Downton Abbey season 3: thoughts on ep. 1 & 2 (snark & spoilers behind cuts!)
So, 2 episodes into the new Downtown Abbey season, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The costumes are as luscious as ever, which is the main reason I watch to be honest, but I have to say I'm not so invested in the characters as I was last season. Everyone's storylines just feel... weaker.
Sybil is practically non-existant, she shows up, says one line, looks sweet, and that's it. As a freethinking woman at a time when women were finally getting to vote and getting into parliament, her character had the most potentially interesting arc, I think. Especially when she got married to Tom, it's sort of symbolic of the changing status of women and the working classes, that here the two of them are, breaking the rules of established society and forging a new place in the world for themselves. But it's been pretty dull instead. Sybil & Tom's storyline thus far in season three:
Everyone @ Downton: "OMG he's the chauffer! The shame!"
Tom: "You bad rich people! Free Ireland!"
Sybil: "I love you, dear, and I'm so very happy, but please tone it down for the sake of Daddy's nerves."
Tom: "IDK if I can stomach it, babe..."
Matthew: "I'll borrow you my suit so you can fit in, and we'll be bros. You wanna go play billiards?"
Tom: "Well, it's totally abhorrent to my very nature, but... sounds like fun! Okay!" XD
Sybil: "Yay! Sunshine & rainbows!!!"
I did, despite my best efforts, read a spoiler about this season that crushed any hope I had for their storyline being interesting, but still, I hoped for better than this. I think maybe the fact that Julian Fellowes is an old upper-class dude might perhaps blind him to the fact that a character can still be interesting and/or sympathetic if they aren't on board with the whole 'aristocratic privilege' thing. Ugh.
And what the heck is up with Edith's Massively Soapy Plot Twist? No respectable gentleman in 1920 would have behaved the way Sir Anthony behaved. Leaving someone at the altar is exceedingly ungentlemanly conduct, and worse than just getting divorced or annulled later, as far as the gossip is concerned (by the 1920's at least). If he's trying to make things better for Edith, making her the subject of derision and gossip is not going help her chances for future happiness. Nor would any Earl of Anything, particularly one in precarious financial circumstances, object to his daughter marrying a respectable gentleman of means just because he's old. Maybe he might personally feel that way, but social status and suitablity comes first. I really hope Edith breaks out of her shell and goes to Paris and becomes a flapper and has a wild affair with an American jazz musician. Or something! Seeing her get the short end of the stick over and over isn't terribly entertaining. Sure, she's been bitchy and obnoxious, but I think anybody would be if no one liked them at all. Sheesh.
Matthew and Mary, well, thank heaven they finally tied the knot, since you can only drag out 'will they or won't they?' for so long, but I think it's going to be a stretch to keep finding things for them to fight about.
Matthew: "I can't take the money!"
Mary: "WTF WHY?"
Matthew: "I have massive guilt over Lavinia's death!"
Mary: "SRSLY still!? How long you gonna be milking that one?"
Matthew: "Until someone comes up with some other way to insert conflict into our blandly lovey-dovey newlywed bliss."
And Robert... oh dear. Apparently, though he may be the model of honourable benevolent patriarchy (yes, we're pretending that exists) he is also, we now sadly find, incredibly stupid.
Robert: "How could we be broke? You mean investing everything in one place wasn't a good idea??? *cries*
All the women: "You invested everything in one place??? That was stupid! We would never have done that!"
Me watching: "And just think, if he'd have actually consulted the womenfolk, instead of patting them on the head and telling them some crap about how pretty they looked or that their needlepointing was coming along nicely, the crisis would have been averted. No wonder the old order crumbled."
As for the servants, I have to admit I pay less attention because their clothes are less exciting. (Yes, I'm being shallow, but hey, it's a TV show. Sue me.) But I was all "oh noes!!" when Mrs. Hughes might have been ill. She's always there being solid and dependable, so you take for granted how great her unsentimental presence is. I still chuckle when I think of 'Lady Mary's an uppity minx who deserves what she gets!' I don't neccessarily agree, but unworshipful servants are good to have around on a show that's basically a coronets-and-ermine love-fest.
Thomas and O'Brien feuding is kind of hilarious, since I don't really care what happens to either of them. If only there were a pool at Downton! You know the catfights would be epic, and they'd be the first ones in! Well, either them or Mary and Edith. ;)
And oy vey, I thought we'd got rid of Ethel, the Stupid Maid. The minute her character popped up, one never doubted what would happen to her, and watching something THAT predictable unfold is completely boring. Naturally, she's a Fallen Woman now, and quite honestly, I don't think people don't know that that happened in those days. We've all seen Les Mis. There's no need to keep trotting that plot out, it's not educational anymore, it's just sensationalism, and rather demeaning to have to have practically every show on TV include prostitutes, somewhere. Like the tapestry of history just isn't complete without mentioning female prostitutes. (There's never male prostitutes though! Heaven forbid we mention that such a thing even existed!)
And seriously, I never liked Bates. Let him swing, I think he did it. (I know, I'm shockingly cruel. There's surely legions of fans who would hate me, but like I said, it's just a show!)
All in all, I can't say I actually know what makes Downton Abbey so popular, out of all the amazing things that have been on Masterpiece Theatre, but it is entertaining in an eye-candy and OMGPLOTTWISTS! kind of way. I'm a little scared of what will happen next, but I know I'll be glued to my TV, come what may.
Sybil is practically non-existant, she shows up, says one line, looks sweet, and that's it. As a freethinking woman at a time when women were finally getting to vote and getting into parliament, her character had the most potentially interesting arc, I think. Especially when she got married to Tom, it's sort of symbolic of the changing status of women and the working classes, that here the two of them are, breaking the rules of established society and forging a new place in the world for themselves. But it's been pretty dull instead. Sybil & Tom's storyline thus far in season three:
Everyone @ Downton: "OMG he's the chauffer! The shame!"
Tom: "You bad rich people! Free Ireland!"
Sybil: "I love you, dear, and I'm so very happy, but please tone it down for the sake of Daddy's nerves."
Tom: "IDK if I can stomach it, babe..."
Matthew: "I'll borrow you my suit so you can fit in, and we'll be bros. You wanna go play billiards?"
Tom: "Well, it's totally abhorrent to my very nature, but... sounds like fun! Okay!" XD
Sybil: "Yay! Sunshine & rainbows!!!"
I did, despite my best efforts, read a spoiler about this season that crushed any hope I had for their storyline being interesting, but still, I hoped for better than this. I think maybe the fact that Julian Fellowes is an old upper-class dude might perhaps blind him to the fact that a character can still be interesting and/or sympathetic if they aren't on board with the whole 'aristocratic privilege' thing. Ugh.
And what the heck is up with Edith's Massively Soapy Plot Twist? No respectable gentleman in 1920 would have behaved the way Sir Anthony behaved. Leaving someone at the altar is exceedingly ungentlemanly conduct, and worse than just getting divorced or annulled later, as far as the gossip is concerned (by the 1920's at least). If he's trying to make things better for Edith, making her the subject of derision and gossip is not going help her chances for future happiness. Nor would any Earl of Anything, particularly one in precarious financial circumstances, object to his daughter marrying a respectable gentleman of means just because he's old. Maybe he might personally feel that way, but social status and suitablity comes first. I really hope Edith breaks out of her shell and goes to Paris and becomes a flapper and has a wild affair with an American jazz musician. Or something! Seeing her get the short end of the stick over and over isn't terribly entertaining. Sure, she's been bitchy and obnoxious, but I think anybody would be if no one liked them at all. Sheesh.
Matthew and Mary, well, thank heaven they finally tied the knot, since you can only drag out 'will they or won't they?' for so long, but I think it's going to be a stretch to keep finding things for them to fight about.
Matthew: "I can't take the money!"
Mary: "WTF WHY?"
Matthew: "I have massive guilt over Lavinia's death!"
Mary: "SRSLY still!? How long you gonna be milking that one?"
Matthew: "Until someone comes up with some other way to insert conflict into our blandly lovey-dovey newlywed bliss."
And Robert... oh dear. Apparently, though he may be the model of honourable benevolent patriarchy (yes, we're pretending that exists) he is also, we now sadly find, incredibly stupid.
Robert: "How could we be broke? You mean investing everything in one place wasn't a good idea??? *cries*
All the women: "You invested everything in one place??? That was stupid! We would never have done that!"
Me watching: "And just think, if he'd have actually consulted the womenfolk, instead of patting them on the head and telling them some crap about how pretty they looked or that their needlepointing was coming along nicely, the crisis would have been averted. No wonder the old order crumbled."
As for the servants, I have to admit I pay less attention because their clothes are less exciting. (Yes, I'm being shallow, but hey, it's a TV show. Sue me.) But I was all "oh noes!!" when Mrs. Hughes might have been ill. She's always there being solid and dependable, so you take for granted how great her unsentimental presence is. I still chuckle when I think of 'Lady Mary's an uppity minx who deserves what she gets!' I don't neccessarily agree, but unworshipful servants are good to have around on a show that's basically a coronets-and-ermine love-fest.
Thomas and O'Brien feuding is kind of hilarious, since I don't really care what happens to either of them. If only there were a pool at Downton! You know the catfights would be epic, and they'd be the first ones in! Well, either them or Mary and Edith. ;)
And oy vey, I thought we'd got rid of Ethel, the Stupid Maid. The minute her character popped up, one never doubted what would happen to her, and watching something THAT predictable unfold is completely boring. Naturally, she's a Fallen Woman now, and quite honestly, I don't think people don't know that that happened in those days. We've all seen Les Mis. There's no need to keep trotting that plot out, it's not educational anymore, it's just sensationalism, and rather demeaning to have to have practically every show on TV include prostitutes, somewhere. Like the tapestry of history just isn't complete without mentioning female prostitutes. (There's never male prostitutes though! Heaven forbid we mention that such a thing even existed!)
And seriously, I never liked Bates. Let him swing, I think he did it. (I know, I'm shockingly cruel. There's surely legions of fans who would hate me, but like I said, it's just a show!)
All in all, I can't say I actually know what makes Downton Abbey so popular, out of all the amazing things that have been on Masterpiece Theatre, but it is entertaining in an eye-candy and OMGPLOTTWISTS! kind of way. I'm a little scared of what will happen next, but I know I'll be glued to my TV, come what may.