Roseanna

We don't know what Oscar does at the bank if anything (if gentleman worked at that time, they did only a few hours per day). But we had been shown that the bank is a good place to get useful information: it was at the bank Oscar learned news that George was losing his fortune and stopped courting Gladys.

Agnes didn't get Turner fired. Turner didn't even know of Agnes's letter to Bertha - which Bertha ignored because Agnes didn't tell what man she spoke (although Bertha guessed right: Oscar, but she didn't care of it). Turner got fired because Bertha saw her touch Larry's arm. And Bertha guessed quite right: it was just the same first move which Turner began George's seduction with. Generally, on the basis what we have seen of Turner, she hasn't brains nor nerves to play "the long game".

You are right. Intelligent and competent people can be fooled if they (1) overestimate their abilities, (b) are greedy and (c) forgot the maxims "if it looks too good to be true..." and "never put all eggs in one basket".

Aurora's husband lost much money in S1 when the old money mean ried to beat George.

Luke can have inherited only a relative who had died before he died. But of course the relative can have lived somewhere far away and the news of it only comes weeks later.

Yes, but Mad Men happened in 1960ies. This series happened in the time when women left the dinnner table before men begun to drink strong liquers. Actually Oscar had no need to more money if he was going to propose to Maud. Was his aim to show her that he was no fortune hunter?

Yeah, so far. But how could Maud convince Aurora? Had she a letter of recommendation from someone who Aurora knew and trusted? Was something in her background story true or was all lies?

Relatively. Maybe they will afford only a small house and three servants. We have bveen shown that both her parents have given her money. While they understandable want to show their love thus, it isn't a good tactic to get her return home. It will more wiser to let her experience what kind of life she can afford on her own. They know she doesn't lack food or shelter.

A good observation. Mourning clothes weren't a matter of choice, there was a strict code for them, according to how near realtive the deceased person was. Luke was Marian's uncle by Ada's marriage. On the other hand, when Marian arrived to Agnes's house after her father's death, she didn't wear black but some kind of muted color and Agnes forbid her even that and ordered her new dresses in order to catch suitors. And Marian didn't change her dress in the earlier episode - she went straight from the school to the party. Who does that even today?

Yes, but her reasoning "I raised you better" would only irritate Peggy and make her do just the opposite, especially as both parents wants her to "live her life" (i.e. to marry a suitable man) instead of writing about others' lives. Peggy seems to be astonishly naive after all her experiences. If she wants one day to publish books, she should be determined to make choices that make that possible. It was a red flag that Mr Fortune served Peggy strong liquor. He doesn't act according her best interests.

Irl it couldn't be a secret as a suitor should have presented his financial situation to the father or guardian (as Oscar tried to do to George). Ada of course has no guardian and Agnes gave her supoort for her marriage only in the last minute. Otherwise she surely would have demanded to know how her sister would be provided as a wife and a widow. Were there pensions for priests' widows? Does anybody know if there were marriage settlements in the US as in Britain?

Compared to Downton Abbey the greatest fault is that there hasn't been such a sudden catastrophe and a great secret like Pamuk dying in Mary's bed that gets the action moving, influences on the family denamics and keeps the lovers apart. Also, in DA the actors really could the technique of repressed emotions and the audience loved to suffer with them.

That! The heroine doesn't need to know the hero's romantic feelings, but audience must - indeed, they must eagerly want the couple to be together. Many here seem to be in Team Larian, but I must confess that I don't care what happens to them as individuals and couple. I can't help but wonder how an experienced screenwriter like Fellowes has created such dull characters and plot.

I agree. Mrs Blaine knows not only how society would reacht to their age difference (they would be ridiculed at least behind their back), but she can also imagine how their relationship would be after 20-30 years. Bertha cleverly reminded her how she waited for her old husband's death. I have understood that as a widow she is now free to decide about her life and fortune. If she remarries, is it again her husband who will decide where she lives, whether she can travel, how much money she can spend etc?

I don't think that Bertha uses her children only for her own social advancement. From her POW she acts for their best interests. Only, she defines them - and that was nothing unusual in that time. Thus, her daughter's best interest is to have the position and wealth that she had wanted to herself during her whole life. As she said of Gladys: "I am going to give her the world." The problem isn't only that Gladys didn't want it but that she don't have qualities for a successful duchess. As for Larry, Bertha was quite right in all what she said to Larry's mistress who realized it and ended the relationship.

Marian was not asked to Mother/Daughter tea, she offered herself. She isn't very bright: she was astonished and embarrassed when she was regarded to be a mum by other mothers (although she is far too young for that). At least after that she should have realized what kind of sign she had sent to Dashiell and the whole society and changed her behavior.

Because they could their profession and had access to intelligence information. Anyway, Diana could have got security from the French policy simply by telling the British embassy that she was in Paris.

Yes, she didn't want to embarrass Dashiell openly before relatives and friends, so she should have taken the line you suggest. After all, asking time to consider a proposal (and even asking advice of family) was normal in that age. I agree with you how Dashiel's behavior looks like from the modern POV. Yet, I don't think he is an evil man, he just is a quite usual man of that age. From his own POV, he offers Marion a privileged life without material worries and because she is penniless, of course she gratefully accepts his proposal. They aren't impossible couple, but he hurried too much. He should have taken time to learn her personality, tastes and plans and after they had become friends maybe some more had been born. But it was enough to him that she seemed outwardly suitable for his wife and step-mother for his daughter.

Well, even George asked if there was a school for workers' kids (although as a robber baron he would irl favor child labor which is cheaper). So plots are separate, but there is a common theme that is quite interesting. On the other hand, companies need workers who have basic skills in reading and writing (and English). On the other hand, literate people are more difficult to handle which is why (at least I suppose) Black schools must be suppressed.

I understand and respect your POV. However, it would be IMO far more interesting to keep George as a man who acts unselfissly only towards his family while otherwise pursueing ruthlessly his own interests.

Perhaps not an obsession, but surviving skills in the society. She is like an innocent lamb which can easily been eaten by wolves like Turner. Also, if Bertha succeeds to marry her to the duke, how can she endure a life among aristocratic Brits who look at her down despite her fortune?

Yeah, Fellowes presents it so, but it's not realistic in that age. Ultimately, what George can do is limited by his peers.

I agree with Sistermagpie. One doesn't even be a commanding and domineering mum to raise a passive daughter, all it needs is to do everything ready for her. Also Larry is weaker than his parents. He managed to get his dad's blessing to become an architect by just asking him, but it was rather like a hobby to him. He never gave a thought to his mistress reputation and accepted his mum's interference with his love life (she was right, but still). Both Russell children aren't adults. All they can is rebel for a moment like teens.

Yes, as Marion's friend Larry would be concerned by her odd answer to Dashiell's proposal. In an ordinary case a man who wasn't a family member could hardly ask directly if she loves him or felt pressured to accept, but she had told him how Raikes had jilter her, so maybed it will happen later. But I am not rooted for them as characters nor a couple. It's actually a common story: as Peggy wants to proceed in her writing career and she gets respect and encouragement from her editor, can she throw all this away even because she knows her feelings only grow being near him? Instead, he gets both ways: daily services (presumably including sex) at home and fighting and working for a common cause and her admiration in work.

But that's realistic in that age. She has no money and Agnes doesn't live for ever. After Raikes jilted her, nobody but Dashiell hasn't courted her. Clearly, he is her best option if she wants to marry and have no plans f.ex. to become a "real" teacher. But of course, as this is a fairy tale and she is meant to be its young heroine, Fellowes will arrange her something better.