DOWNTON ABBEY Season 3 Discussion Thread - SPOILERS WITHIN- Page 16

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 4:51pm

I know, right? I totally did the same thing. I channel Charles Bush in Die Mommie Die when I see him. "That is a Man!"

Reggie, oddly, Barrow is more attractive to me when he's out of Downton Garb. Jimmy reminds me a little bit of the lead singer of fun. so therefore I find him very f-able.
Updated On: 2/20/13 at 04:51 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 4:54pm

I'm happy to have Barrow out of any garb whatsoever.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:25pm

You can all share them out amongst yourselves. I'm in love with Mr Selfridge (Jeremy Piven), who now occupies the Downton slot and was previously unknown to me. Where have you guys been hiding him?



That beard is so magnificent I could polish my Loakes with it. Though there may be better applications for it of course.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:29pm

LOL

Oh, Scripps ... prepare to get an earful about dear old sushi-loving Piven!

As for the Selfridge show, I've been loving the teasers for it. It might actually get me watching ... even with Jeremy Piven in it.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:03pm

Oh dear. What hole have I dug myself in to now?!

The show itself is not in the Downton league but there are good things in it. It looks good and moves well, shimmying and sashaying in the first two episodes like it should be a musical. Piven has been criticised by snobby TV critics here for waving his arms about like he is about to burst in to song, but maybe that's why I like it.



And when Mr Selfridge goes to the Music Hall, he doesn't have to listen to twee, period ditties. Instead they're channeling a good Kanderesque vamp 70 years ahead of time.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:07pm

Scripps, once upon a time I think many of us felt the way you do now about Mr. Piven. He lost some of his appeal over the years.

Apart from his hasty decampment from a Broadway show (which he blamed on mercury poisoning via an excess of sushi), he's best known for his role on HBO's "Entourage."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:13pm

I tried watching the first episode of Mr. Selfridge and found Piven to be completely unwatchable. He simply can't do period and seems to be relying on the costumes and makeup to do the work for him.

I really had no problem with Piven before the whole Mercury poisoning shenanigans, but he is just awful in this. It's attempting to be a more mature and gritty version of The Paradise, but Piven can't hold a candle to Emun Elliott. YUM!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:34pm

I crushed on Piven before I figured out he wore a hairpiece, and then I just couldn't unsee it.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:42pm

I kinda love Branson's hiney.

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 06:42 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:42pm

Shirtless is nice, too.

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 06:42 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:44pm

I kinda think you're not alone, Addy.

All carnality aside (admittedly, a lousy segue), his acting at Sybil's deathbed still haunts me. That's when I really teared up.

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 06:44 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:47pm

It was magnificent.
So nuanced. So real. It broke my heart.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:49pm

Ps - Allen Leech, the actor playing Thomas Branson has always reminded me of Bobby Steggert, who I adore.

So, I was drawn to the character from the beginning.

He's the perfect combination of rebel and tender.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:49pm

He's really excellent. It's not one of the showier roles, but it's key to the whole upstairs/downstair dynamic. He's had some subtle and difficult stuff to navigate (both the character and the actor, actually), and he's pulled it off beautifully. Along with his shirt.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:53pm

Dear Julian Fellowes,

Martine McCutcheon needs work and the role that Pauline Collins played on Upstairs, Downstairs is the only thing you haven't stolen from that show. I think it's a match made in Downton Heaven.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:53pm

Who knew that Branson would unite us all?
And not that anyone asked, but Kirk Cameron wants to tell you what to make of marriage on Downtown Abbey.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:55pm

I know I said earlier that Dan is going to have a tough go of it, but that has more to do with him being in a very tough category of "British Ken Dolls," (waiting for the heat for that one), but Allen Leech isn't like that. He's got leading man looks, but he's not really a leading man. He's a character actor, able to be tough and vulnerable, almost within the same sentence. Sexy, yes, but not a "Ken doll." I could see his career going on for decades if he wants it, and if it plays his cards right.

He's more of a star than many of them.

Talent, beauty, and a unique quality.

That's what "Lady Sybil" had, too, and I think we'll be seeing a lot of her on the big screen very soon (IMDb.com confirms that).

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:56pm

I would like Branson to ****** **** me.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 7:01pm

I can bet we all have "stars" in our eyes, Phyl.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 7:06pm

Drive your Aston Martin?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 7:28pm

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 07:28 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 7:38pm

I'd ride with him...

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 9:06pm

"Wait...has anyone even brought up Shirtless Branson yet??? Cause (and I am NOT one to do this) I rewound that like 4 times. Because omigod I can't. "


Yes, I did a few posts before yours. *smug face* But I appreciate the photos.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 9:10pm

Backing up--I was into watching Mr Selfridge until I realized Piven was in it. I've had a hard time with him from some time after Ellen. Too bad--it looks fun enough, I remember liking the book and Andrew Davies period adaptations are usually at the very least watchable.

[beensince1987]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 10:44am

No one here watched "Rome" on HBO?

Allen Leech's naked behind on season 2?