DOWNTON ABBEY Season 4 Discussion Thread - SPOILERS WITHIN — Page 2

The new Dan Stevens

He should have joined the cast for season 4 as a totally new character.



http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/03/downton-abbey-star-dan-stevens-makeover-photos/

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I hope he lost weight for a role, because he looks sickly.

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He can still have his way with me

The New Dan Stevens

Holy mumblefumbler! Quite the change. I think the darker hair color really makes his blue eyes pop. Handsome man.

Downton Abbey season four has set an official premiere date.

The series will begin on Masterpiece on PBS on Sunday, January 5, 2014. The highest-rated drama in PBS history will run for eight weeks through February 23, 2014.

Casting news for season 4 includes the return of Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson and several new actors, including Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Gary Carr.

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AGREE!

...and folks like me, who like to watch the PBS broadcast "live", won't have to hide under a rock for fear of spoilers. (or at least, ALL the spoilers - they never keep it entirely under wraps!)

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Updated On: 5/17/13 at 01:45 PM

I thought so, also. I know that filming concludes in July.

Phyllis, yeah I googled the UK premiere date and its the same. I know PBS ha said they were going to try to do that this season but weren't sure if they'd be able to.

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 02:11 PM

I still think it's premiering earlier in the UK. I thought they were doing the same format as past years, with eight or so episodes plus a Christmas special.

ITV's site says returning in 2013?

I ain't picking a fight or anything, because I'd love all of Christendom to get to watch it at once, but I haven't seen anything saying it's coming late in the UK. This seems like the exact same setup as previous seasons.

When I get back home I'll link the uk sites I saw.

Paul Giamatti Joins 'Downton Abbey'

http://www.deadline.com/2013/06/paul-giamatti-joins-downton-abbey/

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Thanks for bumping up the correct thread, Addy!!

Here are my thoughts:

I don't know, I felt like I was watching a completely different show last night. The jump in time made the episode a bit too disjointed for me, especially as it took place in the same season.

I actually wish they had cast someone less well known in Shirley MacLaine's role. She was too distracting.

Thomas really wasn't given much to do this season. He would start things, but nothing came to fruition, especially with him telling Lord Grantham about Branson having the school teacher in the upper level of the house. Like I do with every episode, I'll go back and re-watch. I know I dosed off a bit during the first hour. I did like the non-dramatic ending

Then there's an issue of continuity. I recall when Rose was first introduced, she and Anna got along quite well, so well in fact that she taught Anna a dance. Then in last week's episode, Mary asked Anna to step outside while she had a word with Rose, yet, there was no acknowledgement between the two (not even a nod) as Anna exited Mary's bedroom.

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