<p>There is no mystery if the obvious person is the killer.</p>
<p>My MIL came up with an interesting theory. What if Lord Anthony (master of the rapist valet) pressures/blackmails Mary into choosing him over Blake (and any others) since he knows that she knows something unsavory about the rapist valet’s death?</p>
<p>And WHY did he say something like, “I’ll still be waiting for you even after you marry someone else”. Creepy!</p>
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<p>In actual fact, the Southern planter elites tended to have no money long before the war because they were indebted to factors who provided luxury goods in exchange for crop futures.</p>
<p>Please endeavor to recall that you are not the only person here with a grasp of history or the ability to google before embarking on on of these lengthy lectures. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>They posted it later than usual this week…
<a href=“http://happyplace.someecards.com/topic/downton-abbey-s4-recap/newest”>http://happyplace.someecards.com/topic/downton-abbey-s4-recap/newest</a></p>
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<p>And in the process, you missed the larger point, which is that most of the Southern planter elite supported the very war which ultimately caused them to be left with worthless currency, losses in physical and economic infrastructure, losses of loved ones, and consequently, the right to complain about their losses at the hands of the victorious union government and its agents. </p>
<p>After all, most southern planter elites were the most ardent advocates for secession and the Confederate cause and dominated the political and officer corps of the Confederate government and military. Ironically, in doing so, they ended up hastening the demise of the very basis of their wealth and feudalistic aristocratic pretensions. </p>
<p>In contrast, the British landed gentry weren’t as directly responsible for their own demise and the process of their decline was much more gradual and drawn out. </p>
<p>Are we done with the war between the states yet?</p>
<p>What is Mr. Molesley going to do when he hears the story of Baxter’s unsavory past from Thomas (who has got to share it with someone in next week’s finale)? I predict he will stupidly, reject her only to regret his rash action when it’s too late. But will it really be too late? Will Molesley and Baxter find some sort of fragile-people happiness?</p>
<p>Will someone please punch Thomas in the face again? The last one seems to have worn off.</p>
<p>The bigger issue they seem to be presenting in the Bates family relationship is Anna’s distrust of him. There is a suggestion that she is not just afraid he will be accused, but that she knows he is capable of murder. She is too good of a woman for her marriage to be sustainable if she believes he killed Mr. Green. </p>
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What Joblue said!</p>
<p>Thanks for the FB version, CountingDown. I love these!</p>
<p>Re: Thomas - how is it even possible he is ALWAYS lurking around the corner overhearing things? Doesn’t he ever have work to do?</p>
<p>Good point lorelei, I agree with you. I think that is something that will lay heavy on Annas heart.</p>
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<p>Right. It can’t be Bates. Bates is the red herring. The obvious suspect actually commits the murder only in real life. On TV the obvious suspect never commits the murder. </p>
<p>Only in real life is it the obvious suspect! :-)</p>
<p>Maybe Anna did it herself!</p>
<p>I watched it when it aired in the UK so it’s been so long since I saw, I can’t remember if Anna has an alibi or anyone else for that matter. I think I heard I won’t get to see the next series until September, and I have already been waiting so long! Ugh!</p>
<p>Well, you know, Anna was in London when Mr. Green was pushed/fell under the lorry!! </p>
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<ol>
<li><p>Wouldn’t that have required Lady Mary’s permission to have a long period of time off from attending to her while they were in London?</p></li>
<li><p>Would mean she’d have had to take Mr. Greene by complete surprise to negate his greater height/strength advantage.</p></li>
<li><p>If Lady Mary had anything to do with it…even passively by giving that permission and suspecting something, her reaction when Lord Gillingham broke the news means she’s a great actress…and I’m not referring to Michelle Dockery here. :)</p></li>
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<p>Lady Mary was without Anna when she visited Mr. Ross. Anna might have had an opportunity at that time. </p>
<p>I don’t think Lady Mary herself would do such a thing, especially since Lord G told Mary that he would fire Mr. Green, So from Mary’s point of view, that’s sufficient. </p>
<p>I really don’t think either of them did it, but it’s fun to imagine!</p>
<p>I prefer to think that Bates somehow informed the victim that he was on to him, and the guy committed suicide.</p>
<p>It sounds like he got pushed into the street and hit by a car or something , right? Easy for a woman to do. </p>
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<p>Maybe Lord Grantham and Thomas Barrow accidentally ran him over on the way back from their New York trip and didn’t realize it? :D</p>
<p>I can totally see Anna doing it, so that Bates couldn’t. And she was certainly free while Mary was visiting Ross . . . which is about when it supposedly happened. Also, it vaporizes her status as the simpering victim, and lets the writers make her a strong character again.</p>
<p>JHS, I agree with you, but then it’s much less interesting when Anna asks Bates what he did “in York.”</p>