# Downton Abbey S3 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791 "2013-01-02T01:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/381 "2013-01-23T22:08:07Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > No, not that I recall. Don’t even know what’s up there, for real or on the show. I saw a show on HGTV about Highclere and the current Earl and Countess. It looks like a lot of the castle is in disrepair. It might not even be safe to go up in the tower. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/382 "2013-01-24T02:47:05Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > It would certainly help Matthew accept the money thing better if Livia would just rise from the grave and give him the 411. And refrain from eating his face. Isn’t that pretty much what they did do with the letter from her pa? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/383 "2013-01-24T03:23:42Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Mrs. O’Brien in the bathroom with the bar of soap. > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I always heard _Miss_ O’Brien. She’s _Miss O’Brien_ to her peers and subordinates and _O’Brien_ to her betters. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/384 "2013-01-24T03:37:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > She’s _Miss O’Brien_ to her peers and subordinates and _O’Brien_ to her betters. Same deal with Carson (but averted with Mrs Hughes or Mrs Patmore). Daisy really should be Mrs Mason now (& she’s a Mrs in fact, not just by courtesy), but of course everyone still thinks of her as the kitchen maid instead of assistant cook. Of course Anna really should be “Bates” upstairs, but that would just confuse people. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/385 "2013-01-24T11:48:09Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Same deal with Carson (but averted with Mrs Hughes or Mrs Patmore). Right. The cook and housekeeper would be called “Mrs.” even if they had never been married. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/386 "2013-01-24T14:29:30Z")
As [mentioned](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14686998&postcount=50) in an earlier thread, it was also fairly common to call servants by ‘new’ names- James and John were popular for footmen and Emma was popular for housemaids. This was done in the U.S. also. There were also racial and ethnic twists: Irish day laborers were often called Paddy of course and Irish maids were often called Annie, just as in the south older black men and women were often called Uncle and Auntie. Lizzie and Abby Borden called their Irish maid (who was a key witness in the murder trial) ‘Maggie’ even though her name was Bridget Sullivan, and when she left them they called the next Irish maid Maggie as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/387 "2013-01-24T14:44:53Z")
> [@Quercus\_alba](#): > > Isn’t that pretty much what they did do with the letter from her pa? :rolleyes: Joke. Ha. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/388 "2013-01-25T21:26:37Z")
A DA personality quiz: [http://www.weta.org/tv/picks/downtonabbey/quiz](http://www.weta.org/tv/picks/downtonabbey/quiz) I’m closest to His Lordship. No surprise there! ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/389 "2013-01-25T21:34:47Z")
I’m Matthew Crawley apparently. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/390 "2013-01-25T22:31:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A DA personality quiz: [Shows | WETA](http://www.weta.org/tv/picks/downtonabbey/quiz) > > I’m closest to His Lordship. No surprise there! Interesting, apparently I’m John Bates (my least favourite character). The last time I took one of these I was Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/391 "2013-01-25T22:58:15Z")
Yes! Apparently I’ve switched genders and gained and Earldom. Go me! Oh, I just have to post a link to pictures of a foxhunt in Ireland last weekend. There were something like 50 side saddle riders taking some huge ditches. ] [Before the hunt](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2330536030&k=ZdWX4zC&lb=1&s=A) [Climbing out of a ditch](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11202#image=164065) [If I don’t look, I can’t die.](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11202#image=164304) [Master over fence](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11202#image=164542) (Master has to do with his position in the hunt, not social status. [Hounds after scent](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11202#image=164464) [In tandem](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11202#image=164500) [Dry Clean Only](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2330571858&k=b3hT75N&lb=1&s=A) [Kids on ponies](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2333824414&k=L5qWZWX&lb=1&s=A) [Over the ditch](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2334011961&k=7MhKH7J&lb=1&s=A) [Generosity in the field](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2328536829&k=zSjfrBT) [Two worlds meet](http://www.middleburgphoto.com/HorseandHound/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/Ireland-Meath-Hunt/27602894_ZQRPLF#!i=2334031997&k=5JNGMhg) [TallyEffin’Ho](http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11203#image=164674) StG ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/392 "2013-01-26T00:23:48Z")
Oh, dear. I’m Violet. That doesn’t seem quite right. Perhaps I should ring someone round to look into the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/393 "2013-01-26T00:29:30Z")
Another Matthew. Great find, StG! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/394 "2013-01-26T01:38:53Z")
Lord Grantham. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/395 "2013-01-26T02:18:04Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Another Matthew. > > Great find, StG! Elendil’s Heir! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/396 "2013-01-26T02:23:48Z")
Oh! I didn’t dare hope I would be but I am … > [@](#): > > You are Lady Sybil Crawley. The youngest daughter of Lord Grantham, you’re compassionate, strong, and really concerned about social justice. You’d also like to be able to vote. The bravest and most idealistic member of your family, you’re the most likely to end up at a political rally, try and help a servant to a better job, or scandalize your sisters by wearing pants to a party. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/397 "2013-01-26T02:51:17Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Lord Grantham. > > Huh. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/398 "2013-01-26T02:53:51Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Elendil’s Heir! No, StG for the great fox hunt pictures. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/399 "2013-01-26T03:15:19Z")
Aw fuck. I’m Bates. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791/400 "2013-01-26T04:10:32Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Apropos to nothing mentioned, have they ever filmed a scene in the tower? I’m just curious what it looks like from up there. (Without that hideous erection on top it would just be a large plain house.) > [@h.sapiens](#): > > I saw a show on HGTV about Highclere and the current Earl and Countess. It looks like a lot of the castle is in disrepair. It might not even be safe to go up in the tower. Just saw _Secrets of Highclere Castle_, which aired on PBS on Jan. 6 here. It shows the interior of the tower, which is not part of the regular tour today. It was the maids’ quarters back in the day and forbidden to all men. It’s now unused and looks pretty ratty, with peeling paint and lots of dust and grit on the floors and windows. Since there was only a single staircase down, the maids had a folding canvas escape chute to get out in case of a fire - it would hang on a windowsill by a metal frame, and the maids would slide down through it. They showed a B&W photo of a fire drill with the chute hanging down; don’t know why the maids wouldn’t break their ankles when they made it down to ground level. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s3-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/645791.md?page=21)