Throughout the day, I tried to think of something to say about last night’s Downton Abbey<\/i>.<\/p>\n
I really can’t. Stuff happened. I watched it. None of it really stands out in my mind.<\/p>\n
Let me think…<\/p>\n
Robert is a blundering and incompetant dolt. There’s an offer for a business deal which he rejects out of hand. Then gets flustered and angry when Cora makes a new friend. When was the last time Robert made any sort of good decision?<\/p>\n
Edith’s godmotherhood to Marigold (her secret daughter) is crashing in flames because she’s pushed the adoptive mother a little too far.<\/p>\n
Mary thinks she wants to marry Tony Gillingham, and then she doesn’t.<\/p>\n
Something’s going on with Thomas.<\/p>\n
The police are looking into the death of Gillingham’s valet, Mr. Greene. (Who, I should remind you, raped Anna in series 4.) And they’ve zeroed in on Mr. Bates. Because, why not.<\/p>\n
Oh, and there’s exiled Russian aristrocracy hanging about.<\/p>\n
Basically, we have an hour’s worth of scenes in search of a meaning. The scenes didn’t find it.<\/p>\n
From last night’s twitterpation:<\/p>\n
\nTony is super creepy #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nOh, poor Kemal! #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nOn, that’s right! There was some post-coital talk between Tony and Mary that pointed back to the Turk who took Mary’s virginity back in series 1.<\/p>\n
It’s been twelve years (in story time); can we finally please<\/i> put Kemal Pamuk to rest?<\/p>\n\nDaisy has to be pushing thirty by this point in time #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis might’ve been in reference to Daisy talking about when she dropped out of school (aged eleven). Point is, sometimes Downton<\/i> acts as though the characters are still as old as they were in the first series, the 1912-1914 period. No, they’re not.<\/p>\n\nSpratt is annoying and dull-witted #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHe really is.<\/p>\n
\nWhy can't Bates and Anna have a happy conversation anymore? #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHonestly, their relationship has become torture porn.<\/p>\n
\nRobert, every business decision you've made to date has been the wrong one #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\nFuck you, Carson. World War I was an abomination, the trenches were inhumane, and the leadership was heartless #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nI’d explain the context, but I’d just get pissed off again.<\/p>\n
The point is, Carson makes this long and involved speech about the Tommies who went off to the trenches and died for Britain. As someone who believes that World War I was a world-historical mistake, it pissed me off.<\/p>\n
\nSpratt has all the personality of an over-boiled potato #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHonestly, before this week I doubt I gave Spratt any thought at all. (Spratt, by the way, is the Dowager Countess’ valet. He’s appeared a few times in the past, like when she was trying to find Molesley a job.)<\/p>\n
\nWithnail! #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRichard E. Grant, the second ninth Doctor in the flesh! (Rowan Atkinson is the first, Christopher Eccleston is the third. John Hurt lies outside the set of rational integers.)<\/p>\n
\nIs Bates a secret psychopath? #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nIt’s a fair question. He’s an expert forger. I don’t think it’s clear that he didn’t murder his first wife. Now, he’s being investigated in connection with the death of Mr. Greene.<\/p>\n
\nRobert, stop being a prig #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHis appearance in London didn’t do him any favors.<\/p>\n
\nMary is flappertastic #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nTruly. I’m hoping Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald visit the Abbey before the end of the series.<\/p>\n
\nSo, is Prince Kuragin related to the Kuragins of Tolstoy's WAR AND PEACE? #DowntonAbbey<\/a><\/p>\n— Allyn Gibson (@allyngibson) January 19, 2015<\/a>