# 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:** 6
**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 25, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/101 "2012-01-25T02:06:47Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Nitpick: The “B” in that mnemonic device actually stands for “Baron”. While baronetcies are hereditary, baronets aren’t really aristocrats. They’re not peers of the realm. They’re not “lords.” They’re not nobility. But they might be aristocrats. That depends on how much money they have. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/102 "2012-01-25T03:46:59Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Nitpick: The “B” in that mnemonic device actually stands for “Baron”. While baronetcies are hereditary, baronets aren’t really aristocrats. Baronets didn’t sit in the House of Lords, and are addressed as “Sir” rather than “Lord”. Can a Baron be a life peer? Or can a baronet serve in the House of Lords _today_ (post the reforms)? ---
**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 25, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/103 "2012-01-25T04:37:06Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Can a Baron be a life peer? Or can a baronet serve in the House of Lords _today_ (post the reforms)? Baronets cannot serve in the House of Lords. They’re not lords. They’re basically hereditary knights. All life peers are barons, but barons can be either life peers or hereditary peers. ---
**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 25, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/104 "2012-01-25T04:38:15Z")
[quote=“Lamia, post:100, topic:609368”] … > [@Sampiro](#): > > Can a Baron be a life peer? Or can a baronet serve in the House of Lords _today_ (post the reforms)? All life peers are Barons; the Queen can of course create a life peerage with a higher title, but that hasn’t happened since the Life Peerages Act was passed in 1958. That act didn’t create life peerages; it merely gave life peers the same right to sit in the House of Lords as hereditary peers. Previously life peers couldn’t sit in the House of Lords, except for the Law Lords (& that took it’s own act of parliament in the 19th century). In the past most life peers were women, so the issue of whether a life peerage entitled one to sit in the House of Lords seldom came up (women weren’t allowed to sit in the House of Lords until 1959 as life peereses, hereditary peeresses couldn’t sit until 1963). Of course a baronet can be created a peer (life or hereditary) in addition to his baronetcy. And some hereditary peers were also given life peerages so they could keep their seats in the House of Lords. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/105 "2012-01-25T04:54:51Z")
Getting a bit further off topic from Downton Abbey, for which apologies, but… is there much resentment of the House of Lords by the English? Particularly to the ones who are still hereditary or the clergy? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/106 "2012-01-25T06:48:04Z")
^ Not English (or Scot, Welsh nor N Irish) but having lived in the UK for quite a while I got the impression it was a case of “needs reform…eventually…when we find the time… after East Enders finishes”. Reform of the Lords is an issue, but not just a pressing one. I would say it has been noted (by the dozen or so people who take interest) that the Lords has been far more pro Civil Liberties than the Common, indeed the Lords blocked certain bills which the Commons had passed on Civil Liberties grounds.". ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/107 "2012-01-25T08:29:50Z")
I don’t know about “resentment”, people generally understand that ‘turkey’s don’t vote for Christmas’ and many do believe the situation is, at best, bizarre. For myself, I do tend to feel exasperation at people who really should know better accepting badges from Queenie – effectively the ticket into the House Of Lords. A partial list of those who did know better: > **[List of people who have declined a British honour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declining_a_British_honour)** > > The following is a non-exhaustive list of people who have declined a British honour, such as a knighthood or other grade of honour. > In most cases, the offer of an honour was rejected privately. Nowadays, potential recipients are contacted before any public announcement to confirm in writing that they wish to be put forward for an honour, thereby avoiding friction or controversy. However, some have let it be known that the offer was declined, and there have also been occasional leaks from off... ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/108 "2012-01-25T16:11:31Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > For myself, I do tend to feel exasperation at people who really should know better accepting badges from Queenie – effectively the ticket into the House Of Lords. That always seems to me to be a really, really weird argument. Disapproval of the existance or composition of a legislative body is not a reason not to sit in it. Opponents of the House of Lords who accept peerages are no more hypocritical than SNP MPs who sit in the Westminster Parliament, UKIP MEPs who sit in the European Parliament or advocates of PR who sit in the House of Commons. ---
**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 25, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/109 "2012-01-25T16:45:34Z")
> [@APB](#): > > That always seems to me to be a really, really weird argument. Disapproval of the existance or composition of a legislative body is not a reason not to sit in it. Opponents of the House of Lords who accept peerages are no more hypocritical than SNP MPs who sit in the Westminster Parliament, UKIP MEPs who sit in the European Parliament or advocates of PR who sit in the House of Commons. Precisely. Abandoning a seat of power to those you disagree with serves only to leave the power in the hands of the opposition. If you want to change an institution, the best way is to join it. I feel certain that’s what Violet would do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/110 "2012-01-25T23:20:22Z")
> [@APB](#): > > That always seems to me to be a really, really weird argument. Disapproval of the existance or composition of a legislative body is not a reason not to sit in it. It seems like a really good reason, to me. > [@APB](#): > > Opponents of the House of Lords who accept peerages are no more hypocritical than SNP MPs who sit in the Westminster Parliament, UKIP MEPs who sit in the European Parliament or advocates of PR who sit in the House of Commons. How did you get from “Disapproval of the existance” to each of these variations on a theme of representational democracy? ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/111 "2012-01-28T23:17:48Z")
Just to say… they begin filming S3 in “a couple of weeks”, according to Hugh Bonneville in an interview today. I noticed this on Youtube: Downton Abbey: Top 10 Maggie Moments [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TVMtffzbAwk/maxresdefault.jpg "Downton Abbey: Top 10 Maggie Moments") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVMtffzbAwk) ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/112 "2012-01-30T01:48:52Z")
Does anybody else wonder what extactly Sgt. Thomas Barrows duties of “managing Downton” entail? 😕 I’ve seen all of series 2, and don’t have a clue beyond him lording his Army status over the servants or ordering Daisy about. The patients are all officers and they’re sure as hell not going to take orders from him. Does he supervise the nurses or something? I don’t recall seeing him do anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![MsJinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/278dde/32.png) [@MsJinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsJinx)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/113 "2012-01-30T02:25:05Z")
Is anyone else wondering why Anna was so attracted to Mr. Bates, from the first meeting? I like them together, but he seems much older than she. He is not unattractive but is a bit portly. He is a good man, but she doesn’t know that at first. Maybe she had few opportunities to meet men? Are they closer in age than I’m thinking, and women in that era were more likely to marry men a decade or so older? ---
**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 30, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/114 "2012-01-30T03:02:32Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Does anybody else wonder what extactly Sgt. Thomas Barrows duties of “managing Downton” entail? 😕 The patients are all officers and they’re sure as hell not going to take orders from him. Does he supervise the nurses or something? The army has put him in charge of the convalescent home being housed on the estate. The officers are patients; they don’t “take orders” from him but he’s in charge of the facility. [quoteI don’t recall seeing him do anything like that.[/QUOTE] He’s not in charge of medical care. He’s in charge of administration and operations. > [@MsJinx](#): > > Is anyone else wondering why Anna was so attracted to Mr. Bates, from the first meeting? I like them together, but he seems much older than she. He is not unattractive but is a bit portly. He is a good man, but she doesn’t know that at first. Maybe she had few opportunities to meet men? Are they closer in age than I’m thinking, and women in that era were more likely to marry men a decade or so older? Did you watch the Season 1? She didn’t fall for him because of the way he looked, but because of the way he behaved. ---
**Author:** ![MsJinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/278dde/32.png) [@MsJinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsJinx)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/115 "2012-01-30T03:19:57Z")
Yes, I watched Season 1, which is why I was puzzled at her attraction to him seemingly from the moment he walked in, before she knew anything about him. ---
**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 30, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/116 "2012-01-30T03:25:30Z")
Do you allow for differences in taste? ---
**Author:** ![MsJinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/278dde/32.png) [@MsJinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsJinx)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/117 "2012-01-30T03:59:46Z")
Of course I do. On television, though, things tend to be more easily ascertained. Bates’ ex-wife appears much older than Anna to me. It doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_Jackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clockwork\_Jackal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_Jackal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/118 "2012-01-30T06:11:10Z")
I’ve only been watching this show for a few weeks now. I saw the first season on Netflix. But I will say this: if I was Anna I’d have been all over Bates like white on rice. Mrrrrrraow baby. I find the actor extremely attractive despite the age and portliness. But hey, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/119 "2012-01-30T06:15:31Z")
> [@Clockwork\_Jackal](#): > > I’ve only been watching this show for a few weeks now. I saw the first season on Netflix. But I will say this: if I was Anna I’d have been all over Bates like white on rice. Mrrrrrraow baby. I find the actor extremely attractive despite the age and portliness. But hey, YMMV. This + one (that one being Matthew Crawley…also quite the catch.) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368/120 "2012-01-30T10:22:51Z")
I wonder how much the WW1 widow’s pensions were. On the one hand William wanted to marry Daisy so she would receive his, therefore it must not have been totally negligible, but otoh the new housemaid, Jane, had to take a job as a housemaid (about [£32 per year](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch/downtonabbey2_ep4.html) per this chart and that for all day labor) even with her widow’s pension. I really don’t like Daisy. She’s such a little ninny. I’m guessing that she becomes the great-grandmother of Bubbles from _Ab Fab_. This episode did show Violet in a likeable and admirable light though. You don’t want to piss off McGonagall. Even though she’s a woman Vera Bates is such a baddie that I expect her to twist the end of her waxed mustache. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downton-abbey-series-2-pbs-please-no-unaired-spoilers/609368.md?page=7)