It’s been a long wait. Just in case anyone has another offer next Sunday night, turn it down. Next Sunday at 9 pm, Downton Abbey returns to PBS. I have resisted the urge to contact my friends in England and my cousin in Switzerland to get insider information, since the series airs in the fall in Europe.
To those of you who haven’t watched Downton Abbey, do yourself a huge favor and tune in next week. The first show is 2 hours. You can catch up on Amazon video or Netflix if you are of a mind to do so. Meanwhile, don’t think of calling me next Sunday between 9 and 11. I won’t answer the phone.
Even though it was a different time and the Granthams were several classes above most of us, you feel like they are real and that you know them personally. Am sure we will see more die offs and I wonder if Lady Mary and Tom will suddenly come to realize they have a lot more in common than just saving Downton Abbey.
The Granthams were lots of cuts above me. I simply can’t imagine money being that abstract.
Now that would be neat…Lady Mary and Tom….
I’m interested to see how Lady Edith develops.
Out of all of them, I think she has changed the most.
I am so disappointed. I thought my brother and his wife, of all people, were Downton Abbey people. They are not. He said he had never watched. I almost feel like its a blemish on the family.
Certainly Lady Edith is a 20th century woman. It will be interesting to see how she develops. I expect Lord Grantham will expire during this episode, otherwise Lady Mary and Tom will never have a chance to mature.
As to the downstairs bunch…hmmmm. Some things may go awry here.
Ah, “Girls” comes back on January 12, now THAT’S a show!
“Girls” is so disturbing on so many levels and I never miss it.
Nice to see the interest. Less than six years ago, Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) was in such bad shape that the Earl and Countess of Carnavon had to live in a cottage on the grounds. They are finally getting the money for major repairs, much of it from tourists who connect the house with the on-site filming of Downton Abbey. The more interest in the show, the more tourists put Highclere on their travel agenda. Neat way, in my opinion, to salvage one of the fine old houses in the U.K.
I loved the show, despite all the convenient plot contrivances. Something’s got to pass the time until “Walking Dead” comes back.
What is the attraction to Walking Dead. I hear all kinds of people,including my sister say they never thought they’d watch something like it.
I have never watched Walking Dead. Someone convince me it is worthy of my time.
I am waiting for Recify to come back. Did anyone else watch that?
My wife and I finished watching season 4 last week. I won’t give any spoilers but I will caution fans that there is a major plot line in season 4 that will be disturbing to many people. You’ll see it coming, but episode 3 or 4 (can’t remember which) has a scene that is very hard to watch. My wife almost quit watching the show after that.
The 2013 Christmas special is wonderful. Possibly one of the best episodes. Shirley Mclean is back with a few other Americans to show some contrast to the Brits. (I hope that doesn’t count as a spoiler) Very fun, especially compared to the downer of the 2012 Christmas episode.
How did you get to see it? I thought about paying my cousin who lives in Switzerland to send it …and then resisted temptation. however, if you tell me, then next season I can barter my soul.
Streamed from a friend in the UK when it aired back in the fall. Except for the Christmas episode that aired last week. He has a slingbox and so do we so he can watch US shows that aren’t in the UK yet.
Overall season 4 was pretty good. Rose (Shrimpy’s daughter) gets a lot of screen time. I think she’s a new permanent cast member. There are a couple of other new faces too and one or two departures. One cast member leaves at the very beginning of episode one so that doesn’t count as a spoiler. (I mean before the credits start.)
There’s more politics in this season (1920s British politics and even a little bit of American politics.) and there seemed to be more emphasis on some of the secondary characters this season. They touch on a lot of social issues as well, far beyond the usual upstairs/downstairs divide. I can’t say more without giving too much away. You even get to see the King & Queen at one point.
But again, one of the major plot lines for season 4 will make many people unhappy. You’ll know it when you see it. It was very controversial when it aired in the UK. I wouldn’t be surprised if PBS airs a warning at the start of the episode.
And of course everybody’s favorite dowager is hysterical. She makes the show. Lots of scenes with her and Matthew’s mother (forgot her name)
Thanks for the update. I am going to contact my friend Roger to see if he would be able to stream to me. He is a smart chap about such things.
Thanks, Furby.
It’ll be interesting to see what people’s reactions are to a couple of the plot lines. When the time comes you may want to setup a post to discuss them if there are enough Downton fans here. Like I said, there’s still plenty of family drama, but there is a LOT more about what is going on in Britain politically and socially.
I’m glad to see it, because some of the earlier seasons they ignored some major events. They had Tom Branson who had been involved in the IRA or similar group and then completely ignore Irish independence and the Irish Civil War. Churchill meeting Michael Collins was a big deal and Michael Collins’ assassination was a huge event. They should have had Tom Branson go back to Ireland during season 3. Especially since they didn’t have much else for him to do. I’m glad to see they are getting better about it in the later seasons.
They don’t move the timeline up much in season four. It starts six months after the Christmas special and ends in 1923. I’m guessing they are slowing down the pace to avoid getting into the Great Depression too early. (That would seem to make a fairly natural end for the show, I think. Start with the sinking of the Titanic and end with the Great Depression.)
I think I’m running out of things I can say without giving anything away. Unless you want spoilers…
Tom Branson has always served as a sort of liaison between the help and the titled.
No spoilers but please, join the discussion once the show starts. This blog is crawling with Downton Abbey fans.
The WaPo had a few spoilers in it today.
I kind of liked the season premiere, but it was kind of tedious to get through. I have about 10 minutes left to watch tonight. I don’t like Barrow anymore–kind of a whiny, crybaby tattletale now. I think he’s more laughable than badass.
I despise Barrow.