# 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:** 4
**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:** [January 12, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/61 "2016-01-12T15:16:35Z")
I believe the Crawleys are far more aware of the lives of their servants than would be realistic for the time. That obnoxious schoolteacher who Tom Branson was seeing once asked Lord Grantham if he even knew the name of one of his servants. Of course _he_ did but I get the impression that wasn’t typical of the period. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/62 "2016-01-12T15:22:29Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > They do seem to be setting up a showdown between upstairs and downstairs. Even Mrs. Hughes made a snarky comment about Mary. I don’t sense any ill will on the Crawleys’ part…they are trying to be nice to a pair of incredibly valued employees. They just don’t understand how times, they are a’changing. And, of course, our dear Mr. Carson takes the upstairs’ side ;). Though, I did think the jabs by Mrs. Hughes about Lady Mary was a bit… unkind. After all, we know that Lady Mary is basically the closest thing that Mr. Carson has ever had to a daughter - he’s watched her grow up for one, and Lady Mary basically treats Mr. Carson as a pseudo-father at times. It’s a much closer relationship that simply Mr. Carson always listens to the upstairs folks. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/63 "2016-01-12T15:25:29Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > … > > Edith and Marigold need to get to London already. The show is setting up situations and then quickly resolving them (Mary’s blackmail, Mr. Mason being evicted, sending off Marigold’s foster parents.) > > … And if Edith and Marigold move to London why would the Drews have to move at all? Here’s something on the [incompetent cervix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_incompetence). Didn’t read it all, as I didn’t want to miss the edit window. Why isn’t erectile dysfunction called “incompetent penis”? I can guess. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/64 "2016-01-12T15:34:27Z")
So is the endgame for Edith that she moves to London to take over from the nasty editor? (Not looking for spoilers, just speculation.) And if the Drewes move on, does that mean Mr Mason (Daisy’s father-in-law) can take over their farm? Will he also take over as pig farmer? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/65 "2016-01-12T15:40:08Z")
Has Edith ever delivered a single line in any episode of any series where she didn’t sound like she was on the verge of self-pitying tears? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/66 "2016-01-12T15:48:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And if the Drewes move on, does that mean Mr Mason (Daisy’s father-in-law) can take over their farm? Will he also take over as pig farmer? I think that has been telegraphed quite obviously… though I don’t watch Downton for its subtlety ;). ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/67 "2016-01-12T16:23:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So is the endgame for Edith that she moves to London to take over from the nasty editor? (Not looking for spoilers, just speculation.) > > And if the Drewes move on, does that mean Mr Mason (Daisy’s father-in-law) can take over their farm? Will he also take over as pig farmer? Unless they throw in a curveball (has baseball been invented yet?) I think that is just how it’s going to play out. I do love Mary’s posh accent. Even when she’s being a bitch she sounds so polite. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/68 "2016-01-12T16:28:26Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > **Captain Amazing** , they had similar problems with race and anti-semitism. Fellowes really wants people to like the Crawleys and the aristocracy, so he gives them anachronistically progressive viewpoints instead of really looking at the situation. It actually makes it much worse than if he hadn’t introduced the topics at all. Probably my biggest gripe with the show, and its biggest missed opportunity. But for better or worse, the Crawleys’ unrealistic likability is probably one of the biggest factors in the show’s success. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/69 "2016-01-12T16:32:00Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > The medical procedure that Anna is going to get to keep the baby tucked away…does anyone have any insight into that? Does it actually work? According to the doctor it’s perfectly safe, so Anna will probably end up in a coma or something. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/70 "2016-01-12T17:35:58Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > According to the doctor it’s perfectly safe, so Anna will probably end up in a coma or something. 🙂 Kind of a snooze fest if you ask me. The whole kidnap thing was ridiculous. Seems like they’re making sure things get all wrapped up nice and lovely. They all lived happily ever after! ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/71 "2016-01-12T17:43:00Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I will be sad when it’s over, hopefully PBS/BBC will come up with something good in the near future… Have you watched the recent _ **Poldark** _ series? The first season aired last spring on PBS and BBC One, and there will be a season 2 this year. I liked it quite a bit. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/72 "2016-01-12T17:53:27Z")
I get the impression that _Indian Summers_, which aired on PBS late last year, is the Great White Hope of a replacement for _Downton Abbey_ in the hearts and minds of American viewers. (And it’s kind of similar, in that it features upper-class Brits, or at least Brits who pretend to be upper-class, and a servant class.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/73 "2016-01-12T19:11:16Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I get the impression that _Indian Summers_, which aired on PBS late last year, is the Great White Hope of a replacement for _Downton Abbey_ in the hearts and minds of American viewers. > > (And it’s kind of similar, in that it features upper-class Brits, or at least Brits who pretend to be upper-class, and a servant class.) I forced myself to watch the first 3 episodes thinking it had to be good, but it just didn’t grab me at all. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/74 "2016-01-12T19:21:09Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Unless they throw in a curveball (has baseball been invented yet?) I think that is just how it’s going to play out. Yes, it has. But as they’re British, it’s probably a googly or a doosra (cricket terms don’t sound like real things). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/75 "2016-01-12T19:43:49Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Anna and John are out of the woods, so I presume they’ll be accused of arson or kidnapping shortly. Yes, they are Good People so the showrunner like to shit on them as much as possible.:mad::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/76 "2016-01-12T21:08:29Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > So here’s my problem with Downton Abbey. I’ve watched it since the beginning, and especially at the beginning, I liked it. But here’s what I want to see. I want to see Robert do something totally and utterly shitty. I want him to be a real bastard. Or at least, I want him to have the ability to. I think A.E. Larsen, who posts the blog “An Historian Goes to the Movies”, found the perfect example in the post, “[Why I No Longer Watch Downton Abbey](https://aelarsen.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/downton-abbey-why-i-stopped-watching-downton-abbey/)”, in which he talks about how, after Thomas’s homosexuality is revealed, he continues to have a job. As he puts it: > . And also after Thomas was caught stealing, turning into a asshole when given some authority, etc. It seems the showrunner loves Thomas, as the evil, smoking gay, predator Thomas keeps landing in gold straw, while the decent, honest, hetero couple always lands in the shit. This last Murder thing for the Bate’s was just plain silly. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/77 "2016-01-12T21:10:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I get the impression that _Indian Summers_, which aired on PBS late last year, is the Great White Hope of a replacement for _Downton Abbey_ in the hearts and minds of American viewers. Looks pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/78 "2016-01-13T12:19:25Z")
Indian Summers comes from Channel 4, which very early on in its career had a huge hit with Jewel in the Crown, but this is a total contrast. Set slightly earlier and trying to include Indians as a range of characters, where Jewel in the Crown was much more focussed on various British types reacting to the end of the Raj. The trouble was that Indian Summers sketched in the political background a bit too clumsily and there was a bit of a formulaic feel to the set-up and plotting. The big thing of the moment is Andrew Davies’s adaptation of War and Peace. The anti-bonnet brigade don’t much care for it, but it is very well done as a panorama of a society undermining itself. ---
**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:** [January 15, 2016, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/79 "2016-01-15T05:17:58Z")
**Captain Amazing** , good points. I hadn’t thought of Thomas’s effect on the Earl’s public standing once the gossips really get going. > [@amarinth](#): > > …they had similar problems with race and anti-semitism. Fellowes really wants people to like the Crawleys and the aristocracy, so he gives them anachronistically progressive viewpoints instead of really looking at the situation. It actually makes it much worse than if he hadn’t introduced the topics at all. Also anti-Catholic bigotry. The Earl made some _very_ veiled comments about his suspicion of Catholicism, but IRL he probably would have unapologetically been a lot more cutting, as most British peers were in the 1910s and '20s. > [@ivylass](#): > > Unless they throw in a curveball (has baseball been invented yet?)… Oh, definitely. Jane Austen even referred to the game in _Northanger Abbey_ (1817). > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > According to the doctor it’s perfectly safe, so Anna will probably end up in a coma or something. I laughed. Seriously, though, as soon Anna was sounding so defeatist to Lady Mary about ever getting pregnant, I was thinking, “Jeez, even in 1925 you have medical options! Get thee to a specialist!” > [@amarinth](#): > > …as they’re British, it’s probably a googly or a doosra (cricket terms don’t sound like real things). Tell me about it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQWFZZE-DY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQWFZZE-DY) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966/80 "2016-01-15T05:42:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Also anti-Catholic bigotry. The Earl made some _very_ veiled comments about his suspicion of Catholicism, but IRL he probably would have unapologetically been a lot more cutting, as most British peers were in the 1910s and '20s. Well, I wouldn’t call it _that_ veiled. It’s the one prejudice the Earl has pretty much fully copped to. Anti-Catholicism has an air of historical oddity about it today. (At least to non-Irish people.) They can show Lord G. spouting off against Catholics without alienating the audience too badly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-s6-spoiler-free-until-broadcast-in-the-u-s/727966.md?page=5)