Thomas, more than anyone else knows that Miss O’Brien is a malicious conniving witch. Back in the days when they were partners in malicious conniving witchery, they were like two peas in a pod. And despite the fact that Thomas can be stupid - getting fleeced on his black market supplies and letting the nib in the first series burn the letters he’d been planning to blackmail the nib with - he knows O’Brien inside out.
Seems very ridiculous to me that anyone would take anything she said at face value, least of all him.
Agree with you all about Thomas. He’s way too cautious to be lured into seducing new footman without clear signs that it was welcome. Plus he’s sharing the room with William who wasn’t back yet and could arrive at any moment. Totally did not fit his character.
Also, interesting how Carson took Thomas’ actions rather calmly considering how over the top angry he got over Edith serving luncheon to the ladies of the manor.
Seems everyone is ganging up on dear old dad. Even his mum, “I’m not concerned. After all I’m never wrong.” Also loved her line to Edith about her having so many skills already.
I wonder how long they will be able to use Sybil as a trump card? “Think of what Sybil would have wanted.” I would think that would get old to Robert rather quickly, but what can he say that wouldn’t get him into trouble?
Read where most of main character actors have signed up for seasons 4 and 5, but there has not been an official confirmation whether those seasons will be made. I do hope so. I want to see the Abbey in full blown “Roaring Twenties” mode. That should be hilarious.
Gahhhhh! Thomas deserves to lose his job but not because he is gay! I have been waiting and hoping for his fall for some time now, but I don’t want it *this *way.
I know the writing on Downton’s deteriorating somewhat, but they’ve not gone as far as actual resurrection yet.
William is dead. He was injured in the war and came back to Downton to die and he married the reluctant Daisy on his deathbed. Albert is the lad you mean - tall red haired chappie who seems far too nice and normal to be any sort of relation to his auntie, the utter rotter Miss O’Brien.
Thanks, Dublin. I am so BAAD with names. But didn’t you think it was off that Thomas made his move when he knew Albert was going to show up any minute?
That was a terrible thing, but I don’t think O’Brien deliberately set out to cause a miscarriage. She probably just wanted Cora to be injured. She did feel really bad over the whole thing. And she also showed some sympathy towards Bates at the end of the last season. At least she felt bad about having to testify against him. Thomas would have done that with glee.
Mind, I’m not saying O’Brien is a good person either. But Thomas seems to take more glee in other people’s misfortunes.
I did feel sorry for him in the latest episode - it shows how desperately lonely the guy is. But he’s still an asshole.
I can’t believe that after all that, Thomas ends up being rewarded with a promotion that now makes him the superior of everyone except Carson! He is even above Bates! That is some outright bullshit right there!
Carson seemed to think that Underbutler and Head Valet were essentially on the same level, when Bates said the same thing.
It may not be justice in the long term, when you consider the person Thomas has been in the last two seasons, but I think O’Brien is an even nastier piece of work. Smarmy Thomas getting a promotion is worth seeing her get her comeuppance, especially since she ended up losing the Head Footman position for her nephew in the bargain.
I was a little surprised how generally uneventful the finale was, although the Christmas episode last year was huge, so maybe we’re being set up for the dropping of the other shoe.
Other than that, I just want to bring Mr Carson up one more time, because it’s so appropriate in a response to Eyebrows 0f Doom.
Given the circumstances I highly doubt Thomas (or is it Barrow now) will even attempt to pull rank on Bates. O’Brien finally had that come back to bite her, and the best part was that Bates had no idea what he was threatening her with. And with Jimmy being First Footman everything she did was for naught. Of course it’s very strange that she confided it in Thomas in the first place, then apparently never considered he’d ever try to use it against her. :dubious: Also, I loved Lord Grantham’s reaction “I didn’t call the police on every boy who tried to kiss me at Eton”; that was one of the funniest things in the series.
I can’t wait for the Christmas special, but you can tell that this episode was written to do double duty as a both a season finale & a series finale. Robert’s finally onboard with plans for the estate, Branson’s finally being treated like a full-fledged member of the family, Ethel’s subplot has been completely resolved, and all the main cast members are still in one place. Things are looking good on the baby front for Matthew & Mary, but Fellows stopped just short of Mary actually getting pregnant so he can still milk this plot if there is a 4th series. Any speculation on what the minor female surgey Mary had?
There’s still plenty of stuff to work with regarding the actual implmentation of the plans for the estate. Which may involve Daisy, assuming she takes her father-in-law up on his offer. Plenty of room for more drama downstairs; especially with O’Brien having to constantly watch what she sees around/about certain people now. Mrs Crawley will undoubtly come up with a new zany project. Branson might not be content with spending the rest of his life as a widower. And Lady Edith is a career girl now; with a possible married love interest. Sure, he might have beening lying about his wife being in an asylum, but it’s much more interesting if he’s telling the truth.
Yes! I meant to bring this up and forgot. It showed uncharacteristic restraint of Thomas to give Bates the phrase, but not its meaning. Especially after how scorched earth O’Brien went against him.
One thing that was an example of 21st century political correctness forced upon post war mentality was the whole acceptance of homosexuality as something you’re born with that cannot be changed. That is an attitude that isn’t even universally accepted these days much less in the 20’s. All this understanding and pity towards Thomas was just out of character for the times.
O’Brian IMO went just a step too far and it cost her dearly. It wasn’t good enough to just get Thomas fired, but she had to insist on no reference. What was the worst thing Thomas did to her? Starting the rumor that she was seeking employment elsewhere? Seems an inappropriate response on her part.
Read that all the main actors had signed on to make Season 4, but that the decision to shoot another season has not yet been made. I do think this season was better than season 2, but season 1 was by far the best.
No it was perfectly in line with what a 1920’s era upper class house would have done in those circumstances.They are not going on gay pride parades and many of them express disgust with homosexuality (as is right for the era). Their concern is for the consequences for Thomas and the fallout it would have on the house. The concern and pity for Thomas is due to their worry for him. They think homosexuality is a mental
disease and poor Thomas should not have to suffer from that. At the time the stereotype of gay men were of the predatory, camp gay sort who were a danger to the moral fabric of society. Thomas, is to them not like that, he is, as is pointed out, someone who has been wounded in the service of his country. He is an average man with an unfortunate disease and he needs help.
He also tricked Alfred into ruining Matthew’s jacket, resulting in Alfred’s valeting duties being given to Mosley. Her respone was still hugely out of proportion.
I have spent all week watching all of this. Got really annoyed at the start of the 3rd season when things seemed all hunky-dory when at the end of season 2 it just wasn’t that way; then I went and found the Christmas episode, doh.
