<p>^As an aside, that was the time I considered not watching the series anymore. I thought the long-lost cousin story was melodramatic and badly acted.</p>
<p>Yes, it was one of “those” moments, and there have been some others too!</p>
<p>But VeryHappy, you really do need to watch the first two seasons. You will appreciate this season so much more, and be VeryHappier. Season one was on Netflix, but I don’t know if it still is. Also there are places online to watch, including PBS, I think. OR, even better - buy the first two seasons on DVD, because you will want to rewatch! I bought them for my husband for Christmas (and pre-ordered season 3, which ships this week -eeee!) and even though he had already seen both seasons with me, we had to start watching all over again!</p>
<p>Pseudo-Patrick was the pits! And you know he’ll be back around. Ugh.</p>
<p>VH, you do need to catch up. First season streams on Netflix, second season you can buy on ituned. Or DVD, or whatever suits your fancy. But watch!</p>
<p>Thanks, all. I’m not sure I want to devote the time to watching the last two seasons, as long as you all will catch me up from time to time. Although I do enjoy looking at the clothes. ;)</p>
<p>For the hats alone, it will be worth your while. :-)</p>
<p>…And Maggie’s Smith’s zingers! (But you can probably google them too)</p>
<p>Hey! Totally OT, but why do I still have only 3 posts? I’ve said at least 20 things on this thread alone : (</p>
<p>operadivasmom, CC doesn’t count posts in the Cafe. (Nothing is real here. 
)</p>
<p>Oh…darn. But this is much more fun than all that stressful college stuff! I think it should count double!</p>
<p>Yes, operadivasmom, and just imagine how enormous the post count would be for some of us if they DID count! :)</p>
<p>Having seen all of the current season, I am biting my tongue except to say that you are all completely wrong. 
(Well, almost.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>True. My mom used to be a clerk in an ER and she said that OB patients never ever delivered in the ER. They were always taken to the OB floor, no matter what.</p>
<p>I just watched the episode online and even though I knew what was coming, I teared up. My daughter, a fourth year medical student and aspiring Ob-Gyn, watched with me and as soon as Sybil spoke of her swollen ankles she cried out “Noooooooo!”. Though she had not read any spoilers she knew what was up.</p>
<p>Lots of people dislike Mary. I like her more than I dislike her. In fact I don’t really dislike her so much as I become exasperated with her from time to time. She sometimes fits the common behavior pattern of the Difficult Girlfriend.</p>
<p>One thing about Downton Abbey is that nearly every character is constantly riding a sine wave of being likable for a while, but then becoming dislikable for one reason or another, and then getting rehabilitated back to likable again, and so on…</p>
<p>Edit: Oops. Meant to post this on the other Season 1 Downton thread. But since it already has a reply I will leave it here but post it over there too.</p>
<p>Right now, Robert = dislikable</p>
<p>Coureur, love the sine wave analogy.</p>
<p>It wasn’t so much the swollen ankles- everybody’s feet and ankles swell when they’re pregnant- so much as the headaches that were diagnostic. Once she said she had headaches and swollen ankles, I immediately knew “pre-eclampsia”. I thought she’d die of a stroke, though.</p>
<p>Didn’t they take blood pressure in those days? Sybil’s would have been sky-high. </p>
<p>I’m ready to smack Robert. Not so much for going with Dr Sir Dumbo’s diagnosis instead of Clarkson’s, because there wasn’t much they could have done anyway and a Caesarean really was very dangerous, but because of the way he acted like he should make the decision about Sybil’s care instead of Tom. </p>
<p>And the stupid prudery about the word “urine.” Which would you rather hear, “urine” or “Your daughter is dead because we couldn’t talk about her health care without shocking you”?</p>
<p>I don’t believe Mary has been told she is infertile, because I don’t think they could diagnose infertility in those days. Unless it’s something weird like her having no uterus at all, they wouldn’t be able to tell.</p>
<p>I re-watched the last episode on pbs.org. One of the early scenes shows Clarkson taking Sybil’s blood pressure. </p>
<p>I am surprised so many here don’t like Mary. Actually her behavior is very true to life. When she didn’t have a stake in Downton because she wouldn’t inherit, she was indifferent to it. Now that she will be Lady Grantham some day and will live in Downton all her life, naturally she cares deeply about it and about it’s traditions.</p>
<p>One of the aspects of the show I really like is the obsession with titles even below stairs. The maids and footman are first name only. Below stairs it’s “Mr. Carson”". But it’s just “Carson” to the Crawleys. But both below stairs and above it’s “Mrs. Hughes” and “Mrs. Patmore”, eventhough neither is married.</p>
<p>Can anyone explain why Mr. Bates’ cell mate and a guard are plotting against him exactly? I seem to have missed something. Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t get that one either. But I am not sure I trust Bates.</p>
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</p>
<p>Carryovers from Victorian/Edwardian morality norms. Many words which are pretty innocuous today were considered unspeakable in polite Victorian society:</p>
<p>[Horrible</a> Histories Polite Victorian House - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOm9qLwlvSc]Horrible”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOm9qLwlvSc)</p>