Lady Mary in the bedroom with Turkish Delight! 
You’re on a roll!
Edith in the Chapel with… Uh… No one.
A social faux pas, I believe. If I’ve got the nomenclature right:
Parlor maids and footmen are addressed by their first name only.
Butlers, chauffeurs, valets and lady’s maids are addressed by their last name only.
The cook and head housekeeper is always “Mrs. Whatever”, regardless of actual marital status.
Upstairs yes, downstairs they get Mr or Miss in front of their name (though Thomas still get’s called by his Christian name alot). Also visiting servants are always addressed downstairs by their employer’s name (ie if the Granthams were visiting friends Thomas would be “Mr Grantham” and O’Brien “Miss Grantham” as strange as that sounds).
I think I remember that from maybe Howard’s End or Remains of the Day?
That whole thing about how to address servants for visitors came up in Gosford Park, also written by Julian Fellowes.
I was thinking, during this episode, that I don’t remember how it was that it became known that Thomas is gay. I don’t remember him, especially, jumping any new male employees, or anything.
As far as the new footman is concerned, I distinctly got the impression that his job with his previous employer (a female) was more to satisfy her in the bedroom rather than as a footman. That doesn’t quite fit in with the speculation that he is gay.
Bob
In the first episode he was having an affair with the Duke of Crowborough (who promised him a valetship) until he visited under the pretext of seeking Mary’s hand, but really wanted to retrieve the love letters he wrote Thomas to avoid blackmail. Later Thomas hit on Mr Pamuk who blackmailed Thomas into showing him the way to Mary’s bedroom. And there was the blind soldier he fell in love with.
You don’t have to be into it if it’s your job.
I personally don’t yet see any reason to believe that Jimmy/James is gay, but if his previous employer – a wealthy woman who was both his employer and very, very far above him in terms of social status – had the hots for him and he didn’t exactly turn her down then that doesn’t tell us much about his sexual orientation either way. It’s not like he could just say “Sorry honey, I’m flattered, but I prefer guys!”
We do know that he went looking for another job rather than move to France with Lady Wassername, even though she wanted him to go with her, so whatever his sexual orientation he apparently wasn’t as keen on her as she was on him.
Lord Grantham would much more likely have gone to a prep school prior to Eton, quite possibly also boarding, from the age of seven. The aristocracy tended to regard boarding school as the perfect training ground for the sons of aristocracy. Kids who stayed home were too soft and tied to their mothers’ skirts. Governesses were for girls.
Matthew, being also privileged, would also have gone to a public boarding school, though perhaps a lesser one than Eton, maybe somewhere like Rugby or Winchester, for two such examples. Grammar school was for the decidedly middle classes, as it was free. Anyone even remotely able to afford it sent their sons to public school.
I think it was James Dean who, when asked if he was bisexual, replied “Well, I’m certainly not going thru life with one hand tied behind my back.” Maybe it’s apocryphal, but maybe James is not so much gay or bi as well aware that he is attractive, and not above using the attention he gets from many women and some men to further himself.
I think he pretty strongly implied that his former employer wanted to keep him around as her boy toy, or at least as a trophy.
I bet he will string Thomas along just he will try to do with the female servants - promising much but delivering little. I’m sure he will have a go at Daisy - maybe he will impregnate her and then her father-in-law will shoot him, and we will have another trial for murder.
Or just a lot of drama with Daisy and James and Thomas and the other footmen and the new kitchen maid.
Regards,
Shodan
I agree that the buildup has been great, but when is the show finally going to bring on the freaking zombies?
She’s been referred to as Mrs. O’Brien several times by everyone except Lord and Lady Grantham, IIRC.
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.
I always heard Miss O’Brien.
Exactly. I forgot about the prep schools. Girls were supposed to be soft and tied to their mothers’ skirts, boys were sent away to toughen them up, almost like the Spartan way. Young boys were tought by governesses before recieved a (male) tutor or went to school. Meanwhile Cora would’ve most likely gone to an expensive private school, and her brother’s daughters even sent on to college.
Glad you brought that up – the nuance went right over my head.
BTW, this fun tidbit: How To Watch Downton Abbey While Staying a Man
http://thepessimist.com/2013/01/22/how-to-watch-downton-abbey-while-staying-a-man/
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.)
No, not that I recall. Don’t even know what’s up there, for real or on the show.
Maybe I missed your return, but it’s nice to see you back!
That house is so freakin’ ugly, every time they show it I can’t believe anyone would want to live there.
Anyway, it didn’t take long for Matthew (why do I want to call him “Charles”?) to start making waves on how the estate is run.