If what you mean is that Bates under all those stiff collars and sleeve garters is of the hirsute persuasion, then hush up with your silly suggestions and LINK TO PICS. Thank you!!!
ETA: I haven’t seen all of Season 2 and don’t know when I’ll have a chance to, although I have read the basic plotlines of all the episodes, so I haven’t seen Bates and Anna in the (near) nuddy as of yet.
We’re not pissing on the True Fans. But most of us liked the first series fine–a very pretty, posh soap opera. (Come on, when A Bar of Soap plays a part, you know it’s a soap!)
Sloppy pacing & general poor writing have made the second series a bit of a mess. Well, That Nasty War was a pain to write around. And Lord Julian is definitely worth jeering at! (Correction: Lord Fellowes!)
From behind the Times pay wall, here’s Caitlin Moran’s take on a scene just shown here:
Now, isn’t that fun? (By the way, she loved the Christmas episode.)
The cast on-screen vs. off-screen.
Anna is hot, as I expected, but Ethel = HAWT! Mrs. Hughes and O’Brien are also (surprisingly?) very nice looking.
Including Pharaoh and Isis! Gosh, I’d never have recognized them. 
Pharaoh and Isis?
Yah, the doggies. I believe it’s Isis’s butt that we see for several seconds in the opening credits of every episode.
Miss O’Brien and Mrs Hughes barely look like themselves. I guess the underclass aren’t allowed to age gracefully in 1920.
On the other side, period dress is doing wonders for Elizabeth McGovern - that or she is in desperate need of a stylist.
Here and the next page.
Besides the commentary in this thread (the parody video previously linked has me joining the chorus of “Me ‘air’s nothin’ but knittin’!” every time O’Brien is on screen) I am also enjoying the recaps at Grantland.
Did you check out the link I provided upthread to a scene from Lovejoy? A red-headed Ms. Logan in a fiery red evening gown. And with an accent posh enough to rival Mary Crawley’s.
Thanks! But Bates is not at all what I’d call a hairy guy, although he might be about as hairy as a TV actor can get away with being these days, especially a British one.
You’re right, of course. I usually only get annoyed when it becomes strident and repetitive week after week. I blame this bout with gastroenteritis over the past couple of days, and the screaming headache that accompanies it.
@Oslo Ostragoth: thank for the link to the pix. However, I wish they’d used this pic for Mr. Carter (“Carson”).
[headsmack] D’oh! I didn’t bother with the dog pictures…
Fair enough we all have days like that I guess.
Oh my. That is a lot of pics. Ahem. I’ll be in my bunk. 
You poor dear! Sweet tea is just the thing for you. ::rings for a footman::
The good news: I actually slept last night and ate a solid lunch today. But it’s been tea and crackers for the past couple of days. And this freaking headache is enough to make one homicidal.
I was vacationing so didn’t get to see the last 2 episodes til this week. I agree that S2 wasn’t as enthralling as S1, but it’s still immensely enjoyable.
The bad
Bates’ wife’s death. It was so predictable that the long-suffering Bates would be arrested before the end of the season. I have a hard time believing that he would have married Anna knowing that his arrest was imminent, after refusing to be her lover for so many years because he was still married. Yeah, it’s no stigma being married to a murderer.
Matthew’s miraculous recovery, Lavinia’s convenient death.
Sybill and Branson’s relationship - we saw a bit of interaction between them in S1, but no evidence as to what draws them together so much that she’d elope with him.
Lord Grantham’s daliance with Jane - From what I’ve read about the aristocracy – not to mention what I know about powerful men – I have a hard time believing he’d think twice about getting it on with the maid. Having mistresses was part of their culture, no? Lord Grantham’s pangs of conscience seems too modern to me.
The good
William’s death. Lots of young, healthy men died in the war. Of course, it would have have more emotional impact had it been someone like Thomas or Branson, but okay.
Battle between the “old ways” and “new ways.” I like how Cora and Sybill are thriving when given something to do instead of changing outfits all day. It’s predictable that Lord Grantham and Violet would struggle with the new world order, but it’s interesting that Carson is having a difficult time, too.
Mary’s relationship with Matthew and Richard - Mary and Richard’s relationship rings true to me. She actually is attracted to his power and wit. I also think it’s very believable that both Matthew and Mary would continue on their chosen path, even while having lingering feelings for each other. Not every relationship fits into a nice, neat box.
Thomas and O’Brien - They’re evil enough to make them interesting, but not so evil that they’re unbelievable. I know plenty of people like O’Brien. Fiercely loyal but bitter and cynical. Love how Thomas was all puffed up, then brought down a few pegs. It makes him even more interesting.
Maggie Smith continues to delight me, as does her interaction with Isobel. It’s interesting that Elizabeth McGovern, in an interview on Fresh Air, admits that it’s intimidating to work with Maggie Smith. (BTW, McGovern’s “real” accent is a bit like Madonna’s, which sounds put on. It’s a hybrid between an English and American accent. )
If you get a nosebleed, call 911 immediately. 