Downton Abbey is Back!

[FreeThinker]

Tonight!!! The season begins on PBS!!!!

[The Pecman]

Great show. I wanna see what happens with Thomas, the closeted under-butler...

[Merkin]

I warmed toward him a little bit last season. Now, not so much.

[FreeThinker]

Well, season four is over and I have to ask, "Why is the only gay character the villian?" I can't imagine Julian Fellows is straight, so why would he make the one gay character in the entire show a schmuck?

[The Pecman]

Well, season four is over and I have to ask, "Why is the only gay character the villian?" I can't imagine Julian Fellows is straight, so why would he make the one gay character in the entire show a schmuck?

Well, it was a different time. Maybe future seasons will introduce a more sympathetic gay character. I think in Thomas' case, the guy is a shmuck first and a gay guy second, so his sexuality isn't necessarily the justification for his other issues.

One does wonder how well he did on the ship to and from America. I think the biggest single laugh I had in the entire series was when Lady Mary commented to her brother, "I know everything -- I've been married." (This, in response to Lord Grantham's disbelief that she would know about what Thomas would do on board ships with sailors.)

[Chris James]

Geeeze, didn't you guys get enough dramatic silliness when Dallas was on television?