Forever Alone in Downton Abbey fandom: liking characters that everyone else hates
I don't understand the fandom's love/admiration for Mary and Matthew (as characters and as a couple). I've tried to like Mary and Matthew but I find them boring at best and at worst self absorbed and shallow. They seem to be the otp of everyone, but me. Two characters that I like and/or find interesting are Edith and Thomas (I also like Sybil and Branson, but more about that later). Edith is the forgotten middle child (and Mary's proverbial punching bag) and Thomas is a gay servant, but they are barely seen in season 1. Fandom seems to hate them (especially Edith) despite their circumstances.
It would have been interesting to see Thomas date, especially considering that servants weren't allowed to date and/or marry, but think about it: homosexuality was a sin and illegal in this time period in England. So Thomas had to hide who he was even from his co-workers. Unfortunately, Fellowes decided that it wasn't an important aspect to explore and instead we got "the evil footman," and of course plenty of Matthew/Mary because nothing's more original than two well-to-do people falling in love, right?
A more interesting couple than Matthew/Mary is Anna and Bates or Sybil and Branson because at least they're kept apart because of class/work struggles. Sybil is barely seen in season 1 because Mary's drama takes up the entire season (Mary's drama is whether or not Matthew loves her. Boring).
Mary and Matthew don't have anything really keeping them apart so I don't find the so-called struggles in their "will they, won't they" relationship that interesting. I don't know why Fellowes didn't explore Sybil/Branson more. As I mentioned before, both Sybil and Edith are barely explored (and when Edith does have a story, it's all about Mary).
People keep saying what a bitch Edith is, but I don't see it. Yes, what she did to Mary (writing the embassy that letter) and calling Mary a slut was horrible, but the things that Mary did to Edith were worse (mocking/yelling at Edith for crying about Patrick, putting Edith down/calling her ugly throughout season 1, scheming to make Sir Anthony fall in love with her because Edith liked him and Mary wanted to hurt her, lying to Sir Anthony about Edith so Sir Anthony would break off his engagement). One of the first scenes we see is of Edith crying for Patrick and Mary mocking her/telling her to shut up.
What I love about Edith (and Sybil) is that they're interested in the world around them outside of Downton Abbey. (Examples include Edith talking business at the dinner table with Sir Anthony and Sybil helping Gwen get work).
I was hoping that Downton Abbey would explore all the characters, but judging from what I've heard about season 2, it's Matthew/Mary. I wish there were people that wanted to talk about the other characters (besides Matthew/Mary) and that actually liked the other characters (yes including Edith and Thomas). I haven't seen season 2 yet, but let me know if other characters like Edith, Thomas, Sybil and Branson actually get some storylines/decent screen time rather than being background scenery for Matthew and Mary's drama.
It would have been interesting to see Thomas date, especially considering that servants weren't allowed to date and/or marry, but think about it: homosexuality was a sin and illegal in this time period in England. So Thomas had to hide who he was even from his co-workers. Unfortunately, Fellowes decided that it wasn't an important aspect to explore and instead we got "the evil footman," and of course plenty of Matthew/Mary because nothing's more original than two well-to-do people falling in love, right?
A more interesting couple than Matthew/Mary is Anna and Bates or Sybil and Branson because at least they're kept apart because of class/work struggles. Sybil is barely seen in season 1 because Mary's drama takes up the entire season (Mary's drama is whether or not Matthew loves her. Boring).
Mary and Matthew don't have anything really keeping them apart so I don't find the so-called struggles in their "will they, won't they" relationship that interesting. I don't know why Fellowes didn't explore Sybil/Branson more. As I mentioned before, both Sybil and Edith are barely explored (and when Edith does have a story, it's all about Mary).
People keep saying what a bitch Edith is, but I don't see it. Yes, what she did to Mary (writing the embassy that letter) and calling Mary a slut was horrible, but the things that Mary did to Edith were worse (mocking/yelling at Edith for crying about Patrick, putting Edith down/calling her ugly throughout season 1, scheming to make Sir Anthony fall in love with her because Edith liked him and Mary wanted to hurt her, lying to Sir Anthony about Edith so Sir Anthony would break off his engagement). One of the first scenes we see is of Edith crying for Patrick and Mary mocking her/telling her to shut up.
What I love about Edith (and Sybil) is that they're interested in the world around them outside of Downton Abbey. (Examples include Edith talking business at the dinner table with Sir Anthony and Sybil helping Gwen get work).
I was hoping that Downton Abbey would explore all the characters, but judging from what I've heard about season 2, it's Matthew/Mary. I wish there were people that wanted to talk about the other characters (besides Matthew/Mary) and that actually liked the other characters (yes including Edith and Thomas). I haven't seen season 2 yet, but let me know if other characters like Edith, Thomas, Sybil and Branson actually get some storylines/decent screen time rather than being background scenery for Matthew and Mary's drama.