10:08 am - 08/29/2012
The press pack has finally been released and there is like 60 pages of this shit. I am just posting excerpts here, but go to the source to see the whole thing.
First up, character briefs.
Earl of Grantham, Robert. (Hugh Bonneville).
Robert is delighted that Matthew will soon be his son-in-law as well as his heir. He remains less enamoured with Branson, and struggles with the fact that Sybil has married the chauffeur, a source of gossip in the county. But he has other things to worry about. In the aftermath of the Great War, houses like Downton are being hit by new financial worries. In this changing landscape nothing is assured and, as Robertʼs custodianship of the estate comes under scrutiny, he is called to account for his past decisions. [tl;dr- Robert continues to be a flop]
Lady Sybil Crawley. (Jessica Brown Findlay)
Following her marriage to Tom Branson in Dublin, Sybil is expecting her first child. She is largely free of her role as an aristocrat and has happily settled in to her life as ʻMrs Bransonʼ. However, Branson refuses to spend Robertʼs money on himself, and so their finances are strained. She plans to resume her nursing career as soon as the baby is born, but that does not solve the problem of travelling over for Maryʼs wedding. Ultimately, for all her brave talk, Sybil feels safe at Downton and she longs for her husband to be accepted in the world of her childhood.</b> [tl;dr- shit I don't care about. Go away, Sybil.]
Lady Edith Crawley. (Laura Carmichael).
Edith has always resented her sisters. Mary is so good looking and sought after, Sybil so full of her own passionate dreams, that they both cast Edith into the shade. For Edith, the war brought a sense of possibility, a sense, for the first time, of really possessing a talent for helping, both on the farms and caring for officers in the convalescent home. She misses this sense of self-worth and her post-war life seems empty. Added to which, with so many young men lost, potential suitors are thin on the ground. But she is still keen on Sir Anthony Strallan, despite the age difference between them, and, underneath, she is quite as determined as her sisters to have her own way. [I actually LOVE the sound of how series 3 is going to turn out for Edith! This is exactly how I see her as a character, so it's good to know that the show and I are on the same page.]
Mr Carson. (Jim Carter).
The butler. Carson is keen to get the staffing levels at Downton back up to scratch. He has kept standards as high as he could during the war years, managing without footmen and pushing himself to the limit, and he was mortified to suffer a physical breakdown in front of the family. With opportunities to return the staffing to pre-war levels, Carson is nevertheless aware that the servant class has been changed by the war, and many young men and women aspire to move in different directions. He has to learn to accept Matthew as co-master, but he remains eternally loyal to his beloved Mary.
John Bates. (Brendan Coyle)
Life Prisoner. Former valet. After being convicted of the murder of his wife Vera Bates, Bates was relieved when his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He continues to protest his innocence, and is grateful for his wife Annaʼs unshakeable belief, and determination to overturn the verdict. But he has a long sentence ahead of him, and when he finds himself confined, at close quarters, with some highly undesirable characters, prison life throws up more obstacles for Bates. [Yawn.]
Lady Mary Crawley. (Michelle Dockery).
Mary broke off her engagement with the rich and powerful newspaper proprietor, Sir Richard Carlisle. Now happily engaged to the heir, Matthew Crawley, and planning their life together, Mary finds her loyalties tested when the future of her beloved Downton is under threat. When Laviniaʼs father offers a chance of salvation, Matthew is unable to free himself of a sense of guilt and obligation that prevents him taking advantage of the opportunity, which Mary cannot understand. [I love my pragmatic queen!]
Molesley. (Kevin Doyle).
Matthewʼs valet. Life is an uphill struggle for Molesley. He spends a lot of time trying to convince Matthew Crawley that he will need a proper valet at the big house, once he is married to Lady Mary. But is Matthew listening, and will Molesley finally get his moment? [LOL JUST LOL]
Sarah OʼBrien. (Siobhan Finneran).
The ladyʼs maid. OʼBrienʼs responsibilities are to her mistress but she will always follow her own interest. She seizes on an opportunity to give her nephew a position within the household, and is fiercely protective of him. If she had her way, Alfred would be rising up the servantsʼ ranks even more quickly than most men could hope for, but below stairs everyone is protective of his or her position. OʼBrienʼs continued disregard of this fact, in her efforts to promote her sisterʼs son, rankles with the staff, and especially with her former ally, Thomas. [tl;dr O'Brien is bffs with her nephew now and Thomas is kind of pushed aside.]
Anna Bates. (Joanne Froggatt).
The head housemaid. Anna has made her choice of Mr Bates and nothing will alter that. But with her husband in prison, she works relentlessly to find a way to free him. Encouraged by Bates to carry on and live her life while he is incarcerated, she tries to keep her spirits up, and her long service through good and bad times has cemented her friendship with her principal employer, Mary, but itʼs her husbandʼs regular letters which are the highlight of her week. [MOAR ANNA AND MARY FRIENDSHIP TIME PLZ]
Thomas Barrow. (Rob James-Collier).
The Valet. Given a second chance by Robert, after impressing him with his commitment to finding the dog, Isis, Thomas has become Robertʼs valet. Despite this, heʼs always on the look out for the main chance, and his transparent self-interest wins him no allies downstairs, in the process alienating his old partner in crime, Miss OʼBrien. But even Thomas has a heart.
Tom Branson. (Allen Leech).
The former chauffeur is now married to Sybil, and living in Dublin. Tom is still reluctant to conform to the Crawley familyʼs expectations of him which Matthew can understand. Encouraged by the way Sybil has embraced their new life, he has been writing for rebel newspapers and is a convinced republican. But while he nurtures a rabid hatred of the British Empire and longs to destroy all the Establishment stands for, he is still compromised by his passionate love for a young woman who might be thought an emblem of that Establishment. Taking Sybil Crawley as his wife means there is a contradiction in his very heart. [GO AWAY BRANSON.]
Mrs Hughes. (Phyllis Logan).
The housekeeper is unsentimental, but moral and decent. In fact, she is a kind woman but she feels her position depends on strict discipline, both in the management of her staff and of herself. Mrs Hughes has kept in touch with Ethel Parks, the housemaid who became pregnant by a convalescing officer, and the connection will lead to complications. In this, as in all things, she has always tried to act for the best, but she feels guilty about the evidence she gave at Batesʼs trial, which led to his conviction. [Ethel is still around? Oh.]
Martha Levinson. (Shirley MacLaine)
Magnificent in her lack of deference, Coraʼs mother, Martha, sweeps into Downton for Mary and Matthewʼs wedding and her arrival causes a stir above and below stairs. Her late husband Isidore, a dry goods millionaire from Cincinnati, left her a fortune and she enjoys her money. But, unlike Violet, she is not afraid of the future and she advises the family not to try to hold on to the past, when they are bound to be defeated. In other words, her philosophies are diametrically opposed to Violetʼs.
Countess of Grantham, Cora. (Elizabeth McGovern).
Cora was thrilled to receive news that Sybil was expecting their first grandchild. Loyal to Robert in all things, she wants to persuade him to accept Sybilʼs marriage and would love to welcome Branson to Maryʼs wedding. Cora is less afraid of the changes that the future may bring to them all. The arrival of her mother, Martha, is a reminder that, despite her fatherʼs fortune, Coraʼs blood is less blue, and her outlook less hidebound by history, than those of the Crawleysʼ.
Daisy Robinson. (Sophie McShera).
The kitchenmaid promoted to assistant cook. Daisy is still at the beck and call of Mrs Patmore, still the dogsbody, still at the bottom of this particular heap. However, her husband Williamʼs death showed that life is short. With encouragement from Williamʼs father, she has spoken up and demanded her promotion to assistant cook. The trouble is that the post-war situation means she has some time to wait before Mrs Patmore can deliver what she promises.
Mrs Patmore. (Lesley Nicol).
The cook. Mrs Patmore is still firmly in charge of the kitchen and kitchen staff and religiously defends her rights and privileges, against all comers. Having agreed with Daisy that there was a possibility of her moving up to a position as an assistant cook, she finds herself under pressure to deliver the new kitchen maid who would make Daisyʼs promotion meaningful. She is shrewd and observant when it comes to the romantic desires of the younger members of staff, and in fact, in her domain, nothing goes unnoticed.
Alfred Nugent. (Matt Milne).
Footman. OʼBrienʼs awkward, tall nephew lands a job as the new footman, with the help of his aunt. Alfred used to be a hotel waiter, and as he struggles to meet Carsonʼs exacting standards, some of his old habits may prove hard to break. However, his real problem is whether or not heʼs in the right career, after all.
Doctor Clarkson. (David Robb).
Richard Clarkson is a country doctor, occupying that slightly uncomfortable tier somewhere between the Crawley family and the village. His long history of treating members of the Crawley family means he is Coraʼs preference at any time of medical need, but his misdiagnosis of Matthewʼs condition, and Laviniaʼs death from Spanish Flu, have together marred his record for Robert. Their disagreement over his talents place them in an impossible place. [LOL FOR ONCE I AM TEAM ROBERT]
Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet. (Maggie Smith).
Violet continues to expect the same unforgiving standards, from herself and her family, that she always did. But even she is aware that the world is changing and the family must look to protecting its kingdom in the new century. She takes a particular interest in Edith. Having once encouraged her meetings with Anthony Strallan, she now believes his disability and age make him an undesirable match. The arrival of Martha Levinson, with her plain-spoken observations about where the world is headed, sets Violetʼs teeth on edge.
Jimmy Kent. (Ed Speleers).
Footman. Jimmy is incredibly handsome. As former footman to the Dowager Lady Anstruther, Jimmy applies for the job of footman, and immediately catches the eye of the female staff. And he does not go unnoticed by Thomas, either. He has an air of natural confidence and grace which Alfred lacks, and which means that Jimmy takes the role of first footman, as a natural right, a bone of contention.
Matthew Crawley. (Dan Stevens).
Matthew is convinced that Laviniaʼs heartbreak at seeing him kiss Mary contributed to her death. Now they are engaged, he cherishes Mary, but he cannot throw off a sense of guilt where Lavinia is concerned, and this will cause problems when Downton is threatened. Ideally, he would like to live a simpler life, away from Downton at first, so he and his new wife can get to know each other. Initially reluctant to involve himself with the estate, Matthew will become drawn into the detail of what he will inherit one day, and his relationship with his father-in-law will be troubled by what he discovers. [Yaas! Robert and Matthew conflict! And I like the kinds of conflicts that are being set up for Mary and Matthew.]
Ivy Stuart. (Cara Theobold).
Scullery maid. The pretty and fresh faced kitchenmaid will join Mrs Patmoreʼs team in the kitchen. Her arrival causes some interest among the male staff, and Alfredʼs interest, in particular, is bound to make trouble for Ivy.
Isobel Crawley. (Penelope Wilton).
Having clashed with Cora over the running of the convalescent home at Downton, Isobel left to work with the Red Cross during the war. Her passion for good causes is undimmed and the dislocation of the post-war world gives her plenty of opportunity. She has been working with destitute fallen women in York, helping them to find alternative employment and teaching them skills, work that will lead her into a complicated situation. She is happy for Matthew to marry Mary, she is also keen for her son to make his mark on Downton. Perhaps he will wrestle the estate into the twentieth century?
Apparently some people care about Sybil??? So here is an excerpt from the interview with Jessicay Brown-Findley:
“A big concern is the Irish Problem: her involvement in that and what it will mean in terms of the freedoms they will or will not have to come back and forth to the house. She’s in a quite tricky position. She needs to come back because her family demands it but she also needs to not take too much of an English stance on Ireland. She’s caught between two worlds in a way.”
Inevitably it all leads to changes in her relationships with her two sisters, Edith and Mary: Sybil may be the youngest but she’s also the first of the three to be married and pregnant.
“She’s treated far more like a grown up now. I don’t think her opinions and the things she’s doing are quite so laughable any more – because she’s followed through with them. She’s not just a flippant teenager doing things to bait them. Her sisters in particular see her as much more worldly now. She can relate to them in many ways but I think they all relate to each other now because they’ve had a bit more life experience.”
It’s not as if Sybil has ever been at loggerheads with her siblings:
“Sybil’s always had the love of the two of them. She’s never really had trouble – it’s a different relationship to that between Edith and Mary, definitely. Sybil and Mary will have heated discussions but they’re quite similar in a way. They take things quite seriously. Sybil’s relationship with Edith is interesting because she sees a lot of herself in Edith – such as never feeling like she quite fits in. Neither Sybil nor Edith have quite fitted the mould of a lady in the way their parents expected.”
And now an excerpt from an interview with Laura Charmichal which gives some more insight into Edith's role in series 3.
“The war was awful but it gave her independence and freedom and now she has new confidence,” says Carmichael. “And also, now both her sisters are married, or on their way, she is determined. He’s a nice chap Sir Anthony, I think she does love him and they would be very happy together. They are both intelligent and thoughtful people and he sees her in a way that her family don’t. That is so appealing to Edith. All in all it just seems like a good idea. So she’s going to follow it through.”
As ever with Edith, driving all of this is her relationship with her sisters, fractious as ever. “She has this feeling that both her sisters are going to leave her and have an independent existence. She doesn’t want to be stuck on the shelf and she doesn’t want to be stuck living with her parents for the rest of her life. So many men of her generation were killed in the war that the fact Sir Anthony is older seems neither here not there. And she strikes me as somebody that has always wanted to be at the adult’s table, so to speak: she likes to be the mature one, the one that tells everybody off for being silly. It suits her. So I think she really does love Sir Anthony and thinks it will make her very happy.”
Robert, naturally, thinks this is all a terrible idea. But it becomes Edith’s prime focus – because in truth, Carmichael says, she’s bored. She misses the war. “She had a purpose all of a sudden and an activity. She learnt that practical side of being a woman who had a job and a brain and was capable.”
Edith wants to do more, in short, and it will take her outside Downton Abbey for the first time. “It’s exciting stuff – I get to go to London! It’s like a completely different job.”
And now for an interview with MICHELLE DOCKERY:
“The big difference for Lady Mary in this series,” says Michelle Dockery, “is that she’s very happy!” After several series of scandal, strife and a long-running will-they-won’t they with Matthew Crawley, Mary is finally getting married. Dockery for one is a little relieved.
“As much as that angst between Matthew and Mary was enjoyable to play, I must say it’s lovely now to e finally settled in some ways. Of course, like all marriages it’s not completely perfect. Let’s just say they have their teething problems at the beginning.”
[...]
“I guess she becomes a woman in the third series. The way it’s written it feels that even though Mary maintains that pragmatic side to her – which can be quite bossy at times - she’s really grown up. That’s highlighted in Edith and Mary’s relationship. I think it’s fair to say that things have softened between them. They look out for each other a little more. Of course, they still disagree on things, like sisters do. But Mary is a little more mature now.”
[...]
“In the first few episodes people loved to hate her. She was very cold, she had this icy exterior and she was vile to her sister. Then, half way through the first series, after the incident with Pamuk [the Turkish diplomat who died in Lady Mary’s bed], she began to soften. Then in the second series you see the heart of the character much more because of course we were at war - every time she saw Matthew could have been the last. And I’ve loved that arc that Julian has written for her. Even in the third series it’s changing.”
The main change, she says, is in Lady Mary’s attitude to her family home. “In the first series it was like she was fighting against it. She shied away – she just wanted to go off and
meet someone rich. This series, the thought of leaving Downton or Downton falling in to trouble is unthinkable to her. Because this is her legacy with Matthew: now it’s in her hands. And she feels the weight of that legacy more than ever before.”
[So Mary and Matthew will be getting married and settled into married life and I love that their conflict is coming from that and not from will they-won't they stuff. And I love that Mary maintains her pragmatic side and that she's basically becoming Scarlett O'Hara and Downton is her Tara.]
In this interview with Robert James-Collier he discusses Thomas's changing relationship with O'Brien:
After two series of skulduggery in partnership with the fiendish lady’s maid O’Brien, this time round Thomas finds himself at odds with her. “O’Brien’s nephew Alfred comes on the scene. He’s young, he gets the job and he’s promoted to footman straight away. Thomas sees that as a threat - he sees him as getting the special treatment that he, Thomas, has never had in life. Or at least that’s what’s in his head, because he’s always been an outsider and a loner with his sexuality.”
O’Brien has done everything to get her nephew in the house - and all of a sudden this woman who was always on his side is now helping someone else. Thomas gets jealous, and we should know by now that hell hath no fury like a footman scorned.
“He thought he and O’Brien had a special relationship. He works out everything was fine until the nephew comes along so he tries what he tried with Bates in series one – eliminate the problem by hook or by crook.”
It sets off a vicious circle. “O’Brien works out what Thomas is up to and thinks, ‘Okay, if you're coming for my family then I’m coming for you.’”
And now an interview with Dan Stevens:
“Firstly it’s preparations for the wedding. Obviously we left after getting engaged at the end of the Christmas episode last year. And now he’s looking to settle down with Mary.”
Matthew is also looking to find his role in the estate he is set to inherit. “It’s a question of whether they’re going to stick around or not. Matthew’s a bit iffy about staying in the house. I think he wants a certain amount of independence before taking on Downton. So I think it’s his idea that maybe they’ll go and live elsewhere. And then as the series progresses he gets a bit more involved with the estate and sees a few weak spots in the management.”
Having to face up to organisational problems that previously they had been able to ignore was a common problem for large estates between the wars. “I think a lot of houses of about this time, throughout the last century had to reappraise the way they were doing things. You just have to accept that a lot of these houses were just eating into their capital.”
The question is whether Matthew is able to – and indeed wants to – do anything about it. “There’s a slight lack of sensitivity on Matthew’s part that I think, occasionally shows its face… well let’s just say he doesn’t always pick his moments in the best way. So, yes, that’s a big part of what he’s up to this year.”
Matthew’s relationship with Mary, so often a source of fireworks and heartbreak, has evolved, says Stevens. “His relationship with Mary has changed. They’ve both matured a little. I think it’s that growing sense of responsibility becoming more of a reality. The older they get the further on it goes and the more involved he gets in the estate.”
[So Mary wants to live at Downton? OMG. MARY. MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR PARENTS SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME SEXYTIMES WITH YOUR NEW HUSBAND. And I'm guessing that Mary is going to be pushing Matthew more into managing the estate because she cares about Downton and then that will lead to the Robert vs Matthew conflict.]
source
Downton Abbey Series 3 Press Pack!!
The press pack has finally been released and there is like 60 pages of this shit. I am just posting excerpts here, but go to the source to see the whole thing.
First up, character briefs.
Earl of Grantham, Robert. (Hugh Bonneville).
Robert is delighted that Matthew will soon be his son-in-law as well as his heir. He remains less enamoured with Branson, and struggles with the fact that Sybil has married the chauffeur, a source of gossip in the county. But he has other things to worry about. In the aftermath of the Great War, houses like Downton are being hit by new financial worries. In this changing landscape nothing is assured and, as Robertʼs custodianship of the estate comes under scrutiny, he is called to account for his past decisions. [tl;dr- Robert continues to be a flop]
Lady Sybil Crawley. (Jessica Brown Findlay)
Following her marriage to Tom Branson in Dublin, Sybil is expecting her first child. She is largely free of her role as an aristocrat and has happily settled in to her life as ʻMrs Bransonʼ. However, Branson refuses to spend Robertʼs money on himself, and so their finances are strained. She plans to resume her nursing career as soon as the baby is born, but that does not solve the problem of travelling over for Maryʼs wedding. Ultimately, for all her brave talk, Sybil feels safe at Downton and she longs for her husband to be accepted in the world of her childhood.</b> [tl;dr- shit I don't care about. Go away, Sybil.]
Lady Edith Crawley. (Laura Carmichael).
Edith has always resented her sisters. Mary is so good looking and sought after, Sybil so full of her own passionate dreams, that they both cast Edith into the shade. For Edith, the war brought a sense of possibility, a sense, for the first time, of really possessing a talent for helping, both on the farms and caring for officers in the convalescent home. She misses this sense of self-worth and her post-war life seems empty. Added to which, with so many young men lost, potential suitors are thin on the ground. But she is still keen on Sir Anthony Strallan, despite the age difference between them, and, underneath, she is quite as determined as her sisters to have her own way. [I actually LOVE the sound of how series 3 is going to turn out for Edith! This is exactly how I see her as a character, so it's good to know that the show and I are on the same page.]
Mr Carson. (Jim Carter).
The butler. Carson is keen to get the staffing levels at Downton back up to scratch. He has kept standards as high as he could during the war years, managing without footmen and pushing himself to the limit, and he was mortified to suffer a physical breakdown in front of the family. With opportunities to return the staffing to pre-war levels, Carson is nevertheless aware that the servant class has been changed by the war, and many young men and women aspire to move in different directions. He has to learn to accept Matthew as co-master, but he remains eternally loyal to his beloved Mary.
John Bates. (Brendan Coyle)
Life Prisoner. Former valet. After being convicted of the murder of his wife Vera Bates, Bates was relieved when his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He continues to protest his innocence, and is grateful for his wife Annaʼs unshakeable belief, and determination to overturn the verdict. But he has a long sentence ahead of him, and when he finds himself confined, at close quarters, with some highly undesirable characters, prison life throws up more obstacles for Bates. [Yawn.]
Lady Mary Crawley. (Michelle Dockery).
Mary broke off her engagement with the rich and powerful newspaper proprietor, Sir Richard Carlisle. Now happily engaged to the heir, Matthew Crawley, and planning their life together, Mary finds her loyalties tested when the future of her beloved Downton is under threat. When Laviniaʼs father offers a chance of salvation, Matthew is unable to free himself of a sense of guilt and obligation that prevents him taking advantage of the opportunity, which Mary cannot understand. [I love my pragmatic queen!]
Molesley. (Kevin Doyle).
Matthewʼs valet. Life is an uphill struggle for Molesley. He spends a lot of time trying to convince Matthew Crawley that he will need a proper valet at the big house, once he is married to Lady Mary. But is Matthew listening, and will Molesley finally get his moment? [LOL JUST LOL]
Sarah OʼBrien. (Siobhan Finneran).
The ladyʼs maid. OʼBrienʼs responsibilities are to her mistress but she will always follow her own interest. She seizes on an opportunity to give her nephew a position within the household, and is fiercely protective of him. If she had her way, Alfred would be rising up the servantsʼ ranks even more quickly than most men could hope for, but below stairs everyone is protective of his or her position. OʼBrienʼs continued disregard of this fact, in her efforts to promote her sisterʼs son, rankles with the staff, and especially with her former ally, Thomas. [tl;dr O'Brien is bffs with her nephew now and Thomas is kind of pushed aside.]
Anna Bates. (Joanne Froggatt).
The head housemaid. Anna has made her choice of Mr Bates and nothing will alter that. But with her husband in prison, she works relentlessly to find a way to free him. Encouraged by Bates to carry on and live her life while he is incarcerated, she tries to keep her spirits up, and her long service through good and bad times has cemented her friendship with her principal employer, Mary, but itʼs her husbandʼs regular letters which are the highlight of her week. [MOAR ANNA AND MARY FRIENDSHIP TIME PLZ]
Thomas Barrow. (Rob James-Collier).
The Valet. Given a second chance by Robert, after impressing him with his commitment to finding the dog, Isis, Thomas has become Robertʼs valet. Despite this, heʼs always on the look out for the main chance, and his transparent self-interest wins him no allies downstairs, in the process alienating his old partner in crime, Miss OʼBrien. But even Thomas has a heart.
Tom Branson. (Allen Leech).
The former chauffeur is now married to Sybil, and living in Dublin. Tom is still reluctant to conform to the Crawley familyʼs expectations of him which Matthew can understand. Encouraged by the way Sybil has embraced their new life, he has been writing for rebel newspapers and is a convinced republican. But while he nurtures a rabid hatred of the British Empire and longs to destroy all the Establishment stands for, he is still compromised by his passionate love for a young woman who might be thought an emblem of that Establishment. Taking Sybil Crawley as his wife means there is a contradiction in his very heart. [GO AWAY BRANSON.]
Mrs Hughes. (Phyllis Logan).
The housekeeper is unsentimental, but moral and decent. In fact, she is a kind woman but she feels her position depends on strict discipline, both in the management of her staff and of herself. Mrs Hughes has kept in touch with Ethel Parks, the housemaid who became pregnant by a convalescing officer, and the connection will lead to complications. In this, as in all things, she has always tried to act for the best, but she feels guilty about the evidence she gave at Batesʼs trial, which led to his conviction. [Ethel is still around? Oh.]
Martha Levinson. (Shirley MacLaine)
Magnificent in her lack of deference, Coraʼs mother, Martha, sweeps into Downton for Mary and Matthewʼs wedding and her arrival causes a stir above and below stairs. Her late husband Isidore, a dry goods millionaire from Cincinnati, left her a fortune and she enjoys her money. But, unlike Violet, she is not afraid of the future and she advises the family not to try to hold on to the past, when they are bound to be defeated. In other words, her philosophies are diametrically opposed to Violetʼs.
Countess of Grantham, Cora. (Elizabeth McGovern).
Cora was thrilled to receive news that Sybil was expecting their first grandchild. Loyal to Robert in all things, she wants to persuade him to accept Sybilʼs marriage and would love to welcome Branson to Maryʼs wedding. Cora is less afraid of the changes that the future may bring to them all. The arrival of her mother, Martha, is a reminder that, despite her fatherʼs fortune, Coraʼs blood is less blue, and her outlook less hidebound by history, than those of the Crawleysʼ.
Daisy Robinson. (Sophie McShera).
The kitchenmaid promoted to assistant cook. Daisy is still at the beck and call of Mrs Patmore, still the dogsbody, still at the bottom of this particular heap. However, her husband Williamʼs death showed that life is short. With encouragement from Williamʼs father, she has spoken up and demanded her promotion to assistant cook. The trouble is that the post-war situation means she has some time to wait before Mrs Patmore can deliver what she promises.
Mrs Patmore. (Lesley Nicol).
The cook. Mrs Patmore is still firmly in charge of the kitchen and kitchen staff and religiously defends her rights and privileges, against all comers. Having agreed with Daisy that there was a possibility of her moving up to a position as an assistant cook, she finds herself under pressure to deliver the new kitchen maid who would make Daisyʼs promotion meaningful. She is shrewd and observant when it comes to the romantic desires of the younger members of staff, and in fact, in her domain, nothing goes unnoticed.
Alfred Nugent. (Matt Milne).
Footman. OʼBrienʼs awkward, tall nephew lands a job as the new footman, with the help of his aunt. Alfred used to be a hotel waiter, and as he struggles to meet Carsonʼs exacting standards, some of his old habits may prove hard to break. However, his real problem is whether or not heʼs in the right career, after all.
Doctor Clarkson. (David Robb).
Richard Clarkson is a country doctor, occupying that slightly uncomfortable tier somewhere between the Crawley family and the village. His long history of treating members of the Crawley family means he is Coraʼs preference at any time of medical need, but his misdiagnosis of Matthewʼs condition, and Laviniaʼs death from Spanish Flu, have together marred his record for Robert. Their disagreement over his talents place them in an impossible place. [LOL FOR ONCE I AM TEAM ROBERT]
Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet. (Maggie Smith).
Violet continues to expect the same unforgiving standards, from herself and her family, that she always did. But even she is aware that the world is changing and the family must look to protecting its kingdom in the new century. She takes a particular interest in Edith. Having once encouraged her meetings with Anthony Strallan, she now believes his disability and age make him an undesirable match. The arrival of Martha Levinson, with her plain-spoken observations about where the world is headed, sets Violetʼs teeth on edge.
Jimmy Kent. (Ed Speleers).
Footman. Jimmy is incredibly handsome. As former footman to the Dowager Lady Anstruther, Jimmy applies for the job of footman, and immediately catches the eye of the female staff. And he does not go unnoticed by Thomas, either. He has an air of natural confidence and grace which Alfred lacks, and which means that Jimmy takes the role of first footman, as a natural right, a bone of contention.
Matthew Crawley. (Dan Stevens).
Matthew is convinced that Laviniaʼs heartbreak at seeing him kiss Mary contributed to her death. Now they are engaged, he cherishes Mary, but he cannot throw off a sense of guilt where Lavinia is concerned, and this will cause problems when Downton is threatened. Ideally, he would like to live a simpler life, away from Downton at first, so he and his new wife can get to know each other. Initially reluctant to involve himself with the estate, Matthew will become drawn into the detail of what he will inherit one day, and his relationship with his father-in-law will be troubled by what he discovers. [Yaas! Robert and Matthew conflict! And I like the kinds of conflicts that are being set up for Mary and Matthew.]
Ivy Stuart. (Cara Theobold).
Scullery maid. The pretty and fresh faced kitchenmaid will join Mrs Patmoreʼs team in the kitchen. Her arrival causes some interest among the male staff, and Alfredʼs interest, in particular, is bound to make trouble for Ivy.
Isobel Crawley. (Penelope Wilton).
Having clashed with Cora over the running of the convalescent home at Downton, Isobel left to work with the Red Cross during the war. Her passion for good causes is undimmed and the dislocation of the post-war world gives her plenty of opportunity. She has been working with destitute fallen women in York, helping them to find alternative employment and teaching them skills, work that will lead her into a complicated situation. She is happy for Matthew to marry Mary, she is also keen for her son to make his mark on Downton. Perhaps he will wrestle the estate into the twentieth century?
Apparently some people care about Sybil??? So here is an excerpt from the interview with Jessicay Brown-Findley:
“A big concern is the Irish Problem: her involvement in that and what it will mean in terms of the freedoms they will or will not have to come back and forth to the house. She’s in a quite tricky position. She needs to come back because her family demands it but she also needs to not take too much of an English stance on Ireland. She’s caught between two worlds in a way.”
Inevitably it all leads to changes in her relationships with her two sisters, Edith and Mary: Sybil may be the youngest but she’s also the first of the three to be married and pregnant.
“She’s treated far more like a grown up now. I don’t think her opinions and the things she’s doing are quite so laughable any more – because she’s followed through with them. She’s not just a flippant teenager doing things to bait them. Her sisters in particular see her as much more worldly now. She can relate to them in many ways but I think they all relate to each other now because they’ve had a bit more life experience.”
It’s not as if Sybil has ever been at loggerheads with her siblings:
“Sybil’s always had the love of the two of them. She’s never really had trouble – it’s a different relationship to that between Edith and Mary, definitely. Sybil and Mary will have heated discussions but they’re quite similar in a way. They take things quite seriously. Sybil’s relationship with Edith is interesting because she sees a lot of herself in Edith – such as never feeling like she quite fits in. Neither Sybil nor Edith have quite fitted the mould of a lady in the way their parents expected.”
And now an excerpt from an interview with Laura Charmichal which gives some more insight into Edith's role in series 3.
“The war was awful but it gave her independence and freedom and now she has new confidence,” says Carmichael. “And also, now both her sisters are married, or on their way, she is determined. He’s a nice chap Sir Anthony, I think she does love him and they would be very happy together. They are both intelligent and thoughtful people and he sees her in a way that her family don’t. That is so appealing to Edith. All in all it just seems like a good idea. So she’s going to follow it through.”
As ever with Edith, driving all of this is her relationship with her sisters, fractious as ever. “She has this feeling that both her sisters are going to leave her and have an independent existence. She doesn’t want to be stuck on the shelf and she doesn’t want to be stuck living with her parents for the rest of her life. So many men of her generation were killed in the war that the fact Sir Anthony is older seems neither here not there. And she strikes me as somebody that has always wanted to be at the adult’s table, so to speak: she likes to be the mature one, the one that tells everybody off for being silly. It suits her. So I think she really does love Sir Anthony and thinks it will make her very happy.”
Robert, naturally, thinks this is all a terrible idea. But it becomes Edith’s prime focus – because in truth, Carmichael says, she’s bored. She misses the war. “She had a purpose all of a sudden and an activity. She learnt that practical side of being a woman who had a job and a brain and was capable.”
Edith wants to do more, in short, and it will take her outside Downton Abbey for the first time. “It’s exciting stuff – I get to go to London! It’s like a completely different job.”
And now for an interview with MICHELLE DOCKERY:
“The big difference for Lady Mary in this series,” says Michelle Dockery, “is that she’s very happy!” After several series of scandal, strife and a long-running will-they-won’t they with Matthew Crawley, Mary is finally getting married. Dockery for one is a little relieved.
“As much as that angst between Matthew and Mary was enjoyable to play, I must say it’s lovely now to e finally settled in some ways. Of course, like all marriages it’s not completely perfect. Let’s just say they have their teething problems at the beginning.”
[...]
“I guess she becomes a woman in the third series. The way it’s written it feels that even though Mary maintains that pragmatic side to her – which can be quite bossy at times - she’s really grown up. That’s highlighted in Edith and Mary’s relationship. I think it’s fair to say that things have softened between them. They look out for each other a little more. Of course, they still disagree on things, like sisters do. But Mary is a little more mature now.”
[...]
“In the first few episodes people loved to hate her. She was very cold, she had this icy exterior and she was vile to her sister. Then, half way through the first series, after the incident with Pamuk [the Turkish diplomat who died in Lady Mary’s bed], she began to soften. Then in the second series you see the heart of the character much more because of course we were at war - every time she saw Matthew could have been the last. And I’ve loved that arc that Julian has written for her. Even in the third series it’s changing.”
The main change, she says, is in Lady Mary’s attitude to her family home. “In the first series it was like she was fighting against it. She shied away – she just wanted to go off and
meet someone rich. This series, the thought of leaving Downton or Downton falling in to trouble is unthinkable to her. Because this is her legacy with Matthew: now it’s in her hands. And she feels the weight of that legacy more than ever before.”
[So Mary and Matthew will be getting married and settled into married life and I love that their conflict is coming from that and not from will they-won't they stuff. And I love that Mary maintains her pragmatic side and that she's basically becoming Scarlett O'Hara and Downton is her Tara.]
In this interview with Robert James-Collier he discusses Thomas's changing relationship with O'Brien:
After two series of skulduggery in partnership with the fiendish lady’s maid O’Brien, this time round Thomas finds himself at odds with her. “O’Brien’s nephew Alfred comes on the scene. He’s young, he gets the job and he’s promoted to footman straight away. Thomas sees that as a threat - he sees him as getting the special treatment that he, Thomas, has never had in life. Or at least that’s what’s in his head, because he’s always been an outsider and a loner with his sexuality.”
O’Brien has done everything to get her nephew in the house - and all of a sudden this woman who was always on his side is now helping someone else. Thomas gets jealous, and we should know by now that hell hath no fury like a footman scorned.
“He thought he and O’Brien had a special relationship. He works out everything was fine until the nephew comes along so he tries what he tried with Bates in series one – eliminate the problem by hook or by crook.”
It sets off a vicious circle. “O’Brien works out what Thomas is up to and thinks, ‘Okay, if you're coming for my family then I’m coming for you.’”
And now an interview with Dan Stevens:
“Firstly it’s preparations for the wedding. Obviously we left after getting engaged at the end of the Christmas episode last year. And now he’s looking to settle down with Mary.”
Matthew is also looking to find his role in the estate he is set to inherit. “It’s a question of whether they’re going to stick around or not. Matthew’s a bit iffy about staying in the house. I think he wants a certain amount of independence before taking on Downton. So I think it’s his idea that maybe they’ll go and live elsewhere. And then as the series progresses he gets a bit more involved with the estate and sees a few weak spots in the management.”
Having to face up to organisational problems that previously they had been able to ignore was a common problem for large estates between the wars. “I think a lot of houses of about this time, throughout the last century had to reappraise the way they were doing things. You just have to accept that a lot of these houses were just eating into their capital.”
The question is whether Matthew is able to – and indeed wants to – do anything about it. “There’s a slight lack of sensitivity on Matthew’s part that I think, occasionally shows its face… well let’s just say he doesn’t always pick his moments in the best way. So, yes, that’s a big part of what he’s up to this year.”
Matthew’s relationship with Mary, so often a source of fireworks and heartbreak, has evolved, says Stevens. “His relationship with Mary has changed. They’ve both matured a little. I think it’s that growing sense of responsibility becoming more of a reality. The older they get the further on it goes and the more involved he gets in the estate.”
[So Mary wants to live at Downton? OMG. MARY. MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR PARENTS SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME SEXYTIMES WITH YOUR NEW HUSBAND. And I'm guessing that Mary is going to be pushing Matthew more into managing the estate because she cares about Downton and then that will lead to the Robert vs Matthew conflict.]
source
There's a reason why I didn't bother copy and pasting the interview with his actor in this post.
i hope he dies while he steps on lego
He should've died at the end of last season or something. . . .
Nevertheless, I am 100% convinced that the violent, lying, would-be martyr really did murder his wife.
I don't understand why nobody in the show thinks he might be guilty.
I need season 3 in my life rn though.
It's just that the more vocal and obnoxious people (a.k.a. ME) dislike them so it seems like they're more unpopular than they are.
I'd settle for Bates living (for Anna's sake) if it means Branson dies.
I dislike both Branson and Bates. But I care about Anna's happiness so I'm ok with him living. Whereas I just want the Branson's to go away, so Branson can go die for his cause or whatever.
matthew and mary look flawless!!
Well the Bates thing could get interesting if he's actually guilty. THAT WOULD BE AMAZEBALLS.
Branson though... NOPE. GO AWAY.
Branson needs to die and take Bates with him so Sybil and Anna can evolve (or go back to how amazing they were in S1). Glad to hear Edith is getting a proper storyline, I actually stanned her for more than one episode last series.
IA with everything you've said OP!
SOME BRANSON GIFS FOR YOU OP <3
Edited at 2012-08-29 05:42 pm (UTC)
lolll tbh I'm quite indifferent. But I found that gif quite by accident and couldn't resist posting it.
Cora is my homegirl so it's all good.
I haaaated Edith and her pettiness in series 1, but she grew up a lot in series 2 and I'm really excited about what her series 3 storyline is going to be. I liked Sybil well enough in series 1, but I am so over her.
ETA: And yes! Cora is gr8. She is definitely one of my favorites.
Edited at 2012-08-29 05:45 pm (UTC)
As a middle child I understand Edith the most, but some of the stuff she did was foul as hell. Sybil...gurl stop.
So excited for the American NY invasion.