<<< PART SEVEN ----- PART NINE >>>
<<< INTERMISSION
Despite Mary's best efforts, Matthew uses the best part of episodes 2.06 and 2.07 to accuse her of turning him down in favour of Carlisle, express ingratitude for her help, bully her for making him feel like a cripple, punish her for not choosing him when she could, and give her the impression that ( Read more... )

<<< PART SEVEN ----- PART EIGHT >>>
I have to say one thing upfront: I understand that Julian Fellowes is making a huge issue out of the question of hope/faith versus realism/despondency throughout series 2, and I feel very strongly that he also uses Matthew's injury to that purpose. The problem is just that it doesn't work in that case, and I would ( Read more... )

<<< PART SIX ----- PART EIGHT >>>
                                INTERMISSION >>>
And if they should just want to be with you? On any terms? - Another reverse proposal

The next day, Mary returns to the hospital to make amends. To tell Matthew that she doesn't care if he can't walk. To say the right things. But alas, it's too late. His whole demeanor ( Read more... )

<<< PART FIVE ----- PART SEVEN >>>
The Ghost of 1914

That is the situation in August 1918, as the series enters into its second phase, the dark phase. Four years have passed since Mary and Matthew's tearful farewell at the garden party, on the 4th of August 1914, coinciding with the outbreak of the Great War. In Matthew's eyes, Mary wasn't sure if ( Read more... )

<<< PART FOUR ----- PART SIX >>>

If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy - Another would-be proposal

When Matthew and William finally arrive at Downton, they are three days overdue. Matthew crashes the concert just as Mary is singing, and she just stops mid-sentence and stares at him in shock. Matthew looks almost equally ( Read more... )

<<< PART THREE ----- PART FIVE >>>
All the volunteers are spoken for
2.04 is the episode where the unspeakable happens: Carlisle even follows Matthew into the trenches! Is there no peace to be had anywhere?

It starts with Mary having a conversation with Violet about why she considers Carlisle a good match: He is powerful and he is rich, meaning that ( Read more... )

( The pissing contest that never really gets started --Read more... )

<<< PART ONE ----- PART THREE >>>

Shall I Remind You...

"Shall I remind you of some of the choicest remarks you made about me when I arrived here? Because they live in my memory as fresh as the day they were spoken." Matthew Crawley arrived at Downton in September 1912. The moment before he stooped to kiss Lady Mary in May 1914 he would still have ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

Well, I know I'm thick. I know I'm slow... But never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I could so misunderstand an episode of Downton Abbey that I would ruin my Christmas. It was ruined because I felt that the episode never addressed Matthew's errors throughout S2, how he hurt Mary throughout his relationship, and that he got away with ( Read more... )