ComeWhatMay

Leonard's Mrs. Maguire vs. Dickens & "It was Hell" -- to a WWII vet no less -- had me in stitches. As did the kind Hildegard presenting Ms. Dee's album to the man who went home with her -- setting him apart from other conquests apparently/smart lady/gave him a bed to wake up hot in -- the night before. Loved Green's Geordie reacting to Sidney's confession. "Bloody Hell" "Sly Old Dog" Man-child Guy trying to drink the hard stuff & failing -- stick to daiquiris -- & Amanda's reaction when Gloria made her smoked cigarette analogy. It wasn't cozy -- London is not cozy, of course. I too missed the Grantchester setting. Glad we're home for the final episode of this series. It did have a sort of disjointed feel to it -- erratic -- but it fit the setting to me. Johnny & Jenn will spruce up that dingy nightclub in no time. Sidney has demons to vanquish before he can truly give himself to another person such as Hildegard -- his war damage & what could have beens regarding Amanda. There are things he has to come to terms with about the war & find a way to live with & it would appear he must let go of his first love too. Hildegard already had one lying, drinking & cheating husband. She won't want another. Sidney's literally in a dark place -- loved the symbolism at the end of the episode. I'm pulling for Sidney to "live as he has never lived" & "look forward." I don't mind the stumbles on the way as the war damage is quite realistic & should not be portrayed as easily surmounted & especially when the stumbles are as hot as his hookup with Gloria. I just loved how happy Gloria was the next morning -- heh. I would keep the carton that comes with that cigarette myself. If it were 2015, I think Amanda would too.

"Crime - Women - Drinking" With apologies to Ms. Maguire, I have not had near enough of it. So glad it will be back for another series. I do lament the shorter length of the British imports on my program schedule -- all the while believing it aids the quality of the programs & keeps others from pulling a Dan Stevens & mucking up the works. James Norton could definitely make a go of it here if he wanted to, but seems from interviews as though he knows not to burn bridges at home. Something to thank Stevens for, ironically. I find myself softening toward Amanda after my prior harshness regarding her stuffing. Some of the BTS stuff I have seen (interviews) is playing a role. My mother was 19 in 1953 -- it really was a world ago. It was not on to disregard your parents wishes & you did not have near as much company in doing so as you do today. Add in the motherless brothers & Amanda could/would be seen as selfish to toss it all for Sidney. Sidney would be for her, Guy is for everybody else. Guy's false charm & graces -- while clearly stewing off to the side as Amanda chatted with Sidney -- leaves me cold, but I do like Hildegard. Too much to see her as a clear second choice, which to me, is what she is portrayed as now. Something I found interesting... Amanda unwittingly helped Sidney with what today would be known as a service dog -- Guy brings fireworks for the engagement party. Fireworks can trigger PTSD episodes. Asking Sidney to marry him & Amanda? All smiles while he kicks Sidney -- & really Amanda too -- in the teeth. Another Lillian. Hard to imagine how this marriage will be any happier even if Sidney & Amanda are not William & Daphne.

Is it wrong to say I hope they don't -- at least not verbatim? I couldn't resist either & I already see differences? I would like to be surprised by events along the way -- not saying major things cannot ultimately turn out the same as to totally go against the books probably would be an issue. I am also in no hurry for age progression make-up on Norton or Green, etc. or to miss out on any element of the rich PTSD story they have going with Chambers/Norton. I was always sorry Downton Abbey never got to do one with Matthew. It's a relevant topic that a lot of shows aren't willing to devote more than a one off episode to before its on to the next thing.

Yes, Daphne, & she did say Leonard was gay.

I think that's part of it right there. I have noticed that Sidney & his sister Jenn are just fundamentally decent people too. David *Sidney* is fabulous. Very nice. Love how Sidney kept after Geordie to do the right thing until he did. That's a true friend. To piggyback on earlier posts, Amanda is a cut above her lot as far as attitudes & behavior, but she's no Sybil Crawley. She doesn't have enough about her to turn her back on all the advantages of her present life & what Guy has to offer. I have no doubt that the life of a vicar's wife is of no appeal to her either. I don't dislike her for that -- not everyone is cut out to be spouse of a vicar or service member. There's a lot of strength & sacrifice involved. Aristo life would not prepare you for it. You have to be truly exceptional to knowingly throw it over for love. I will be fair to her & say that Sybil Crawley did not have two motherless younger brothers from whom she would likely be cut off if she did not comply with her father's wishes to marry Guy. She's the Mary of the family too -- eldest (& only) daughter. I also suspect this is a marriage of an old name & money. I did not catch a Sir before Sterling Hopkins name in the wedding announcement. Those piles are expensive to maintain & while it looks nice it could be literally falling down around Sir Edward Kendall. There are also the aforementioned school fees for the boys. I think there's a lot more to this marriage than Amanda is willing to admit -- she alluded to it in the church with Sidney (I would need church too after seeing his battle scarred, hot body in nothing but a towel) -- "what I thought of a match was rather low down on the priority list" or some such. Sidney is drop dead handsome, a *true* gentleman & a war hero. I wouldn't mind his ministrations myself. Amanda, with her innate "entitled ease," wants to have her cake & eat it too. She wants to marry Guy, but have Sidney remain hopelessly devoted to her. I also suspect she wants to have a little fun before the wedding & Sidney will wind up paying for it as the have not in the equation does. Amanda is the type who will elevate the people around her in her present circumstances, but she's not cut out for life outside the manor house. I suspect we will see her get on with it with Guy & I'll be glad for it. Too bad she will probably irrevocably taint her first love in the process -- immature people will do that...

I'm very glad the show will be back & yes, more Ben & spying. Less Abe whining & pining after Anna, please.

I sure hope so. The article is getting people ginned up for one & I would hope the network would have given those involved in the show some sign if they weren't coming back so all involved could book other jobs & not have the EP out there discussing what will never be.

I think childhood sweethearts kept apart by circumstance is tough to pull off in general. I see what TPTB wanted/want to do, but you need the actors & their chemistry to be spot on & the alternative for either party to be clearly less. I think the chemistry with Jamie & Heather isn't up to par & Mary & Selah aren't anywhere near less enough for Abe & Anna to be the couple that makes me not empathize with Mary's powerless stature in society at the time & Selah given his wife jumped Abe the day she was told he died in prison. I look at Mary & think why wouldn't she want to live in the manse & protect her position at all costs. I didn't like Selah telling Anna what to do, but when put in the context of the time & the danger Anna invites by remaining in Setauket, I understood it. I enjoyed the cellar scene for many reasons, but it was what I felt in Seth Numrich's performance as Ben toward Abe & Anna that stuck out. It was like Ben was choking on that apology for not telling Anna about Selah. His only brother dies allowing her husband to live & Anna clearly didn't want him back. Selah is also now his loyal comrade -- survivor's guilt over Samuel likely plays a part in how Selah tries to play wingman for Ben -- & comrades don't like their buddies' cheating wives. Factor in that Ben is the son of a reverend & his demonstrated morality with having just met Abe's attractive wife & beautiful son. I felt he was almost grossed out by Anna & Abe. I liked it seeing as I am too.

Loved Caleb's "oh well" shrug to Abe. Made me LOL. Abe vs. & with Ben was a hoot. How Abe got his balls back. Culper. Nice. Poor Caleb. Simcoe is a total macadamia nut. As is Rogers. Ben & Nathaniel Tallmadge's reunion was beautiful. More in that short moment & tight hug than in many extended platitudes. "Let me look at you." Awe. Still love Ben best of all. Andre is one sexy bastard. Mary is something. Imagine if we can get her playing for our team. Behave yourself around Anna, Abe. It could happen. There may not be a strong chance of it & this show may not have set the world on fire, but I would like to see it come back. Here's hoping on my part.

This one kept it moving again. Hopefully it is just the season finale next week & not series. Big mouth Mary finding that book is a powder keg. Abraham better keep it zipped around Anna from now on or Mary will surely rat him out. She may anyway by accident. Yikes! I was glad to see Selah -- I feared he was dead from aftereffects of The Jersey when we didn't see him at first. I hope for no baby mama drama there/puking in the chamber pot. Mrs. Culpeper, my ass. You are the mistress. Anna's face when she sees Selah should be something. Summer camp is over. Time for you both to go home. Ben's coldness made sense. A part of him probably shut down when he learned of his brother's death & the thirst for vengeance took hold. I think Caleb was happy to go home, but also to see feeling from Ben again. I see where Ben got it from... Reverend Tallmadge is quite a force. Long legs, charisma & balls to spare. Like his boy Ben. Good casting.

I liked this one. It kept me engaged. Seth/Ben's red face & pooling eyes that finally spilled over as he heard of his late brother's grace amidst the unspeakable was very moving. There is more than one way to be a hero. Samuel was a hero for Selah on the Jersey & Selah repaid that debt by letting Ben know what happened to his brother. The not knowing is what eats away at you. You still have one brother left Ben. His name is Caleb. He was there to prod Selah into giving you the full story you needed & Samuel deserved & he also stopped you from all but committing suicide. Rogers knows Ben is a BAMF. He will do whatever he can to kill him, but he respects him. Still clearly on the verge of tears & grieving, "I won't be hiding." Guilt is toxic & only leads to bad places. Abe just went to a worse one tonight. I've never found adultery romantic & I won't be starting now. Welcome Home Selah.

My mother would always say to me "go with your first instinct -- it's usually right." I think its safe to say they should have done so here. Nothing against Jamie Bell (who I do think is quite talented) as he has to play what's written (grown ass man cowed by his father & mooning over & making out with his married ex-fiance whose husband was locked up in Hell when he has a beautiful family who love him), but what's written makes Abe hard to like or respect & I don't think that's where they should be placing the emphasis or focus the show as it tries to build a following. The showrunners seem to know the appeal of Ben/Seth per an article about the show I read in which one of them noted Ben is "true blue" & Seth is the "heartthrob." Hopefully, they will play that up for the remainder of the run all the while bestowing a backbone & manhood upon Abe. It's like the episode came alive during the brief time Ben (& Caleb with Ben & solo to be fair) were on the screen. There's a presence & a vitality with those two I don't see in Abe, but I don't blame Bell for that necessarily.

3 episodes left IIRC. I think the show fares better when more evenly split with Abe & Ben. Like last week. Not feeling Abe much at all. Too sniveling & cowardly a guy who is not keen to sleep in the bed he made with Mary. Whatever he was obliged to do, he did it & made a baby & Anna is married to a man in prison. Move on & man up dude. The ship sailed. Be a man. Focus on helping badass Ben. Seth/Ben is a tall drink of water in that uniform. The scene where Ben learns his brother is actually dead should be killer. The way Seth/Ben hopped out of that chair & the joy & relief on his face was something. BTW, there's someone I would like to see get a little loving. It wouldn't be adultery & screwing people who don't deserve it, you know. Abe & Anna is tough to root for... I love the historical aspect of the show, but it is a show, so I'm down with creativity in certain areas.