# Downton Abbey S4 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844 "2013-03-02T19:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 30
**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:** [March 3, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/581 "2014-03-03T23:51:02Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Yes, it’s _Downton Abbey_. I love this show, but it’s never met a melodramatic plot twist it didn’t like, and nothing EVER goes right for Edith. Quite. When she lamented, “Sometimes I wonder if God hates me,” I turned to my wife and said, “If by ‘God’ she means ‘Julian Fellowes,’ yup, she’s right.” ---
**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:** [March 4, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/582 "2014-03-04T00:09:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > LOL. Fellowes said early on that he didn’t want to have all sorts of famous people dropping in, but what with Dame Nellie Melba, King George V, Queen Mary, and the Prince of Wales, this season certainly broke that rule… Don’t forget about [Cosmo Lang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmo_Lang) presiding over Mathew and Mary’s wedding last season. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …Sampson is going to be able to figure out who burgled his flat - the doorman will be able to describe Lady Mary etc. to him. Plus he should be able to put two and two together as to Bates filching the note. And just what is Sampson going to do about it? He sure as hell isn’t going to contact the authorities, and he’s not really in a position to blackmail anyone either. He’d best quit while he’s ahead. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …Just a chamberpot behind a screen at the palace? Ewww. They had indoor plumbing back then… I missed have missed that; :eek: that’s something more fitting to 18th century Versailles, not Buckingham Palace in the 1920s. > [@Lamia](#): > > …Even if Drewe fully intends to keep his word, his wife might not be too happy if she figures out that the poor orphan child she’s been taking care of is actually Lady Edith’s daughter and could decide that she’s owed something. I’m thinking Edith show’s a bit to much interest in the girl, and Mrs Drewe managed to figure out it’s her daughter, but think’s she had an affair with Drewe. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/583 "2014-03-04T22:09:04Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Yes, it’s _Downton Abbey_. I love this show, but it’s never met a melodramatic plot twist it didn’t like, and nothing EVER goes right for Edith. No doubt on her Acting CV she lists this role as _“Downton Abbey Butt Monkey.”_ ---
**Author:** ![hadleykeillor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hadleykeillor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hadleykeillor)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/584 "2014-03-04T22:57:31Z")
Gossip, discussion and rumors are great ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/585 "2014-03-04T23:30:13Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’m thinking Edith show’s a bit to much interest in the girl, and Mrs Drewe managed to figure out it’s her daughter, but think’s she had an affair with Drewe. Not an unreasonable suspicion, given that another farmer’s wife caught Edith kissing her husband back in season two. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/586 "2014-03-05T00:01:38Z")
She really should have been portrayed less likable – by the actress, I mean. Edith’s actually not a very nice person. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/587 "2014-03-05T16:20:39Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > She really should have been portrayed less likable – by the actress, I mean. Edith’s actually not a very nice person. I feel like she was, in the first season. Now Mary’s the unlikable one. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/588 "2014-03-05T16:39:01Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Don’t forget about [Cosmo Lang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmo_Lang) presiding over Mathew and Mary’s wedding last season. Interesting. I remember the Earl saying he’d get the bishop to officiate; I didn’t realize it was an actual historical bishop. > [@alphaboi867](#): > > I missed have missed that; :eek: that’s something more fitting to 18th century Versailles, not Buckingham Palace in the 1920s. Yes, Madeleine tells Rose and Cora as soon as she sees them there. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/589 "2014-03-05T17:19:06Z")
Can someone explain the short season? It just started and it’s over already? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/590 "2014-03-05T17:34:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Can someone explain the short season? It just started and it’s over already? The first season was seven episodes. The last three seasons, including the most recent one, were eight episodes plus a Christmas special. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/591 "2014-03-05T18:35:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Can someone explain the short season? It just started and it’s over already? Very short seasons (compared to the other side of the pond) are [typical](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BritishBrevity) of British programming of that type. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/592 "2014-03-05T20:04:34Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And I was amused by how crass Cora’s brother was, to the extent that he extended his hand to the Prince of Wales. Why not? He’s American, the President has always made a huge point of shaking hands. And, this is post WWI note, where the USA was a Great Power. The rape was just over the top, the ticket was ridiculous. Yes, Mary vs Edith, Mary has that “ethereal, translucent” look that was so very popular with the English. And Thomas? that’s what his fourth strike? Thievery, being a officious ass when a Sergeant, being a homosexual in that period and finally making a comment about “one of the family” to 'one of the family". No, there’s no way he’d still be around. ---
**Author:** ![Bains\_Fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bains\_Fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bains_Fan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844/593 "2014-03-06T00:04:32Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > No doubt on her Acting CV she lists this role as _“Downton Abbey Butt Monkey.”_ LOL!!! I can’t help it. Every time I scroll through the posts and see that, I crack up!!! Good one Sherrerd! 😃 Going to be a long wait for next season for me. Got spoiled seeing all four seasons in a row on PBS. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s4-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/651844.md?page=29)