If someone was a Lady's Maid and Valet, was that as high as one could hope to climb?

Granted they ranked below bulter and housekeeper, but I dont see O'Brein and Bates ascending to those roles. Or wanting to.

I decided to watch the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth and noticed two actresses who were also on Downton Abbey.

Anna Chancellor (Lady Anstruther) played Caroline Bingley, and Joanna David (Duchess of Yeovil) played Lizzie's aunt, Mrs. Gardiner.

If you're itching for more "Who will she end up marrying?" drama, this is a good one.

Does anyone else have a crush on Robert? I don't know what that's about. Maybe it's being classy, polite, and sweet.

The episode where he was all bummed out about not fighting on the front; His ass could have picked up a rifle and went at any time.

If Sybil hadn't died, what kind of life would she have led with Tom? Going back to Ireland was no option, so where would they live and what would they do? It's hard to believe that Sybil would have permanently moved back into the Abbey. Tom and Robert would have quarrelled endlessly.

Everybody near Downton would have continued to call her "Lady", so moving to London might be a better option. Edith and Sybil both in London as working women could have been an interesting storyline...and Tom could have found an actual job in politics instead of lurking around Downton out of convenience.

I can't help sing my praises about this show. A Place to Call Home is such a great period piece of Australia during the somethings (40's? 50's?) after the war. I really recommend it if you're at all a fan of Downton Abbey.

I'd say it is a great "twin show" of DT DA of sorts. Do not think of it as a substitute and yet I can't help think about DT DA when I watch it. It's all about family struggle, keeping up apperances, being posh and all that. Actually, a few of the characters does rather resemble certain DT DA members, come to think of it.

I just love the slow pacing, the cinemotagraphy, the beautiful costumes, the music, and the acting. Also, I can't explain it, but it's like every sentence is wonderfully thought out and crafted to be said by that specific character. (I get a similar vibe from DT DA.)

Anyway, musn't ramble on. I apologise if there's already a thread for this series, but I couldn't find anything whilst searching (only general "list-your-series here" threads).

With Matthew and After Matthew.

And watching it again (for probably the 30th time,) you see nearly all the stories repeat in some form.

Mary sleeps with someone to whom she isn't married. For it, there is blackmail. (Pamuk with Vera blackmailing/Tony with hotel maid blackmailing.) Her father finds out and forgives her. (She even does it again in the third movie.)

Mary nearly marries someone, and then has a hard time getting rid of them when she has changed her mind.

There is a lady's maid and a valet/butler quarreling and trying to get rid of one another (O'Brien/Barrow, Dencker/Spratt)

Edith grieves a lost love (Strallen/Gregson)

Robert nearly loses or does lose money and/or control of the Abbey.

Tom learns he belongs at Downton...then has to learn it again.

We have a rerun of Larry the Rude at dinner.

Rose even tells Atticus he has to "do it properly" when he's proposing...just like Mary wirh Matthew.

But to be honest, the first version of all of these stories is far superior. The show truly lost its way after Matthew died. The show should have ended with the cricket match.

What scenes that are not monumental still bring you great joy. Not the proposals or declarations of love, but the smaller ones.

For me, Thomas teaching Daisy The Grizzly dance, because everyone seems to enjoy themselves.

Robert being given the new puppy.

Charles and Mary throwing literal dirt on each other.

Sybil debuting her new outfit.

Those are some on my favorites, but there are many more. What are yours?

Cora knows enough about a painting to have multiple discussions regarding its importance, the meaning behind it, and its journey to her possession.

Later, however, when giving tours of the house, she has no clue about any of the paintings or architecture when the tourists ask.

Where did her curiosity about art history go? It is out of character for her not to have leanred about the house where she has lived for decades.

Just found out that at some point, there was a chapel built into Highclere Castle and now it’s just a patch of trees to the right of the main entrance

I was wondering if Lady Mary and Henry Talbot’s daughter, Caroline, would also be a Lady or an Honorable. It seems strange the half sibling of the Earl of Grantham would only be a Miss.

I would LOVE to visit someday! Any experiences/photos from those who have been would be greatly appreciated!

When Carson and Mrs. Hughes go on their honeymoon, Barrow is in charge of the house as underbutler (not that the staff necessarily recognised his authority). But who covered for Mrs. Hughes? Traditionally would it be Ms. Baxter as she is her ladyship's maid (sort of second in command)? But I've never seen Baxter having a leadership role. Anna was head housemaid before the war so presumably she could supervise the other maids. And I'm sure Mrs. Patmore could have done the orders for the kitchen herself. But who would have been #2 under the housekeeper while they were on holiday?

I’ve just finished Fackham Hall and, personally, I really enjoyed it. Sure, you have to accept that the source material has been twisted, chewed up and spat back out as a pastiche, but it’s done with real skill: nothing is off limits.

The film plays on the most obvious and ridiculous tropes of Downton Abbey, but also Gosford Park and, to some extent, Agatha Christie’s books and films.

It’s very much in the classic ZAZ tradition, and the humour isn’t always exactly highbrow. But for me, it made me burst out laughing a fair few times.

7/10 (not really a 10 but) would recommend.

Beautiful Heartfelt Moments

Source: Downton Abbey on YouTube

Violet's delivery of 'A chimney sweep from Solihull' always makes me laugh.