Comfort Reads discussion

Episode 1 of Season 2 airs in the US on pbs tonight (Jan 8). Anyone interested in discussing the new season, and the old.

Thanks, Jeannette, for starting this thread. I'll participate when I can finally start seeing it. I'm going to keep checking my library for season 1, and then maybe I can watch season 2 in reruns??? Or the library again, or Netfilx. It looks great!

I just powered through the 1st season last week! I read an article in EW about it and thought it sounded interesting. Looking forward to Season 2.

I'm waiting for season one from the libes as well. Can't wait!

Thanks for the reminder. I love PBS series.

I'm going to try it too. It sounds interesting. It's on NETFLIX instant streaming and I put it in my queue.

The first 3 episodes of Season 1 are available online in the US.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2184333362

Mona wrote: "I'm going to try it too. It sounds interesting. It's on NETFLIX instant streaming and I put it in my queue."

Netflix became my best friend. I love the old series. Great older movies too.

Jeannette wrote: "The first 3 episodes of Season 1 are available online in the US.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2184333362"

Do you know how many episodes there were? I want to see all of season 1 before I see any of season 2.

My library doesn't even have it on their computer system yet, so I can't reserve it. Then, once I can, it will probably still be a few months. I'm afraid I'll always be a season or two behind. :-(

I'd changed my Netflix plan but I won't because i don't think I can change it back; I don't think they offer my plan anymore.

Ha! I misread it as Downtown Abbey. My library does have it, but I'm #82 in the queue for 16 copies, and we're now allowed to keep DVDs for 3 weeks, so it may be a while.

Netflix shows 7 episodes. Do you have dvd only on Netflix? I guess I thought they got rid of that plan, but they did waffle about the new plans. You should watch the first three episodes, and maybe pbs will post the next four after Jan 18.

I'm so excited about seeing Downton Abbey tonight! Can't wait! I loved it last season.

I have the stream to my tv Netflix. Don't want to make trips to the post office. I use VUDU for current movies stream to my tv for a dollar less than Verizon's.

I'm looking forward to Downton Abbey tonight too but have to DVR it. My favorite Maggie Smith line is, "Weekend? What's a weekend?" ;)

Ok do any other US viewers just watch this series online? I never could wait for it to be released late. I've already seen the entire second season and the Christmas special. I also don't really like how PBS edits their episodes by combining two episodes into one, I never like to miss out on a subplot or two.
Does anyone else feel the same way?

Where are you able to watch it online before the US release?

Jeannette wrote: "Where are you able to watch it online
before the US release?"

I just typed in watch Downton Abbey into Google, and sites like Videozer have it posted. However if you don't have a paid subscription to many of these sites you can only watch 70 minutes before it freezes and makes you wait an hour before resuming.

Is that a legal site, authorized by the BBC? Otherwise, if it's a fan up-loaded site, then I'm not interested. I like to see the program's creators get the money, even if it means waiting for 6 months. I feel the same about anime and online manga scanalations, too.

I really enjoyed the first double episode. There certainly was a lot to it, more drama and less melodrama. I found myself tearing up at times.

Jeannette wrote: "Is that a legal site, authorized by the BBC? Otherwise, if it's a fan up-loaded site, then I'm not interested. I like to see the program's creators get the money, even if it means waiting for 6 m..."

I totally respect how you feel, I don't think ITV the network that airs it uploads it but I may be wrong. I would have no qualms about watching it on PBS if they didn't edit out so many subplots in the show when they combine episodes. I get annoyed when I know that I'm missing part of the story.

Jeannette wrote: "Netflix shows 7 episodes. Do you have dvd only on Netflix? I guess I thought they got rid of that plan, but they did waffle about the new plans. You should watch the first three episodes, and ma..."

They divide it up into 3 DVDs. I get only 2 DVDs a month total so I'm waiting for the library, which includes the entire season in one box that I can borrow for 3 weeks.

So did everyone here watch the first season, or are some of you tuning in for the first time tonight?

Watched first season and loved it. Most PBS programs are excellent.

Season 2 was definitely worth the wait! I didn't realize that they were going to show last season's finale and came in an hour into that. It was so great, 3 hours of Downton Abbey last night! The BBC continues its reputation of excellence.

I had my daughter turn on the TV just before 8, and she says "Mom, it's almost over!" Then we realized it was last season's finale.

Jeannette wrote: "I had my daughter turn on the TV just before 8, and she says "Mom, it's almost over!" Then we realized it was last season's finale."

That must have been a shock. I must admit at first I thought that they must be showing it at 6 and at 8, but I quickly recognized the scene from last season. Does your daughter enjoy it as much as you do, Jeannette?

This is the first episode that all 3 of us have watched. I had to give a quick season 1 summary, and point out who's who at the beginning. We all enjoyed it.

***SPOILER***

I was sorry to see Bates depart, and a bit disappointed that Sybil rejected the driver. I didn't care for Edith's arc, as usual. And, Mary has poor taste in men, imo.

Why do I like Edith? I'm also warming to O'Brien, but will always loathe Thomas. Was nice to see Dame Maggie and Lady Holm (Penelope Wilton) finally getting along. I'm on the fence about Elizabeth McGovern (she seems dry). Thoughts?

O'Brien is definitely getting a makeover this season. Why do you like Edith? I'm glad Mrs. Drake sent her packing!

Lady Grantham: maybe it's her being American that makes her hard to like?

Here is an interesting blog post about WWI, as it relates to last night's episode of DA

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com...

I`m new to this thread, but you guys were discussing what has become one of my favorite series. I just finished seeing season one, and I`m 100% hooked! ;) I was going to watch the behind the scenes-1hr cast commentaries. But they talked about later scenes on season 2, so I stopped watching it.

Im glad there is a thread going on for such good quality tv.

I just discovered Downton Abbey after watching the first season on Netflix this weekend! I am hooked! It's like a Victorian English Peyton Place! Wonderful acting.

Jeannette wrote: "Here is an interesting blog post about WWI, as it relates to last night's episode of DA

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com...-..."

Thanks for this link, Jeannette. I've subscribed to the blog.

Ivan, I understand your ambivalence about Elizabeth McGovern. I've come down on the side of liking her though, as her character wants her daughters to have love for the person they marry, not just a suitable arrangement. I'm loving Maggie Smith.

Jeannette wrote: "This is the first episode that all 3 of us have watched. I had to give a quick season 1 summary, and point out who's who at the beginning. We all enjoyed it.

***SPOILER***

I was sorry to see Ba..."

Ditto

He'll be back!

Why do you like Edith? I'm glad Mrs. Drake sent her packing!



I always feel sorry for Edith, Mary and Sybil each have something going for them. She has nothing and is pretty much stuck on the sidelines.

On another note, does anyone else find it ironic that at the end of season 1 Thomas
signed up to be in the volunteer medical corp so he could avoid the carnage. In season 2 we see him as a stretcher bearer right in the middle of all the shooting.

I told a few of my friends at the end of Season 1, that I imagined Thomas, dead, in the trenches! (Can you tell that I don't have much sympathy for him?) Well, he survives, but at least I was right about his being shipped to the Front.

I could never fight in a war. I could defend myself and my family and home if the threat were right here, right now. But I could never just do whatever I was told by people motivated by politics, or simply stupid commanding officers. Look at Gallipoli and The Somme - such a waste of human life. I felt horrible for Thomas - even though I really loathe his character, and felt bad all over again when his blind friend killed himself (and was happy the filmmakers didn't have Thomas hit on the guy).

As for Edith, well she's had some negative character development - "what about my dress?" while Mr. Carson clutches his chest and falls on the floor. I love Mr Carson - the actor Jim Carter resembles my father (perhaps that's it) - he was in "The Witches" with Anjelica Huston, "The Madness of King George," "Shakespeare in Love," "The Golden Compass" and "Cranford" - just one of those actors who've been plugging away for years and is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

I did feel bad for Thomas, because he certainly wasn't cut out for battle (although I can't believe too many people are). They just sort of hinted that he and the blind soldier made a connection, which made Thomas' tears all the more heartbreaking.

Yes, Edith gets cast as the bad guy. She wasn't very nice to be carrying on with the married farmer, either. But, I suppose having Mary for an older sister helped to warp her personality a little bit.

On a side note, I think the casting department could have tried harder to get three girls who looked like they might be related. It bothers me when I see them together.

Yes, they look nothing alike.

They don't. But then again, my sons are not alike. Different hair, different features, different body shape, different personalities. Same eye colour and same parents, but that's about it. So it's not that unusual.

My 3 sibs and I share family traits, and as we age we notice them more. My oldest brother and I even have similar personalities, and the younger of the (older) brothers is most like my younger sister. These girls just seem too different to me, or don't show any resemblance to either each other or the parents. But, I'm probably picking nits again. :)

Jeannette wrote: "But, I'm probably picking nits again...."

Possibly.

Then again the girls' lack of resemblance to their parents and each other may be due to a sneaky plot development to be introduced in series 3. ;D

haha! I think they picked their looks to match their personalities. It's so much easier to dislike Edith when she is the least attractive of the three, and Sybil the most innocent looking. And, Mary's height, and thin lips reflect her regal bearing and repressed personality.

Kim, I keep wondering if there won't be some development involving the parentage of Edith, too. I don't care much for Edith. I like Mary and Sybil for different reasons. Sybil is the sweet one of the group and Mary is the strong one.

My husband and I thought Elizabeth McGovern looked older this season. Did anyone notice that?

Around the mouth, maybe?

Overdue for some botox?

Maybe it was botox gone wrong? *meow!*