What a GREAT way to describe last week's episode -- it really WAS the "showstopper." :D But this ep was the powerful, poignant ballad or love song that comes halfway through the second act, and stays with you after you leave the theater. :)
It's such a great perspective on the men who've never had power in the show vs. the men who have.
His attempts to regain his position as respected head of the household are increasingly desperate as he has lost all sense of perspective.
And oddly enough, I liked him more than I have since 3x01! I think because he was really, truly alone in his beliefs, so it was easier to sympathize with him. I didn't like it when he had allies (Matthew OR Mary -- who should be on each other's side -- taking his). I like him as the pathetic older man who's losing touch. Unlike last year, where I felt he was emasculated, now I think he's just feeling his age. He won't adapt.
GREAT point about how the S/B marriage shook the foundation of his world.
And I liked how you said Matthew and Branson started out S3 obstinately, but gradually grew to accept compromise. Interestingly, both were due to the influence of women. Perhaps now that Robert is in Cora's good books again, she can help him start to accept change.
She does not want to be at odds with her husband, in particular at a time like this, and she knows that he knows that he's done wrong I think. He apologised - there was nothing else that needed to be said.
OMG ME TOO. And it really was bad timing. And she was supportive of Matthew's efforts with the cottages. I just wanted to jump and cheer that finally, her side was Matthew's side, and vice-versa. This was the first ep where I saw them behaving (heh, bedroom antics not withstanding) as a REAL couple, and a partnership. From 3x02 to 3x05, he may as well have still been her fiance that she slept with all the time. ;p But there was a clear line between them then, and now...they've found their footing and become the force that I always wanted them to be, together. :D
I've addressed Matthew's comment about dying in my LJ, but I'll reiterate: would JF really have someone say "I am going to die someday" and call it foreshadowing? :p
It seems to go with the later scene when Branson is watching Mary and Matthew with baby Sybil. Also, it would give meaning to Ethel's storyline - giving up children to give them a better chance in life, etc.
ARGH. I REALLY don't want this, like, AT ALL. M/M are nobody's nannies, and I think that would show tremendous selfishness on Branson's part. He could easily (one would think) find work near Downton. Unless my random spec that Mary is pregnant in the CS, and delivers, say, a stillborn baby -- then maybe, MAYBE -- but I think Sybil would be appalled to have her husband pawning off his child on her sister and her cousin.
Ethel was different -- as a woman, there was no way she could work and support Charlie, and she had no backup like Branson has. Plus, the Bryants were older -- past childbearing age -- and the child was their grandson (not their nephew). That was selfless. Branson giving his baby to M/M would be selfish.
Giving it to Edith is something else, though... ;p
Although he obviously wasn't intending to harm Sybil he still put his own ego above everything. This was about him, showning Branson his place ('he isn't paying for the doctor) and pulling rank on the rest of the house.
I agree, but to me, those are forgivable sins. Acting like an ass is what men do, whereas Cora was blaming him for the UNforgivable sin of his judgment costing them their daughter. Clarkson just put that in perspective. I really only think he was there to address that unforgivable sin. Cora could've forgiven Robert for everything else, but not that. IDK...
oddly enough, I liked him more than I have since 3x01! I think because he was really, truly alone in his beliefs, so it was easier to sympathize with him. I didn't like it when he had allies (Matthew OR Mary -- who should be on each other's side -- taking his). I like him as the pathetic older man who's losing touch.
I can see what you mean and I partially agree. I think recent events and the erratic and sometimes downright crazy way he's been behaving have highlighted his helplessness. It kind of reminds me of my own dad at times, who also, when he feels control over his world slipping away from him (long summer visits by our tribe can have that effect because we sort of invade his one-person household in a way that has him hiding in his room), has a tendency to act in ways that give a toddler a run for his money. Honestly, sometimes I think my three-year-old is more sensible. So yeah, I get it, but at the same time that kind of behaviour makes me want to grab my own dad and shake him, so I guess personal experience doesn't exactly make me more tolerant towards that particular male behavioural trait, LOL.
Totally agree with you re. the M/M scene. It was so good to see them that way. And yes, I think they are more like a married couple now. I guess it's quite realistic. They've never lived together before, and especially living in the same house she's grown up in, surrounded by the family, it would take some adjustment. They've really grown this season and I hope it's a sign of good things to come.
Re. the foreshadowing with Matthew's comment - I REALLY hope you are right, but I've just read your LJ post and you make a convincing argument! :)
Re. the other foreshadowing with baby Sybil - I'm not convinced I'd like it much either. I could see Mary WANTING to do this if Branson decided to take off but I agree that it would not make Branson look particularly good. When I saw the episode it was one of those gut reactions - I saw the scenes and the first thing I thought was 'that's what's going to happen'. Which isn't to say that it can't all be a red herring of course. So yes, I'm not suggesting it because it would be my favourite outcome but rather because that was my instant thought. No reason to worry since I'm hardly ever right with these things, though, so we can all sleep easy. ;)
I agree, but to me, those are forgivable sins. Acting like an ass is what men do, whereas Cora was blaming him for the UNforgivable sin of his judgment costing them their daughter.
Yes, true, and I am glad that they've reconciled (sort of). As I said, it isn't even that I think Carson needed to lie because even if she'd survived the Cesarian the eclamsia would most likely have killed her just the same as it did now. Similarly, I don't think Cora's accusations were right, because of the above. That said, because of the way he did behave (and even then still tried to cling to the possibility of justifying his total disregard for everyone else in that situation by asking Clarkson if Sir ... had been right) I, perhaps irrationally, understood why she reacted in that way. That said, I am sort of happy with the way it went, because they needed to reconcile (also, I think, as you point out, to give Robert a chance to survive in this brave new world - that was a great point!) and I liked that in the end it was achieved without Clarkson having to actively lie and without him having to compromise his professional integrity by pretending that Sir Thingy wasn't an incompetent ass.
Loved your review of the ep and I promise I'll comment tomorrow. just can't do it now because I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.
It's such a great perspective on the men who've never had power in the show vs. the men who have.
His attempts to regain his position as respected head of the household are increasingly desperate as he has lost all sense of perspective.
And oddly enough, I liked him more than I have since 3x01! I think because he was really, truly alone in his beliefs, so it was easier to sympathize with him. I didn't like it when he had allies (Matthew OR Mary -- who should be on each other's side -- taking his). I like him as the pathetic older man who's losing touch. Unlike last year, where I felt he was emasculated, now I think he's just feeling his age. He won't adapt.
GREAT point about how the S/B marriage shook the foundation of his world.
And I liked how you said Matthew and Branson started out S3 obstinately, but gradually grew to accept compromise. Interestingly, both were due to the influence of women. Perhaps now that Robert is in Cora's good books again, she can help him start to accept change.
She does not want to be at odds with her husband, in particular at a time like this, and she knows that he knows that he's done wrong I think. He apologised - there was nothing else that needed to be said.
OMG ME TOO. And it really was bad timing. And she was supportive of Matthew's efforts with the cottages. I just wanted to jump and cheer that finally, her side was Matthew's side, and vice-versa. This was the first ep where I saw them behaving (heh, bedroom antics not withstanding) as a REAL couple, and a partnership. From 3x02 to 3x05, he may as well have still been her fiance that she slept with all the time. ;p But there was a clear line between them then, and now...they've found their footing and become the force that I always wanted them to be, together. :D
I've addressed Matthew's comment about dying in my LJ, but I'll reiterate: would JF really have someone say "I am going to die someday" and call it foreshadowing? :p
It seems to go with the later scene when Branson is watching Mary and Matthew with baby Sybil. Also, it would give meaning to Ethel's storyline - giving up children to give them a better chance in life, etc.
ARGH. I REALLY don't want this, like, AT ALL. M/M are nobody's nannies, and I think that would show tremendous selfishness on Branson's part. He could easily (one would think) find work near Downton. Unless my random spec that Mary is pregnant in the CS, and delivers, say, a stillborn baby -- then maybe, MAYBE -- but I think Sybil would be appalled to have her husband pawning off his child on her sister and her cousin.
Ethel was different -- as a woman, there was no way she could work and support Charlie, and she had no backup like Branson has. Plus, the Bryants were older -- past childbearing age -- and the child was their grandson (not their nephew). That was selfless. Branson giving his baby to M/M would be selfish.
Giving it to Edith is something else, though... ;p
Although he obviously wasn't intending to harm Sybil he still put his own ego above everything. This was about him, showning Branson his place ('he isn't paying for the doctor) and pulling rank on the rest of the house.
I agree, but to me, those are forgivable sins. Acting like an ass is what men do, whereas Cora was blaming him for the UNforgivable sin of his judgment costing them their daughter. Clarkson just put that in perspective. I really only think he was there to address that unforgivable sin. Cora could've forgiven Robert for everything else, but not that. IDK...
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I can see what you mean and I partially agree. I think recent events and the erratic and sometimes downright crazy way he's been behaving have highlighted his helplessness. It kind of reminds me of my own dad at times, who also, when he feels control over his world slipping away from him (long summer visits by our tribe can have that effect because we sort of invade his one-person household in a way that has him hiding in his room), has a tendency to act in ways that give a toddler a run for his money. Honestly, sometimes I think my three-year-old is more sensible. So yeah, I get it, but at the same time that kind of behaviour makes me want to grab my own dad and shake him, so I guess personal experience doesn't exactly make me more tolerant towards that particular male behavioural trait, LOL.
Totally agree with you re. the M/M scene. It was so good to see them that way. And yes, I think they are more like a married couple now. I guess it's quite realistic. They've never lived together before, and especially living in the same house she's grown up in, surrounded by the family, it would take some adjustment. They've really grown this season and I hope it's a sign of good things to come.
Re. the foreshadowing with Matthew's comment - I REALLY hope you are right, but I've just read your LJ post and you make a convincing argument! :)
Re. the other foreshadowing with baby Sybil - I'm not convinced I'd like it much either. I could see Mary WANTING to do this if Branson decided to take off but I agree that it would not make Branson look particularly good. When I saw the episode it was one of those gut reactions - I saw the scenes and the first thing I thought was 'that's what's going to happen'. Which isn't to say that it can't all be a red herring of course. So yes, I'm not suggesting it because it would be my favourite outcome but rather because that was my instant thought. No reason to worry since I'm hardly ever right with these things, though, so we can all sleep easy. ;)
I agree, but to me, those are forgivable sins. Acting like an ass is what men do, whereas Cora was blaming him for the UNforgivable sin of his judgment costing them their daughter.
Yes, true, and I am glad that they've reconciled (sort of). As I said, it isn't even that I think Carson needed to lie because even if she'd survived the Cesarian the eclamsia would most likely have killed her just the same as it did now. Similarly, I don't think Cora's accusations were right, because of the above. That said, because of the way he did behave (and even then still tried to cling to the possibility of justifying his total disregard for everyone else in that situation by asking Clarkson if Sir ... had been right) I, perhaps irrationally, understood why she reacted in that way. That said, I am sort of happy with the way it went, because they needed to reconcile (also, I think, as you point out, to give Robert a chance to survive in this brave new world - that was a great point!) and I liked that in the end it was achieved without Clarkson having to actively lie and without him having to compromise his professional integrity by pretending that Sir Thingy wasn't an incompetent ass.
Loved your review of the ep and I promise I'll comment tomorrow. just can't do it now because I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.
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