<p>Me too, Cookie! My escape to another way of life.</p>
<p>It took us forever to figure out which dismissed/departed maid came back - the one who came a secretary? the one who slept with the soldier? Oh, the one who flirted with Tom. Since the folks downstairs dress pretty much alike, I have a hard time telling the young ones apart, especially after the passage of so many months.</p>
<p>I have to admit that Mary’s character in mourning was almost comical, the way she was white as chalk, speaking as if drugged. I’m not one who thinks people “get over” major losses, but I guess that if you don’t HAVE to do anything (take care of the house, kids, cook, do laundry), it could prolong the earliest stages of mourning.</p>
<p>It was pretty to watch – it always is – but I was bored. I agree that Edith has become interesting. Lord Grantham is an idiot.</p>
<p>Michelle Dockery (Mary) is a naturally very pale person and black makes her look even more pale. Queen Victoria was in mourning for 40 years!</p>
<p>Mourning can actually be worse as time goes on. The first few months, even years the person is often numb with shock, then reality sets in. Interesting to see her anger and glad to see her re-entry into business at Downtown… funny was she any paler than usual…?</p>
<p>I still don’t get to participate since I don’t want to spoil it, but I just want to say not to give up yet… we thought this season got to a slow start, too, but it very much picked up. I was incredibly disappointed by the first episode back, both because it wasn’t all that interesting and because I was really in love with Matthew and Mary. But it pulled me back in and I think it will for you, too, just give it a chance.</p>
<p>I did start watching The Paradise over the break, we are just a few episodes in. After the first episode I had a generally pleasant impression but wasn’t hooked, but I am getting there-- I can tell I am going to really like it.</p>
<p>I didn’t watch the recent Season 3 reruns, so can someone please remind me exactly what Thomas’s role is now? </p>
<p>He went, as I recall, from footman, to soldier, to patient, to a sort of clinic manager, to acting valet to Lord Grantham, and now he appears to be right back where he started: footman. Is that the case?</p>
<p>Thomas Barrow is the under butler.</p>
<p>Is now second to Mr. Carson, over Bates.</p>
<p>I can’t rmember either. He seems to be some kind of over-footman. They used to call him Thomas, and now they call him Barrow, which must indicate something, I think.</p>
<p>Edit–crossposted with beerme. Thanks!</p>
<p>Speaking of changing names…last night I kept hearing people refer to “the Abbey.” Didn’t they used to call it “Downton”?</p>
<p>I did like the way Thomas helped get rid of that awful nanny. Not-so-thrilled with the machinations wrt Anna…</p>
<p>missypie, I was wondering the same thing about “the Abbey”. I don’t recall it being referred to that way either.</p>
<p>I am another one who was a bit bored last night. Hoping things will pick up. And what was the point of bringing in Carson’s friend, only to send him off? I feel like they must be planning something else around that later and were just setting the stage. Unless it really just a way to reengage Isobel into living again.</p>
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<p>Same here! And it got me in trouble. Because I couldn’t tell them apart (and scenes are often brief and jump around) I went to my reliable old Wikipedia page so I could look things up regarding past episodes, characters, etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that Wikipedia had updated its Downton Abbey page with episodes from this season (must have done that when it aired in the U.K.), and as I scrolled down the page looking for information (and not expecting to see anything regarding this season) I saw just enough words to spoil some of the story lines from this season. It’s going to get interesting.</p>
<p>Why the flip flop with Thomas? Bates saved his caboose last year and now all of a sudden Mrs. Bates is the object of Thomas’ ire for no apparent reason? What gives?</p>
<p>The stuff with the new ladies maid Brathwaite seems contrived. All Mrs. Hughes had to do was tell Cora that Brathwaite had the hots for her late daughter’s husband. Cora would have subsequently tossed Braithwaite out on her can in a New York minute.</p>
<p>Re Post #1831: But when Tomas “reported” on naughty things about the nanny, I think it was only because he was p!$$ed that she was ordering him around. I don’t believe he had actually heard her shaming the girl, which Lady Crowley did by eavesdropping at the door to the nursery.</p>
<p>LW–I know. And I didn’t buy for a second that she would have taken one who didn’t have extensive experience and references–just because she’d worked there for a nanosecond and got a good review as a maid from Hughes?</p>
<p>VH–yes! It was pure happenstance Cora heard that; as far as we knew, Thomas knew nothing about it.</p>
<p>Overall, the plotting felt really forced.</p>
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<p>Really?!? How could anyone forget the Evil O’Brien?</p>
<p>LOL. :D</p>
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<p>I couldn’t swear that there are no exceptions, but my impression is that people who live and/or work in Downton Abbey often call it “Downton” for short, but townsfolk and other outsiders familiar with the area call it “the Abbey” to distinguish it from the nearby town of Downton.</p>
<p>Gorgeous dress Lady Edith wore when meeting her Mr. Rochester. Finally she gets to look good.</p>
<p>I’m suspicious that Mr. Rochester is actually becoming a German to divorce his insane wife. Wouldn’t that take approximately forever, first to gain citizenship and then to go through the divorce proceedings? I think he’s just saying it to get Edith into bed.</p>