If DA were on FB: http://www.happyplace.com/21471/downton-abbey-facebook-recap-season-3-episode-7
I love these things! Deadspin did several featuring NFL quarterbacks.
blink (as light goes on over head) - Wow. You are absolutely right, Rhiannon. I see now that I’ve been expecting it to be the former, so no wonder I was getting frustrated with it. Perhaps it started out as a “period drama” but it’s morphed into a “period soap opera”; but it can still be entertaining in that context. Your comment will actually allow me to enjoy the series again. Props.
I saw today that our library has a display of books on British country houses and high society in the Twenties under a sign reading, “For your Downton Abbey withdrawal symptoms.”
That’s hilarious! 
Wow, what a hamfisted bunch of writers they have. Prior to Season 3, I remember reading that Downton had shucked its Season 2 soap opera ways. That’s hysterical, in hindsight.
I’m watching the Sopranos for the first time, which probably has a lower body count per episode in its Season 3.
[QUOTE=Labrador Deceiver]
Wow, what a hamfisted bunch of writers they have. {snip}
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Sadly, while the show appears to have been written by a bunch of writers who refuse to talk to each other about what they are writing, there is but one person to blame for this: Julian Fellowes.
This probably should be its own thread (or not) but, I would really like to see Edith Crawley as a Doctor Who companion.
The first adventure should be set in the 1920s. Edith, while in London to meet with her editor, meets the Doctor and helps him save the world. She then travels with him to the future and helps save the universe. When she returns to earth, she becomes a very successful science-fiction author, whose predictions about future technology are astoundingly accurate!
I can see him taking Mary as a companion and abandoning an entire planet that’s in danger of annihiliation to take her back to Downton because he can’t stand it anymore.
Hmm, maybe Steve Moffatt will take over for Julian Fellowes and Season 4 will beging with Matthew either regenerating or learning that he can’t be killed.
Edith–and Violet.
[BTW, Mrs. Quercus and i just watched “From Time to Time” last night on The Netflick. Lots of familiar faces in that, with Maggie Smith playing another crusty-compassionate grandma in a crumbling manor house…]
One of my favorite things about the film Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was seeing Maggie Smith play a blue-collar retiree rather than an aristocratic dowager for a change. She was still irritable but in a scared-racist-bitter way rather than pompous-snobbish-classist way.
Though one of my favorite ever of her performances was as a small town social climber in A Private Function: “I think sexual intercourse might be in order.”
I like to think her character was just a reincarcation of Violet. 
For you young’uns here, check out Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Well, considering Downton Abbey and Doctor Who both do Christmas specials, they should consider a Christmas special crossover.
She and David Niven were a good pair of Nick-and-Nora knockoffs in Murder by Death: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jiwX4mY9N94/UFw1NzXFnKI/AAAAAAAAAuE/g7YO6VPvzi8/s1600/Murder+by+Death2.jpg
I love that movie!
Anyone else digging those lampshades at Duneagle Castle?
Love those lampshades. They should be available at the Downton Abbey store.
Matthew was blonde, well mannered, played Cricket. Naturally he’ll comeback frizzy haired, irritable and in a patchwork jacket.
I have to say, I didn’t notice them. What did you like about them? This is the only pic I could find online: http://janeaustensworld.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/susan.jpg
In the past few days I’ve seen two shows described as perfect follow-ons for DA fans:
On PBS: Mr Selfridge - Wikipedia
And on HBO: Parade's End (TV series) - Wikipedia
Me.
Parades End is good until the last episode where it falls apart.