<p>SouthJerseyChessMom, I think you meant this link: [Video:Watch</a> Secrets of the Manor House Online](<a href=“http://video.whyy.org/video/2188820445]Video:Watch”>Secrets of the Manor House | Beyond the Fiction | Episode 1 | WHYY)</p>
<p>Also, other than simply being fellow villains, what is the relationship between O’Brien and Thomas? Why are they so often scheming together and helping each other?</p>
<p>I am still watching the 1st season on Netflix- but I don’t understand their partnership either.
& would they really have someone in the house who is as nasty as O’Brien unless she was blackmailing them?</p>
<p>For some reason, Lady Cora is very fond of O’Brien, which is why she’s still around. I think she and Thomas feel they’re somehow allies against the rest of the servants. Perhaps O’Brien sees Thomas as something of a son, and he sticks with her as a way to rise a bit in the world, which certainly becomes the case in season 2.</p>
<p>Plus, as coureur says, they can bum cigarettes off each other. ;)</p>
<p>**Booklady **- yes that’s the link! Great. Highly recommend this!</p>
<p>OMG- I posted a link to NPR -Stephen King article, which is excellent reading if you’re participating in the online book discussion this month. 11-22-63! </p>
<p>Booklady’s link is the one for DA. Juggling too many things, right now.</p>
<p>Damn. I missed last night’s Season 2, Episode 3 because I had to work. What happened?</p>
<p>You can watch it here: [Downton</a> Abbey, Season 2: Ep. 3](<a href=“http://video.pbs.org/video/2188519202]Downton”>http://video.pbs.org/video/2188519202). Much better than having us summarize it for you!</p>
<p>Booklady - Many, many thanks!!!</p>
<p>“like O’Brien he seems, for no apparent reason, to be further driven to be generally mean and underhanded at every turn”</p>
<p>Basically. It’s under-written. The actors can fill in some of the blanks in some of the roles, but the rest of the time…</p>
<p>It must be Maggie Smith day because one of my facebook friends posted a video linked from nymag.com title “Sh** Dowager Countesses Say” and then I hit on USA Today’s Life section tonight for Craig Wilson’s Final Word column and it’s about the Dowager Countess as well. So many good things to enjoy while we await the next episode!</p>
<p>And Maggie Smith is in a new movie coming out soon (saw the preview this weekend when I saw The Artist).</p>
<p>The movie is called… The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It looks great. I can’t wait to see it. Also stars Judy Dench and Bill Nighy. The trailer is on youtube. Take a look.</p>
<p>I just got an e-mail from Fodor’s regarding Downton Abbey: [Weekend</a> at Downton Abbey: Our Insider’s Guide to Highclere Castle and Nearby Estates | Travel News from Fodor’s Travel Guides](<a href=“http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5101.html?ref=news_fd_012512]Weekend”>http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5101.html?ref=news_fd_012512)</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be fun to visit?! Sorry if someone mentioned this in this thread somewhere - I didn’t have time to read it all.</p>
<p>Bill Nighy</p>
<p>Swoon ;)</p>
<p>I also noticed Penelope Wilton/Isobel Crawley in the trailer.</p>
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<p>Highclere Castle would be fun to visit, but not for next 2 or 3 years. I bet for now it’s going to be mobbed with Downton fans. Much the same way my work colleagues in Marseille to me that Provence was overrun with “A Year in Provence” fans for several years after that book was published.</p>
<p>Last night H and I watched The History Boys on TV (a marvelous movie - it was our second time), and there was Penelope Wilton as an art teacher, playing a very different sort of character from Isobel. So much fun to see the range these actors have.</p>
<p>I loved the scene between Cora and Isobel in which Isobel threatened to leave and Cora agreed that that would be a good idea!</p>
<p>I’m trying to watch Secrets of the Manor House but it keeps breaking up, not loading correctly with the picture freezing and dialogue stopping mid-word. Grrrr.</p>
<p>^^SJRcalderone, I had that problem with my Netflix streaming movies, until I changed a computer setting, (sorry don’t remember how I got to it, maybe via netflix) and now it’s been great.
Perhaps some savvy computer folks can assist?</p>
<p>For those having trouble understanding the accents, I have two words: closed captioning. Makes all the difference. Available on the broadcasts, Netflix, streaming from PBS.</p>
<p>
kathiep- yes, yes, yes!!</p>
<p>Momof3 – good idea! I often have trouble with the accents, too.</p>