Has anybody else ever woken up one morning to find they're no longer in love... with Downton Abbey?

I didn’t wake up one morning to that sad revelation. It came on me suddenly about 25 minutes into the Christmas Episode of Season 4.

[quote=“Sherrerd, post:49, topic:678200”]

Several days later, I remain bothered by this (and I’m not going to spoiler-box it, but will omit character names):

Julian Fellowes sent a very clear message in episode three of the fourth season: What a good, virtuous, sensible woman does when beaten and raped is keep quiet about it.

So what the smart, loving, caring, good woman does when beaten and raped is: belt up.

Fellowes chose, as vehicle for this message, a character who has been presented as a model of intelligence, integrity, and common sense. So, no matter what developments may be in later episodes—her decision in this episode to KEEP QUIET has great force. She is a role model for being a Good Woman. And this is what a Good Woman does. Even if she changes her mind later, the fact is that this was the conclusion this smart, decent woman came to. …And that truly does send a message.

I’m dismayed that this doesn’t seem to bother others (or not enough to post, anyway).

Sherrard,

Others haven’t bothered “enough to post” because Fellowes is NOT sending a
message. No good producer/director/writer “sends a message” with his story
unless he is a propagandist for a commie or fascist government.
Louis B. Meyer said it best: “If you want to send a message, go to Western
Union.”

Cheers, Singanas 1-23-14