better. She handles the wit and sarcasm with just the right amount of snark and sophistication.

*Do you have a favorite Dame Maggie Smith movie or tv show?

Let's talk about: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon

 I recently read Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle written by The Countess of Carnarvon. 

As you can see from the below pictures there was a lot I wanted to remember about this book.

The book is written by the current Countess of Carnarvon ( Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the 8th Countess) about the life of Almina Carnarvon and what Highclere Castle was like during her time there.

Almina was the illegitimate daughter of Alfred de Rothschild which made her a very wealthy heiress. She married the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. 

He was a very interesting man. He was very interested in books, travel, and exploring. 

He is most famous for having discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, along with Howard Carter. 

I found so much of this book so interesting. 

In chapter 2, she details Almina's arrival to Highclere castle. 

She states, "Highclere Castle was the family home of the Earls of Carnarvon, but the Castle was also the servants' Castle, and the family their family."

It was impossible to read this without thinking of Downton Abbey. 

This passage made me think of Mr. Carson on Downton and his special familial relationship with Mary and the pride he takes in the home. 

When Almina arrived and became the 5th Countess of Carnarvon she was only nineteen years old. 

She was a teenager!

From the book we learn that she was high spirited and sure of herself but also possibly a little overwhelmed and afraid. 

It talks about how she had gone from being a special child lavished with love from her mother and money from her father to realizing that here at Highclere she was not the "center of the universe". 

In fact, it mentions that everything in the home, the paintings, the furniture, do not belong to her or even to her husband but to the house itself.
(This also reminded me of Downton and how the Earl of Grantham has to worry about making sure the house survives after he is gone.)

Almina was very extravagant. She spent a LOT of money. This is detailed in the book. But she was also generous with her assets which helped her to not feel like a spoiled, irresponsible person as you were reading about all the money she spent on dinner parties and furniture.

On page 64 it reads, "Lord and Lady Carnarvon upheld a tradition that Highclere should be a 'househould of kindess'. 

And I believe it was. 

Lord Carnarvon was a man full of wanderlust and a need for distraction and diversion. I can relate to that so I felt somewhat akin to him throughout the story which helped to pull me in.

It tells us that every year from 1902, after Christmas, they would set out for Egypt. with only some exceptions. 

All of this was very interesting to read about but my favorite  parts of the book were the chapters that dealt with the first World War. 

Almina had an idea. 

She talked about it with Lord Carnarvon who wasn't as excited about it as she was but eventually agreed to the possibility. 

This was to turn Highclere into a hospital. 

(Yes. Just like on Downton!)

The first patients arrived in the middle of September. 

It says that she wanted it to be a therapeutic space where the library and the cooking were as important as the services of the medical personnel. 

It is reported that the first patients said they felt as if they had arrived in Paradise. 

Lady Carnarvon greeted everyone at the front door, made sure they got settled in, and then would immediately send telegrams to their families to let them know where they were and that they were safe. 

It says later that she gained so much respect with how hands on she was and how much she was learning that when she went to the authorities about a patient saying he was not yet well enough, they believed her. 

There was one interesting man mentioned in these chapters. 

He was a tall, broad man that regardless of his care was lame for the rest of his life and had to use a stick to get around. His name was Bates. 

It makes you wonder if Julian Fellowes knew about this guy, right?

There are so many instances of Lady Carnarvon going above and beyond what must have been expected from her. At one time rather than just send a wreath to a family that 's son was killed, she showed up to the funeral. 

I learned things I didn't know about the first world war and the people involved as well. 

I won't give it all away because you really should read this book!

My next favorite part was the detailing of how Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter came to be the ones that found the tomb of King Tut in 1922. 

There are some very sad events that happen around this time in the family but it is still so interesting to know more about these explorers and what they went through to make this special discovery. One that is still the only Ancient Egyptian royal burial site ever found intact. 

In conclusion, it made me even more excited to visit Highclere Castle. 

Not to just see the set of Downton Abbey. 

But also the home of incredible people that have done incredible things in real life. 

A place steeped in history!

The current Lady Carnarvon did a great job!
She has written a few other books about Highclere's family and I can't wait to read them as well!

Let's talk about: Downton Abbey, Season One, Episodes five, six, and seven

 Spoiler Warning

 In episode five the house is full of drama. 

Rumors are going around London about Lady Mary and her relationship with the Turkish diplomat, Kemal, and his death at Downton. 

Thomas and O' Brien are up to no good as usual. First with spreading the news about Mary and then trying to frame Bates for something he didn't do before he can tell anyone about seeing Thomas taking a bottle of wine from the pantry. 

Mrs. Patmore is becoming increasingly grumpy and hard on Daisy as her eyesight is failing. 

It's also time for the Downton Village Flower show.

My thoughts while watching: 

Why is it so important to Isobel that the Dowager Countess not win this year. 

Is she trying to make sure it is fair or is there more to it? 

 I felt so bad for Mary when she told her mother that she was a lost cause. 

But I loved how she broke into giggles during the salt incident at dinner and Matthew started laughing with her.

I also felt bad for Daisy when she was getting blamed by Mrs. Patmore. 

So many feels when Anna confessed her love to Bates. 

I love that when she said she was no lady he said, "You are to me."

Edith.

There is a part of me that feels bad for Edith at this point. 

But then she walks around all smug whenever anything goes wrong for Mary and it just sucks up all my empathy for her. She and Mary really need to work their stuff out.

I was glad that the Dowager Countess did end up giving the Grantham cup to Mr. Mosley even though she had won it again. It was kind of her. And he looked very happy.

That ending!

You know it's about to get real.

Episode Six: 

Lady Sybil is becoming more political and attending the rallies when she can. 

Carson gets a letter about Mary from someone he knows in London and shares it with Cora. 

The Dowager Countess also gets a letter concerning the gossip and finally finds out the truth about the matter from Cora. 

Thomas and O' Brien accuse Bates of stealing and convince Daisy to help them. 

My thoughts: 

I was so frustrated when Daisy said she would do anything for Thomas. I can't help talking to the TV. 

"Someone PLEASE TELL HER!" 

I was so happy when she finally came clean to Mr. Carson about the whole thing. 

It was so exciting when Mary finally openly admits that she loves Matthew. 

And they KISS! 

But the course of love never does run smoothly in these shows. 

I laughed when Mrs. Hughes said, "I respect Mr. Bates but I'm not sure that I love him."

And I was also really glad when Mary found a way to get William to go home to visit his mom without telling him why. That was really kind to make sure that happened. 

Episode Seven: 

The last episode of the season starts with the family returning to Downton Abbey from their London house. Except for Mary. She has stayed behind with her aunt for a few weeks. 

While there she is visited by Mr. Napier. 

Mrs. Patmore and Anna go to London for the eye surgery. 

The news of the murder of the Archduke lets us know that war is coming soon. 

Thomas starts the process to join the Army Medical Corps. 

Sybil continues to help Gwen find a secretarial post. 

Cora finds out that she is pregnant.

William's mother has died and he is now back at Downton. 

My thoughts: 

I was really glad that Mr. Napier visited Mary to tell her the truth. 

I understand Edith is not fond of Mary and that they have major issues. 

But I couldn't believe she would really do that to her sister and family. 

That girl has let her envy get the best of her.

And when confronted about the letter, she was really mean about it.

I love it when Lord Grantham does things that show how kind he really is- like sending Mrs. Patmore to London to help with her eyesight. 

It was so frustrating when Matthew and Mary fought under the tree. 

Did anyone else just want to yell, "Just tell him you love him!!"

I loved the scene when Mr. Carson was practicing using the telephone and the operator started talking to him. It was so funny.

It was such a happy moment when Cora told her husband that she was pregnant. 

She looked so happy. 

And then the unthinkable happened. 

O' Brien is despicable. 

I know she stopped for a minute, thinking twice about what she was doing, but it was too late. 

Her hatred and mean spirit have taken her somewhere she will never recover from no matter how much guilt she feels. 

When Lord Grantham and Mr. Bates are talking about it and Lord Grantham starts crying and tells Mr. Bates that it was a boy. So heartbreaking.

I know Thomas is a jerk. 

But even so I didn't expect his reaction to the baby dying. 

I was such a fan of William after Thomas made his horrible comments and William didn't take it sitting down.

The episode ended with the garden party. 

I thought it was really cute when Sybil, Tom, and Gwen did the little group hug when they found out about Gwen's job. 

And then Mary... I understand why you want to get back at Edith. But you didn't need to involve that poor man. Not nice. 

I was so glad when Thomas turned in his notice. I hoped we wouldn't see him again, but I knew that would be too good to be true.

I really wanted to shake Mary and Matthew and make them tell each other the truth so he wouldn't leave. 

But I loved the moment between Mr. Carson and Mary when he was the one to come comfort her. 

Of course the season ended with the announcement that the war had begun.

We know that the next season will bring much heartache and drama with that news. 

*What are your thoughts on these episodes?

*Did you wish you were the one to punch Thomas? 

Let's talk about: Downton Abbey (Season 1, episodes 2-4)

In episode 2 we finally start getting to know Matthew and his mother Isobel. 

He made a good impression on me... but not so much on Mary as she walked in right when he was talking about how ridiculous the whole situation was. 

His eyes when he saw her though! You could definitely tell he regretted what he had said and was immediately taken by her. 

There was also a really rare moment in this episode. 

Thomas being charming and kind and fun.

When he danced with Daisy he seemed happy and genuine for once and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. 

I wondered why he couldn't always be like that. 

This episode also showed the first hints of animosity from O'Brien towards Lady Grantham after she caught her talking about Matthew. 

I cheered a bit at that scene ,glad that she stuck up for Matthew.

Something else that made me laugh was when the Dowager Countess was talking at tea and said "Huff and Puff". I had a Harry Potter flashback because it sounded like she said Hufflepuff. 

Episode 3:

I felt a *little* bad for Edith when she was taking Matthew around to churches. 

It was so obvious that she was crushing on him and he couldn't stop thinking about Mary. 

But of course, Mary is not thinking about Matthew. 

She is too smitten with 

Mr. Pamuk, the Turkish diplomat. 

(Recognize him? Theo James is Four in Divergent.)

I don't think Mr. Napier had that in mind when he brought his friend along. 

I thought it was so funny when all the girls were trying to catch a glimpse of him and Mr. Carson comes in asking why they are all congregating. 

Lord Grantham understands when he says, "He's giving the girls a real treat."

Then the real drama takes place. 

When Mr. Pamuk came to Mary's room I thought he was really pushy. 

Everyone keeps saying he was a nice guy. But honestly I don't think he really was that great. 

I can't imagine the trauma Mary felt when realizing he had just died. 

Yikes. 

But I loved the Dowager Countess' reaction. 

"No Englishman would think of dying in someone else's house."

This episode also gave us another example of the kindness of Sybil when she became so invested in helping Gwen with her dream of leaving service to become a secretary. 

Another relationship we get more of a glimpse into is the relationship between Mary and Mr. Carson. It becomes very obvious that they are very close and more like family than anyone would admit. 

The last thing that stood out in this episode was how horrifying Bates leg was after having that brace on. It made me cringe. 

I was so glad that Mrs. Hughes got to the bottom of it and so happy when that thing was thrown in the lake!

Episode 4:

We get our introduction to Tom, the chauffeur. 

I really liked him right away. 

I love how Lord Grantham offered him use of the books in the library. 

You could tell he was surprised by this. 

This episode also brought us the town fair and Mrs. Hughes getting a proposal. 

I felt happy and sad for her at the same time. 

I kind of wanted her to accept but then you could tell it wasn't the right thing. 

I loved the moment between she and Mr. Carson when she was telling him about it and he said, "What would be the point of living if we didn't let life change us."

There seemed to be a lot of emotion in this episode (not that there usually isn't.)

I really understood Mary's frustration when she felt like her father wasn't really fighting for her but instead just accepting things they way they were. 

I hated the fact that Daisy was letting Thomas influence her so much that she started becoming mean. 

And I felt so bad for poor William. I just wanted to shake her and make her notice him. 

One of my favorite moments of this episode was when Sybil came out in this outfit. 

It was just such a fun moment and she was so happy. 

But my favorite thing about it was when we saw Tom peeking through the window at her. 

*What are your favorite moments from these episodes?

Let's talk about: Downton Abbey

I have recently started re-watching Downton Abbey with my mom after telling her for a very long time that she would love it. 

I thought it might be fun to post my thoughts as I re-watch. 

If you haven't watched it and want to- don't read any further as I may post spoilers. 

And if you have watched the entire series (as I have) please do not post spoilers past the episode I talk about in case some reading along haven't yet watched later episodes. 

Thank you!

Starting with episode 1 of season 1...

As I watched I tried to remember how I felt the very first time I watched it. 

I was hooked from the start. 

There was the code being tapped out, the train, and then THAT music started. 

I have watched and loved a lot of shows through the years but I love the intro music to Downton the very most. 

As the song starts you see Downton Abbey (Highclere castle in real life) and it is exquisite. 

As we begin the Downton Abbey journey, the characters have just learned of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in April 1912 and the fact that the cousin and heir of the family had been aboard and had died. We immediately see the compassion of Lord Grantham as he worries not only about the first class passengers but about those "below decks".

Mary, the eldest daughter, was supposed to marry him and now the family is realizing that they need to find a new heir for the family home and their fortune as well as a husband for Mary. 

Downstairs, a new valet arrives. John Bates. He had served in the Boer War with the Earl of Grantham and so has been invited to be his valet. 

He was injured and now uses a cane and that immediately puts him at odds with some of the others. 

Thomas in particular. 

My first impression of Thomas was that he was quite handsome. And then he opened his mouth. 

I knew right away from this episode that he and O'Brien would not be my favorite people. 

I also knew right away that I was going to love Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Anna, Sybil, and Lord Grantham. 

What surprised me though is that as I re-watched I remembered that in the first episode I was not a fan of Lady Grantham. I didn't think I would like her as she came off a bit snobbish and rude. 

But fast forward a few episodes and I will have forgotten that and love her. 

Other standouts from the first episode:

1) When we got our first glance of that library. SWOON.

Be still my heart. 

 2) When Anna, whom I already had great feelings about woke up and said, "For once in my life I would like to sleep until I wake up natural."

Ever since having kids I can relate. 

I also loved when she found Thomas and O'Brien in the hallway and they tried to play it off as if they weren't doing anything. But she said as she walked away, "You two can stay here plotting."

3) We are introduced to the dynamic of the sisters. 

Like I said, I knew right away that I liked Sybil. Mary seemed heartless and yet you did see little glimpses of humanity in her. I wasn't sure I would ever like her. 

And Edith. Poor Edith. I had no idea what to think of her. 

I wondered why they acted the way they did to each other. 

4) We immediately know what Carson will be like by the fact that in the midst of learning about the Titanic he is so worried about a maid serving at the dining room table and when Lord Grantham says "there are worst things" he replies that there isn't. 

I still loved him though. 

5) Did anyone else want to punch O' Brien when she did this:

Jerk.

6) I laughed when the Dowager Countess came in and blocked the light with her fan. 

We definitely get a feel for her right away. 

I hope you enjoyed the recap. More to come!

*Have you watched Downton?

*Have you re-watched Downton?

*Thoughts on this episode?