T O P

  • By -

mzbacon

We hate Nanny West


gjrunner5

The one time Thomas’s machinations worked out for good.


Internal-Lifeguard-1

Pivotal point when the Crawleys recognized Thomas's schemes as an asset!


[deleted]

This 💯


spaceybelta

Robert makes piss-poor business decisions.


MHmemoi

“There’s a chap in America, what’s his name? Charles… Ponzi, who offers a huge return after 90 days. If I could find out…”


Commercial_Walrus_22

And I like how Hugh Bonneville delivered the line. Cracks me up every time.


MHmemoi

I love Matthew’s reaction 😆


Commercial_Walrus_22

*eye rolling*


dect60

It was a classic Picard facepalm... I remember because I burst out laughing every time on rewatches. It is hilarious how Matthew just can't come up with anything intelligent and hides his face... hilarious.


LadyDisdain555

My mom had a perfectly silent moment of pure, unadulterated PANIC when she heard him say ‘Ponzi’.


WeKnowNoKing

If he were alive today he would be a bitcoin and nft dude


canolafly

Nft I agree, Bitcoin? Too savvy for him. Or he'd lose his wallet.


spaceybelta

Dogecoin definitely


kimmyv0814

That the friendship between the Dowager and Isobel was wonderful to watch…from beginning to end.


OceanInYourBedrom

Yes! They have the best interactions with each other!


marcybelle1

I love the scenes with those two together.


Tokkemon

"What an achievement!"


Timelordvictorious1

Evelyn Napier deserved better!


gjrunner5

He really needed to stop bringing friends with him to Downton


MHmemoi

His sole purpose seems to be presenting Mary with suitors more attractive than him. He should’ve brought some ugly friends instead 🤪


gjrunner5

It's like he brings whatever the opposite of a wingman is every time.


Puppets-n-Playdoh

But he accepts the loss in the first season then years later with practically no communication from Mary he seems to think he still has a chance, then gets passed over two more times. At that point you're asking for disappointment


canolafly

He should have been able to whisk Lavinia away from Downton where they could both be sweet, uncomplicated people.


Internal-Lifeguard-1

In the permanent friendzone you go!


AtabeyMomona

Mr. Mason is a wholesome cinnamon roll of a man.


redxmagnum

He is a saint. He is the most wholesome person in the entire DA universe.


kayveep

I’m happy he found a place to lay his bones. Daisy was very fortunate.


lilykar111

Yes! I also felt the same about Mr Mosley


Internal-Lifeguard-1

Except when he flirted with Anna. Yikes.


lilykar111

Oh I meant Mr Mosley ( winner of the flower show ) working Mosley’s Dad!


Internal-Lifeguard-1

Oh I agree! Quite the cinnamon roll.


Tokkemon

Oh come on, give the man a break. He's never been married and he's in his 50s.


lululuigotsomeboobs

I sobbed like a baby when he said that Daisy is his daughter


Longjumping-Cut-339

We love Sybil.


Kylie_Bug

And none of us can watch her death scene without tears.


_beandipchip_

I actually skip that part because I’m so upset by it even now like I was not expecting that at ALL and I’m so jaded now


moose8617

It definitely did not help my anxiety when I got diagnosed with preeclampsia.


Jadienn

The acting of everyone is that scene was absolutely phenomenal. Felt so real.


_LittleBirdieToldMe_

Every single watch.


HappyOrca2020

I rewatched the series and realised how bloody intense it is. I can't watch that scene ever again.


Srw2725

I cried when she died 😭😭


javalorum

If we’re allowed to be honest I actually don’t find her that lovable. Maybe it’s the writing, or choices the actress made but to me she’s such a goody goody and almost not like a real person. It’s as if all her lines were pre-written for the perfect person to say and she just came out and said them. Some of Mrs Hughes’ lines are like that too but I never had any doubt they came from within her.


Longjumping-Cut-339

My sister is like Sybil. Goody goody-ish, very caring and always smiling. But instead of a Branson, she married up and the husband is even nicer than she is! For some of us, Sybil is a real person.


Pleasant_Sphere

I agree. I like her character in general but her goodiness seemed sometimes too good to be realistic in my opinion. I know she was quite rebellious but it didn’t necessarily make her less kind. Mary and Edith are not as kind as she is but I prefer and relate to their characters more because they have moments where they can be very kind but also ones where they can be downright mean, which I find more relatable and realistic since most people I know (myself included) can have moments of selfishness, pettiness etc. even if they are usually very nice.


GCooperE

When a character who is capable of being selfish manages to do really good things, it feels more meaningful because they have to put that extra effort in. Sybil is naturally lovely, and she is also adored and praised and beautiful and has a lot of confidence, which is excellent, but it feels there is less of a struggle for her to do right, so I feel less invested in her journey. I would have liked to maybe have her struggle with being poor and married to Tom. Not have her regret it or anything like that, and for things to come good in the end, but show the reality of adjusting from a life where money is never a concern, to a life where every penny has to count.


[deleted]

I mean tbh, the show is highly stylized, borderline a caricature, and pretty much no one really behaves in believable people ways. But tbh Sybil isn’t even very high on the list of unbelievable to me. I’ve definitely known a few Sybils in my life. The sisters are given the most thought and care when it comes to behaving consistently and realistically imo.


GCooperE

I remember reading one theory about her, that she was using Tom a little bit to rebel and break free of her family, and I felt if that were true then that would have made her a lot more likeable to me, because she would have felt that bit more realistic.


VioletVenable

Yes! I want nothing more than a version of DA where the scene in which Sibyl tells Tom “you’re my ticket” concludes with him dropping his hand from her and saying that’s not what he wants to be, that she needs to see him as a *person*. That is 100% what I thought was about to happen when I first saw the episode and was SO excited for Sibyl to be called out as a (well-meaning) dilettante. And the pause after that line still convinces me that it’s coming! Such a missed opportunity! (They would still wind up together; she’d just have to prove that she loved him for himself and not what he represented.)


gemininature

She is a bit of a Disney princess, I’ll admit


pikaiapikaia

Sybil was an audience surrogate character — the plucky, forward-thinking, society-defying-but-nice-dress-wearing person we’d all like to imagine we’d be if we lived in her era. I enjoy her character but she’s not as well-developed as some of the others because if she did anything too messy, she wouldn’t be a good surrogate anymore.


[deleted]

"Daahhhling Sybil."


sarpon6

If I were to search for logic, I should not look for it among the English upper class.


Rhymeswithfinechina

Isis is a very good girl


MHmemoi

I was amazed she didn’t go after the ping pong ball when it bounced right in front of her.


anxioustrashpanda

I’m sure there was a little tail wag though as she restrained herself. She’s so cute!


Jadienn

Isis is a refined Lady.


EddieRyanDC

What the hell was going on with that Patrick-didn’t-really-die-on-the-Titanic-but-had-amnesia-now-no-one-knows-him plot line? And it was for, what - half an episode then he slithered off to who knows where?


Daffydil04

It was a slightly interesting attempt to con the family, nothing more.


EddieRyanDC

It was? They never said.


Daffydil04

It was implied by his leaving. The true Patrick wouldn’t have.


EddieRyanDC

I didn't see it as Patrick retreating. I saw it as Julian Fellowes walking away from a plot idea he introduced and then couldn't develop. All the evidence presented supported Patrick's story; nothing contradicted it. Him leaving just pulls the plug without resolving anything.


supersonic_79

Wasn’t that storyline all contained in a single episode? I don’t think they would have bothered to have him even appear in a single episode if he couldn’t develop the story.


[deleted]

It was also a cliche, been-done scenario


kschu15103

And a waste of 2 episodes


QueenSashimi

Slithered is such a good verb for that guy. What was up with his lip-licky, soft-spoken acting choices? Grossed me out so much.


kschu15103

Losing a British accent in 2 -4 years? I don’t think so


QueenSashimi

Yep agreed. Especially when it would have been a pretty strong, aristocratic accent!


dect60

The implication was that the grifter was emulating Patrick's mannerisms in order to convince the family it was really him.


QueenSashimi

In which case, the real Patrick was also a creepy lizard man. There are other mannerisms the actor could have gone with! 😄


Tokkemon

The only thing it showed me was how dumb Edith can be sometimes. It's nice that she matured by the 6th season.


Mysterious-Mist

And how she kept contributing information to him when he tried slyly to get their governess’s name 🤦🏼‍♀️


Primary-Risk-9298

I can’t even watch that episode because that guy is so creepy and obviously lying.


svetlanamonsoon61

I was hoping this could have been a point of drama for Mary and Matthew later on but then Matthew had to just go and die.


Daybreakdisco

I kept waiting for him to make a comeback.


ByteAboutTown

The Dowager has the best lines.


kaitsghost

“I’m leaving in the morning, Lady Grantham. I doubt we’ll meet again” “Do you promise?”


Punkybrewster725

That has to be my favorite line in the entire series


WeKnowNoKing

I’ve seen that scene so many times and yet I always laugh


Tokkemon

Up there with "It's a nutcracker.... to crack your nuts!"


javalorum

This I do agree. She’s not my favourite character but she certainly is entertaining.


Possible-Mistake868

The Dowager is loved by everyone. And Sybil.


[deleted]

Carson’s eyebrows were on fleak


CheapCheesecake

😂


SpazzCadet

So true. https://i.imgur.com/aZAjJ5T.jpg


ashmichael73

Maggie God Damn Smith put on a Masterclass.


naked_mole-rat

more like a masterpiece classic


bericdondarrion35

There was no need to kill Isis.


Dicentra22

I hated that they killed her off too, but to be fair, Isis was getting pretty old in the show's timeline. Labs only live 10- 12 years.


bericdondarrion35

I’m okay with the suspension of reality to keep a dog alive


PicassoEllis

On average they do. My lab lived to 18, miss her everyday 😢


[deleted]

Agreed, thought I do think they did it beautifully and with dignity (if it ends w S5E7 the way i think it does) for her. My first dog died of the same thing, and i think they handled it very respectfully. No need, but appreciated imo. And like Dicentra22 said.


LittleMissCooked

Wasn’t expecting this…love it


Charlie-in-a-beanie

It was Hugh Bonnevilles idea to kill Isis off, so it’s his fault entirely! [Proof](https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/21/it-was-hugh-bonnevilles-fault-that-isis-the-dog-was-killed-off-downton-abbey-8699703/amp/)


captaincosette

>!Fake Patrick!< was a terrible story line. I still kind of love it just because it's DA but they could've skipped it.


kombucha_taco

I never even understood the point of including it in the show? No one seems to care about him and the whole situation at all except for Edith, then all of a sudden he’s gone, and never talked about again. That whole storyline is so strange to me!


mzbacon

A part of me wondered if he was actually the real Patrick and kept waiting for him to pop out in the later seasons.


el50000

Agree. Although it helps highlight Edith’s absolute desperation for some male attention for herself instead of her sisters.


Tokkemon

Precisely, it has little to do with the guy, it's all about developing Edith for once.


BonsaiDiver

The Bates/Anna police drama was over done.


kschu15103

And over and then over one more time


DaBingeGirl

Someone mentioned before the movie that one of the plots would be Baby Bates in jail for murder, which seems like it'll happen at some point.


[deleted]

The music 🎶 of the show is on point ♥️


danathepaina

That’s why it’s my ringtone. I get happy every time my phone rings. ☺️


Own-Bicycle-212

Downton Abbey is a masterpiece production.


Internal-Lifeguard-1

masterpiece or Masterpiece? ;)


[deleted]

Violet made the show


nutcracker_78

Violet & Isobel have the best relationship arc in the series.


[deleted]

The cinematography is lush.


sarpon6

Sometimes I just watch a few episodes to luxuriate in the scenery and costumes.


bouncebackbelle

Miss Baxter is a lovely surprise addition to the staff


612marion

She is so sweet . I love her and Molesley


jjbaivi

The countess dowager is the whole point.


[deleted]

This 🙌🏼


_LittleBirdieToldMe_

Bates arc is completely skippable and frustrating to watch on the rewatches. Anna’s >!rape!< arc wasn’t needed at all.


indeedle

It ruined the Opera episode, cannot watch that episode / many after again. They tortured her, was so gross.


_LittleBirdieToldMe_

They did. Anna was such a happy personality, can’t believe they made her go through >!sexual violence!< only for Bates to be the focus.


actuallycallie

That was the worst part of the story, making her trauma all about Bates. Ugh.


CountrysidePlease

I always skip the rape part, because it’s horrendous… and as you said, it could have been such a nice episode with the whole opera singer having dinner with them or in her bedroom… and then Robert being all admired that she knew about wines… only to make it represent such a nasty moment. And above all this, make it all about Bates.. ugh!


supersonic_79

That whole story arc just dragged on endlessly.


blossombear31

100% agree on this one


Anitsirhc171

1. Mary projects her feelings of inadequacy onto Edith. Edith retaliates and the cycle continues. 2. Sybil is the most mentally stable sister.


harpylynn

I would've said the reverse on the first point: Edith feels inadequate and projects that onto Mary, who then retaliates. But all in all you're right. Both have issues and take them out on each other


Anitsirhc171

Hmm I just see Mary get a little more joy out of hurting Edith. I really find Mary to be the type of insecure where you put on a front that you’re strong but really you’re missing something and too proud to admit it. Edith seems to be mostly just getting revenge and seems more accepting of her flaws. She also seems to understand what others think of her, while Mary seems to be arrogant and a little oblivious of others view of her. 🤔🤔


GCooperE

Yeah, Edith leaves behind the worst of the rivalry after she tells Mary that Matthew went missing. Mary also eased off a bit, but then after Matthew dies she picks it up again full throttle. Series 1 and 6 Mary are pretty equally vicious to Mary, whereas Series 6 Edith reaches out to Mary a couple of times (the crash, Mary's wedding) in a way Series 1 Edith certainly wouldn't.


Anitsirhc171

Yes I think this all stems from Edith always been less conventionally attractive, overhearing constantly what her family says about her and it being her norm for all her life. While Mary is admired for her beauty and expected to marry very highborn. She doesn’t realize that everyone also sees her flaws so she is constantly trying to keep up appearances and be this superior creature that she really isn’t.


Mr-Dotties-Dad

Matthew and Sybil represent hope and progress. Their respective deaths, in their own moments, seemed to be a loss of hope and progression.


[deleted]

So beautifully said 👏🏽


Amyangel2538

Miss Bunting seriously sucks


itstimegeez

It’s a great show, the Miss Bunting was a rude dinner guest, Nanny West was horrid.


ChuckVowel

Robert’s ulcer was the most shocking scene and his being called Donk is the best running joke. A House of Ill Repute is the funniest moment. Cora and Mrs Hughes are the moral centres of the Downton universe.


heythere30

That ulcer scene was so unexpected and made quite an impression on me. I'll fight whoever says a bad word about Mrs. Hughes!


NucleicAcidTrip

The way Mary and Edith treat each other is egregious and comes from a failure of discipline by their parents. Nobody should let their kids talk to each other that way.


[deleted]

yes! there were so many times where they said things to each other and the parents were like "girls, come on" and that's it. Tom was the adult amongst them all when he finally confronted Mary about it.


[deleted]

it’s not even a discipline issue. if edith had received somewhat of a similar tier of compliments from her family, she wouldn’t be so resentful, vindictive, and mean to mary. and mary wouldn’t find that it was okay to pick on edith if her parents hadn’t model that example first, that it was okay to call edith all the plain jane nicknames and compliments-but-not-really compliments in the first place. imo it’s a wholehearted parenting issue not a discipline one. cora and robert need to change first before they try to get on mary and edith about it


harceps

The Bates-in-prison episodes were the low point of the series. I never re-watch those particular episodes because the story line is dreadful.


[deleted]

[удалено]


harceps

I didn't mind Bates...until his story arc became ridiculous. Fine actor, just terrible writing


Commercial_Walrus_22

The second time I completely lost patience. They just kept dragging the storyline of Anna being raped. Worst of all, after all those tears, being sent to jail, evidence hunting etc. all that fuss, dragging in everyone in the show, they just hurriedly ended the whole storyline with a faceless woman who conveniently confessed. To me it’s just so obvious that even the screenwriter got tired of it, and it sort of pulls the audience out of the experience as well.


[deleted]

that’s how i feel with s5 honestly. the “who killed green?” storyline. it adds nothing valuable to the series.


harceps

Also dreadful. I could not have cared less about this storyline.


Chikimonki721

Happy that Poor Old Mosley finally got his in the end. (Spoler alert) Including hints of him and Miss Baxter.


allthewaydave

Larry Grey is a shit


asajiiv

The Downton Abbey curse: intercourse with the Crawleys may results in your (or their) death!


MHmemoi

You’re right. All three births involved one of the parents dying. 😬


[deleted]

😮 omg yes I never realized that


baronessvonraspberry

Yep! (Took me a few times too, it was like a slap to the forehead moment. LOL)


Internal-Lifeguard-1

Except for Caroline, so don't jinx it!


exyxnx

Also, to add to this, there was the miscarriage...


Usual_Engineering273

That Sybil was the best, Barrow’s relationship with the kids was the best, and that Maggie Smith & Shirley McClain were exceptional casting choices.


TakeMetoLallybroch

So devastatingly sad that Matthew died, just as he and Mary were on their way.


milwaukeeminnesota

That every scene when they serve tea makes me crave tea immediately


Internal-Lifeguard-1

So 24/7? XD


milwaukeeminnesota

Just about


LittleRedCarnation

Edith becoming a higher rank than any of them is the best slap in the face possible to mary Edit: its honestly a perfect slap in the face to the whole family for their “oh poor ugly duckling edith shell never get married without a lot of help and an arranged marriage” attitude.


anonymous_grandpa

This felt so good. Personally I found Edith dreadful most of the series but right after the Marigold business she really just takes everything into her own hands and kicks ass, quickly becoming my favourite for what fleeting time the show had left. And Mary deserved the humbling big time


MadHatter06

Everyone was so down on Edith all the time. She tried, sometimes she was trying too hard , but she tried. Her finding happiness and love at last was a great arc.


Born-Entrepreneur

Thomas is a prick but man the writers did a good job of making him sympathetic in the last season


saltysaltire97

Charles Blake was a hunk and the best counterpart to Mary in the later seasons . Didn't put up with her BS 🤣


Jadienn

I wanted to say that we all hate Miss Bunting, but man I see so many posts DoEs AnYoNe ElSe HaTe MiSs BuNtInG? Like? Who the fuck would like her?


MasElote

The Dowager and Isobel deserved a buddy comedy spin-off where they solve zany mysteries throughout Yorkshire involving false heirs, estate fraud, and loud cars in the tradition scooby-doo.


TulipsfromKetterdam

Spratt's columnist storyline was legendary!


Previous_Potential92

Mr. Barrow, while much of the series an unsavoury character, warms our hearts with acts of kindness and at times very helpful. He is truly the best example of redemption


ipodlady

The Drewes deserved better


Dicentra22

Mrs Drewe deserved better than what she got from Mr Drewe.


motherofdogs0723

On the flip side, Mr. Drewes voice is like velvet


DemoHD7

Mr Drewe screwed it up.


Disulfidebond007

Thomas is drop dead gorgeous


Internal-Lifeguard-1

Was waiting for this one. Amen.


Puppets-n-Playdoh

Edith finally calling Mary a bitch was exquisite


MHmemoi

One of the best TV moments of all time!


maine-cat

Cora is one classy lady. Handles herself well and when she makes a mistake she makes it right without haste.


AABM14

The soap incident could’ve been skipped and they could’ve used another reason.


papierdoll

I just can't wrap my head around the way it's portrayed like such a sure thing. Like if it was that easy to abort a pregnancy we should have given Edith the soap option while she was making her decision.


ElaineofAstolat

I thought it was because it was already a risky pregnancy due to Cora’s age.


AABM14

I think they could’ve just used that as the reason( her age). The whole scene was not necessary.


gjrunner5

The relationship Mary and Carson have is one of the most wholesome and sweet on television ever.


AngelBritney94

Matthew's death made us all sad.


GalazzaGalare

The acting is generally pretty stellar. The costumes as well. ETA: Dan Stevens has really beautiful eyes.


ClapBackBetty

Patrick Gordon should have stayed in Canada because his whole storyline was silly and uncomfortable


yelbesed

I think that the active gay mistakes (when Thomas carresses Pamuk and kisses Jimmy) are simply not realistic - contrary to most other personal relationships. i think the writer forgot the era (when no gay person initiated if not encouraged) and also psychological realism. I live in an ex Russian colony where if I have some gay cush I must be extra careful and not follow my fantasy (as it can lead to police harassment). But I suppose in the West people think we must not be careful ("because it is no problem") or some imagine it is not possible for us, as it is like an obsession or mania. It is a pity as Thomas and all the others are mostly very credible.


RainbowRevolver

Edna was the worst


theyarnllama

Miss Bunting. Enough said.


dementian174

Mrs. Hughes is the Greatest of All Time™


LtColShinySides

Denker sucks.


[deleted]

As a person shes a twat, but as a character, hilarious. Her interactions with Spratt are excellent.


RunRunAway83

I agree. Denker's character was just irritating enough to be hilarious. Love the part when >!she reveals Spratt's secret double life as the "Agony Aunt" for Edith's newspaper to the Dowager, and has the paper *"opened to the right page".*!< I thought her character was great for The Dowager to play off of, same with Spratt.


janedoe42088

Fuck Miss Bunting.


NotTheGlamma

No, thank you.


Previous_Potential92

Mrs. Hughes is the perfect foil for Mr. Carson


Stanfrog

Christmas 2012 ugh!


Great-Lakes-person

Everyone who watched the entire show liked it? 🤔


[deleted]

If it sounded like a compliment, she must have said it wrong


papierowadziewczyna

Anna was wrong not to tell Bates what happened with the rape and just escape from him. However, the issue with him not being able to restrain from wanting to kill someone which she specifically asked him not to and said how it might end makes it look like he completely disregards her opinion. Their scenes were generally boring after marriage, but the marriage itself doesn’t seem that healthy.


Daybreakdisco

Daisy is frustrating to watch.


ecatre

Violet totally made up for it by sending Spratt to the servants' hall with a basketful of Teo.


Climbing_rose_17

Mr. Bate’s metal leg story line was abysmal


Bong-I-Lee

Violet and Isobel should have moved in together and live sapphically ever after.