(First things first, Edith in stripes! Edith in stripes! Sorry, I just adore stripes, so I love this look on Edith.)
So it seems like the big drama with Harold and money is going to revolve around there no longer being money to repair some cottages, and turn a library into a music room to honour Violet and Martha (who is now confirmed to be dead).
I always suspected that the selling Downton hints in the trailer were misdirection, and as the family is considering a sentimental (as opposed to practical) measure like making a music room, it suggests that the family, although banking on Cora's family's money, does not start of in grave financial peril
Mary is given a particularly bold and confident look for a very exclusive ball, which she wears unaware that her world is about to come "crashing down", so it seems like this happens in the early days of her divorce, and she's just beginning to realise what the consequences are.
Mary will buy that dress while on a shopping trip with Edith. Will never say no to a shipping montage. Will be fun to see these two out shopping together. We saw they were already on good terms by last movie (Edith helped Mary with initial negotiations over the film). I wouldn't be surprised if this is the opening sequence. Mary and Edith swanning about shops, looking glamorous, feels like a fun way of opening things. Then that tea shot will be used for exposition. That's my betting anyway.
I called it that the hostess is hurrying Mary out of the room because there is royalty on the way. There's no way Mary's divorcee status wouldn't otherwise be known, and the hostess would have known Mary was present until now, so the arrival of royalty makes sense for the hostess trying to hastily get her out of the way.
We've got confirmation that Henry had an affair, which I suspected it must be, as adultery was really the only way of getting a divorce back then, and it was Mary filing for divorce. It'll be interesting to see if Henry still wanted to stay with Mary or not.
I'm very interested in that line about Henry "hiring and naming someone else in court", does that mean he hired someone to pretend to be his affair partner? I hope this means we get a look at the legal technicalities of getting divorced back then.
The winning back the county through "special guests" makes me believe they use their celebrity ties through Thomas and Guy to have a celebrity party. This will be the dinner party we see at the beginning of the trailer, where Robert does the toast for Mary. We see Mary and Edith wearing the same dresses at that dinner, later on as they're clapping Guy and random hot guy (who was making eyes at Mary because of course she would have another love interest) playing piano (Thomas is at that party too). So I think that the social scandal in Yorkshire will be resolved that way.
Going downstairs, we've also got confirmation that Mrs Patmore and Daisy are separating.
My bet is that Daisy will be taking over the kitchens, while Mrs Patmore retires to her Bed and Breakfast with Mr Mason.
There's going to be Ascot drama, which will be fun! I speculated early on that Mary's exclusion from the Royal enclosure will be brought up, and some sharp eyed fans noticed that everyone except Mary is wearing name tags for the Royal Enclosure (including Tom, which is...something)
A big cheer for Bertie, who has arranged a lunch for the Granthams in White's Marquee, where Mary is watching the race. Lovely, lovely Bertie, sorting out lunch for everyone. I'm expecting (demanding) some close ups of the food.
Here we get plot hints for Tom and Edith! Yay! I wasn't really expecting them to have a "plot", so much as just watching them react to the drama going on with Downton while generally vibing. Edith having a "showdown" with a "trickster", new character Gus Sambrook, sounds fun, and Tom meets an old friend. The reference to America makes me think this friend is someone he knew when he was in Boston with Sybbie. Whoever this Gus is, it sounds like he is seeking introductions at the race. I don't know how much screentime this plotline will have, but if Edith is to have a specific reasons for being the one to have a showdown, then it might be because she and Bertie, as the Marquess and Marchioness, might be particular targets of his. I hope Edith gets to have fun with her showdown, and I'm looking forward to Tom meeting an old pal. I also hope that the business Tom shared with Henry gets brought up, so it isn't entirely forgotten. Considering Henry has been travelling, Tom will have been the one running it anyway.
And the movie will end with Robert and Cora moving to the Dower House, where Violet used to live. I'm sure that Robert will have bittersweet feelings about this, and that Hugh will bring all the pathos.
As a young woman, I’m obsessed with Janeway. I imagine her being amazing representation back then, but I think that she’s still incredible representation now. Here are some things that I think still make her unique 30+ years later:
She’s “motherly” and she wants to have children, but she’s never made to feel bad or less than about not having children.
She’s so naturally commanding. There are no conversations about her being a woman in charge, she just is.
She has a mixture of stereotypically masculine and feminine interests and traits. As a starfleet captain, she gets to work a lot with science and engineering but in her spare time she plays gothic holonovels and knits.
She sacrifices her personal happiness with great stoicism. This feels like a trope I see used for male heroes, intended to show their strength of character, but I rarely see it used for female characters
She often argues for the pragmatic stance without being an emotionally closed off person. This is so refreshing since many female characters often argue for the moral and/or emotional stance. Female characters who argue for the pragmatic stance will often be shown as emotionless, cruel etc.
She has very realistic mental health problems and regrets, but she presents herself with incredible confidence. She has the same touch of overconfidence that Kirk has, but seeing a female character possess this trait (without being a villain) is still unusual.
She’s a middle aged woman who gets to be seen as beautiful and desirable without that being the focus of her character. The respect she gets from others is earned by her actions, but her beauty is also acknowledged.
Janeway is good at almost everything, but she isn’t always right and she’s no Mary Sue. She’s so aspirational because she’s so realistic, she is never “chosen”, special or superhuman in any way. She feels like a woman I could know, and it’s inspiring to see an “ordinary” woman lead and do extraordinary things with knowledge and determination.
I love that janeway is flawed. I love that she is a hot mess. I love that she doesn't always make the right decisions. I love that she has mental breakdowns and feels guilty. I love that she cares so deeply. I love that she still always tries her best. I love that she has crutches like coffee. I love that she puts her loved ones first to the point of martyrdom. I love that she never stops believing. I love that she's human.
I’ve just watched this again for what probably the 200th time, and I’m sitting here quietly crying, because it’s just so wonderfully done. I mean you all KNOW this. But I love it.
Even though I can quote the entire scene, it’s interesting to watch it on mute. I just did that, lip syncing along…I think the absence of sound draws your attention to all the facial expressions even more so. These two really ARE amazing!
I love this so much. so. much. his face right after she accepts him and calls him an old booby?!?! it’s shock happylove overwhelmed in quick succession and it’s so beautiful
Oh yes, I can quote the entire thing (and I almost admitted it to the cast when I saw them in Bampton, but thought they might make me do it, which would have been too embarrassing), but I love to watch it on mute too, and then only watch one of them. The way her face lights up when she says she’s not offended. Gah, there is so much wonder in this scene.
Reblogging again because firstly it was so far down my chelsie tag it’s ridiculous. Secondly, @csota has sent me into a chelsie spiral today which I love her for.
And thirdly, because it turns out when it gets to the “stuck with you” part, I STILL bite my lip against a massive grin. So I need to rewatch this more often, sore lips be damned.
An "almost was" that ended up being forgotten. I logically prefer Janeway/Chakotay a thousand times, but I confess that in my heart there is a small space for Janeway/Paris…
Sisko: I lost my wife to the Borg and dedicated years of my life to creating the perfect weapon against them
Picard: I lost a part of myself to the Borg in ways that have haunted me beyond death
Janeway: skill issue, I blew them up and rescued a funky lil lesbian along the way
Tributes to Maggie from the Downton Cast and Crew (Part 2):
Part 1
Hugh Bonneville (in addition to his previous comment):
Elizabeth McGovern:
Joanne Froggatt: "Today we lost a true legend. It’s hard to find the words to pay tribute to the iconic Dame Maggie Smith. I shared a screen with her on very few occasions but was fortunate enough to be in her company on many.
She truly was a trailblazer, with the sharpest wit, the greatest talent, the naughtiest sense of humour, she was a force to be reckoned with. She had a charisma that you felt would live for ever (in many ways it will) and underneath all of that a huge heart.
Thank you Maggie, for always being supportive and kind to me, for putting many a smile on my face with that sharp wit that no one could match, and for showing the rest of us just how it’s done.
Rest in peace Dame Maggie, my thoughts are with your beautiful family. 🖤"
Lily James:
Tom Cullen: "I remember a very specific part of the conversation Maggie and I were having when this photo was taken. Maggie had been doing a big and challenging scene where she is reunited with her old flame played by Rade Serbedzija. I was stood at the back, out of frame and able to observe these incredible actors at their work. But for whatever reason Maggie felt like she wasn’t getting the scene right. Maggie took the smallest moment, came back and next take, simply, effortlessly, delivered a masterclass. She was extraordinary. The director called “cut” and we moved on. I was spellbound. During our conversation at the window, I asked Maggie what she did in order for her to so swiftly and precisely produce such an elevated performance. I remember her looking me in the eye and saying “Oh darling! I was just holding in a fart!”. I remember us both bursting out laughing. I really wished that she had been just holding in a fart but of course that wasn’t the real truth, the real truth was that she worked tirelessly her entire career to make that scene look easy.
I only worked with her for a short while, but I feel so blessed to have had that experience. She was tough, demanded the best but making Maggie laugh felt like winning the lottery.
My heart goes out to her family, friends, her Downton family and all those she touched with her sharp, agile and acerbic brilliance.
Lesley Nicol: "It's a very close group of people so we're all devastated to think she's not around any more.' [...] "I'd never worked with someone of that calibre, and I thought, I don't know what I'll say to her, it will be really tricky, God she'll probably be really grand. She was not looking for anyone to be scared of her, or in awe of her, she just wanted to be in the gang [...] she was in with the crowd, and just very happy to be part of it all."
Jeremy Swift: "An honour to serve you Maggie."
Lady Carnarvon: "I never saw her on set with a little script, she knew it before she got here [to Highclere]. She worked so hard, to get up at silly o' clock... and to wear corsets for hours on end." [Highclere Castle's post]
Harriet Walter: "She was a true comedian, but also I've seen her playing some incredibly heartfelt, deep, sad roles, which is the huge range of an actress like her. If she was merely funny or merely tragic, she wouldn't quite have made that sort of impression."
Anna Mary Scott Robbins: "I C O N 🤍 Oh Maggie you will be missed 💔"
(special thanks to @lovelikewildness for helping to compile)
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