<p>Yes please do not spoil it. I am doling out my episodes rather than eat them all like a whole chocolate cake.
Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine…wonderful.</p>
<p>Is it just me or is Branson becoming a real jerk? I liked him in the first series and could see Sybil running off with him but now I’ve completely lost sympathy and would like to see her kick him to the curb. He’s gotten extremely pushy and presumes an awful lot with respect to Sybil, given the lenient treatment he’s gotten from Lord Grantham as well as Mr. Carson.</p>
<p>I agree. I find him disrespectful, especially to Sybil.</p>
<p>I have a question. Does Lord Grantham still not know about Mary’s scandal with the Turkish guy?</p>
<p>Yes, that’s right. Lord Grantham doesn’t know. Everyone is protecting him from hearing about it so far.</p>
<p>For all you Downton fans: I’m reading an excellent book about Highclere Castle, where Downton is filmed.</p>
<p>Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon. </p>
<p>It’s very well written and tells the story of Lady Almina, who was an heiress who married Lord Carnarvon around 1900. She actually did turn the castle into a hospital for wounded soldiers in WWI.</p>
<p>RE: Shirley MacLaine as Lady Cora’s mother. In today’s Washington Post TV column, reporter Lisa de Moraes writes:
</p>
<p>Not sure what Anna sees in Bates. He’s still lying to her or at least hiding something else.</p>
<p>What’s he lying about?</p>
<p>^ I don’t know. But there have been several references to the fact that there is another shoe to drop. He told both Anna and Lord G, “nothing you need to worry about” when asked.</p>
<p>JoBlue - totally agree wih you about Branson. I wonder where that’s headed. </p>
<p>I like Bates. He seems like a considerate, kind and very dignified man. I hope he’s not hiding a deep dark secret - though wouldn’t be surprised if he was. This is a drama after all. Nothing like secrets and surprises to keep the viewers interested.</p>
<p>I think Bates is still nervous that Vera might get up to something. With good reason!</p>
<p>Well he has said he was a drunkard & a thief.I wouldn’t be surprised if he & his wife had more to their past than what has been hinted at. Perhaps an early tragedy like the death of a child?</p>
<p>He was a drunkard, but wasn’t he imprisoned for Vera’s crimes, not his own?</p>
<p>Yes, as far as we know Bates went to jail because he confessed to Vera’s crimes. Apparently he felt he should take responsibility because he felt guilty about his drinking. Bates is a sweetie but his judgement seems to be pretty shaky. I suspect the writers set him up this way to maximize the payoff, when we see Vera get her comeuppance and he and Anna get their happy ending.</p>
<p>Of course, I thought that William and Daisy would end up happily together and look what happened there. Poor William…:(</p>
<p>When will America get to see season 3?</p>
<p>Probably a year from now.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize the PBS version & the UK version were different. I looked on iTunes for the Christmas special & saw they had the version that is shown in England.</p>
<p>Yeah, PBS makes cuts.</p>
<p>
You watched both versions?</p>