Downton Abbey

My feeling is it should have ended at the end of the last series with happy parents with their son and heir. In this new series it is sliding incredibly fast into another soap opera and there are more than enough of those bashing out the same storyline like an endless tape. What I believe is leave them calling for more not saying turn it off I have had it with this.

It seems as if the dark, Scandinavian brooding-ness (I have had to coin a new word, I don't mean broodiness) is infecting many TV programmes now. It worked really well for 'The Killing' and was a great background for Sara's sweaters, but I don't think it works for Lady Mary. Although I can see our Tom as a suitable 'John Brown' ghillie character for cheering up gloomy widows...

I agree with most of the comments already made--but I agree with Iam64 that it is worth watching for Maggie Smith's appearances and facial expression. I think JF might be making the same mistake he made in the second series--too much content which makes everything a bit superficial and not very credible.
Such a pity Dan ? who played Matthew wanted to get out of it before getting type cast. Did he end up as a Booker Prize judge?
And how did Lady Rose get there? I must have missed that bit. Or is she just in it for a bit of flapper modernity? Surely she must know some bright young things in London who she could live with. (I think I read somewhere that she is going to do Cinderella for Disney.)

Was 'Lady Mary' always so wooden, or is she trying to show how grief has affected her

I suspect that's on the way henetha, well maybe not the rock n roll smile

I enjoyed it last night, but agree it could do with a bit of pepping up...
a touch of sex, drugs and rock n roll...

Just as well she conveniently gave birth to a son, annsixty so the estate will pass through her (like a dose of salts) to him.

JF must think we have short memories.

I had kept my opinions to myself as I felt "it must just be me" but yes it is so boring. Too many storylines and unlikeable characters just brought in to pad the story out,and I need someone to remind me just how Mary can now own half of Downton when the story started with a search for the new Heir as she could not inherit as she was female.

I'm enjoying it, but not quite as much as before.
I think JF is trying to get too much into each episode, instead of concentrating on a decent storyline.

This series seems to be starting slow, or Mr Fellows has lost his mojo. I still enjoy it though, switching off the brain cells, enjoying Maggie smith's one liners whilst sitting comfortably on the sofa.
Braithwaite is the new partner in crime for Barrow. She is a Bad Lot and appeared briefly in the last series, when she attempted to seduce Tom (I think it was Tom - not his Lordship)
Maggie Smith is carrying this one.
Carson's broken heart, mended after yey long, a hand shake - not in character imo
Still - better Sunday night watching than lots we've had. The frocks are still wonderful, and I did enjoy Lady Rose breaking out of her straight jacket

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring

Yes what's the story on Braithwaite?

It's OK merlot - Carson's doing double shifts...

I'm getting worried about those children left upstairs without a nanny.

I am enjoying it although I have no idea who one or two of the characters are eg the fellow who got on the train to go to Northern Ireland. Was he in the last series and I missed him? Braithwaite the maid is another I have never set eyes on before.

I'm still enjoying it too and I gather things are going to hot up next week.

The acting is so wooden. They all appear to be half asleep.

I don't care whether it's historically accurate, lingo-wise or not. I'm still enjoying it!

No. Did people say 'having a go at you' in the 1930s?