Glad you are digging the show, @young son. I am secretly rooting for it, too, but see it as a show in trouble. I agree it's cheesy, and not in a good way.

"I honestly felt that what Rudy was doing to sleeping Dorian was seriously rude and creepy."
YES! It's been revealed that Rudy does illicit procedures on Dorian. Now we find out that he waked Dorian up while he was decommissioned. This was so much more troubling and intriguing than the crime-of-the-week, which was a…

Oh, @dhaelis, you don't want to open that can of worms! Uh! Uh! Too late!

Intentionally vague?

—The smart house plot seemed a bit tired, so I was much more intrigued by what was going on inside Dorian's head, whether Rudy was to be trusted, etc. Rudy acted guilty as hell. What is he really up to?

I enjoy Mary's new involvement in the estate and in everyone's business. My secret hope is that she will become involved in Edith's business at some point. Their one scene together was not hostile, but painfully formal and dismissive. Edith has a champion in Rosamund, but I hope Mary will step up for her sister, given…

I am willing to entertain this soapy possibility. I mean, where did Edith get her red hair?. I can't remember Rosamund showing Edith any deference in past seasons, but maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

I would've gone for a serious beating with permanent damage to the groin.

Loved the ladies' clothes. Lady Mary was a pale vision.

haha, @gogiggs. I think "proactive" is a new word to describe action with attitude. Jumping in, rather than simply walking forward.

Poor Pamuk.

She is beautiful and eligible. I think it's pretty realistic that she'd be dealing with suitors.

A "desire of suitors" trundled off in one car. If DA wants real drama, they can kill them all in one car wreck at season-end. And, not being married to any of them, Mary wouldn't have to wear black for half of Season 5.

Blake is stockier and has lighter hair. Also, Blake is more upbeat, not having to fire valets or disappoint any ladies that we know of.

That was a pretty big kiss Lord Grantham laid on Lady Grantham upon his return! Woo!

Thomas in a bowler: Not a good look.

Me three. I just adore Mary—and Dockery, who plays her with understated grace.

Well, if no one defends Bates, the discussion isn't as much fun. I think they've gone out of their way to spell him out as a thug. If he's innocent, that will be a surprise—but they've made him so ham-fisted and lurky, I'm afraid his character is unredeemable, even if his actions were innocent. At this point, I wonder…

This plot competes with the drawn-out Daisy-Albert-Ivy story for worst, imo.

Interesting that they said there were lots of witnesses. I half expect one of them to show up without warning and try to blackmail him. For the record, I'm not in favor of another blackmail story involving Bates and Anna.