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Terribly delicious, you mean. I haven't seen a show this awesomely hate-watchable in a long time...

Another UO (this is seriously cathartic!) is that I am just fine with the amount of parenting we see on the show. The kids are cute, but I don't watch Downton for kid stories.

Andorra, you are cracking. me. up. My unpopular opinion? I love Daisy. And I have no problem with her choosing to stay at Downton instead of moving to run Mr. Mason's farm. Also, I think Matthew was the "glue" that held the first three seasons together, and with him gone, it's gone off the rails.

I'm 99.9% positive the whole thing is a marketing ploy. I only saw it once, but here goes: There's a truck driving down a country road, adorable yellow lab puppies in the back. They hit a bump, and a puppy goes flying and lands (gently) on some grass. Then quick cuts of the puppy valiantly fighting his way over hill and dale through all kinds of weather, finally running up the driveway and into a picturesque barn at home. The lady is ecstatic to see him, scoops him up, and cries out, "you're home!" "I'm so glad because I just sold you online via a website from GoDaddy!" And then the last shot is of the puppy whimpering in a box as the van doors close on him and pull away. I'm not even a "my puppy is my child" type of person, but I thought it was horrible. He tries so hard to get home, just to get shipped out again. Awful. eta: I just found it again on Today's website. GoDaddy must not have enough legal pull to make them take it down.

And now it's gone. What was the premise? Eta: never mind, I found another copy... http://youtu.be/24efR_zhWlA That's awful.

I wonder if maybe Sidney has a background similar to Hathaway from Lewis. His dad was a steward on a big estate, so he knew and was educated with the gentry, and was higher than middle class, but still far below his childhood friends in the long run. Still living the show, but I could really do without the Amanda character. I despise the whole, "I love you, but I can't be with you! So I'm just going to string you along so you can be as miserable as I am!" I'm hoping he kicks her to the curb and goes after the Widow Frau. I noticed that apparently he's keeping up with her, at least enough to know where she is. "Sly old dog," indeed!

I really wish I liked Rafael, because his and Jane's story is the kind of romantic trope I usually love, but he just seems so skeevy. And oddly boring. I'm more invested in Rogelio and Xo and even Petra and Lachlan than I am in Jane and Rafael. I just don't buy them as OTP. Everything Xo said tonight about their relationship was spot on, regardless of Michael.

Let's get this back to Mary, please. :-)

Please tell me that's a joke. It's too early in the week to lose ALL hope for humanity.

Not sure what happened at your station last week, but we don't get new episodes again until March. :-(

Well, that was absolutely charming! Loved the relationship between the vicar and the detective, and he had great chemistry with all the ladies. Plus, Dickens! I could see the name coming a mile away, but still smiled at the reveal.

Dinner today was catfish filets, baked potato, sweet corn, and a green salad. With Breton butter cake for dessert. Yum! Since I baked today and did a big homemade dinner and a breakfast casserole, supper will be pizza. ;-)

Does anybody here watch Martha Bakes? I'm not what I would call a Martha fan, per se, but I love this show. I think it's because I'm much more into baking than cooking, and a lot of TV chefs pretty much ignore baking. It's not visual enough, maybe? Anyway, was just wondering if anybody else watches it, and if you do, would you visit a show forum for it if I requested one?

Seriously! I had no idea most of these chains even existed. At this point, are there any more of these kinds of establishments that haven't been featured?

A short article about the Swon Brothers starting their tour with Brad Paisley tonight. http://kticradio.com/abc_music-co/brad-paisley-superfans-the-swon-brothers-ready-to-hit-the-road-with-their-hero-tonight-abcid35187688/

I was talking about this show with a friend tonight, and she says Alicia has Mary Crawley syndrome. As in, every age-appropriate, single man who comes on the show seems to be fascinated with her. Even though she's cold, distant, and weighed down with more baggage than a 747 (unlike thousands of other beautiful and AVAILABLE women in Chicago). Finn, Peter, Johnny, and Will (R.I.P.) would all be considered catches by any measure, and yet they all pine for Alicia to varying levels. I could understand if the campaign manager got turned on by her parking garage kiss, or felt uncomfortable with her afterward, but we're supposed to believe he has actual feelings for her? Based on what? Her ability to pick a wine? The way she wears a suit? Have they ever had a single personal conversation ever? Gah!

So much word. I can get down with the rest of it, but Adam Newman was never stupid. And neither was Gabriel Bingham, if he went to Princeton. Let's not pretend that the caveman could outsmart either of them ever.

All, I appreciate the frustration with ATK's marketing strategy, believe me, but please remember it's copyrighted material. I'd prefer to not even have mentions of PMing for recipes visible in the thread. If someone says they have a recipe, please just PM them and ask. By the same token, if you're looking for a recipe, please just ask if anyone has it, and if someone does they can PM it to you. I'm probably being nitpicky, but I just don't want the site to get in trouble. Thanks in advance.

Hey, all, We're getting off-topic here. I appreciate that this is a political/current events show, so conversations are going to arise from that, but let's try to keep it tied to the episode, please. Thanks in advance!

Damn, I was hoping Shirley saved me. AVENGE ME, VILLAINS!!!! http://i.imgur.com/5DYxZMs.gif

I just rewatched the show - well, the Cary and Diane parts - and I'm a bit stumped about this as well. It came from SO far out of left field. When Alicia said "I want to win", and then "you wouldn't even blink if I said that and I was a man".... okay, but Diane didn't blink. She gave no indication at all that she had a problem with Alicia being ambitious or wanting to win. She just questioned Alicia's loyalty and availability to the firm, which is a completely different (and valid) question. It was SUCH an odd segue. I can't figure out of the writing is just that bad, and they truly thought it made sense? Or if we're supposed to see it as a statement of how far outside the realm of common sense Alicia is now living, since she's getting embroiled in politics and the accompanying hubris? As a sidenote, Baranski's facial expressions in that scene could be used for a master class. She went through a whole gamut. My personal fave was the look of "well, isn't that SPECIAL" that crossed her face when Alicia was bragging about her volunteers, etc. Price. Less.

Maybe it was obscured by a giant floral tribute. When she was there the other day, I don't think you could even see Cassie's last name.

But does she really have an answer? Beyond I'm running because I want to win and I believe I can win? Word to your whole post, but especially this sentence. Diane (and Baranski) appear to be the most universally well-regarded character (and actor). I don't see how pitting the two of them against each other is going to do anything but make Alicia look bad. I've asked this before, but is there any possibility the Kings are trying to turn their hero into an anti-hero? Or are they that blind about how their title character is coming off? Yeah, I don't think the mayor is supposed to be Rahm Emanuel. They didn't name the mayor last night.