I'm certain there will be a murder in it. I even think the 'murder weapon' was actually featured in the first episode.

 

Kath

Really? What do you think the murder weapen is going to be? There is a clip in the trailer, where it looks like Robert is rushing inside the house carrying someone unconscious, I wonder if this could have anything to do with it.

Really? What do you think the murder weapen is going to be? There is a clip in the trailer, where it looks like Robert is rushing inside the house carrying someone unconscious, I wonder if this could have anything to do with it.

 

There was a scene in the first episode ... down in the kitchen ... where the cook had told Daisy to take something up to be sprinkled on the chicken. There was reference to something else that was there and there was almost a deadly mix-up. I think whoever is murdered will be poisoned.

 

Kath

Me too! I don't think blackmail has anything to do with it though ... I think its just affection. Lord Grantham said earlier that it wasn't until a year into their marriage that he actually fell in love with Cora. I think that he and Bates had a sexual relationship themselves.

 

Kath

But that fits in with what I said. I still think they may have had a sexual relationship but Bates wants to keep it quiet.

I don't get the impression of any sexual history between Bates and the Earl whatsoever.

 

The second episode was very enjoyable once more but I'm not so keen on Mrs Crawley. She's rather bland and despite saving that man's life I was kind of willing the Dowager Countess on in her evil scheme to prevent any mere peasants from being given access to essential medicines!

Excellent episode tonight! A death at last ... just wondering how far the kissing and cuddling went before the Turkish bloke expired.

 

I actually fancy Bates!

 

Kath

This just gets better and better. Bates is terrific and Thomas is an absolute slimeball!

 

Kath

I loved Lady Grantham's face when she sat on a swivel chair. Brilliant.

I loved Lady Grantham's face when she sat on a swivel chair. Brilliant.

 

Do you think that 'wobble' was actually intended or was it a potential 'blooper' but the cast are so brilliant they just carried on and made it part of the script?

 

Kath

Do you think that 'wobble' was actually intended or was it a potential 'blooper' but the cast are so brilliant they just carried on and made it part of the script?

 

Kath

I thought that it could have been an accident, but then again Maggie Smith is so brilliant I am sure she can act an accidental looking wooble very well.

Goodness, last night's episode was a rollercoaster. I just adore this show. Edith and Mary trying to out-do one another with questions about farming (and I know it's wrong but I'm so firmly Team Mary), the Dowager Countess sacrificing her award for the flowers and Mrs O'Brien going into MELTDOWN when the room search took place. Fabulous.

This programme is AMAZING. Best show on TV for absolutely ages. Every episode has me hooked!

I don't want this series to end! Mr Bates and Anna get to kiss this Sunday! I wonder what the story is with his 'wife'? Is she dead? Is he divorced? Is she a mad-woman like Mr Rochester's first wife?

 

Kath

I think if Bates' wife was alive and a mad case it would all be a bit too obvious a copy of Jane Eyre which I doubt Julian Fellowes would be brazen enough to attempt. Then again he did borrow heavily from Mrs Minniver with the flower awards plot last week!

I think if Bates' wife was alive and a mad case it would all be a bit too obvious a copy of Jane Eyre which I doubt Julian Fellowes would be brazen enough to attempt. Then again he did borrow heavily from Mrs Minniver with the flower awards plot last week!

 

I think Fellowes has heavily borrowed already from Pride and Prejudice ... so I don't see why he can't do a little pilfering from the Brontes'.

 

Kath

Another stunning episode. I think I actually swooned when Mary and Matthew finally kissed.

 

I've really got the very highest of hopes for next week's episode since it's the finale. I've already got the DVD pre-ordered!

Another stunning episode. I think I actually swooned when Mary and Matthew finally kissed.

 

I've really got the very highest of hopes for next week's episode since it's the finale. I've already got the DVD pre-ordered!

 

I actually shouted at the telly when that undisclosed noise/distraction stopped Bates and Anna from kissing!!!!

 

Kath

Call me pedantic but I don't like blatant inaccuracies. Part of tonight's episode was about a byelection in Lincoln. Lord Grantham said the Tories would win because they always did. Leaving aside the fact that there was no byelection in Lincoln in 1914 the seat was held by Liberal MPs from 1892 to 1918. Of course they needed a Tory win to spark a mini riot but perhaps they should have thought of that before they decided where to locate the programme. It's still one of the best programmes on at the moment but I wish they'd get the basic facts right. And at least I'm not one of the people examining it frame by frame to see whether I can spot a television aerial or a double yellow line.

Firstly, you're pedantic. Ha!

 

Secondly, it's not set in Lincoln. The bye-election was in Ripon.

Firstly, you're pedantic. Ha!

 

Secondly, it's not set in Lincoln. The bye-election was in Ripon.

Oops, I thought it was Lincoln. After all, Grantham is in Lincolnshire and Ripon is in Yorkshire. Of course there wasn't a byelection in Ripon in 1914 either.

 

Also, while I can't find definite figures, I suspect there were too many votes in the byelection result as announced.

Ah, but the location within a title in peerage doesn't always correspond with the location of that family's seat. For instance Highclere Castle in Hampshire (where Downton's exterior scenes are filmed) is the real-life seat of the Earl of Carnarvon and his family but of course Carnarvon refers to the Welsh town now known as Caernarfon. Confusing really!