DOWNTON ABBEY Season 3 Discussion Thread - SPOILERS WITHIN

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/12 at 11:08am

So, I know like a lot of you I'll be watching this online IMMEDIATELY so I thought I'd start a new thread to keep the other one spoiler free for those who are waiting until it airs in January.

ONLY 9 MORE DAYS!!!!!

Updated On: 9/17/12 at 11:08 AM

[romantico]

Posted: 9/7/12 at 12:52pm

Will these episodes be available to download on itunes as they air? I was expecting to watch this in January but if there is a way to watch it online I would love to know how. Thanks!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/7/12 at 12:53pm

I doubt it. I think most of us will just use download sites and things like that. If anyone wants to know the site I use where you can just click a link and it plays (like YouTube) PM me and I'll give you the address.

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 9/7/12 at 2:43pm

I'm positively quivering in my bloomers. Can't wait for the third season to begin. It only took me a portion of the pilot to become absolutely hooked - I'd liken it to gilded-age crack rock.

Updated On: 10/15/12 at 02:43 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 9/7/12 at 4:16pm

I'm still upset they killed off my favorite character!!!!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 5:56pm

Maggie Smith, on Shirley MacLaine:
"When she talks about some of her stranger theories, you just listen. She told us in Santa Fe, there were UFOs up in the mountains and the bears were coming down to visit the local Starbucks as a result. I asked if they were all drinking skinny green lattes, but she never answered me."
"I know there is something out there and like most people, I tend to believe in it more when things go bad. But I'm not like Shirley MacLaine, who probably believes we were past lovers in another life."

Poor Maggie didn't seem to realize Shirley meant the gay sub-group, and not the animals...

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 9/11/12 at 8:52am

I have one pet peeve about this show. Julian Fellowes and his writers are incapable of writing a genuinely amusing epigram.

The upside of this is that Maggie Smith has to take inherently bland material and get laughs using every single item in her bottomless bag of tricks.

But imagine how much better it would be if her observations, rejoinders and icy dismissals were actually amusing. If you look at the Dowager Countess compilation videos on-line, by the middle you realize that there's nothing really amusing in the actual writing. It's all Smith having craft trump the material.

I think they should hire a really clever writer to do nothing but provide every witticism the Countess utters.

Other than that I'm a complete devotee.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 9/11/12 at 9:10am

Paging Robbiej.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/11/12 at 9:12am

I'm so excited for this to come back (the same night as Boardwalk Empire, no less). I'm hoping for my bb Edith to finally have some true happiness.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/11/12 at 9:39am

I want to know if that guy Edith became close to was really Patrick.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/12 at 6:53pm

TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 9/16/12 at 6:08pm

Brilliant!

Brilliant!

Brilliant!

Back to series one standards.

The scenes with Branson and Sybil are spectacular, as the Irish question comes to the fore.

And that's before Shirley MacLaine arrives - and then she's shooting from the hip straightaway. There's a little bit of camperama between her and Maggie Smith but Matthew's grilling on the sofa is much better.

The characters are back to being metaphors for the social and historical changes as well.

Very glad to see that Julian Fellowes took my advice in the previous thread.

Updated On: 9/16/12 at 06:08 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 2:01am

OMIGOD that was amazing. AMAZING.

I think Branson is one of the sexiest people in the world. I thought the scene in the drawing room with him and Maggie Smith was really touching. It's nice when we get that side of her for a minute before trading quips with the brilliant Shirley MacLaine.

It seems the entire season was set up with this episode and the question of the money and the estate. I can't wait for next week!!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 3:35am

If anyone needs a link, send me a PM.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 9:47am

I must admit I was shocked that we didn't have to wait all season for Matthew and Mary's wedding. Or that something awful didn't happen at the last minute.

But a FANTASTIC first episode.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 9:53am

I was waiting for something awful to happen at the last second. I was holding my breath expecting for a bomb to go off in the chapel. lol

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 10:32am

Also how did Matthew get so lucky to be the heir to two massive fortunes? Clearly I'm making friends with the wrong kinds of people.

[Taryn]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 10:38am

SO GLAD Matthew and Mary got married. SO GLAD.

[Huss417]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 12:21pm

It was nice that it really picked up pretty much where Series 2 left off. Is Shirley MacLaine around for the whole series?

[DAME]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 12:46pm

How can I view this? I go to the ITV site and it says not in my region.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 12:49pm

Sendme a PM of the link to watch too!

[DAME]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 1:14pm

Cause Vuze does not work any more and ITV says it is out of region.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 2:49pm

I threw it up on RapidShare if you need it.

[Huss417]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 9:36pm

So it looks like 8 episodes and another Christmas Special. :)


17 1 "Episode One" Brian Percival Julian Fellowes 16 September 2012 66 minutes
18 2 "Episode Two" 23 September 2012
19 3 "Episode Three" 30 September 2012
20 4 "Episode Four" 7 October 2012
21 5 "Episode Five" 14 October 2012
22 6 "Episode Six" 21 October 2012
23 7 "Episode Seven" 28 October 2012
24 8 "Episode Eight" 4 November 2012

Christmas Special (2012)

[strummergirl]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 9:46pm

Loved the episode. Even if the 11th hour drama seemed like causing trouble for the sake of it, though at least it appears the family financial troubles is going to be the story of the season (but ugh... Lavinia), it was a great first episode. When Carson got emotional seeing Mary in the dress, I got emotional.

So...... that new footman that O'Brien was very protective of. Why do I sense possible familial relations between those two?

And judging by the brief clips from the second episode, Edith will not get her happiness yet. Bummer.