Downton Abbey Review: Goodbye to a Lady Comments (Page 2)
27 Comments
DeAnn Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 3:25 PM
Also, I hope that Cora keeps Lord G away from her bed for a good long time, because he's a fool and he is clearly partially responsible for his daughter's death. I am also wondering, along with the reviewer, why Branson was such a mess and so worthless during his wife's labor and delivery. The men all seemed to be stupid and the women ineffectual for some reason. And yes, please, lets bring the prison Bates/Anna storyline to a close, please, soon! It is getting a bit tedious. I am with the folks who think Isobel is a true heroine for hiring Ethel and basically telling her prejudiced snooty old cook to take a hike. I would also like to see Mary soften up a bit towards her only living sister. It's time to bury the hatchet, Mary, and allow for forgiveness.
MrWriteSF Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 3:22 PM
KansasGuest, I'm not sure I agree with you regarding Sybil's prenatal care. Sybil essentially renounced her inheritance in marrying Tom and while Robert did provide her with "some money...not much", I doubt it would have been sufficient to pay for doctors; only at Downton Abbey would her medical care be of no cost to her (with Robert presumably picking up the tab).
DeAnn Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 3:19 PM
What a horribly depressing and gut-wrenching episode! I sobbed so hard when Cora called her dead daughter her "baby" because that is what I think of when I look at my teenage son; in my heart, he's still my baby boy, born 2 months premature via an emergency c-section. I can't imagine the pain and suffering of women in labor back before they had modern medicine and Neonatal Intensive Care Units and spinal blocks or other medication to make the mother more comfortable and make labor bearable. Just devastating. And I find that I dislike Lord Grantham more and more this season, as he seems to be an overly prideful idiot who can't run his own estate and believes every snotty Sir Whatever who comes along, just because of his class, regardless of whether he's a decent physician.
MrWriteSF Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 2:56 PM
...and no comment board would be complete without "Jeremy" whoring himself for DISH.
KansasGuest Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 2:00 PM
You asked if we'd blame Robert for Sybil's death if we were Cora. YES! But to be fair, if *I* were Cora I wouldn't have stood for all that "I'm the man of the house" crap. I would have said, "You may be the man of the house. But, you have no experience giving birth to the children who live here. I do and have, and you need to listen to ME, your wife who has given you 3 healthy children." Goodness, Cora asserted herself quite well during WWI when the house was turned into a convalescent home. Plus, it was shown that Robert wasn't comfortable with the details of childbirth. IMO, Robert would have let Cora lead in this situation just because it dealt with childbirth.
KansasGuest Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:51 PM
CONTINUED FROM BELOW...That O'Brien sure knows how to get to Thomas. I don't think there will be any gay romance on DA since Jimmy seems to like the ladies. But, Thomas' unwanted interest could get him fired. Can't really blame him or Ivy though. Jimmy looks like a young Simon Baker (on CBS' THE MENTALIST) when he smiles, which is always a good thing.
KansasGuest Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:48 PM
CONTINUED...In Sir Phillip's defense, Sybil's prenatal care was all over the place literally, and no woman has exactly the same labor as another. I've given birth twice, and my labors & pregnancies were nothing similar to my sisters'. If Sybil had any sort of prenatal care, he doctor was probably back in Ireland along with any medical records that could have shed light on any symptoms related to toxemia/eclampsia. What it really came down to is that Robert demanded that his word be honored during the delivery when he had nothing to do with it. Wasn't it a little uncharacteristic of Tom, who has had no qualms about getting in Robert's face before, being a dithering mess during the entire delivery? Of all people, I would have thought he'd be the one to say, "GET MY WIFE SOME HELP, DAMMIT, OR I'LL DRIVE HER TO THE HOSPITAL MYSELF!" He was a chaueffer after all. But, this is Julian Fellowes' drama, and Lady Sybil is dead. Too sad.
That O'Brien sure knows how to get to Thomas
KansasGuest Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:30 PM
Such a good episode with a heartbreaking development for the family. I don't see Robert or Mary's attitudes as being a "sudden change" at all for the characters. During the course of the entire series (all 3 seasons), it's been clear that these two stand for the traditional ways of the aristocracy. They are being dragged, kicking & screaming, into a more progressive era by their family members & their financial situation. They seem more prone to *react* to situations rather than act before things get really dire. Unfortunately, in Sybil's case, this tug-of-war between aristocratic know-it-all (represented by Robert & the doctor in white tie) and doing what mother knows best (represented by Cora & Dr. Clarkson) resulted in a thoroughly preventable death...CONTINUED ABOVE
Gail
January 28th, 2013 1:22 PM
But Thomas IS gay; remember we saw him talk to a male houseguest about their summer romance? The guest was titled, I think, and told Thomas in no uncertain terms theirs had been merely a fling. Thomas was hinting he wanted to be the man's valet.
MrWriteSF Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 11:23 AM
(continued)
Thomas, so you DO have a heart after all? I haven't seen you weep like that since that blind soldier committed suicide. Meanwhile, are you SURE flirting with the footman is the best career move?
Anna / Bates...oh just END this ridiculous story line already.
MrWriteSF Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 11:22 AM
Oh Mary....Mary Mary Mary.... MUST you continue to take pot-shots at your sister when all she wants to do is love you? For those of you not keeping count, Mary has now verbally "tagged" Edith TWICE--including on her misbegotten wedding day. Karma is coming for you milady and it's gonna be a metaphorical gila monster (that's not hyperbole--I inadvertently read a spoiler).
LOVED Isobel's backhanded insult to her uppity cook.
Poor Daisy. Mrs P is right: being mean to Ivy won't make the footman take an interest in you; if anything, you'll drive him away with your abrasiveness.
I wanna see if there are implications for that "doctor" who thought nothing was wrong with Lady Sybil (BTW, do all doctors attend home births in white tie?). In addition to causing Sybil's seemingly needless death, it's led to Robert being banished from the shared bedroom.
Thomas, so you DO have a heart after all? I haven't seen you weep like that since that blind soldier committed suicide. Meanw
ReneeM
January 28th, 2013 9:58 AM
"And Lord Grantham? What on earth has become of him during this season? He's unreasonable and subject to fits of insolence."
What's happened? Well, the PLOT required him to act like a jerk. So even though such bratty, ego-driven behavior is not in keeping with what we've seen of him in the previous seasons, Julian Fellowes threw it in there -- simply to create drama. This is the hallmark of soap operas. In the past, Dowtonn Abbey has pretty successfully straddled the line between serious drama and ludicrous soap, but with season 3, it seems to have tipped over into the wrong side. I'm very sorry, because it's becoming rather ridiculous.
Re Mary and Edith, Mary is just too proud and cold. Neither the happiness of her marriage to Matthew nor the loss of Sybil have softened her a bit.
chris hughes
January 28th, 2013 7:34 AM
Hated It When Sybil Died-Liked Her So Sad-Her Death Was Pointless She Dident Have To Die-When They Were All Crying-Couldent Help But Do The Same
Nicole
January 27th, 2013 11:04 PM
Have you not seen the first season? Thomas was secretly sleeping with a man then... He most certainly is gay.
Serenity Rank: Guest Star
January 27th, 2013 10:53 PM
Sorry, just didn't come off as sarcasm to me.
I did forget to say though that I agree about Thomas and his breakdown. He was right, out of all of them he probably spent the most time with her and outside of the servant/master relationship.
Carissa Pavlica Rank: Staff Member
January 27th, 2013 10:40 PM
@Serenity, I know that Bates was Robert's valet. I was being a bit sarcastic in pointing out that it's been so long that he has been gone from the household that his return would ... oh never mind.
Serenity Rank: Guest Star
January 27th, 2013 10:31 PM
Not to be rude but I feel as if you haven't watched the past two seasons. I realize they were a while ago, but still. Bates was Robert's valet, the job Thomas now has. And Thomas has been shown in relationships or at least dalliances with men before, although I do believe those were at the beginning of the series.
Anyway, this episode broke my heart. Sybil has been my favorite since the first epsiode and it was crushing to watch her die when she didn't have to. I knew Dr. Clarkson was right and that other guy was just a jerk. Clarkson knew Sybil better than the other doctor. Plus, shouldn't Cora have noticed something was wrong? She herself had three daughters and should know how labor goes. Sir Phillip kept using the excuse that Sybil was merely a woman in labor. It was very obvious that there was something more going on. Tom begging Sybil to breath was heartbreaking to watch, as was Mary and Edith's helplessness. I really wish Mary would get off her high horse. Edith has tried to
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 3:25 PM
Also, I hope that Cora keeps Lord G away from her bed for a good long time, because he's a fool and he is clearly partially responsible for his daughter's death. I am also wondering, along with the reviewer, why Branson was such a mess and so worthless during his wife's labor and delivery. The men all seemed to be stupid and the women ineffectual for some reason. And yes, please, lets bring the prison Bates/Anna storyline to a close, please, soon! It is getting a bit tedious. I am with the folks who think Isobel is a true heroine for hiring Ethel and basically telling her prejudiced snooty old cook to take a hike. I would also like to see Mary soften up a bit towards her only living sister. It's time to bury the hatchet, Mary, and allow for forgiveness.
Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 3:22 PM
KansasGuest, I'm not sure I agree with you regarding Sybil's prenatal care. Sybil essentially renounced her inheritance in marrying Tom and while Robert did provide her with "some money...not much", I doubt it would have been sufficient to pay for doctors; only at Downton Abbey would her medical care be of no cost to her (with Robert presumably picking up the tab).
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 3:19 PM
What a horribly depressing and gut-wrenching episode! I sobbed so hard when Cora called her dead daughter her "baby" because that is what I think of when I look at my teenage son; in my heart, he's still my baby boy, born 2 months premature via an emergency c-section. I can't imagine the pain and suffering of women in labor back before they had modern medicine and Neonatal Intensive Care Units and spinal blocks or other medication to make the mother more comfortable and make labor bearable. Just devastating. And I find that I dislike Lord Grantham more and more this season, as he seems to be an overly prideful idiot who can't run his own estate and believes every snotty Sir Whatever who comes along, just because of his class, regardless of whether he's a decent physician.
Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 2:56 PM
...and no comment board would be complete without "Jeremy" whoring himself for DISH.
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 2:00 PM
You asked if we'd blame Robert for Sybil's death if we were Cora. YES! But to be fair, if *I* were Cora I wouldn't have stood for all that "I'm the man of the house" crap. I would have said, "You may be the man of the house. But, you have no experience giving birth to the children who live here. I do and have, and you need to listen to ME, your wife who has given you 3 healthy children." Goodness, Cora asserted herself quite well during WWI when the house was turned into a convalescent home. Plus, it was shown that Robert wasn't comfortable with the details of childbirth. IMO, Robert would have let Cora lead in this situation just because it dealt with childbirth.
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:51 PM
CONTINUED FROM BELOW...That O'Brien sure knows how to get to Thomas. I don't think there will be any gay romance on DA since Jimmy seems to like the ladies. But, Thomas' unwanted interest could get him fired. Can't really blame him or Ivy though. Jimmy looks like a young Simon Baker (on CBS' THE MENTALIST) when he smiles, which is always a good thing.
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:48 PM
CONTINUED...In Sir Phillip's defense, Sybil's prenatal care was all over the place literally, and no woman has exactly the same labor as another. I've given birth twice, and my labors & pregnancies were nothing similar to my sisters'. If Sybil had any sort of prenatal care, he doctor was probably back in Ireland along with any medical records that could have shed light on any symptoms related to toxemia/eclampsia. What it really came down to is that Robert demanded that his word be honored during the delivery when he had nothing to do with it. Wasn't it a little uncharacteristic of Tom, who has had no qualms about getting in Robert's face before, being a dithering mess during the entire delivery? Of all people, I would have thought he'd be the one to say, "GET MY WIFE SOME HELP, DAMMIT, OR I'LL DRIVE HER TO THE HOSPITAL MYSELF!" He was a chaueffer after all. But, this is Julian Fellowes' drama, and Lady Sybil is dead. Too sad.
That O'Brien sure knows how to get to Thomas
Rank: Recurring Character
January 28th, 2013 1:30 PM
Such a good episode with a heartbreaking development for the family. I don't see Robert or Mary's attitudes as being a "sudden change" at all for the characters. During the course of the entire series (all 3 seasons), it's been clear that these two stand for the traditional ways of the aristocracy. They are being dragged, kicking & screaming, into a more progressive era by their family members & their financial situation. They seem more prone to *react* to situations rather than act before things get really dire. Unfortunately, in Sybil's case, this tug-of-war between aristocratic know-it-all (represented by Robert & the doctor in white tie) and doing what mother knows best (represented by Cora & Dr. Clarkson) resulted in a thoroughly preventable death...CONTINUED ABOVE
January 28th, 2013 1:22 PM
But Thomas IS gay; remember we saw him talk to a male houseguest about their summer romance? The guest was titled, I think, and told Thomas in no uncertain terms theirs had been merely a fling. Thomas was hinting he wanted to be the man's valet.
Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 11:23 AM
(continued)
Thomas, so you DO have a heart after all? I haven't seen you weep like that since that blind soldier committed suicide. Meanwhile, are you SURE flirting with the footman is the best career move?
Anna / Bates...oh just END this ridiculous story line already.
Rank: Guest Star
January 28th, 2013 11:22 AM
Oh Mary....Mary Mary Mary.... MUST you continue to take pot-shots at your sister when all she wants to do is love you? For those of you not keeping count, Mary has now verbally "tagged" Edith TWICE--including on her misbegotten wedding day. Karma is coming for you milady and it's gonna be a metaphorical gila monster (that's not hyperbole--I inadvertently read a spoiler).
LOVED Isobel's backhanded insult to her uppity cook.
Poor Daisy. Mrs P is right: being mean to Ivy won't make the footman take an interest in you; if anything, you'll drive him away with your abrasiveness.
I wanna see if there are implications for that "doctor" who thought nothing was wrong with Lady Sybil (BTW, do all doctors attend home births in white tie?). In addition to causing Sybil's seemingly needless death, it's led to Robert being banished from the shared bedroom.
Thomas, so you DO have a heart after all? I haven't seen you weep like that since that blind soldier committed suicide. Meanw
January 28th, 2013 9:58 AM
"And Lord Grantham? What on earth has become of him during this season? He's unreasonable and subject to fits of insolence."
What's happened? Well, the PLOT required him to act like a jerk. So even though such bratty, ego-driven behavior is not in keeping with what we've seen of him in the previous seasons, Julian Fellowes threw it in there -- simply to create drama. This is the hallmark of soap operas. In the past, Dowtonn Abbey has pretty successfully straddled the line between serious drama and ludicrous soap, but with season 3, it seems to have tipped over into the wrong side. I'm very sorry, because it's becoming rather ridiculous.
Re Mary and Edith, Mary is just too proud and cold. Neither the happiness of her marriage to Matthew nor the loss of Sybil have softened her a bit.
January 28th, 2013 7:34 AM
Hated It When Sybil Died-Liked Her So Sad-Her Death Was Pointless She Dident Have To Die-When They Were All Crying-Couldent Help But Do The Same
January 27th, 2013 11:04 PM
Have you not seen the first season? Thomas was secretly sleeping with a man then... He most certainly is gay.
Rank: Guest Star
January 27th, 2013 10:53 PM
Sorry, just didn't come off as sarcasm to me.
I did forget to say though that I agree about Thomas and his breakdown. He was right, out of all of them he probably spent the most time with her and outside of the servant/master relationship.
Rank: Staff Member
January 27th, 2013 10:40 PM
@Serenity, I know that Bates was Robert's valet. I was being a bit sarcastic in pointing out that it's been so long that he has been gone from the household that his return would ... oh never mind.
Rank: Guest Star
January 27th, 2013 10:31 PM
Not to be rude but I feel as if you haven't watched the past two seasons. I realize they were a while ago, but still. Bates was Robert's valet, the job Thomas now has. And Thomas has been shown in relationships or at least dalliances with men before, although I do believe those were at the beginning of the series.
Anyway, this episode broke my heart. Sybil has been my favorite since the first epsiode and it was crushing to watch her die when she didn't have to. I knew Dr. Clarkson was right and that other guy was just a jerk. Clarkson knew Sybil better than the other doctor. Plus, shouldn't Cora have noticed something was wrong? She herself had three daughters and should know how labor goes. Sir Phillip kept using the excuse that Sybil was merely a woman in labor. It was very obvious that there was something more going on. Tom begging Sybil to breath was heartbreaking to watch, as was Mary and Edith's helplessness. I really wish Mary would get off her high horse. Edith has tried to