Such a good intro! Scenes that lasted longer than 4 seconds and proper dramatic exchanges. Love it a lot again now. 

just popping in to say that I hope everyone who's seen it, enjoyed it
I had to record it, so will pop back to comment as soon as I've watched it

I second both of those comments It was great  

     

Poor Anna Don't think I like that story line ..............do you think she'll get pregnant?

I don't like it either Sooz - and that thought crossed my mind too.   

Just watched it ....and I thought exactly the same Soozy and Kaffy

This current series is pretty good though isn't it? Some series sort of fizzle out and drag on when they go on for any length of time. I'm loving Downton (3) so far.

 

Loving Tom but really grrrrrring at the new ladies made- so manipulative.

I thought the same thing too.  I hope not 

Joins the I thought so as well club  and he probably can't have children so he'll know it's not his 

Nigel Harman is a wee bit hunky though isn't he?

Is It alright to disagree about the rape scene in Downton Abbey Its happening in this day and age all over again too flippant in my opinion the way It was dealt with last night ..but on reflection what more could they do ?

But thats not my point in those days they had little choice (his word or mine)

really  brought up things ..and I look forward to see what happens 

 

so thanks for bringing this subject up Bates will sot things out for sure 

 

I love JOANNE FROGGITT 

I didnt expect that to happen to poor Anna, when i saw the trailers i thought she was maybe going to have an affair or something. I can understand her not wanting her hubby to know, Bates will go ballistic when and if he finds out.

yes, its great Soozy .....i like Tom too ....but its Maggie Smith that makes it for me Oh ,and I agree about the new maid ...grrrrrrrrr

I'm all caught up, and gutted poor Anna!!!!!! That was horrific, and I thought the same about her getting pregnant too.
I think Joanne is a terrific actress, I hope the storyline is going to unfold well with some kind of justice for Anna!

Maggie Smith literally just has to move one muscel and I laugh. I'm not so enarmoured with Tom, if he left, I wouldn't mind, but Joanne Froggitt is something special; for me the best actress to come out of a soap.

I agree about Maggie Smith Cologne ....just thinking about her character makes me smile And her one liners are hilarious ....such an accomplish actress :nod : 

I can't believe there have been complaints about the rape?

 

 

Have there ?  

 

Yes, dozens apparently.

It's caused quite a furore.

 

The writer (appearing on The One Show today) seemed pretty much unfazed by it all. Besides, he has just got a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet out on film.

Oh ok...thanks EC I think it's a bit silly ...it's not as if we saw much ....it was more implied than anything else .....

Pretty much what the fella said. He indicated that if they wanted to be salacious they would have stayed in the room. I stress at this point I don't watch it, but came in here as I thought it would be a topic of conversation and as I say the writer was talking about it on The One Show today.

I thought the storyline was distressing, but they tackled it well in terms of not screening it from within the room. I dare say a lot of complaints were partly because it's Anna, our favourite girl.
I hate that they've done it, but realistically, it did happen to servant girls back then, so perhaps it does need to be mentioned. They certainly wouldn't have had the help/support available that girls today have, and who knows it could help some viewers have the courage to speak out if it has happened to them.

I hope we see justice for Anna!

Yes i agree, Summer. There was a warning before hand about distressing scenes, well here in Scotland anyway. I didnt realise it was because of Anna being raped. I too found it rather distressing, but brave for Julian Fellowes to bring the subject into the storyline. Although , as i have read, it was more likely for the "upstairs" family to do that than the "staff" downstairs. I dont know in particular what the complaints were for, maybe not an issue for Sunday night viewing perhaps ?  Sad that it may be wrong for it to happen to Anna, but ok if it happened to a maid that isnt particularly popular???  (maybe)

Sunday night viewinghas never been 'safe' ever since Soames ravished Irenee.

Bump!

Ooooh I'm dreading this episode

I was just thinking that. On Sundays I look forward to Downton all day .......today I'm a bit like oooooooh nooooo.

^ well said skylark!
My gran once told me that her & her sister were offered jobs in service, but my great gran flatly refused to let them anywhere near! She'd heard about the maids being meddled with by the rich folk, and swore she'd sooner starve than let her daughters be subjected to that

My nan was sent from oop North to down South to work in service. She did end up in 'the family way' but it wasn't one of the household ........it was my lovely grand dad the naughty plasterer.

Hehe Sooz! I'm glad she had a happy ending

I think that was one of the few rape scenes that left more to the imagination than we've seen in a long while.  The aftermath was distressing that's true, but so is recalling the terrible atrocities of WW1 and a new father losing his life in a car crash.

 

Poor Anna. 

Well said cosi

I'm despising that Braithwaite

I really hope that's the last we've seen of her!

Loving mrs Hughes tonight

Mrs Hughes was brilliant ...she saw that hussy off with a flea in her ear alright  Poor Anna and Mr Bates Wonder what the new ladies made and butler guy are planning next week As for Mary ...haven't we been here before , with her turning down a proposal she should have accepted ! 

Oh and I hope that band leader has another string to his bow , cos his singing left a lot to be desired !  

Darn it baz! I've hired him for the christmas party at the manor, and I've already paid the deposit so I'm not cancelling him!

 

I can't help thinking that storyline is all very Louis Leicester

evening folks

I'm rooting for mr bates to get Anna to tell him what happened to her and I'm over the moon she's not pregnant! Hopefully she will be by christmas

Is Edith?!

Aw, poor mr bates