Thursday, February 27, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALAN RICKMAN!


Where has the time gone? It's been a few years since we have posted happy birthdays on this blog. We are that much, and six days late for wishing actor Alan Rickman happy birthday! We have been too busy with moving, going through changes in the family (some sad), plowing through novels (editing chapters) and dealing with the dreaded flu.

However, in the 'tween time, we would like to pause, as we do every year, to wish Alan Rickman a Happy Birthday.

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Monday, February 24, 2014

DOWNTON UPDATES



UPDATE: 2/23/14

SEASON FINALE




1.Mary hooking up with Branson.

Golly, Charles Blake is a toff! With a baronetcy and one of the largest estates in Ulster! And a home invader for Prince and Country!  He should have fun conversations with Branson. We're beginning to like this guy because he has criminal tendencies for the right, although short-lived, reasons for saving Prince Eddie's bacon. Meanwhile, is Branson getting cozy with Edith after being caught in a dubious castle tour with what's-her-name-schoolteacher from the village? Michael, come home. Edith may not know it, but she's on the market!



2.Anna and Bates. 

Bates, what else did they teach you while you were in the pen? Is fancy handwriting and pilfering the extent of your criminal talents? Yes, you saved the royal bacon by forging the note as well as doing a little five-finger discount in Sampson's coat pocket, but will His Lordship allow you near the silverware again? 


3.Edith finding someone who is not old, married or gay.

Poor Edith. The baby girl is with another family but that's  not going to stop our regal Brenda Starr,from being with the child, and her mystery man. World War II is on the horizon, in 1923, with mention of Michael being beat up by a group of Brown Shirts. However, nothing can thwart someone who has already survived Switzerland with Rosamund. Grab your black orchid, ace reporter, and go find your Basil!


4.Baxter

Baxter and Mosley?! Who would have thought? It's sweet. They are as warm together as Mrs. Hughes and Carson holding hands and walking into the waves at the beach. Fight for her, Mosley! Give Thomas hell because he deserves it!


6.Rose?

Rose has somewhat redeemed herself for Prince and Country with her failed attempt at retrieving the scandalous letter, but we're still glad she got hers.


8.Violet outliving everyone in the Abbey. It would be great to see Maggie Smith having the last word because she does that so very well.

The Dowager may not have the last word over Mrs. Levinson. After all, being an American is only one of Mrs. Levinson's lives.


10.Thomas

Barrow really needs a boyfriend  to occupy him. Does he have a thing for Branson or is it just jealousy of his moving up in the world? Seriously, Thomas needs "it" more than Lady Mary.

DEPARTURES: Goodbye Alfred, now a chef at the Ritz. We wish you luck! Goodbye Ivy, going to America as an English cook. Have fun, although Daisy is better! And still single, Alfred! Good riddance, Mr. Green and bon voyage to incriminating tickets in Bates' overcoat. Lord Grantham does not need to know about this, thanks to Mary and a convenient fireplace!

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

DOWNTON UPDATES


Season Finale This Sunday!

UPDATE: 2/13/14

Note:Post Delayed Due to Flu 


1.Mary hooking up with Branson.

The fellow radical met cute with Branson is still no great looker or dresser. In the meantime, we are tortured with a slow pissing match between Charles and Lord Gillingham who look too alike to be serious contenders. It's the Bobbsey Twins at Downton Abbey!


2.Anna and Bates. 

Poor Anna. Yay! Mr. Green is dead. Serve the Rocky Mountain oysters, Mrs. Patmore! There is, however, some mystery about his unlamented demise. Run over by a lorry, the culprit probably the ghosts of  Downton actors past.  But wait, what has Bates been up to in the meantime? Was he seeing a man about a horse in Yorkshire or is he a vengeful killer? How can we be sure this guy lives in a cottage and not a motel? It's mash-up time, but not just for the late and now decaying Green, with the Abbey looking more like Midsommer Murders or an episode of Sherlock. Where, oh, where is Benedict Cumberbatch when you need him?


3.Edith finding someone who is not old, married or gay.

Poor Edith. She is taking a sojourn with Rosamund to the Swiss Alps to, um, improve her French. No one should go through hell like that for a fictional unplanned pregnancy. My dear, if you waited around long enough, there's always the Adoption of Children Act in 1926 that will allow you to adopt your own child and legitimize him or her.


4.Baxter

Baxter and Mosley?! Who would have thought?  It's sweet.


6.Rose?

Rose, you bitch. Jack Ross deserves someone better than a racist who used a black to get back at Mummsie Dearest. We were glad to see your face crumble when you got the "Dear Joan" letter from a decent man.


8.Violet outliving everyone in the Abbey. It would be great to see Maggie Smith having the last word because she does that so very well.

The Dowager would make a great prosecuting attorney with the way she cross-examined Edith and Rosamund about their Swiss self-improvement course. Her next vict...project should be Bates. Oh, and isn't she giving the knowing look to Isobel when the man-friend sent the Mrs. Crawley flowers? Dr. Clarkson should contemplate doing unnecessary surgery to take out the new rival. Where is John Nettles or Neil Dudgeon when you need them?


10.The last and most important wish for the series is that Thomas Barrow has a holiday in London so he can spec out some of the "pansy clubs" and meet the man/tran of his dreams. Putting an advert in the Link magazine for him is the kindest thing Mrs. Hughes could do for this under butler of unusual temperament. Wouldn't he enjoy a place where he could listen to Sam Lanin's Famous Players,'"The Man I Love" while dancing with a lithe someone of his own persuasion? 

Well, it seems that our favorite gay under-butler had a modern time in America. Very modern time.


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Monday, February 10, 2014

DOWNTON UPDATES


UPDATE: 2/10/14


1.Mary hooking up with Branson.

Pigs. Tom has met someone. A fellow radical but no great looker or dresser. And Mary has fallen for the new land agent, Charles...but wait, Lord Gillingham has returned! 


2.A baby for Anna and Bates. 

Poor Anna. Mr. Green is back again. And Bates knows her secret. Advice: Mr. Green better hide his gonads or Mrs. Hughes is going for the carving knife. Rocky Mountain oysters are on the dinner menu tonight, Mrs. Patmore!

3.Edith finding someone who is not old, married or gay.

Poor Edith. Having the baby is the best way when your fiance has flown the coop and it will be your one shot at happiness. At least, there's someone in the nursery at the end of the day.

4. O'Brian and Braithwaite are gone.

Baxter (can the writer use anything but "B" names or is he trying to to tell us something about lady's maids and female dogs?) needs to understand that she is skirting the edge of Mrs. Hughes' patient and could be on the same platter as Mr. Green.

6.Rose?

Rose is needs to be a little less bubble and more earth. Her relationship with Jack Ross is lovely but on perilous ground for that era. Let's hope it won't end tragically.

8.Violet outliving everyone in the Abbey. It would be great to see Maggie Smith having the last word because she does that so very well.

Oh goody! She did not die, yet. Her Ladyship couldn't be deathly ill, because neither heaven nor hell would take the Duchess. And she's bonding with Mrs. Crawley. Awww, it's like looking at sleeping kittens.

10.The last and most important wish for the series is that Thomas Barrow has a holiday in London so he can spec out some of the "pansy clubs" and meet the man/tran of his dreams. Putting an advert in the Link magazine for him is the kindest thing Mrs. Hughes could do for this under butler of unusual temperament. Wouldn't he enjoy a place where he could listen to Sam Lanin's Famous Players,'"The Man I Love" while dancing with a lithe someone of his own persuasion? 

America. Handsome stewards on the ship. Gay clubs in New York. Yum.


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Saturday, February 8, 2014

DOWNTON UPDATES




UPDATE: 2/10/14

1.Mary hooking up with Branson.

Fellowes has added yet another red-in-the-face herring for Mary to be miserable over while Tom has said something to the effect that it is unlikely that another earl's daughter could love him. PLEASE don't tease us with heavy foreshadowing! We all know where this is going...hopefully!

2.A baby for Anna and Bates. 

Poor Anna. It looks like she can't be a mum, but thank goodness it wasn't a Mr.Green baby.

3.Edith finding someone who is not old, married or gay.

Poor Edith. Any man that she falls in love with won't stick around or there is some other disaster to alter her path to the altar.


4. O'Brian and Braithwaite are gone.

The current lady's maid situation is just as bad as with Braithwaite and O'Brien. Cora should learn to dress herself for dinner.

6.Rose and Jimmy?

Rose is going  for the jazz brother. I hope Rosamund learns to take that medicine. Meanwhile, Jimmy is learning the meaning of "No!" from Ivy. I can't see that relationship going anywhere. Teach him to S.I.N.G, Ivy!

7.Sybil Jr. and George.

Don't they look cute with their perfectly matched step-parents? And aren't they the lucky ones?

8.Violet outliving everyone in the Abbey. It would be great to see Maggie Smith having the last word because she does that so very well.

 I do so love her spatting with Mrs. Crawley. They could go on the stage together. 'What is a stage? Is it like a weekend?' The preview for this weekend makes me nervous. No, she can't be deathly ill, because neither heaven nor hell will take the Duchess.

9.Mosley.

Timing (and devious head housekeepers), it's what gets you the job. I still think the term hapless describes him.

10.The last and most important wish for the series is that Thomas Barrow has a holiday in London so he can spec out some of the "pansy clubs" and meet the man/tran of his dreams. Putting an advert in the Link magazine for him is the kindest thing Mrs. Hughes could do for this under butler of unusual temperament. Wouldn't he enjoy a place where he could listen to Sam Lanin's Famous Players,'"The Man I Love" while dancing with a lithe someone of his own persuasion? 

No person of Barrow's inclination on the horizon but lots of male eye-candy hanging around Mary. The job still does have perks. However, it's time to write in a man-hunk for our fave under butler.

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