Downton Abbey - 4x6 "Episode 31" Reaction
Added 2023-02-17 08:05:42 +0000 UTC
Comments
Gary Carr, who plays Jack Ross is a tremendous talent. From an evil pimp in The Deuce to Jack Ross, crooner and lover of music.
David Hutchinson
2023-08-28 00:14:48 +0000 UTCThomas is so paranoid he needs to know absolutely everything going on with everyone at all times... And I agree, the Anna/Bates storylines is always dialed to max drama - let them have some peace!
RedStalkingDeath
2023-06-05 02:59:10 +0000 UTCI’d like to see the reaction to that if it’s not pointed out in the comments. Maybe at the start of the next episode?
Ray Fuller
2023-02-20 03:01:09 +0000 UTCIf you read my comments and understood me to be saying they should put wealth and status above all then you didn't understand what I was saying. I am saying that Rose is thinking ONLY of her fairy tale view of this relationship and not about its effect on anyone else, including Jack. These people live in a world where a black man could be killed for his relationship with a white woman.
Rosanne Stewart
2023-02-18 20:11:00 +0000 UTCYes, they deserve ruin if they put wealth and status above being decent human beings. That’s not even up for debate as far as I’m concerned. Besides, they’ve got wealth from who knows how many generations ago and have lots of connections. Even if they somehow managed to lose all of it in one go and had neither money nor friends to fall back on (extremely doubtful), well, they can suck it up and get jobs like anyone else. I will never feel sorry for rich people, let alone those who have no principles. Rose can be both. She can hope everything will work out and she can bravely defy convention. Anyway, I’m going to end this conversation. I find your responses rather appalling — it’s one thing to mention that they would face hardship, quite another to say they should think of themselves and their wealth above all and turn their back on a Black man because he doesn’t provide them with any benefits — and I’m not interested in continuing.
Laurel
2023-02-18 19:03:31 +0000 UTCYes, I am clearly getting the message that you don't give a shit. But really? Rose's family would deserve ruin? Her family could be the most progressive and supportive family ever and they could still be ruined by this. This is larger than just one family. I have nothing but respect for people who defy bigotry and do the painful and sometimes dangerous work of pushing society forward. But I hope they're doing it with open eyes and a full understanding of the consequences of their decisions. Do you think Rose is doing that? Or do you think she's a starry-eyed, impulsive girl who assumes (because of her insanely privileged life so far) that everything will work out well just because she's in love? I think Rose sees herself as the heroine of a romantic novel and she needs to take a hard, realistic look at what this will do to her life, to Jack's life, and to the lives of everyone she loves. If she's going to start tossing grenades, she'd better be prepared to witness the casualties.
Rosanne Stewart
2023-02-18 18:24:23 +0000 UTCFrankly I don’t give a shit whether Rose liking someone of another race would ~ruin the family~ or that that’s a valid reason for her to stick with the racist status quo. No, it wouldn’t be easy. But no, that doesn’t mean she should slink back into convention just because it’s easier. If Rose’s family would be ruined by her treating a Black man with respect and love, then they deserve to be. That’s all there is to it. I have no sympathy for people who put money and status above human decency. Interracial couples didn’t just pop up in the 1970s when laws started to change. They’ve been around for far, far longer. They’ve faced hardships — including risk of death — yet decided the negatives were worth it. People said fuck society because society was bigoted and people of other races deserved to be treated like anyone else, including loving whomever they wanted. Being willing to go against convention because it’s the right thing to do isn’t naive, it’s brave. Beyond which, they’re both consenting adults. They can choose whatever path they’d like.
Laurel
2023-02-18 15:24:54 +0000 UTCOf course it's easy to say that, but it ignores the reality of when and where they lived. As I said, I love Rose's open heart and her dismissal of the bigotry of her society. Actually, she often doesn't even seem to see it at all, and that is very much to her credit. There's a parallel to Ethel's storyline last season. Isobel was rightfully supportive of Ethel in raising her son and putting prostitution behind her, but there was still the wider world to consider. Ethel took a respectable job again, but was still shunned and verbally abused when she went out in public. Her reputation followed her everywhere she went and it was very painful for her. The dowager was absolutely right when she accused Isobel of using Ethel as a "cudgel" to fight her moral war without taking into account what it was doing to Ethel. What would happen if Rose's relationship with Jack Ross became public? It could destroy her father's career, and it's not like he has much wealth to fall back on. It could socially ruin the Crawleys, which sounds like something we would dismiss as unimportant these days but it was a huge part of their lives that would be sacrificed to Rose's choice of partner. And it could realistically get Jack KILLED. When racists aim their hatred at interracial couples, it is usually the non-white men who are in the most real danger. Rose is naive. She is not looking clearly at the situation and that's not fair when it's not just her life and future she's putting at risk.
Rosanne Stewart
2023-02-18 13:09:56 +0000 UTCThat Jack Ross has some pipes!
MumofZack
2023-02-17 16:03:13 +0000 UTCWhy shouldn't she toss away the conventions of the day and fall in love with someone of another race? I think that's a wonderful thing for her or anyone to do, not just on principle but because the conventions of the day were racist, classist, and self-righteous. Would it be all sunshine and roses? Obviously not. But it's ridiculous to say she shouldn't do it just because it's unconventional. It's admirable that Rose doesn't give a shit what society at large thinks, and I say all the more power to the both of them.
Laurel
2023-02-17 15:13:06 +0000 UTCMore than once when I watched this show for the first time I realized how much I was slipping into the mindset of the time period. When Tom first pursued Sybil I was actually indignant for a beat and had to remind myself that class distinctions are nonsense. And when Rose is seen making out with a black man my first instinctive reaction was, "What?!? You can't DO that!" Then I gave myself a mental slap and laughed a little at my reaction. But of course, it's just the sad reality of the time, and it's silly to think that Rose should toss away the conventions of the day and fall in love with someone of another race. As if it would be just that easy. She would be socially DESTROYED for having a relationship like that and her family would be destroyed along with her. Remember how much trouble the rumors of Mr. Pamouk caused for Mary? And he was a distinguished aristocrat. From the other side, Jack could be in real, physical danger for crossing that line. So yes, they are both wonderful young people and I love how innocently Rose thinks that love conquers all, but the path they're choosing is a dangerous one.
Rosanne Stewart
2023-02-17 12:56:22 +0000 UTCI enjoyed this episode too. Not super dramatic or anything, but a bunch of enjoyable stuff. One thing - I really recommend going back to read that letter that Edith got, just 'cause it's important. It's at about 26.10 in this video.
StarlitTardis
2023-02-17 09:33:57 +0000 UTC
