# Downton Abbey S6 - spoiler-free until broadcast in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966 "2015-08-16T02:06:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**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 19, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/361 "2016-02-19T03:41:39Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > … > For this whole storyline, even before Charlie’s rash/fire, I’ve felt sorry for Mary because everyone else seems to expect her to completely disregard her issues with cars due to Matthew’s death. Although I suppose that is historically accurate – I don’t think people then were understanding of the power those associations could have, and besides, they’re English and as a culture they’ve just been through WWI and seemed to have reached a national agreement not to harp on all that suffering, so why should Mary’s suffering be given any special accommodation? Still, I wish she would have told any of them to shove it, she wasn’t going to a car race. And it turned out that her anxiety and worry were not unfounded, because someone in fact DIED in a flaming crash. If anything, that validated her fear. At one point during the race, I thought I heard the announcer say the cars were nearing 90…would that be miles per hour or kilometers per hour? 90 MPH = 145 KPH 90 KPH = 55 MPH Even going 55 MPH in one of those cars would be terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/362 "2016-02-19T12:37:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And it turned out that her anxiety and worry were not unfounded, because someone in fact DIED in a flaming crash. If anything, that validated her fear. > > At one point during the race, I thought I heard the announcer say the cars were nearing 90…would that be miles per hour or kilometers per hour? > > 90 MPH = 145 KPH > 90 KPH = 55 MPH > > Even going 55 MPH in one of those cars would be terrifying. We don’t speak in Kph even now, we most certainly didn’t back then. Filthy continental habit. ---
**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 19, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/363 "2016-02-19T12:44:53Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > We don’t speak in Kph even now, we most certainly didn’t back then. Filthy continental habit. So those tin lizzie rattletraps were going 90 **MILES** per hour?? :eek: Talk about having a death wish. I didn’t see a whole lot of safety features. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/364 "2016-02-19T19:02:27Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > How did adoption procedures work at the time? Could they legally adopt Marigold? > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yes, they would be able to adopt. Actually, no, they wouldn’t have been able to adopt. Adoption didn’t exist as a formal concept in English law until 1926, which is slightly too late for the fictional timeframe. The nearest thing was being a ward of court. I’m not sure that it’s ever actually been established that Marigold is anyone’s ward or if that’s only being implied, whether deliberately or, more likely, just by lazy scriptwriting. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/365 "2016-02-19T19:24:40Z")
If they’re going to hook up Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason, they’d better spread more canvas. There’s only one more episode left, plus a Christmas special. Maybe they plan to spin off a “what happened to servants when they went out of service” kind of series. Do they do spinoffs in England? ---
**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 19, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/366 "2016-02-19T19:30:49Z")
Generally some time has passed between the last episode and the xmas special. They could just show them living together during the opening montage. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/367 "2016-02-19T20:13:00Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > For this whole storyline, even before Charlie’s rash/fire, I’ve felt sorry for Mary because everyone else seems to expect her to completely disregard her issues with cars due to Matthew’s death. Although I suppose that is historically accurate – I don’t think people then were understanding of the power those associations could have, and besides, they’re English and as a culture they’ve just been through WWI and seemed to have reached a national agreement not to harp on all that suffering, so why should Mary’s suffering be given any special accommodation? Still, I wish she would have told any of them to shove it, she wasn’t going to a car race. To me, this part of the storyline doesn’t make sense at all, because Matthew didn’t die car racing; he died while driving at a reasonable speed down a tiny road with bad sightlines. If she’d been skittish or worse around cars in general, I would understand. Or long car trips on country roads. Or trucks (with or without loosely tied cargo). But she’s completely nonchalant about people (including herself and George) driving and riding in cars in the conditions where he actually died and freaks out over totally different circumstances. It didn’t work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/368 "2016-02-19T20:16:15Z")
I can buy it; people aren’t always rational in what they fear. ---
**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 19, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/369 "2016-02-19T21:21:38Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I can buy it; people aren’t always rational in what they fear. I agree. And it’s only been a few years since Matthew died. I can still get teary about my late husband and it’s been over 15 years-- and he died in a hospital. When someone dies a sudden, violent death, the triggers can be there for a long, long time. And the fact that Matthew died violently only moments after seeing their son right after his birth adds even more baggage to any similar situation. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/370 "2016-02-20T01:41:38Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > To me, this part of the storyline doesn’t make sense at all, because Matthew didn’t die car racing; he died while driving at a reasonable speed down a tiny road with bad sightlines. > > If she’d been skittish or worse around cars in general, I would understand. Or long car trips on country roads. Or trucks (with or without loosely tied cargo). But she’s completely nonchalant about people (including herself and George) driving and riding in cars in the conditions where he actually died and freaks out over totally different circumstances. It didn’t work for me. Good point. > [@teela\_brown](#): > > If they’re going to hook up Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason, they’d better spread more canvas. There’s only one more episode left, plus a Christmas special. > > Maybe they plan to spin off a “what happened to servants when they went out of service” kind of series. Do they do spinoffs in England? There’s talk of a feature film. Fellowes was also working on a prequel book about Robert & Cora’s courtship, but that doesn’t’ appear to have gone anywhere. Supposedly ITV wanted it for a miniseries. ---
**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 20, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/371 "2016-02-20T03:28:21Z")
> [@APB](#): > > Actually, no, they wouldn’t have been able to adopt. Adoption didn’t exist as a formal concept in English law until 1926, which is slightly too late for the fictional timeframe… Ah, thanks. I thought English adoption law was better-established by 1925. ---
**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 22, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/372 "2016-02-22T02:25:02Z")
Slogging through this miserable last season is now totally worth it for that righteous burn on Lady Mary. Go Lady Edith! ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/373 "2016-02-22T03:10:41Z")
so Mary is married again! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/374 "2016-02-22T03:23:04Z")
I hate Mary. She’s a bitch bitch bitch and I want Henry to die in a fiery crash right in front of her. Bitch bitch bitch. I’m hoping Lord Hexam shows up again for Edith. He seems like a rather good fellow and I hope he comes around. Poor Mr. Barrows. I mean he was a bastard in the past but still, attempted suicide? And Master George seems to like him. I missed the part at the beginning with Mrs. Padmore’s B&B…someone was using her inn for a romp with the mistress? Favorite line, “You’re my old curmudgeon.” There you go, Mrs. Hughes! ---
**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 22, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/375 "2016-02-22T03:26:47Z")
My favorite line from Robert: “Good golly gosh!” I’ve even forgotten what he was so excited about. Frankly, I think Edith was too easy on Mary. She should have slapped her. I LOVE that Spratt is the secret Agony Auntie! ---
**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 22, 2016, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/376 "2016-02-22T03:36:31Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Slogging through this miserable last season is now totally worth it for that righteous burn on Lady Mary. Go Lady Edith! And of course Mary fucks it up. I fully expect that we will see Marchioness Edith in the xmas episode next week. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/377 "2016-02-22T03:39:49Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I hate Mary. She’s a bitch bitch bitch and I want Henry to die in a fiery crash right in front of her. Bitch bitch bitch… I had the exact same reaction, except I was thinking of a word other than bitch. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/378 "2016-02-22T03:40:30Z")
Oh, that’d be a nice nod! Remember when Mary and Matthew settled things outside in the snow at Christmas? Maybe Lady Edith and Lord Hexam will do the same. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/379 "2016-02-22T03:41:32Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I had the exact same reaction, except I was thinking of a word other than bitch. Well, I was screaming, “Shut the fuck up, bitch!” at the TV while my husband looked at me funny, but it didn’t work. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/380 "2016-02-22T03:56:24Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Well, I was screaming, “Shut the fuck up, bitch!” at the TV while my husband looked at me funny, but it didn’t work. 😉 Ha! I was so happy when Tom called her out! Oh my God what a bitch! Gahh I hate hate Mary! Next week they are showing a special called “The Manners of Downton Abbey Part 2” and then the finale will air March 6. I presume this was done so that the finale is not up against the Oscars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=20)