Apparently, she wanted the chance to dazzle Tom Branson with her very brave rudeness to his father-in-law who has pretty much saved him from prison and made him an important and valued member of the family.
I also think Bunting is rude. without provocation.
I thought the farmer wanted to find a way for marigold to stay at DA??? NO??
Elizabeth McGovern has her own band.
I thought the manners episode interesting.On many level I would not want to be the aristocracy, it seemed like a smothering kind of life. Oh my cant show my hands!!! too many rules.
Part of that is for effect to illustrate the contestation between those who favor the old aristocratic order who are still dominant, but slowly being left behind by history and those who don’t who foreshadow a more modern society similar to the one we currently live where aristocratic status doesn’t command nearly as much social, economic, and political power.
That and keep in mind Julian Fellowes sympathizes more with the aristocrats considering he is an aristocratic peer himself and sits on the Conservative bench in the House of Lords.
It’s also interesting so many commenters focus on Bunting’s outspokenness as rude when in the manners special, several cast members…including Hugh Bonnerville, the actor who plays Lord Grantham remarked at how behaving as an authentic Edwardian aristocrat means acting in a manner which would be considered exceedingly rude, mean, and boorish if done in the current modern world to anyone.
“Rudeness at your host’s dinner table, at an important family celebration (Grantham’s wedding anniversary) is never justifiable. What on earth is she teaching the kids at the school?”
It’s a TV show.
“This kind of behavior is just cheap and self-indulgent, while allowing her to feel superior to her hosts… Of course, Branson is not the sharpest tool in the box so it will very likely be successful in winning his heart. Poor Sybbie.”
You do realize this is a fictional TV show, no?
“Why on earth would she accept the invitation, given her views?”
Because it’s a TV show.
We all know it is a tv show. Many of us like to suspend reality for a short while. I, too wondered about what Bunting is teaching at the school. It could be an issue later on in the show. Hmm, maybe there will be a conflict if Branson gets on the school committee…
It’s also because such heated discussions were taking place during that period due to the very contestation between the old aristocratic order and those espousing ideas which foreshadow the modern age we live in now.
And such discussions probably did take place though it was probably older generations versus younger generations of the family or between two members of the same generation or close longtime friends with differing positions on that very contestation.
After all, a little more than a century before, there were aristocrats who questioned aristocratic privilege and were taken in by the concept of social equality where such privilege counted for little. Maquis de Lafayette was one such aristocrat who ended up being jailed by fellow aristocrats during the French Revolution because they viewed him as a traitor not only to the Bourbon royal family, but also their own aristocratic class of which he was a part.
Question for Emilybee:
Why didn’t Martians come to dinner at Downton Abbey?
[see, your answer doesn’t always work!]
“Why didn’t Martians come to dinner at Downton Abbey?”
Maybe they did. We don’t know where Ms. Bunting is from.
I just think it is a bit silly to be talking about this character and her motivations for behaving the way she does like she is a real. I don’t think it would be a very interesting drama without these conflicts between the old way and the new way.
Can you imagine how deadly dull the dinner party scene would be to watch (or the show for that matter - or any show for that matter) if they didn’t take artistic license?
The creator/writers of DA deliberately chose to have Sarah do and the say the things she does for the sake of the show and the contrast her character brings. Believe it or not - Julian Fellows actually wants people to tune in and watch every week.
@emilybee…I agree. But it is fun to discuss and read, I think. I’m not that keen on Ms. Bunting for some reason, and I’ve never really been interested in Rose either. I’m not sure why I’m ambivalent about these characters, but I am. I hope they introduce someone fascinating to the show soon.
Indeed. And he’s gleefully laughing his aristocratic self all the way to the bank. And deservedly so considering his written show is compelling enough to attract a worldwide audience and much commentary…including here. 
@emilybee Why are you on this forum if some of the discussions are silly?
IIRC, the rudeness they were referring to has to do with the fact that you weren’t supposed to thank, or even notice, the servants. Otherwise you’d be thanking them 50 times a day. That’s a different kind of rudeness from offending your hosts in their own home.
Madison85, I think traffic on College Confidential would be way, way down if no one posted to a discussion s/he thought was silly!
It wasn’t only about thanking servants, but also speaking your mind bluntly and proudly with no apologies as an aristocrat has the right to be heard and WILL be heard. The very bluntness which Sarah Bunting is being condemned for by several posters here.
But then again, she’s not an aristocrat…
Right. The only thing of interest would have been Moseley’s “Latin” hair.
@Emilybee - it also makes me a little nuts when people are too focused on the motivations/actions/personalities of fictional characters. I love Downton Abbey but I also love *The Walking Dead/i I’ve tried to watch Talking Dead too (where they discuss each episode of The Walking Dead with fans and cast members) - but I just can’t watch it anymore. It’s so frustrating to hear these people discuss fictional characters as if they were really human: Why did Carol want to run off? What was Rick thinking when he killed that policeman? People! THEY AREN’T REAL. THEY’RE TV CHARACTERS.
On the other hand: I don’t like Ms. Bunting, the dowager countess is my favorite, Moseley’s hair fiasco is hilarious, and I think it would be very interesting if Bates did kill his wife’s rapist (what would Anna and Mrs. Hughes do?)
“Why are you on this forum if some of the discussions are silly?”
Because I watch DA and it’s my right to participate in this discussion thread. You can put me on ignore if you’d like. Just click the wheel on the top right (preferences) and click on ignore list.
How did Ms. Bunting (and there was no MS. then so it must have been Miss Bunting–?) know how such precise table manners? The political discussion was jarring as rude is rude and her tone of voice bothered me as she was lecturing not discussing. I think dropping a serving spoon or using the wrong fork would have fit in nicely.
I don’t enjoy Miss Bunting’s stridency, but I look forward to seeing a better side of her when she starts teaching Daisy. (Not a spoiler, as I haven’t watched ahead, but come on, it’s obvious that the teacher of mathematics and the servant who wants to learn to keep books are going to get together.)
There could be a nice additional storyline if Lord Grantham swallows his pride and quiet indignation to also quietly seek her help with mathematics and common sense from Lady Mary and Tom Branson so he doesn’t fall for more Ponzi schemes and feel overwhelmed with the details of running the estate.