# Downton Abbey, Series 2 (PBS) \[Please, no unaired spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368 "2012-01-13T04:06:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/61 "2012-01-23T07:42:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I happened to catch a few minutes of this the other evening. I thought I recognized one of the actors. I said to myself "I’d swear I’ve seen that guy before. Deja vu."Yep, he played Deja Vu in _Top Secret_. Jim Carter. IRL he’s married to (itty bitty Harry Potter actress) Imelda Staunton. (He’s well over 6’0 and she’s a hair under 5’0 so if I’m doing my math right it means their daughter could grow to 11’0.) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/62 "2012-01-23T07:45:44Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Jim Carter. IRL he’s married to (itty bitty Harry Potter actress) Imelda Staunton. (He’s well over 6’0 and she’s a hair under 5’0 so if I’m doing my math right it means their daughter could grow to 11’0.) > [@AK84](#): > > Is it being aired by episode in the US or is it like last time, with two episodes being aired everytime? The first two episodes were shown together, since then it’s one episode. It’s followed (at least here, I know some PBS affiliates have different line-ups) by the reboot of _Upstairs, Downstairs_; not sure if that’s any good but it doesn’t get 5% of the press Downton does in spite of being a similar premise from a much older franchise. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/63 "2012-01-23T08:45:40Z")
The only modern version of _Upstairs, Downstairs_ I know of was a three-part Christmas special from 2010? ---
**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 23, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/64 "2012-01-23T14:01:13Z")
Why can’t Lady Grantham see what a cold, conniving bitch O’Brien is? (Aside from the needs of the plot.) Poor Mr. Moseley. And he used his own money for than shoehorn, too. Dang. How many more episodes are left? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/65 "2012-01-23T14:01:38Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > The only modern version of _Upstairs, Downstairs_ I know of was a three-part Christmas special from 2010? And it was pretty ghastly. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/66 "2012-01-23T14:42:34Z")
I don’t really understand why there was a conflict for the two ladies. There is a convalescent home which essentially requires the auspices of a good hostess. There is still a hospital to be run a few yards away and it does need medical knowledge. Why on earth didn’t Mrs. Crawley simply move her attention back to the hospital? Or was that the point of her discussion with the major? Was he gently saying that her services wouldn’t be welcomed as it is now a military facility? Poor Mary, poor Matthew. Being a stubborn bull can be excruciating at times! I wish she had just run into his arms as she so obviously wanted to do. Is it really possible that they would not all be utterly and painfully aware of who would be the next in line to inherit should something happen to MAtthew? I shoudl think they’d be familiar with at least the first five names on the list. . . ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/67 "2012-01-23T14:54:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Why can’t Lady Grantham see what a cold, conniving bitch O’Brien is? (Aside from the needs of the plot.) People in such situations often suffer from an illusion of intimacy. Lady Grantham thinks she knows O’Brien well because O’Brien is always on her best behaviour when they’re together. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/68 "2012-01-23T15:13:04Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The first two episodes were shown together, since then it’s one episode… We’re getting two more one-hour episodes, and then they’re going to show the last four episodes in two-hour blocks. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/69 "2012-01-23T15:46:12Z")
SO… unlike how these things usually go, Downton was made by a commercial station in the UK and broadcast in the US on a public station, hence what is 1 1/4 hours in the UK becomes… 55 (?) mins in the US? No flies on me. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/70 "2012-01-23T16:39:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Jim Carter. IRL he’s married to (itty bitty Harry Potter actress) Imelda Staunton. (He’s well over 6’0 and she’s a hair under 5’0 so if I’m doing my math right it means their daughter could grow to 11’0.) Cooll, but did you (or anyone else) recognize him before I brought it up? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/71 "2012-01-23T16:43:12Z")
Hm. For some reason I thought Imelda Staunton was married to Hugh Laurie. And I’ve seen Jim Carter in a ton of stuff. Next to Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, and Elizabeth McGovern, he was the most recognizable member of the cast so far as I was concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/72 "2012-01-23T16:50:42Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > SO… unlike how these things usually go, Downton was made by a commercial station in the UK and broadcast in the US on a public station “Unlike”? _Masterpiece Theatre_ often uses programs that were originally made for commercial TV in Britain – _Jeeves & Wooster_, _Jewel in the Crown_, and _Prime Suspect_ were all originally broadcast on ITV, but carried on public TV in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/73 "2012-01-23T17:32:41Z")
Is that _Jewel in the Crown_ from 1984? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/74 "2012-01-23T17:34:51Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/75 "2012-01-23T18:11:44Z")
Oh godammit ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/76 "2012-01-23T18:14:25Z")
Every time I try to start a new thread it jumps back into a \*previous \*thread . . . ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/77 "2012-01-23T20:38:59Z")
Bloggers Tom and Lorenzo are doing a very good job with some insightful recaps of the series. You can find their thoughts on last night’s episode here: [http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/01/downton-abbey-s2e3-the-only-boy.html](http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/01/downton-abbey-s2e3-the-only-boy.html) ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/78 "2012-01-23T21:50:57Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Cooll, but did you (or anyone else) recognize [Jim Carter] before I brought it up? Yes!!! He’s the reason I watch decided to watch _Downton Abbey_. I first noticed him in _Top Secret_ (1984), one of my favorite silly movies. Since then, I’ve tried to catch him in whatever film/TV show that runs on this side of the pond. I also like Penelope [“yes, we know who you are”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Jones) Wilton. As for the others, while I like Maggie Smith and she does a great job as the Dowager Countess, I don’t think the role is much of a stretch for her. Say, did anyone check out the link I gave for Phyllis Logan in _Lovejoy_? ---
**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:** [January 23, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/79 "2012-01-23T22:40:54Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > The only modern version of _Upstairs, Downstairs_ I know of was a three-part Christmas special from 2010? A 2nd series is in production; this time 6 episodes. It’s not that bad, but it’s no Downton. Rose Buck doesn’t really make sense as a main castmember, but since Jean Marsh created the show she’s here to stay. It’s a shame Eileen Atkins wont’ be back. And I admit, my main interest in seeing the 2nd series is out of curiousity over wether the HoYay between Sir Hallam and the Duke of Kent goes anywhere. :o > [@TruCelt](#): > > I don’t really understand why there was a conflict for the two ladies. There is a convalescent home which essentially requires the auspices of a good hostess…Is it really possible that they would not all be utterly and painfully aware of who would be the next in line to inherit should something happen to MAtthew? I shoudl think they’d be familiar with at least the first five names on the list. . . The Major has always found Mrs Crawley a bit of a pest, but had no choice but to put up with her since the was made co-chairwoman of the hospital along with Dowager Lady Grantham (whom I gather just left the good doctor to his own devices). He loves having an excuse to keep her out of his hospital. Your right about the most important part of running Downton Convalescent Home being having a good hostess. And it’s note like it’s other ranks; the patients are all from the Crawelys social class, or the one just below. And if you think Mrs Crawley is being pushy now; just wait 'till you here what she tries to convince Lord & Lady Grantham to do with Downton Abbey when the War ends. 😉 It’s entirely possible that Matthew is the last heir; in which his death would mean that while the earldom would go extinct when Lord Grandtham dies the entail would also be smashed and they could do whatever they wanted with the estate. There is precedent for a peerage going extinct; the estate going to the eldest daughter, and even on extremly rare occasions a new peerage of the same name being created for her and her heirs male. It’s not clear when the Crawleys were raised to the peerage; the real Earldom of Grantham was created in 1698 and went extinct in 1754. Downton Abbey is most likely one the abbeys Henry VIII seized during the Reformation and given to one of his supportors. The older the peerage, the more heirs there a likely to be. There’s also likely to be _2_ peerages involved. The main title, Earl of Grantham, and a lower tile like Baron Crawley that’s normally used by the Earl’s eldest son & heir. This subsidary title could’ve been created at the same time as the earldom (in which case it’ll go extinct when it does) or centuries earlier (in which case an even more distant cousin than Matthew could inheirit, without Downton). ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/80 "2012-01-23T23:13:01Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > A 2nd series is in production; this time 6 episodes. It’s not that bad, but it’s no Downton. More to the point, it’s no _Upstairs Downstairs_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368.md?page=5)