# Downton Abbey S5 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 28, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244 "2014-07-28T15:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/301 "2015-02-09T03:11:04Z")
Well, I cried when Edith took her daughter. Sniff! Glad several of the more annoying plot points are over. Thomas’s “cure” and the “scandal” in the Bates’ cottage. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/302 "2015-02-09T03:19:52Z")
> [@InsomniaMama](#): > > Well, I cried when Edith took her daughter. Sniff! Oh, I did, too. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/303 "2015-02-09T05:26:47Z")
Poor Mrs. Drew ☹ ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/304 "2015-02-09T06:05:20Z")
The whole reason that Granny doesn’t want Isobel to marry Lord Merton is that she will miss her favorite luncheon guest. Once Isobel assured her that they’ll still be homies, Granny will be delighted. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/305 "2015-02-09T14:29:46Z")
I find it interesting that Isobel seems to be thrown into Granny’s company and generation much more than she is Robert and Cora’s. By age, she should be much nearer their ages, and by political leanings, much closer to Tom. Obviously she’s written as a foil to Violet, but in truth, as a widow, would she be socially relegated to the “widow’s world”? Which she’ll be leaving _if_ she marries Lord Merton. StG ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/306 "2015-02-09T14:42:44Z")
The Bates’ denouement was kind of a squib. Even if we assume that Mr. Bates is telling the complete truth, then he’s still in the hot seat because he executed enough of the plan to make him look guilty enough to keep dragging this storyline on. Tying Mary’s diaphragm into it just seems tacked on. And besides, Bates getting halfway through a plan to murder a guy and then stopping hardly makes him virtuous. If he ever gets his murder-impulse about someone who’s less than a few hours away, that guy is dead. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/307 "2015-02-09T18:45:02Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > The Bates’ denouement was kind of a squib. And the ticket wasn’t proof of anything. Sure that ticket wasnt torn. Doesnt mean he didnt buy another one. This storyline is stupid, stupid, stupid. The “contraceptive device” was also a stupid set up. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/308 "2015-02-09T20:10:58Z")
Yah, but then the ticket seller would have remembered if he bought two (the ticket was protection if the seller remembered him buying a ticket to London). ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/309 "2015-02-09T20:19:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And the ticket wasn’t proof of anything. Sure that ticket wasnt torn. Doesnt mean he didnt buy another one. This storyline is stupid, stupid, stupid. The “contraceptive device” was also a stupid set up. Yes. Could there be _any_ viewer of DA who didn’t know that the ‘Bates is enraged at finding the contraceptive device’ scene was coming? So very, very tiresome. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yah, but then the ticket seller would have remembered if he bought two (the ticket was protection if the seller remembered him buying a ticket to London). How do we know that Bates _didn’t_ buy two? In other words: the ‘mystery’ could well be dragged on much, much longer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/310 "2015-02-09T21:03:52Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yah, but then the ticket seller would have remembered if he bought two (the ticket was protection if the seller remembered him buying a ticket to London). Two sellers. Solved. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/311 "2015-02-09T21:05:43Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes. Could there be _any_ viewer of DA who didn’t know that the ‘Bates is enraged at finding the contraceptive device’ scene was coming? > > So very, very tiresome. Not only telegraphed, but phoned, snail mail, Twitter, carrier pigeon, smoke signaled, tribal drum, and a few other things. :rolleyes: Stupid and she could have just told him that Mary 'wanted it for dalliances" ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/312 "2015-02-09T21:14:38Z")
Bates and Anna seemed to make up awfully fast over the murder/ticket issue; did he immediately forget the diaphragm and his anger over that? I liked the steeplechase scene. I sure wouldn’t have wanted to ride side-saddle like that, though! Blake’s scheme to win Mary’s hand seems to be falling into place. Her new hairdo was nice, except for the weird rat-tale behind. Not too surprised Gregson turns out to have been dead - killed by Nazi street brawlers - all along. And he left his fortune to Edith! Guess she’ll need some scratch now that she’s moved off to London with the kid. Nice scene with her and Tom as she prepares to leave. We never saw if the Earl returned to Lady Cora’s bed that night, did we? The clash between the Dowager’s butler and lady’s maid was quite entertaining. I liked learning that Molesley had dreamed of being a teacher, and loved history. Gives him added depth. Looks like he’ll be Daisy’s tutor now that the unpardonably rude Miss Bunting has been given the heave-ho. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/313 "2015-02-09T21:23:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I liked learning that Molesley had dreamed of being a teacher, and loved history. Gives him added depth. Looks like he’ll be Daisy’s tutor now … Cue _Romantic Triangle plot_ with Molesley, Daisy, and Baxter! ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/314 "2015-02-09T21:38:41Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yah, but then the ticket seller would have remembered if he bought two (the ticket was protection if the seller remembered him buying a ticket to London). Oh, and was taking a train so rare an occasion, or Bates so recognizable that it would be even vaguely reasonable to think that a ticket seller would remember the purchase of a single ticket to London (no doubt one of the more common routes) a year previous (or whenever it was)? [QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I sure wouldn’t have wanted to ride side-saddle like that, though! [/QUOTE] I was thinking, “OMG, they made a point of mentioning the side-saddle thing! They must be telegraphing that she’ll fall off and die!”, but then she didn’t. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/315 "2015-02-09T21:41:11Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Oh, and was taking a train so rare an occasion, or Bates so recognizable that it would be even vaguely reasonable to think that a ticket seller would remember the purchase of a single ticket to London (no doubt one of the more common routes) a year previous (or whenever it was)? But that’s the reason he kept the ticket. On the very rare occasion that he was recognized. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/316 "2015-02-09T22:06:27Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > We never saw if the Earl returned to Lady Cora’s bed that night, did we? He gave Cora’s speech some thought, and then pulled back the covers and started getting out of bed. I think we’re to assume he remembered his kiss with the house maid and went back to Cora’s room. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/317 "2015-02-09T22:14:46Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Oh, and was taking a train so rare an occasion, or Bates so recognizable that it would be even vaguely reasonable to think that a ticket seller would remember the purchase of a single ticket to London (no doubt one of the more common routes) a year previous (or whenever it was)? In a world in which Scotland Yard devotes substantial resources of time and manpower to a valet who fell in the street and was killed by a vehicle–keeping the case open for months–then, yes. In that world, a ticket seller WOULD remember–for the rest of his life, presumably–the face of every purchaser of every one of the tens of thousands of tickets to London he’s sold. And also the date of every purchase, for each of those tens of thousands of tickets. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/318 "2015-02-09T23:23:11Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > I was thinking, “OMG, they made a point of mentioning the side-saddle thing! They must be telegraphing that she’ll fall off and die!”, but then she didn’t. Weird. I was afraid poor Isis was going to stumble onto the course and Mary would trample her. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/319 "2015-02-10T00:14:42Z")
I thought that Isis would die and they’d show everyone being more broken up about that than about Gregson. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244/320 "2015-02-10T02:45:46Z")
I, too, feared the side-saddle meant we’d be staring at Mary’s dead face while the blood ran out of her mouth, in her new haircut - just like a man! I did enjoy the way the whole table was thinking, “Aw, hell - Edith’s got a telegram. There goes our nice breakfast.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s5-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/694244.md?page=17)