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

[likeadeuce]

First of all, agree that Daisy was the best-written character of season 2. Her story was heartbreaking but nothing about it felt manipulative, whereas so much else that happened (Matthew's injury and then his recovery, Lavinia's death) seemed narratively convenient. This story, sad as it was, felt fresh and really complex

[selenak]

The Lavinia lives AU is amusing, and them in Paris only misses out the lot of them running into Lawrence of Arabia during the Versailles conference. :)

On the other hand, it does let my fanficcer's brain imagine there was a lot going on there that we just don't see (for instance, they have conversations about the Russian Revolution and Sylvia Pankhurst that only make sense if they're an extension of similar conversations that have happened before.)

Oh, that's what we fanficcers do. :) *waves the banner of co-created Darla/Immortal fanon*

re: Branson vs Thomas: there's no doubt that Thomas even in his three dimensional state is a piece of work and Branson is someone earnestly believing he can make the world a better place; it's just that I find Thomas an interesting piece of work as presented in canon and want to find out more about him (and am currently in the process of discovering there are some good fanfics around, thank you, Yuletide), whereas nothing in canonical second season Branson encourages me to want to know more.

[likeadeuce]

I actually was planning to rewatch A Dangerous Man in light of that Peace Conference bunny though I haven't gotten around to it yet

[selenak]

:) I didn't want any of them dead, but oh dear, did I want a revolution to happen in England RIGHT THEN AND THERE throughout the season.

[selenak]

I see her narrative as one of frustrated energy and anger not being able to find a satisfying outlet.

The problem is that we never see her try to find one. For example: in season 1 when she's angry about the fact the estate won't go to her because she's a woman I'd have loved to sympathize with her on general feminist principle, but my problem was and is that we've never seen Mary do something for the estate. Administration, wonder about which crop to grow, anything. (This did not leave me rooting for Matthew as heir, this left me rooting for the National Trust to get it and the entire Crawley family having to work for their living, mind.) Nor did we see Mary long for any other type of job, be it creative (being an artist, for example) or otherwise (hey, maybe she could have had a secret talent for numbers). To use two examples, one fictional, one not, of characters who share some traits with Mary

[violaswamp]

I love Mary, but yes, she never seems to consider that work may be an option for her.

But I wonder how much of that may be due to the writers' own disinterest in (say) estate-administration as a plot device, or even as something that might be mentioned in the plot. I think we're meant to think that Mary would be good at running things, whether it's an estate or Richard Carlisle's business empire, but the writers never show what exactly the Count(ess) of Grantham does besides dress for dinner, so...it's hard to say.

[selenak]

Point taken. Though how hard could a line or two of dialogue about estate decisions be? It's frustrating because as you say Mary gives the impression she could be good at something if she tries. But she never does anything.