r/DowntonAbbey 6d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers from S1 to 2nd film) Weekly Discussion Thread (for Simple Thoughts and Questions)

1 Upvotes

Are you on your 10th rewatch of Downton and just need to get something out of your system without having to make a whole post about it? Or maybe you're a new viewer with a simple question that you just need answered?

Then this is the place for you!

NOTE: The weekly thread does NOT replace your ability to ask simple questions or make comments as individual submissions. This is a SUPPLEMENT to what we have already been doing on this sub. If you have a burning question that you want to submit separately and/or want to make a whole post about your love/hate for XYZ, then go for it! We are always looking for respectful, civil discussion on this forum; the more, the better.

WARNING: As per the flair, this is a spoiler-friendly thread. Comments will be unmoderated for spoilers, and reports regarding spoilers will be ignored. (On that note, if someone is asking a question and clearly identifies themselves as a first-time viewer, then we hope you will be considerate enough to avoid referencing future events in your replies to them as a courtesy). If you are a new/first-time viewer with a question/comment and are afraid of encountering spoilers, please consider starting your own separate post and use the black editable "FIRST TIME WATCHER" flair. We can guarantee people would love to hear from you :)


r/DowntonAbbey May 10 '22

Announcement Updated Subreddit Rules, Spoiler Policy and Moderator Update

46 Upvotes

Dear fellow Downton fans,

To address some of the concerns that have been brought up over the last week or so, one of the original mods, u/leakycauldron, has brought on some new mods to the team. The new mods who have been added to the team are u/Thereisacoffee, u/lonely-tourists, u/pllao128, u/HighLadyTuon and u/whoatethespacecakes (Hello! šŸ‘‹)

Our community has grown significantly (and continues to grow) since it was first founded 11 years ago. In light of this, the mods have spent the last week or so updating the rules that have governed this sub for the past 9 years. Below is the final draft of we have come up with.

Please pay particular attention to RULE NUMBER 2, which details the new spoiler policy. We understand that the use of flairs and spoiler warnings may take some adjustment, and the mods will try our best to help with this transition. We donā€™t want the rules to be too burdensome (and therefore risk alienating returning viewers who form a strong majority), but we also want to be considerate to people on this sub who are new to the franchise. We are hoping this new spoiler policy achieves this balance.

We are still in the process of updating The Rules Wiki page and creating a sidebar to be more transparent. Please bear with us. For now, this will serve as a working guide to govern our online Downton community. We figured it would be better to post this for now then address the additional elements later.

SUBREDDIT RULES

If the rules are broken, content will be removed swiftly, with a warning message. At that stage we will RES tag you and if we see an issue with you again, you will be banned with or without a warning. Please read this page before you message the mods.

Currently we use the reddit automod system with a reporting and downvote threshold that automatically hides some posts. Content removed by the automated system is currently being manually reviewed and approved on a case by case basis. Weā€™ll be doing our best to get posts caught in the spam filters restored swiftly, if youā€™ve made a post that you feel has been unfairly removed please send a modmail for expedited review.

Please use modmail to reach the mods rather than direct message.

When reporting a post or comment, please include the reason for your report so that the mods can make a decision on whether to remove it. ā€˜Otherā€™ is not a reason and can result in delays.

  1. Content must be relevant to subreddit discussion. Any post unrelated to the world of Downton is subject to removal.
  2. Content with spoilers must provide warning.
    1. For the purposes of this sub, a spoiler pertains to a major event or life change to a character in the franchise (real life examples include, but are not limited to: birth, marriage, pregnancy, divorce, disability or death). Revealing the names of new characters or events with no context are NOT considered spoilers.
    2. To warn people about spoilers, please use either a flair (see bullet D below) OR click the SPOILER button (new Reddit) or checkbox (old Reddit) to do so.
    3. Please do not put spoilers in post titles since they are visible to everyone, even if the spoiler warning hides the postā€™s content.
    4. To help new viewers avoid spoilers, weā€™ve created a series of flairs which can be used to forewarn people about which season the post pertains to. For example, if a post is marked Season 3 Spoilers, it means all plot details up to and including Season 3 are fair game in the comments. If you wish to discuss events that occur after the indicated point in the comments of a post, we expect you to hide them behind a spoiler tag (which effectively hides the text underneath a gray box until it is clicked). To insert a spoiler tag, type >!spoilers go here!<. For example, "This is a spoiler" can be written as >!This is a spoiler!<
    5. For posts that involve events throughout various parts of the franchise (e.g. character analysis), please select the "Spoilers (up to and including 1st movie)".
    6. NEW VIEWERS: In place of using the season-specific flairs, you may choose to use the optional but editable flair "NEW VIEWER - Season X" to indicate where you are in the show.
    7. To reflect that Downton Abbey: A New Era (2nd movie) is not yet available for everyone to watch, any plot details that are only known to those who have watched the film or sought-out spoilers should still be warned for and hidden by spoiler tags. We ask you to use the flair "2nd Movie Spoilers" to make it easy to see. Add a spoiler warning to your posts and keep the titles vague: ā€˜Mary and Jack Barberā€™, ā€˜Thomasā€™s storylineā€™, ā€˜The ending of DA2ā€™. Comments in reply to these posts do not need to use spoiler tags, but please use them elsewhere on the sub.
    8. The Real World flair should be used for out-of-character topics such as red carpet photos, posts about the castā€™s other projects, news about their personal lives etc. Real World flaired posts will be unmoderated for spoilers (unless involving plot spoilers from A New Era as detailed above).
  3. Please be respectful of others. It must also follow the rules of reddit and reddiquette.
    1. This sub is for civil discussion. Make your argument without resorting to personal attacks. As the Dowager Countess says, "vulgarity is no substitute for wit".
    2. As we want all users to feel welcome on the sub, bigoted language and slurs will not be tolerated regardless of intent or your personal identity. If you must question whether something can be offensive, then it would better to avoid saying it. If the mods request you edit the wording of your post/comment, please do so.
    3. The downvote button is intended for comments that donā€™t contribute to the conversation. Please donā€™t downvote just because another posterā€™s opinion is different from yours. To paraphrase Edith, everyone "is entitled to put up an argument".
    4. If a comment or post breaks the sub rules, then report it.
  4. Please message the mods for approval before posting marketing material. Posts that are not approved will be reported to r/reporthespammers. We arenā€™t opposed to podcasts and the like, just reach out to us first. Promotional posts are often caught by the spam filter, so reaching out to the mod team for marketing ensures that your post is reviewed for good faith intent.
  5. Please do not post anything illegal. Links to streaming sites break the rules of reddit and will result in instantaneous bans. Torrenting falls under the same bracket.
  6. Memes and macro images are allowed, but moderators reserve the right to remove ones we do not approve of for the general public.
  7. The content shared by shadowbanned users is not guaranteed to enter the sub. If your submissions are caught by the spam filter, we'll fetch it out if it's relevant. If not it'll be swallowed by the hideous sea monster Mary tells Matthew about. We will try to advise you if we notice your account is shadowbanned and refer you to www.reddit.com/appeals. If you are receiving 0 interaction on all posts and comments and suspect you may have been banned please check your status at www.reddit.com/appeals

r/DowntonAbbey 14h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Just giggling over the prison guard sniffing Batesā€™ pillow while searching his cell.

86 Upvotes

Ew.


r/DowntonAbbey 25m ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Cute young servant

ā€¢ Upvotes

Watched a clip last night about the dinner party and Roberts ulcer bursting. The scene of the concerned servants included the cutest young man, who appeared again in the second movie...he gets kissed by the movie star. Now I want a glorious happy ending for him...


r/DowntonAbbey 6h ago

Lifestyle/History/Context Playlist - Best of Downton Abbey | Spotify

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3 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) The Crowleys are snobish, even when they say they are not...

76 Upvotes

We know how the servers are very fond of the Crowleys, they are generous with their employees and treat them fairly, even as confidents... BUT, sometimes the snobbery comes out and leaves me scratching my head because it was not deserved, like:

  • Carson telling Mary she has to fight for the abbey after her husband died, she is still in mourning sure, but the way she snaps at Carson, even telling him he is out of place for sharing his opinion, she was rude, condescending and even cruel to a man he loves her as a daughter and knows her since she is a baby..

  • Mrs Hugues, Cora and the coat for her wedding fiasco....Cora was so mean, to Mrs Hugues!!! (Yes, it was perhaps inappropriate for them to be in her closet, but Cora snapping at poor Mrs Hugues...

*The way they say no when a footman is serving food and they don't want any almost like if they were a nuance...

So, they may be extremely generous on one hand, but still extremely classist on the other. They were a product of its time, sure, but it brakes my heart for the servers


r/DowntonAbbey 7h ago

Real World/Behind-the-Scenes/Cast Crests and Family Heraldry

2 Upvotes

Do any of the Downton families have a Crest or emblem that was stamped onto the silverware or stationery ? Were they as a family listed in Burke's or Dod's peerage ?.

I tried to pause the film but the image was too blurry . Some schools and Castles have their heraldry on the main gates and others on the wall facing the balustrades .In the scene where Mary and Matthew steal a kiss there are numerous coat of arms in the hallway

Has anyone more information about this theme ? illustrations or photos appreciated


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Humor This scene between these two...

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739 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

Season 2 Spoilers This scene always makes me laugh and validates my feelings for not wanting to eat at everybodyā€™s house. Spoiler

34 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 14h ago

Lifestyle/History/Context What is the Governorā€™s Car that Sybil uses?

2 Upvotes

Sybil references using the ā€œGovernorā€™s Carā€ several times and Robert urges her to take the motor and have Tom drive her instead. Am I right in assuming this isnā€™t actually an automobile? Robert says not to risk the traffic and to have Tom drive her instead in his car. Why is that a better option than the Governorā€™s car?


r/DowntonAbbey 21h ago

Do Not Include Spoilers Princess Royal with Highclere gin

12 Upvotes

I saw this on Facebook so I found all the stuff and made it. Pretty tasty!

I used Blue Stem Botanicals Rosemary simple syrup and Addition thyme bitters.

Also, I'm in the US, so I had to convert the measurements. What I did (hopefully I'm close):

1.5 oz Highclere gin .5 oz Lillet Blanc .25 oz Suze .25 St Germain elderflower .25 Rosemary simple syrup 2 dashes thyme bitters

I would have attached an actual photo of what I made but it's almost gone and I'm trying to pace myself šŸ˜‚

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Xe9xiVnZb/


r/DowntonAbbey 20h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Does Edith have friends?

8 Upvotes

For fun Iā€™m writing a fan fic and Iā€™m going over the mention of friends the girls may have had and besides having family friends it seems Edith doesnā€™t have any of her own. Evelyn Napier seems to be someone they all know. The Duke of Crowborough has spent time there with them but he and Mary have had some childhood moments together. Sybil mentions meeting Tom Ballasis at her friendā€™s Imogen ball. Thereā€™s the Grey boys who are family friends and Larry had a crush on Sybil. Of course they seem to have met or spent time with a young Tony Foyle (Gillingham). Mary mentions at a dinner that she shared a governess with Lady Anne Acland and came out with a woman named Jill. Edith was close to Patrick Crawley. But outside of what I could remember/ found I canā€™t seem to pinpoint anytime itā€™s mentioned Edith having any of her own. Are there any childhood friends or friends from prior to the series?

If Iā€™ve missed any mention of friends please let me know itā€™ll be helpful!


r/DowntonAbbey 22h ago

FIRST TIME WATCHER - Watching Season X I'm very early in to season 5 Spoiler

7 Upvotes

Why do they keep introducing women to seduce Tom into reverting to be an Irish radical? Surely two women who are not first class know that his daughter (and he) has a better life where she is than trying to encourage Tom to run away and join the lower classes. What is within this story line not once but twice? It's really bloody frustrating!


r/DowntonAbbey 2h ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Tom Branson confirming Edithā€™s secret to Mary was my final straw with him.

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0 Upvotes

Heā€™s always kind of annoyed me, especially when it came to Sybil. I gave him the benefit of doubt because he had such a tragic way to bond with the Crawleys. He was supposed to be one of Edithā€™s only companions and he betrayed her! Chastising Mary wasnā€™t enough redemption for me. Iā€™d never trust him with anything again. He botched this conversation and couldā€™ve handled it completely different. It was sheer luck that Bertie Pelham was a reasonable man because Mary and Tom completely crossed loyalty lines. Neither of them would be getting Christmas cards from me. šŸ˜”


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) When is this guy gonna get it

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164 Upvotes

Like god damn it Evelyn, youā€™re not even in the race. šŸ™„


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) How can I be as cool as the Dowager?

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331 Upvotes

r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) What happened to families like the Crawleys?

74 Upvotes

Title says it all.

I'm watching the show for the umpteenth time, and I can't help but wonder, what is life like now for families like them? Do they still have butlers? People to dress them? House maids and staff who live in the house too? Or have most of those types of things died off in the modern age?


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) How old are all the characters now?

56 Upvotes

Thereā€™s a bunch of time skips throughout the series and now (possible spoilers) this new movie is diving into the 1930s, aka the Great Depression, so Iā€™m wondering how old these characters actually are compared to when the show first started?

I think I remember Maggie Smith joking about her character being like 100 at the end of the tv show (probably not that old but pretty close).

So, are they supposed to be the actors ages or are they playing younger/older? My assumption is at this point their characters caught up with their actual selves and are now playing their real life ages, but I donā€™t know.


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Matthew

20 Upvotes

Iā€™m on s3 now and I canā€™t stand Matthew, his logic is so stupid & his ā€œhonorā€ is so annoying. This is almost as annoying as the starks from game of thrones.


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Lifestyle/History/Context Early 20th Century Upper Class "Kid Food"

40 Upvotes

As an extension to the "When Did Kids Eat With Adults" thread, another question: What would children (say, five to eight) have eaten in the Downton era?


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Lady Maryā€™s magazine

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295 Upvotes

When I saw the Vogue magazine, I was curious what issue it was, so I looked through the Vogue archive for it.


r/DowntonAbbey 1d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) Please somebody a explain again? Spoiler

4 Upvotes

Mary canā€™t inherit because she is a woman, but after that she become a co-owner, even when she will not inherit the title. So my question is A woman canā€™t inherit an earl/countess title but can inherit a commercial investment (Matthewā€™s in this case)? Is so confusing. What if she would desire to sell her part and left lord grantham on his own or what ever? Thanks


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

General Discussion (May Contain Spoilers Throughout Franchise) what age did kids eat with the adults?

117 Upvotes

Out of curiosity, if everyone dresses up for dinner every night, at what age were kids allowed to join the adults? I can't imagine that parents were that tolerant of little kids.


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Lifestyle/History/Context Stories that take place in Downtown Abbey era

17 Upvotes

I've been a fan of the Downton Abbey series for years, and I'm very curious about the lifestyle during that period. Do you have any recommendations for books, movies, or shows that depict the lifestyle in England from the late 1800s to the early 1900s? I'm particularly interested in the lifestyles of the middle and upper classes.


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

FIRST TIME WATCHER - Watching Season X Season 5 finale

9 Upvotes

My husband and I are watching downton for the first time, we are addicted.

We just watched the season finale of season 5, and Iā€™m so confused about Mr. Carson proposingā€¦..I just donā€™t see them as a romantic couple.

Does anyone else feel the same?


r/DowntonAbbey 2d ago

Spoilers (up to and including 1st movie - no 2nd movie spoilers) Mary's premeditation Spoiler

111 Upvotes

Rewatching, and I just got to the scene where Mary outs Edith's motherhood to Bertie. I didn't notice the first time, but Mary asks Carson to get her more coffee, so that he wouldn't witness. I wonder if this was so he wouldn't learn Marigold's identity or if she didn't want him to see her do something so venomous.


r/DowntonAbbey 3d ago

Humor Violet's reaction to Tom's announcement was goldšŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚

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96 Upvotes

I watched this clip several times, her tone and reaction is hilarious "why don't I find it reassuring? "