So his role this season seems to be standing against every single thing the other characters say.  Just for the sake of it.

I'm a bit surprised that Lord Grantham was so upset about Branson naming his daughter "Sybil."  Was he objecting and calling it "ghoulish" purely because he's a stubborn old fool this season?  Because I'd always assumed that it was a fairly common memorial practice.

Not long.  As soon as he arrives, he's going to be accused of somehow having a hand in Sybil's death.  Cue death trial, part two.

Well, I can believe it of O'Brien, because she's always been written that way, so it is in her character.  But it seems a bit absurd for that guard and prisoner.  Do they really want Bates to stay in prison that badly, considering he's been making a fool of them while he's been in there? If I were them, I'd want the…

But if so, why did he poison that guy, instead of killing him?

You know, I'd never have thought I would say this because I've always loved Sherlock, but to my own shock Elementary's Holmes is actually more interesting to me.  While S's Sherlock is like a small force of nature with his runaway intellect and casual cruelty to the friends around him, E's Holmes actually feels more…

Isobel did not force Mrs. Bird to resign.  Mrs. Bird gave her an ultimatum, so technically Mrs. Bird forced Isobel to choose between her and Ethel.  It was her own fault she lost her position, but I don't think she has to worry about finding a new place. I imagine she'll have some strong references.

I had the same interpretation as @avclub-e661d72fe343a0e5b902e113f596c4f3:disqus , probably because of the "Ugh" before the "Done.  Just done." comment.  "Ugh" sounds like disgust, not a compliment.

@avclub-d80ecbbbef6ab40a4e53d1ad2c3fc1b2:disqus You wish.  The preview made it look like he was threatening his cellmate.  Bates is such a perpetual Doom Magnet that the cellmate will end up dead and he'll be blamed for it or some crap like that.  Then for a few episodes he will sit in his cell looking all sad that no…

The burn victim wrapped in bandages?!

I think that moment when she snapped at him was the first time I've believed in McGovern's acting.  Something about her acting style rubs me the wrong way, but I appreciated the fire in that response to him.

Thanks for the insight.  I'm assuming someone did some kind of research into 1920s medical practices before they wrote those scenes, but we as the audience come at it from a modern viewpoint which skews what we see quite a bit.  I think the writer(s) have to hope we recognize that medical practices were quite…

@avclub-23dc117ef9479407fb6c6a666005af40:disqus Yeah, the vitriol against him is a bit surprising, because I never really got the impression he was incompetent per se.

I was willing to believe the reason why he accepted the entail and I could understand his feeling of uselessness when he saw every other man heading to the front to fight.  Not wanting to convert Downton into a convalescence home was where my opinion of him started to change, and S3 has just been a disaster for him.…

I was spoiled for her death beforehand, so the death per se was not shocking to me, but her death scene was absolutely harrowing.  I expected her to die over the night and be discovered in the morning.  I did not expect to watch her suffer as the family struggled futilely to save her. So much of the drama and action…

@avclub-60ac1337dd425567f906179964e55e96:disqus Wow, what a stereotyping comment.

@avclub-d7f43e1fb2d4977c86163d9b0cb07814:disqus Did they?  I don't remember.  I could have sworn that Mrs. Patmore hinted at it to Daisy in the first season, though.  I've been confused about whether or not his orientation is common knowledge, so I was speculating on the assumption it wasn't.

Liked for the Upper Class Twit comment.  Now I have a clear image in my mind of Lord Philip running around through the obstacles like a Twit.  Awesome.

Yes, PBS is the problem.  And yes, that is an utterly useless comment for the hapless audience forced to wait for Downton to air.  Thanks for blaming the viewers who watch shows as they become available in their region.

Did they?  I thought he was a fortune hunter and actively went after Cora himself.