DA Christmas Special (After the Rush)

[tripp3235]

So it's been a couple of day and the euphoria of finally seeing my couple in each other's arms has started to lift.  It shan't go away, not entirely, but I should recap my feelings on the episode as a whole.

Mary/Matthew: Of course, my favorite part of the show.  I feel the proposal scene was wonderful and beautifully shot.  I think many of their

Comments

[maryme2]

Carlisle: I disagree a bit about Carlisle. He was introduced in epi 2 when an engaged Matthew wasn't around, and I think he did NOT know what he got into because Mary didn't tell him (and probably didn't realise herself) how much emotional baggage she carried with her, and that she would never even want to free herself of Matthew. I also felt that he was trying to learn to behave proper (loved the tweed scene in epi 2) when he was first introduced to the Granthams. He was sort of the male equivalent to Lavinia, we just all knew that this could never work. Being in love with Mary, I think he was already in too deep when he realised how matters stood, and he sort of reacted automatically if inappropriately as he saw his pride being hurt, and Mary withdrawing. The apology he got from Mary was for entering into the relationship with him on false pretenses, and it was nice gesture. It was important to her to admit responsibility for the early stages, and I didn't see her apologise for any of their later arguments.

admission: Absolutely

Interesting

[tripp3235]

Carlisle: I disagree. Carlisle is supposed to be observant man, or so I thought. While he might not know of Mary's feelings without Matthew around, I'd think he would have studied her when he was around. Given Carlisle seemed jealous of everyone Mary even spoke to (he even asked if he should be jealous of Carson), I'm sure he noted quite well Mary's obvious interest in Matthew. He was the only one who noticed during the Patrick discussion that Mary only cared how this made Matthew feel. And when he proposed and she didn't answer for like a year, I'm sure he knew what that meant. It was only after she came to him with her problem did he get the answer to the proposal

Re: Interesting

[maryme2]

admission: Well, I really wanted to hear it from Mary to Matthew. He's heard from everyone else she loved him. She should say it too. And I do think he was close to tears. He looked quite emotional.

Ah, that way around! No, actually I'm glad SHE didn't. Because Matthew has been so presumptious to assume -- since the beginning of S2 -- that because he dumped her in 1x07 believing that she didn't love him, she actually didn't. I don't think it's her business to refute his claim by saying "I love you" because that would suggest he had a right to make that claim in the first place. HE has always made unjust accusations about her NOT loving him. He said that twice in the CS alone while nothing in her actions suggested anything but love. And M/M were never about words, only actions. So I'm glad it didn't come up. Eolivet knocked some sense into me with regard to Matthew's CS, so I'm happy he didn't say it either.

Re: Interesting

[tripp3235]

But it's not about a claim or who was right or who was wrong. It's about love. And from what I got from the "You lived your life and I've lived mine" comment, let's just go into this together. And I'd like to have heard "I love you." It's not a big deal. I'm confident they love each other certainly. But I guess in S1 I always hated the way Mary said she loved him that first time. Like she just realized it. In some ways it can be romantic but I didn't care for it. And I think she struggled with those feelings too. She loved him but not necessarily enough, MD admits that Mary didn't realize it UNTIL Matthew walked away and she lost him. Which is interesting because it's that lost that forces to finally break down. It's a great parallel to the beginning first scene of Mary hearing she lost her fiancee

[silverducks]

I agree with most of this, especially Edith, Robert and Rosamund. I definitely want a proper love story for Edith, not for her to settle for a friendship marriage. I agree it was tying up loose ends for her, which hopefully will lead onto a proper story for her

[tripp3235]

I should say that Carlisle thought he loved her, I just didn't see it as real love. I didn't see much grey in him though, I thought his hatred of charades, remarking on Bates and his inability to let the servants have some time off was OTT.

I didn't like the Ouji board thing. I'm sorry. While I think Mary/Matthew are the OTP, I don't need spirits beyond the grave telling me that. I don't hate Lavinia and wished she could have had a happy ending instead of the tragic one, but I am really with Isobel in wanting them to never mention that sweet dead girl's name again.

[eolivet]

I rolled my eyes at the Carlisle thing, but I saw it coming the moment he said he stopped the story with "bribes, calling in favors," blah blah...and I actually think they did it to redeem Mary, not to make Carlisle look better. That she could find it in her heart to apologize...IDK. I didn't love it either.

But I ADORED the Ouija board scene. I mean, flat out LOVED IT. Because it was so UNEXPECTED. The Ouija board plot was COMIC RELIEF. "Is there anybody there?" O'Brien asks, barely holding back a laugh. "She says you're too fat." Insulting Mrs. Patmore. "Is it always that specific?" Mrs. Patmore's poor, tired fingers. It was a JOKE. So, the final Ouija board scene gave me chills. Because it was Anna and Daisy -- neither of whom had any real contact with Lavinia. The idea that Lavinia's spirit and her desire to see M/M happy was SO strong, she could "speak" through a stupid Ouija board was INCREDIBLY moving. It was an amazing way for JF to bring closure to her story

[tripp3235]

We disagree. Does this mean I have to turn in my Mary/Matthew card? (I do have one. It's laminated.)

I admit I didn't expect it though, as I never attribute anything good to a Ouija board and just assumed it was Vera rearing her ugly head. But I don't need Lavinia to tell me anymore that Matthew and Mary need to be together. I'm sorry. I'm beginning to think she smited her own father so nothing at all stands in their way. (hee, sorry it's late and I"m a bit silly).

So while you loved it, I'm gonna skip it. And I know my friends are gonna tease me about it when they get to that part (they are just starting S2 now).

I do love the proposal and every other scene of M/M. Actually my favorite line was her teasing one that she didn't know which was worse, killing the bird or the shame in missing it. So very much like S1.

Never too late

[tripp3235]

It's never too late to comment on one of my posts!

I am not thrilled with Sir Anthony for her, actually I think for S3 JF needs a new love story. M/M, S/B, and A/B are in a new maturity and he really needs to have a young romance (not necessarily young characters). He may do that with daisy now that she's probably free to marry again. But it would be nice to see Edith fall in love properly (and someone with her).

I just want M/M to be happy and fairly stress free. I am cursed when it comes to ships (see my earlier posts somewhere) and I'm sure M/M are doomed. I'm almost scared to continue to watch to see how they can get screwed up.

Re: Never too late

[tripp3235]

As for Edith... I've come to sympathize with her a lot this season.

Well, I didn't. I think she's written fairly badly as well as all over the place. When Carson collapsed she showed now concern. And while I know she's desperate for male attention to kiss a farmer who was a married man seems really against everything she'd been brought up. They could have taken some time to show us a little reasoning of this but they didn't.

But that doesn't mean I want her with Anthony. I really don't want to watch her chase after him when he's made it clear she shouldn't. *Shudders*

And as for M/M, we can only hope.