CeeBeeGee

Marion Crawford, aka "Crawfie," the governess of the Princesses of York (the later Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret), wrote a tell-all in 1950 which resulted in her complete ban from royal circles (a shame, as the book is very innocuous and loving). Memoirs aren't as modern as we may think. Mary was engaged to Carlisle who was considerably further down the social scale than she. Of course he did have lots of money. I believe she would be entitled to call herself Lady Mary Blake, as the honorific of Lady is one to which she is entitled through birth (her father), rather than marriage. Examples include Lady Sarah Chatto, Lady Sarah McQuorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, etc. Have no idea on who would outrank whom.

Different king. Colin Firth's king, George VI, didn't gain the throne until 1936--remember that speech is about the rise of Nazism. Downton Abbey is still in the '20s.

My browser is wonky so I'm not sure who originally wrote this. But the repetition of certain English names is kind of a joke among historians. After Catherine of Aragon came onto the scene, about 15 years later you saw a ton of Catherines--including Henry VIII's 5th and 6th wives, both of whom were named after his first wife. (As was Katherine Willoughby, Parr's best friend.) When Henry became big news, you saw a lot of Henrys. But the big one? Thomas of Canterbury. His martyrdom at Canterbury led to generations upon generations of English boys being named Thomas. Thomas Cranmer, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Howard, Thomas Boleyn, Thomas Culpeper, the list went on and on.

I love both Edith and Mary but I agree with all of this. I don't question the writers having Mary take it out on Edith every chance she gets (this is realistic)--what I question is that NO ONE ELSE ever seems to call Mary on it. She really is a bully toward Edith.

I guess Henry VIII didn't get the memo, since after he abandoned Catherine of Aragon the word went out she was no longer to be addressed as Queen but rather Dowager Princess of Wales (according to him Henry and Catherine's marriage was invalid--only her previous marriage, to his brother, Arthur Prince of Wales, was). As we all know (!) Arthur and Catherine produced no heir.

I literally laughed out loud at this. They really seem to have it in for her! I happen to adore Edith (I have a fondness for middle sisters and loved Jan Brady as well) and if JF were any kind of writer, at some point Edith would finally lose her shit and throw Pamuk in Mary's face. THAT would shut her up.

Wait, what? Black and white? Where the Boys Are came out in 1960, it's a color film. (And how! Love those beachside scenes, cheesey as they are :) And that gorgeous footage of Ryder and Merritt, floating down the Intracoastal Waterway on Ryder's grandfather's yacht, all those beautiful palm trees in the background...

I missed that part (I hopped into the shower in the middle of the episode). They must be referring to Dolores Hart, who worked with Elvis and is perhaps best-known for her lead in Where the Boys Are. Dolores Hart, BTW, was engaged (and not to Christ!) when she took vows. Eseni is gorgeous but she's using (or is edited to look that way) the convent life as a form of escape. You're supposed to be called TO a vocation, not driven away from something else.

As Jim said "Brenda, it's different for girls, IT JUST IS." I HAVE SPOKEN. Look on my sexism, ye mighty, and despair!

Yeah, I was side-eyeing a whole mounted unit marching right into the trees--wouldn't that mess up your pretty, pretty formation? And nullify the blunt impact and advantage that heavy(ish) cavalry has? (I was grumbling a bit during last week's battle as well, some sloppy battle tactics there.) Does Westeros have any kind of plumbing?

Bran, just pay a visit to your cousin Robin, he'll help you "fly." Dragons didn't die out 300 years ago, it was more recently than that. 300 years ago was when they helped the Targaryans conquer Westeros and over some 2-300 years they started getting smaller and smaller and dying out. Viserys talks about it in his Season 1 sexposition speech in the bath with Doreah. I can't remember when the last one was (before Dany hatched her eggs) but it was more recently than 300 years ago.

I literally yelled that at my TV. THAT IS NOT LONDON BRIDGE. LB IS FURTHER UPSTREAM. AND IS NOT MEDIEVAL AT ALL OR PARTICULARLY PICTURESQUE. THAT IS TOWER BRIDGE WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE VICTORIAN AGE. HVIII (another Duke of York who succeeded to the throne, BTW!) was also known as Hal (Hal is another nickname for Henry). Henry is a pretty common English name so lots of nicknames. Fun fact--Diana wanted to name Harry John, after her father and a traditional Spencer name, but "they" wouldn't let her, as John is considered a bad luck name for the British royals.

Taget: Jeebus Cripes: I love Aemon! Fascinating character and so serene--apparently the Targaryan crazy passed him over. Imagine how different history might've been had he assumed the throne? No Mad King, no Robert's Rebellion, the Starks might still be together and living happily in Winterfell...I love wondering about people whose stories were never told, and I love that there's a secret Targaryan--Dany isn't quite all on her own :)

Awesome comment!

Definitely Rhondinella! Yes, the intricacies can be very...intricate, and confusing as hell. I was exposed to this at a very young age--when I was 7 my favorite king was Edward VI (because he was so young when he ascended so I identified with that) so I come by it pretty naturally. And of course I watch every royal wedding I can! I'm disappointed about the breakup of Harry and Cressida but I really can't blame the girl. Hopefully Eugenie has another pretty little blonde Harry can meet (he certainly has a type!).

There are royal dukedoms and there are noble dukedoms. Royal sons have been given additional titles forever and some of them are specifically attached to birth order. For example, the oldest son (the Prince of Wales) is also the Duke of Cornwall (Duke of Rothesay in Scotland) and traditionally the second oldest son is the Duke of York. Due to the vagaries of fortune many of these titles (after being bestowed) have then been reabsorbed into the Crown. The Duke of York is an interesting example--as I said it is traditionally reserved for the second son but since so many second sons have ended up as the king (or died at a young age), it keeps coming back to the crown! And it will happen again because Andrew has no sons who might inherit it--only daughters. The last Duke of York was also a second son (Queen Elizabeth's father, who was portrayed in The King's Speech)--as was HIS father, George V. These titles used to be given at birth or in childhood but in the past century or so the tradition seems to be changing to when the princes marry they get the additional titles. Andrew, William and Edward were all given their additional titles the mornings of their weddings. It's always fun to speculate who's going to get what--I was pulling for the Duke of Clarence for William but my Mom says it's bad luck (if you know your Plantagenet history, you know why). Edward actually chose his title--he got the idea from the movie Shakespeare in Love (it is the title of the impoverished noblemen played by Colin Firth). I think that's the reason Edward is an Earl, not a Duke, because as the son of a sovereign he is entitled to a Dukedom by a previous LP. When the current Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) dies, Edward will assume that title. Um, topic. I thought the fake pap was a nice touch. And Chelsea (?--the twerker) was gorgeous.

When she was first introduced to the public she was called Lady Diana (and nicknamed Shy Di) so it's a natural to go from that to Princess Diana. I have no problem with the informality, just pointing that if the British newspapers can't be correct, we can't expect the American public to when it's not even our royal family. Marie-Christine! Which is unusual for the Brits but it may because she's originally German. I mean, it's not incorrect to call her that, it's just not that common in the UK. He really does look amazingly like the Prince but I disagree with the girl who said the giveaway is the nose. It's the eyes--wrong color, wrong shape. Harry has blue eyes but they're not so big and vividly blue. Not!Harry does have the Windsor nose though, to my eye.

Agreed and I say this as a huge BRF fan who can break down the next 20 or so in line for the throne. But I'm a royal nerd. Most Americans don't know Harry's exact title or how he is styled, nor should they be expected to know such things about the essentially powerless, arguably anachronistic ruling family of another country. Hell, even in the UK I've seen headlines calling Diana "Princess Diana" which is incorrect. (You can't be called "Princess/Lady FirstName" unless you were born with/inherited your position. Diana was the daughter of an earl so she was correctly styled "Lady Diana" but she married into the royal family so she should've been styled Diana, the Princess of Wales and after the divorce, Diana, Princess of Wales. If you really want to get archaic you could've called her Princess Charles but that's more Continental in style.[/royal nerd]) ANYWAY. I thought the girl who went into the Crown Suite (Carina?) seemed very low key and sweet.

Constantinople: I agree with a lot of your post but how did LF help with the Red Wedding? I thought that was all Tywin and Roose Bolton? This! Tywin is so smart, WHY can he not see how valuable Tyrion can be? How can he actually believe Tyrion is responsible for the death of Lady Lannister (whatever her first name was)? He's smarter than that. I guess even a smart person can be ruled by their emotions.

She was in Rome--she played Lucius Vorenus's wife Niobe--and was just as good in that. Terrific actress.

Excellent point. The guy had just gotten STABBED in the STOMACH. That's a serious wound--it's usually fatal in fact. Viscera are involved--heart, lungs, etc. And to be frank when you're as big as the Mountain, you don't need to develop cunning because your advantage is so huge already. (Just like birds have small brains because they don't need to be smart due to their huge advantage--they can fly.)Guy's been gored a couple of places, including the stomach, he must be exhausted because of the combination of the heat, his size and that armor, and somehow he's able to Jason Voorhees Prince Oberyn? I call bullshit.

Oberyn-as-Tevye: I have eight daughters!Ramsay Snow Bolton: Tra-di-TION! Tradition!

It's not just Ellaria--HOW many daughters does he have? At least 5. His principles are endearing but dude, you have children. Once you had the guy down, finish it. Although at least the Mountain (one of my most hated characters ever) is GONE. One more name off Arya's list. I kind of love Missandei and Grey Worm, they're both so beautiful and they both have that "I am determined to prove myself to Your-Grace/Khaleesi/pick-your-sobriquet" ethos. And how cute was Dany putting up Missandei's hair?! Once Ser Jorah's former betrayal was revealed, it was game over. She can never trust him again and for someone like Dany, you just can't get past that. I've been wondering for a couple of seasons ow when that was going to resurface. Nice tiosee that Ygritte isn't completely contemptible. That was pretty fucking cool. That was beyond "My name is Ingo Montaya" into LET'S BRING DOWN THIS MOTHER EFFING DYNASTY RIGHT NOW. Loved it.

Really? I actually think he's pretty attractive. (I love red hair, so there's that.)

One of the most memorable lines in the series. "Steel! Covered over with silly, frilly tutus!" That said, VC Andrews could turn out moments of unexpected eloquence. I handwave away the generally adolescent and awkward prose by saying that Cathy never progressed much beyond the age at which she went into the attic so there's that. But the books do have some beautiful sweet moments, like the night of the ball (in FITA) when Christopher is going to explore the house on his own and Cathy is lying there in the bed in her new nightgown and she whispers that he looks like a knight in shining armor and they starting talking as though they're in a fairy tale. It's really sweet. And there's a moment later on, after they're getting....closer...and he kisses her full on the lips when he goes out one night, and she thinks "such a peculiar long kiss, to give me the sensation that I was falling down, down, down, when I was already lying down" and then later in that paragraph "there had to be another prince for me. There had to be some other way to have a happy ending."