Downton Abbey - Again!

I don't love it but it does make me laugh. My hairdresser called it a soap with nice clothes.

I love it but it is becoming rather ridiculous. I think your hairdresser's comment is spot on Teetime

I have stopped actually caring about any of the characters unfortunately, I can't even feel sorry for Edith and her anguish over Michael and her daughter. I really don't give a monkeys whether Bates turns out to have murdered Greene, or whether Tom runs off to America (though I hope he gets rid of Sarah Bunting - she is an awful character). I used to care about all of them, but it's become so daft it's almost a parody. Still love it though, as a bit of Sunday night escapism and lovely frocks!

My thoughts entirely Nightowl! I was quite upset when Matthew died but now just see it as a gentle, harmless end to the weekend.

Cora's simpering is really getting on my nerves, Robert is just a grumpy old git, Bates just seems to get a walk on part these days, Edith is making a fool of herself, the Russian storyline is boring and is there a point to Rose?

According to Jilly Cooper in her book on class, if you were a member of the aristocracy, yellow labradors were beyond the pale!!

They had to be black.

That's interesting merlotgran, most of the gun dogs who live around here are black. Most of the guide dogs are yellow. This is not a scientific survey folks, I'm sure someone out there will provide accurate information, rather than my instant reaction.

Those brown labs are rumoured to be more difficult to train.

I agree that the teacher is more rude and abrasive than she need, or ought to be. I wonder if Tom will stand as a Labour MP? That'd be interesting. His daughter, is part Grantham, and he loves the family.

Ooh, not just 'beyond the pale' merlot, but practically non-existent according to this!

thebark.com/content/downton-abbey-dog-right-breed-wrong-color

I love to watch it, but it is rather ridiculous. As you say Yankee , Sarah Bunting would never have been invited a second time after being so rude .

According to Jilly Cooper in her book on class, if you were a member of the aristocracy, yellow labradors were beyond the pale!!

merlot I think Lord and Lady Carnarvon who own Highclere Castle have a yellow labrador - but not the one filmed in the series - their own lab had to be taken away during filming.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2610788/Farewell-four-legged-master-real-Downton-Abbey-Lady-Carnarvons-fond-eulogy-Percy-golden-labrador-lorded-location-BBC-period-drama.html

But then, of course, perhaps Lord and Lady Carnarvon are not as posh as Jilly Cooper!

Oh so many kindred spirits (I think I`m Anne of Green Gables) but I used to love Downton but now I`m finding it boring the characters I like are being sidelined and as for Lady Mary - well it`s just unbelievable and as for Edith I too no longer care about her storyline.

What a lovely dog and so awful when they have to go

DH would love another labrador but we're now too old for all the training and excercise they need.

I agree with all of the above.

I certainly agree about Cora's simpering (and would she really still have such a strong American accent after 30-plus years of living in the UK and mixing only with upper-class types? ).

I've lost all sympathy for Lady Edith as well. How obvious was she making her 'interest' in that child, who always seems to have to be carried everywhere, eating a biscuit!

Silly woman that Jilly Cooper.

Downton is just getting equally silly.

Silly Jilly?

Why?

Seriously Merlot? I tried to read one of her books once

But each to their own. There's even a couple of Donny fans on GN

Variety is the spice of .... and all that.

I haven't read any of her bonkbusters but her column for the Sunday Times back in the 70s was brilliant. Her witty observations of class and relationships have always been spot on and her self deprecating sense of humour endearing. She often wrote very movingly of her love for her husband, Leo, despite his humiliating affair and his battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Her Golly Gosh image might not be to everyone's taste but I like her.

It's a bit like the blind men and the elephant I suppose.

I agree Merlot, I loved her column and I especially loved 'Class'. It was hilarious! She wrote a series of trashynovels books with just girls names as their titles, including one with my name, which were a good read.

Anya, what blind men, what elephant?

The Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton scenes make Downton for me. Both consumate actors and great characters. Can't stand the obnoxious Miss Bunting and why has Lady Edith become such a drip?

I still enjoy Downton, it's such an easy watch on Sunday evening. The clothes and settings are easy on the eye. I can suspend belief, sit back and enjoy it as well as doing a bit of knitting. What's not to like

Ana - accent is hard to lose...as evidenced by immigrants all around. I've been here 45+ years and am still immediately identified as a Yank (though England is home and we did our best to enable our children fell British and to be part of British culture).