#anna bates

[some-dude-posts]

Anna and Bates are poly. Anna is dating Mary (was at one point also dating Gwen) and Bates has a little thing going on with Robert.

[doctor-donnas]

Accidentally listened to the whole album “Dancing in the Street” by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and it’s sooooo Anna coded

Mostly Anna yearning for Bates but also a little Anna&Mary <3

[some-dude-posts]

And now we’re right back to the angst

I always have such a complicated relationship with my own edits… I always find something to dislike but overall I’m pleased with the result…

[some-dude-posts]

A sillier edit that I made a long time ago

But y’all deserve a break from the angst

[katus77]

The social control in Downton Abbey

Edith, in Downton Abbey, is one of the most entrancing characters, due to her evolution: from "ugly" sister to independent and modern woman. Edith is the scapegoat of the Crawley family, but unlike the other scapegoats (Thomas and Ethel), she has alternatives and privileges. When she became pregnant, being single, she went to Switzerland; that is, he was able to escape family and social control. In moments of crisis, his London apartment was a haven. She counted on the support of her extended family (aunt, grandmother and brother-in-law) and then found a friend in her editor. In addition, in the penultimate chapter of the series, he was able to react to his sister’s attack.

In return, the other scapegoats are poor workers. They could not respond to offences; it touched them to cry in solitude, throw a sarcasm or make a puchero. The story of Ethel’s involution is painful and realistic: she begins as a girl who wants something more than a maid; Aspirations that Anna, Patmore and O'Brien disagreed with, even O'Brien sabotaged the girl and Anna seemed funny. Then, Mr. Mosley rejects Ethel and dismisses her for committing the same "mistake" as Edith and Mary: exercising her sexuality. Ethel was abandoned by a wealthy military man who died in the war, lost job opportunities and ended up on the street pregnant; to feed and roof her son, she prostituted herself. At the end of her story, she is forced to hand over the baby to the paternal grandparents, as she was not considered fit to raise him. Ethel received something of empathy, sorority and social support when she was already in ruins.

On the other hand, Thomas can also be compared to Edith. He, like Ethel, represents the otherness within the oppressed. Edith can escape control; instead, the attic is a prison for Thomas, he has nowhere to go, as he has no moments of privacy or intimacy either. Carson, Patmore, Bates and Anna are always watching. There are those who don't understand why in season five Thomas wants to keep an eye on Bates and Anna and tries to use Baxter to achieve it; the explanation is simple: if you are watched and controlled, you enter a state of alert, for example, when Anna warns Edna that Thomas cannot be trusted. That same season, Thomas «decides» to undergo conversion therapy in hopes of gaining control of his body, mind and desires.

The fanfics about Thomas with explicit descriptions remind me of a phrase from a troubadour from my country: «There is no worse word than this same society». It’s offensive the control other characters exert over Thomas’ body, and even more offensive is that the narrative attempts to convince the audience that that’s normal for the times and that it’s okay. I’m not asking for a Bridgerton-type narrative where everything is faked, not even a character with a progressive mindset for the early 20th century, but I’m sure it could be pointed out that the situation was cruel.

By contrast, Baxter issues a verdict that many share, but I do not: Thomas is his worst enemy; it seems to me that Thomas's worst enemy is the system in which he survives. Like Anna, Miss Baxter believes that Thomas is to blame for her situation and malaise; then Daisy reinforces this perspective by stating that she was not given the chance to be happy.

The narrative in Downton Abbey is designed to blame Thomas and justify Ethel’s separation from her son. A distinct narrative structure is found in the novel and the series “The Maid’s Tale,” where June Osborne uses her voice to denounce oppression in Gilead. The spectator sees that system as the horrible nightmare it is and, therefore, empathizes with the victims and rejects the oppressors. On Downton, by contrast, Crawley and Carson are the ones carrying the singing voice; therefore, Thomas and Ethel cannot narrate how oppressors control alien bodies, impose forced chastity, steal babies, and exercise other forms of humiliation. Their tragedies are presented almost as «conduct problems» that disturb the order and peace of Downton. In the end, there is no revolution against the oppressive system, only sacrifice and submission.

Getting to this point, I ask them two questions: if we moved the universe from Downton Abbey to Gilead, what social position would their favorite character occupy? Would they still like it?

[katus77]

El control social en Downton Abbey

Edith, en Downton Abbey, es uno de los personajes que más se gusta, por su evolución, de hermana «fea» pasó a ser una mujer independiente y moderna. Edith es el chivo expiatorio de la familia Crawley, pero a diferencia de los otros chivos expiatorios (Thomas y Ethel), ella tiene alternativas y privilegios. Cuando quedó embarazada, estando soltera, se fue a Suiza; es decir, pudo escapar del control familiar y social. En momentos de crisis, su apartamento en Londres era un espacio seguro. Tenía apoyo de la familia extendida (tía, abuela y cuñado) y luego encontró una amiga en su editora. Además, en el penúltimo capítulo de la serie pudo reaccionar al ataque de su hermana.

En cambio, los otros chivos expiatorios son trabajadores pobres. No podían responder a las ofensas; les tocaba llorar en soledad, lanzar un sarcasmo o hacer un puchero. La historia de involución de Ethel es dolorosa y realista, empieza como una chica que quiere algo más que ser una criada; aspiraciones con las que Anna, Patmore y O'Brien no estaban de acuerdo, incluso O'Brien . sabotea a la chica y a Anna le pareció gracioso. Luego, el Sr. Mosley delata a Ethel y la despiden por cometer el mismo «error» de Edith y Mary: ejercer su sexualidad. Ethel fue abandonada por un militar rico que después muere en la guerra, perdió las oportunidades de empleo, terminó en la calle estando embarazada; para alimentar y darle techo a su hijo, ejerció la prostitución. Al final de su historia, la obligan a entregar al bebé a los abuelos paternos, pues ella no era considerada apta para criarlo. Ethel recibió algo de empatía, sororidad y apoyo social cuando ya estaba rota.

Por otra parte, también se puede comparar a Thomas con Edith. Él, al igual que Ethel, es la otredad dentro de los oprimidos. Edith puede escapar del control; en cambio, el ático es una cárcel para Thomas y siempre está vigilando por Carson, Patmore, Bates y Anna.  Hay quienes no entienden por qué en la quinta temporada Thomas quiere vigilar a Bates y Anna e intenta utilizar a Baxter para lograrlo; la explicación es simple: si te vigilan y controlan, entras en estado de alerta, por ejemplo, cuando Anna le avisa a Edna que Thomas no es de fiar. En esa misma temporada, Thomas «decide» someterse a una terapia de conversión con la esperanza de tener el control de su cuerpo, mente y deseos. 

Los fanfiction sobre Thomas con descripciones de sexo explícito me recuerdan a una de las frases de un trovador de mi país: «No hay peor mala palabra que esta misma sociedad». Es ofensivo el control que otros personajes ejercen sobre el cuerpo de Thomas y más ofensivo es que la narrativa busque convencer al público de que eso es normal para la época y está bien. No pido una narrativa con Los Bridgerton que falsea todo, ni un personaje con mentalidad muy progresista para principios del siglo XX, pero estoy segura de que se podía señalar que la situación era cruel.

Por el contrario, Baxter hace una sentencia que muchos comparten, pero yo no: Thomas es el peor enemigo de sí mismo; a mí me parece que el peor enemigo de Thomas es el sistema donde sobrevive. Al igual que Anna, la señorita Baxter cree que Thomas es culpable de su situación y malestar; luego Daisy refuerza esta perspectiva diciendo que él no se dio la oportunidad para ser feliz.

La narrativa en Downton está diseñada para culpabilizar a Thomas y justificar la separación de Ethel de su hijo. Una estructura narrativa distinta tiene la novela y serie «El cuento de la criada», donde June Osborne usa su voz para denunciar la opresión en Gilead. El espectador ve a ese sistema como la pesadilla horrorosa que es y por ello empatiza con las víctimas y rechaza a los opresores. En cambio, en Downton, el megáfono lo tienen los Crawley y Carson; así que Thomas y Ethel no pueden narrar cómo los opresores controlan los cuerpos ajenos, imponen la castidad forzada, roban bebés y ejercen otras formas de humillación. Sus tragedias se muestran casi como «problemas de conducta» que trastornan el orden y la paz de Downton. Al final, no hay una revolución contra el sistema opresor, solo sacrificio y sumisión.

Llegados a este punto, hago dos preguntas: si trasladáramos el universo de Downton Abbey a Gilead, ¿cuál posición social ocuparía tu personaje favorito? ¿Te seguiría gustando?

[profwonderbearthementalista]

Mary, Matthew & Anna in 3x03 Deleted Scenes

Before receiving the letter from Reggie Swire

After receiving the letter from Reggie Swire

Downton Abbey Deleted Scenes [8/?]

Downton Abbey 3x03

I love how Mary immediately apologises to Anna when she realises that she's wrong. Also, Julian said he was sad that the 'when somebody you love dies' dialogue got cut because it was based on a real-life experience.

Tagging under the cut:

@francuskiakcent, @janevids, @whereyourtreasureis, @margaretintherain, @louisaland

@boodunnit, @wildwildtarget, @kingarthurlovesmerlin, @byeletty, @ladymaryjosephinecrawley

@ladymarycrawleyofdownton, @pinwheelwhirl, @thestarlight3, @rosemacclare, @luxheroica

[notes-from-sarah]

A nice touch in season 3 is having Anna wearing Mary's old dress from season 2