Downton Abbey - Season 2

[selenak]

In which I have at last a favourite character whom I'm rooting for, because Julian Fellowes inadvertendly manages to push every dormant Jacobin bone in my body with his writing for this season. (Note: the season, not the Christmas special, which wasn't on the dvds, so I haven't seen it.)

Comments

[mamculuna]

Maybe O'Brien and Thomas are sister and brother? I too have puzzled over that one.

Have you seen the whole season? Don't want to put in spoilers if not.

[selenak]

Yes, minus the Christmas special which wasn't on the DVDS. The last episode on the dvds was the one where Bates got arrested and Lavinia buried.

[kathyh]

I had some serious difficulties with series 2 though I kept watching for Maggie Smith's brilliant put downs. Daisy's story was a good one and keeps on developing and I'm still optimistic that better things will happen for Edith.

he has nothing else to do for the rest of the season except to pester Sybil and tell her she loves him.

I liked Branson and Sybil in Season 1 but I was starting to find his attitude to her quite creepy in Season 2.

DA can be so frustrating to watch as it mixes some interesting storylines with others I can predict far far too easily.

[selenak]

I liked Branson and Sybil in Season 1 but I was starting to find his attitude to her quite creepy in Season 2.

Yes, same here. And, again: asking "what work?" put me off him for good.

Running out the door but this is a premade rant

[likeadeuce]

More to say later, but re: Branson -- I like to say that I ship him and Sybil with the caveat that you have to ignore everything they say to or about each other between the first and last episode of the season (I like his initial declaration, and the resolution but wtf is he supposed to be doing the rest of the time?) And the political commentary is of the level, "The Easter Rising was a thing! So were conscientious objectors! And the Russian Revolution!" So basically I want tons of fanfic about them, but agree the writing on the show is bad.

I need to chew over your thoughts on Thomas and O'Brien but will have more to say.

[shezan]

Email me re: Xmas Special. It was the best thing of the season by far.

This season was pretty awful. There are plenty of conservative writers who write convincing liberals, starting with Trollope of course.

And I'm with you on Thomas and Daisy! I loved the way he was determined to become a black marketeer!

[selenak]

Okay, I'll do that.

Re: Trollope - I've only read "The Warden", "Barchester Towers" and "Cousin Henry", so I wouldn't know. Anyway, I was thinking of tv and film writers mainly.

I was whistling Harry Lime's theme when Thomas announced his black market intentions. :)

[ponygirl2000]

I'm with shezan, the Christmas special was better than the rest of the season, and could probably be watched instead of season 2, as it seemed like everyone was just having the same conversations for four years anyway.

I love O'Brien! She actually seems to have complex motivations and some mystery about her - maybe she and Cora can run off together in the next season. While I enjoy the show it was so disappointing that the big upheaval that WWI promised ended up being more of an inconvenience with the characters growing stalwart and bland. I miss the outright nastiness of Gosford Park, obviously Fellowes has it in him to be witty and cruel, I wish he would get back to that.

[selenak]

I love your icon. Also, O'Brien and Cora running off together would be quite satisfying to me.