<p>“Patrick” was proved to be a con man who had known the real Patrick before he died.</p>
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<p>I had read this in a plot summary before I watched that episode. However, when I watched the episode, it didn’t seem all that clear to me…they seemed to leave it as a mystery.</p>
<p>With that said, hard to understand how the guy could have lost all traces of a British accent.</p>
<p>It wasn’t that clear to me either. And I still wonder why bring him in at all, if he’s just a con man. It doesn’t seem to contribute to the storyline much, unless he turns up later and is proved to really be Patrick.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the loss of accent. They tried to explain it away by saying he had amnesia and was in Canada, thereby adopting a “Canadian” accent, but I didn’t hear any type of Canadian accent either.</p>
<p>The whole “Patrick” plotline was just another cringeworthy dead end, best left behind in the wierdly uneven season 2, IMO.</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with everyone who feels that Edith’s family would have been thrilled to marry Edith off to Sir Anthony and that his leaving her at the altar was ridiculous. They really should have had him drop dead (as I and so many others expected). His running away would have made him an object of ridicule and scorn and not something a gentleman of his era would ever do.</p>
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<p>Actually, that was the first thing which came up in my mind when I saw that scene. Probably derived from reading about and watching documentaries on wars of the 20th century…especially WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.</p>
<p>I still vote for a Edith-Farmhand, O.K. “farmer,” romance. Fellows could conjure up a flu-related death of Mrs. Farmhand. Abandoning that, Edith should book passage to Newport RI with her American aunt right away. Otherwise, I see her returning to bitterness and a vengeful attitude towards her family.</p>
<p>And yes, I too am beginning to find the le affaire Thomas annoying. Carson exposed him, so how is it that Lord Grantham doesn’t know that Thomas is a rotten apple? And will we see fisticuffs between Thomas and O’Brien? Why didn’t O’Brien’s nephew the waiter punch him out already, like Daisy’s “husband” did?</p>
<p>Ok how about this? Edith goes to Newport where she runs into…Patrick. He has to come back in some fashion because in Season 2 he left saying, “it’s too difficult.” Ambiguous - was it too difficult to try to con the family or to try to convince them? This has to be resolved. So Edith meets up with him across the pond, discovers to her satisfaction that he is the real deal, rekindles her love for him and together they return home victoriously taking over the estate when you know who has you know what happen to him …</p>
<p>I am starting to think that Bates is a murderer. Anyone else?</p>
<p>Yes, I am, too, chinablue. I hope I’m wrong.</p>
<p>^^ No, no! Not Bates!</p>
<p>I am so bored with the Bates plotline. I was interested when it was telling me how difficult things were before the age of no-fault divorce. I am completely un-interested in the little anachronistic detective story.</p>
<p>Yep, I agree the Bates plot line has run its course. Any creative ideas on how to tie this one up?</p>
<p>No, Bates can’t be a murderer! That would break Anna’s heart and leave most fans furious. Plus, when Bates discovered that Vera was poisoned, he was sincerely shocked and hurried to tell Anna that he bought the rat poison. He seemed truly worried bout how that looked. I think Vera was so vindictive and devious that she orchestrated the whole thing and put all the evidence in place before she committed suicide. She wasn’t going to be satisfied with anything less than Bates’s utter destruction, even if it meant taking her own life. Twisted, huh? Anna will figure it out and true love will prevail! </p>
<p>As for Edith, I’m on board with the Patrick plot line. I don’t think we’re done with him yet!</p>
<p>Hope to never to see Patrick Again. Edith swallowed his story a bit too easily.</p>
<p>Yeah, the Bates thing seems like a dead horse, UNLESS the writers add intrigue to the heretofore fairly standard plot of Bates’ life being endangered in prison. Here’s a few questions for the writers: Which powerful prison official wants Bates to suffer, and on whose behest did he act? Who forced his cellmate to take part in the plot? Why? Now, that would make the Bates saga a tad bit more interesting.</p>
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Me too. It was much more interesting when he was walking around with that painful brace around his leg. Reminded me of the albino monk from the Da Vinci Code.</p>
<p>I think when Patrick left, his not to Edith was signed with the initials of the Canadian friend that they suspected was impersonating the "dead’ heir rather than the initials of the dead heir. I took that to imply that he was admitting he was in fact an imposter. Of course if he comes back, she has given him a whole lot of insider information that will help him prove his case.</p>
<p>I never saw the first season so yesterday was looking up some of the characters to learn more about them (Patrick for one). I accidentally learned a story line in the upcoming episodes that I am not at all happy about and you all probably won’t be either. Darned internet. Don’t worry - I won’t share :D</p>
<p>Hmmmm… and where <em>might</em> we go if we wanted to find out for ourselves, and also not share?</p>
<p>the internet 
. but i suggest you don’t. I wish i hadn’t. Kind of like reading the end of the book when you are half way through. Not that I ever do that (warily looks up to sky for bolt of lightning…)</p>
<p>Oooooo! I’m so torn! I guess I’ll wait - it gives me a reason to look forward to Sunday nights <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>BTW - heard an interview with Dustin Hoffman on NPR today. He just directed a movie with Maggie Smith called “Quartet” and he referred to it as “Downtown Alley!”</p>
<p>[Downton</a> Abbey Facebook Recap Season 3 Episode 2 | Happy Place](<a href=“http://www.happyplace.com/20538/downton-abbey-facebook-recap-season-3-episode-2]Downton”>http://www.happyplace.com/20538/downton-abbey-facebook-recap-season-3-episode-2)
Another brilliant Facebook spoof of last Sunday’s episode. Very funny!</p>