Avengers: Age of Ultron

Tonight I went to go see the second Avengers movie, Age of Ultron. To be completely honest, I was blown away. I've seen my fair share of action and superhero movies, but AoU takes the cake. It was incredible. Going into the movie I was expecting to be entertained. I thought I would laugh a little and enjoy the film overall. However, the sequel never lives up to the first film. Well, I was in for a surprise. AoU was better than the first film in so many ways. I spent every second with my eyes glued to the screen. I didn't want to miss a thing, and I'm pretty sure that is the fastest two hours and twenty-one minutes I have ever sat through.The one-liners, surprising romance, and amazing special effects and action scenes really made it one of the best movies I have seen in a while.

The first Avengers film was pretty funny, but Age of Ultron took it to a whole new level. I mean the first real line of the movie was Tony swearing and Cap telling him to watch his language (something that carried on throughout the whole movie). Even the most tense scenes of the movie were broken up by a quick comment from Stark that made the audience laugh nervously. Age of Ultron also seemed to appeal to a more adult crowd. Some of the jokes would either go over the heads of younger children or be really inappropriate for them. While the first Avengers movie was geared more towards families, this one is best enjoyed by those old enough to actually understand it.

The special effects in AoU were amazing. I mean to begin with, Hulk. The other guy had facial expression and movement that he has never had before. Then there's "Veronica" or the Hulk-buster armor. Watching the fight scene between Iron Man and Hulk was an experience. I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD/Bluray so I can watch the special features and hopefully find out how they did it. As if these amazing CGI creations weren't enough, they pulled off the most amazing robot I've ever seen, Ultron. James Spader's voice was perfect for the character, but the crazy suit is really what made it. The way the mouth moved in time with the words was incredible. Overall, the special effects were incredible. I've never seen anything that can compare to them before. 

 

Okay so final thing, but before I get to it, I need to do a PSA. Mark Ruffalo. He is the most underrated actor in this movie. The way he showed Bruce Banner's intense internal conflict and emotional struggles throughout the film was amazing. He just made it seem so real and so relatable. I'm so annoyed they aren't giving him his own movie. Like for once, they have a chance to make a good Hulk film and they are just passing it up. I'll be honest though, I have ulterior motives for wanting a Hulk movie. Natasha and Bruce. OMGGGG! When Natasha was admitting her feelings for Banner, I just about died. It makes so much sense! Looking back, they have had chemistry since the first time they met in Calcutta. When they had their confrontation/conversation in the bedroom in Clint's house, I realized I had a new OTP. Natasha opened up to Bruce in ways she wouldn't to anyone else. The fact that they both can't have kids and that they both opened up with that was kinda cute/perfect. I'm pretty mad that their romance was left in jeopardy at the end of AoU, but I'm sure it will be resolved in future movies. It better be....

So yeah. Long story short, that movie was the bomb!

Goodbye Downton

Somewhat recently, Mrs. Paterson provided me with some of the worst news in television history. After season 6, Downton Abbey will be over. Forever. That's it. Fin. The End. Done. My favorite show of all time will simply cease to continue. Now, I can argue why it's a good thing, but I can also (very easily) argue why it is the worst thing that could ever happen to Masterpiece. Since I can, I will, so here we go.

Why Canceling Downton is a Good Thing: 

So often, I have seen shows go down the drain. Once Upon a Time is a prime example of that. Recently, there have been complaints that Downton is turning into a historical soap opera. I guess in a way it's good for them to stop while they are ahead. Also, they are going to start losing actors. Maggie Smith already said that she was done with the show after season 6. If she left they would have to pull another Matthew and that would really stink. The last big reason why ending Downton is a good thing is that they seem to be running out of material. Yes I love Tony, but Mary's love life has kinda just been going in circles and (fine I'll admit it) has become kind of boring. They need to either have her settle down for good or realized she will be a single, independant woman before the end of the final season. So yeah. Canceling Downton could be a smart idea....I'm still not completely sold but it's not my decision anyway.

Why Canceling Downton is a Bad Thing:

It's Downton Abbey, people!!!!! How can they end something that is so amazing?! In my very humble opinion, the show was just getting good! This new guy with Mary is chill (not to mention super hot) and Edith's story was picking up. Yeah sure a couple characters "move to America" and are never seen again. I'd take that over not having my show on Sunday!!! I have no idea how in the world the show is going to end. They have sooooo much to cover within a season, and I really do not know if they will be able to. 

I personally wish the show would go on for the rest of my life, but I can understand their reasoning for ending it. I will have rather empty Sunday nights, but I guess I'll be able to deal. However, OUaT looks like it might be winding down soon too, so for at least half the year I won't even have a Sunday night show to watch.....I'll be okay. I might need support, but I'll be okay.

Emma's Journey

OUaT has been pretty soap-operaish and honestly boring recently, but I guess the one really interesting thing to talk about is Emma and how here character has changed over this last season.

1. Hook: Okay so I'm going to start off with how annoyed I am at the writers. They could do soooooo much better developing the story between Emma and Hook and working it into the show. Instead, about once an episode, Hook says something sweet and they kiss. After that, Hook is barely seen for the rest of the night. Putting that aside, Emma's relationship with Hook shows that she has come pretty far since last season. She can actually trust a man now and is willing to open up a lot more. That might be why my next point was so devastating.

2. Charming and Snow's Secret: Emma needs to get over herself. Everyone makes mistakes once and a while, even the "perfect" Snow White. However, Emma will not let it go. She treats her parents like trash and is being extremely bratty and rude. Their secret wasn't even that bad. They traded what they thought was a dragon's egg in order to ensure a safe future for their daughter. With everything going on at the time, they deserve some slack. Ugh! Emma is acting like a 5 year old who isn't getting the cookie she wants!!!

3. Lily and the Dark Side of the Force: That's right, the Dark Side. Emma has been on the verge of going dark for a couple episodes now. She keeps making stupid decisions. They seem pretty much irrational and unrealistic and it's super annoying. Like, "Here let me just pull a gun and point it at someone in the middle of the street because that's totally how normal people act!" It's so annoying. Anyone with a brain would know her actions are wrong!!! Lily could be interesting because she brings out a side to Emma that we have never seen before. For once, I 'm actually enjoying the flashbacks. Emma's back story with Lily is pretty interesting, and I hope they show more.

SPOILER ALERT: 

Completely unrelated, but omg Zelena is pregnant with Robin's kid. Help. Ewww. I need to go wash my eyes and ears out with Holy Water.

Season 4B So Far

I hate to say it, but I'm really not impressed. For years I thought Once Upon a Time was the greatest thing to ever happen to television, but then I actually started watching other shows. Compared to shows like Parks and Rec, The Walking Dead, and Downton Abbey, OUaT is dry, repetitive, and looooong. After a lot of contemplation, I realized what the problem is. Laziness. The writers of the show are just working for the money at this point, I swear. They pick one general plot and repeat it over and over again until it becomes extremely predictable. Instead of coming up with new ideas every season, they take the easy way out. It is honestly so disappointing to know that my favorite show is going down the drain. Frankly, I'm actually pretty mad. I almost fell asleep last week! Ugh. Whatever. I guess I'll live. Hook is still hot as heck and Regina's sass will keep me going for a little while longer. It wasn't all bad. There were a few parts that I enjoyed more than the rest of the episode.

Guess who's back. Back again. Rumple's back. Tell a Friend. Is it weird I'm glad he's back n Storybrooke? Rumple is the best and most complex character so far in the show. Honestly, I was starting to like him as a good guy. He and Belle were happy together and it looked like the show was starting to come to an end. Now that he's a bad guy again, it's made it possible for at least another season. OUaT need's to stop while it's ahead. If they go on any longer than one more season, I'll probably stop watching.

Where's Hook? I mean he's there, but he gets like three minutes of screen time every episode. I've been waiting for Emma and Hook to be together for years and when they finally are, the writers aren't giving me anything. What happened to the adorable conversations and looks from Killian. They are always being interrupted and Hook seems to spend more time with Belle than he does with his girl. So annnoyyyingggg!!!

All I can say is this season better be different than the others. Stop with the curses and Emma being the Savior and all that. Make it interesting!!!! Oh well....I'll keep watching for the fleeting glimpses of Colin O'Donoghue and hope it picks up soon. The current situation with August and Regina being it trouble looks interesting, and at least I have The Walking Dead after it every Sunday, so I still have something to look forward to. I miss Downton!!!!

Season Finale

It's over. It's over. It's over. Did I mention, it's over. Okay, so maybe I'm being a little overdramatic....No way! Who am I kidding?  It doesn't come back until JANUARY 2016!!! What the heck Downton Abbey!!! That's how long I waited for my baby brother to be born! But anyway....So yeah....season finale....AMAZING!

Stowell vs Barrow/Sinderby/Idek anymore - Wow. Stowell is a narcissistic idiot. Thank God we might never have to deal with him again. The way he treated Branson was insane. Luckily he came around by the end and shaped up (thanks to Rose). Honestly though, he got played at the end there. Barrow totally set him up. It was coming to him though.

Lord Sinderby  - Finally we found out that Sinderby isn't half as pure as everyone thought he was. I knew he couldn't be that adamant about his views without having something to hide. I don't get how he was able to discriminate against Rose's parents when he has a child from what seems to be an affair. Like, you would think that would teach him to be a little more accepting. However, by the end they worked it out, and that moment with him and Lord Grantham was priceless.

Mary and Talbot - Finally Mary found someone as lifeless as her! She has been driving me crazy these past few weeks. I mean I get that Matthew died and he's a really hard guy to replace and stuff, but she was just being so rude to everyone in her life. The way she treats Edith is disgusting. At this point, Matthew's death can't be used as an excuse for her bad behavior. It's time for Mary to shape up!

Anna/Bates Situation - I. Love. Them. The way Bates looks at Anna and the way she just always knows what he's feeling is just soooo cute. In the scene in the prison when Anna was like "did we leave our manners outside" (or something like that) was adorable. When he "confessed" to the crime, I remembered just how much I loved him. He would do anything for Anna, and it melts my heart!!

Dowager and Mrs. Crawley - Looks like neither of their relationships is going to work out. I'm sad to see both of their men go, but I think Lord Merton hit me the hardest. He seemed like a great guy who really brought out both sides of Mrs. Crawley. She was obviously so happy with him and I officially hate Larry. The end.

Lord Grantham - Once again, he surprised me. He was so nice when he confronted Edith. Then when he was talking about selling the painting with Cora, he was wicked nice again! Times are changing, and it finally looks like Donk is changing with them.

Branson and Sybbie - I'll miss Branson a lot. He was so nice and offered a break from the traditional characters. Lord Grantham is really going to miss Sybbie. The two things he has left from Sybil are leaving him, and it must be hard to let go.

So now onto the really big stuff, and the most tear-jerking (in a good way) parts of the finale!

Carson and Mrs. Hughes - This is my second favorite proposal in the history of TV/Movie proposals (behind Ben Wyatt and Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation). It was the most adorable thing I've ever seen on the show. Mrs. Hughes' face just made it that much better. She was elated. "Of course I'll marry you ya old boobie...I thought you'd never ask!" AHHHHHHHH SO CUTE IT HURTS!!!!

Anna and Bates (Part II) - OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. So I may have kinda possibly started jumping up and down on the couch when Bates walked in. It was such a perfect way to end it (and leave me in tears). I've just wanted them to be happy since they got together, and it looks like things might finally settle down. Nothing can break up my OTP! Banna ftw!!!!

Ummm yeah. So I guess that's it...no more Downton for 9 months....I'll survive somehow. If OUaT gives me any content, I might consider writing about that...we'll see...but it's time for me to reconsider my Sunday night priorities. It looks like Sundays belong to the dead now, like I said, we'll see.

Trying to Make Sense of it All

So I guess even though I'm emotionally destroyed, I should probably still recap a little of this week.

1) Rose and Atticus got married: Even though Rose's mom is a complete psycho who can't stand to see her daughter happy, Rose was still able to tie the knot! This gives me hope that maybe their relationship really will last. Before, I thought they were just rushing into things, but this episode they had to face a lot of challenges and they overcame all of them. Way to go Ratticus! (Also, her wedding dress was definitely white and gold...no one dare tell me it's blue and black!)

2) Molesley and Baxter: That man needs to ask her out or something already. The tension between the two of them is driving me crazy!!! She pretty much said she wants to marry him. Pick up on the hints brother! I honestly looove them. They are adorable together and really bring out the best in each other. (One problem...their couple name could be "Molester" and it's kinda creepy soooo...)

3) Thomas: Why is he so confusing??? Can he just either be mean or nice and not be weird "Uncle Thomas". I mean I think he likes Andy and that's why he's helping him, but I really don't know. Maybe he is starting to change?

4) Donk: Lord Grantham did a bunch of things I loved this episode. He apologized to Cora for the whole thing with Bricker and finally realized he was way off base. I feel like that took a lot for him to do. Also, he honored Mrs. Patmore's nephew which is so nice and reminded me just how much I loved him. Finally, the way he reacted to knowing his daughter had a child out of wedlock was really nice and it makes me realize he's progressing.

5) Edith and Marigold: Everyone is going to find out eventually. Lord Grantham finally figured out that Marigold was strikingly similar to Michael Gregson. Let's be real, Edith is the best parent on this show. She loves little Marigold, and her motherly instincts are so strong. Finally, there is a little spark of hope for her :).

6) Daisy: This girl seriously needs to learn diplomacy. She does not know what to say in certain situations. I understand that she wants to leave Downton eventually, and I'm rooting for her, but there is a better way to go about it. I really hope  when she finally decides to leave she doesn't hurt too many people.

7) Denker: That lady is crazy.

8) Dowager Countess and Prince Kuragin: You go girl! I just want her to be happy, and I'd hate to see her alone in her house all the time. Prince Kuragin is a good-looking older gentleman who could probably show her a bit of fun in her later years. Why not marry him?

9) Mrs. Crawley: I hope she really doesn't give up on Dickie Merton. Rose had family problems, but she overcame them. They looked so happy together, and she looks so miserable now without him. His sons are crazy to not like Mrs. Crawley as their step-mom. She's the bomb!

10)

 

Once Upon a Time comes back this Sunday at 8:00 PM EST. Then Downton Abbey is on PBS at 9:00 PM EST. The same time as The Walking Dead. Then The Talking Dead at 10:00 PM EST...soooo idk what I'm going to watch and what I'm not going to watch...

Dear Downton, Thanks for Ruining My Life

Dear creators of Downton Abbey,
Thanks for nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. Thanks for nothing but a broken heart. I didn't know it was possible for one scene to tear my soul to shreds. You've opened up for me a new side to my emotions that I have never seen before. Somehow, with one scene, you've managed to turn my Sundays upside down. I may never recover from this shock. Please pray for me.
Love,
Gabby

If I wrote a letter to the creators of DA, it would probably go something like that. After last week's episode, I am an emotional wreck. No one even died, so I shouldn't be this upset, but I am. Anna and Bates, my favorite couple and my two favorite characters have been violently ripped apart once again. The hatred I feel in my heart for the inspector from Scotland Yard is real (even if the story isn't). When Bates made eye-contact with Anna as they pulled her away, I completely lost it. They have worked so so hard to get where they are today and it was ruined in the span of a minute. The pain that was so evident in Bates and Anna's eyes was instantly transferred to my heart. I began violently sobbing and questioning the meaning of shows (For me, that's worse than questioning the meaning of life). I would rather deal with the death of a main character than have to watch Anna sit in a jail cell while Bates settles into depression or anger. I don't think she did it. There isn't a bad bone in Anna. I'm so hurt...

Back to Downton

So, since I've missed blogging about four episodes of Downton, instead of just doing a recap of last week, I thought I'd just write about what I find to be the most exciting 3 things that have occurred so far this season.

1. Mary and Tony: 

So Mary Crawley and Tony Gillingham have been in a quasi relationship almost all season. It seemed that Mary had finally chosen Tony over Charles when she chose to go on that week-long trip with him. Tony seemed to believe that the trip was going to end in marriage, but Mary had other ideas. I can kinda see where she is coming from. Before that trip, they really hadn't spent that much time together. He is extremely handsome and sweet, but other than that, they really didn't know much about each other. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that maybe Mary just really isn't that into Tony, but it's still hard for me. As soon as he accepts that she isn't going to marry him, I feel like Tony Gillingham is going to leave the show forever, and I'll be left with Tom Cullen-less Sundays!= (

2. Bricker vs Grantham:
The art historian, Simon Bricker is taking way too much interest in the "art" of Downton. Understandably, Lord Grantham is more than a little upset. Again, I can understand where Cora is coming from. Robert has never really made her feel as special as Bricker does. He makes her feel appreciated and heard, and Lord Grantham could really learn a lesson from him. However, he took it wayyyyy to far. Honestly, he seems like a creeper. What kind of guy walks into a married woman's bedroom when her husband is supposedly away for the night and pretty much uses art to make a bunch of innuendos and asks her to sleep with him? Obviously Simon Bricker! When Grantham got home, I knew they were gonna throw down. I could see it in his eyes. As soon as Grantham landed the first punch, I jumped off the couch and shadow boxed in front of the TV. Honestly, that was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen on the show. Go Grantham! However, this guy needs to shape up if he's ever going to keep his marriage because the way it's going right now, he might very well turn into Shrimpie.

3. Edith and Marigold:
I feel terrible for poor Edith. The girl just can't catch a break. I cannot imagine having to live near my daughter but not let anyone (except for a select few) know she is my daughter. She is a mother, after all, and the attraction to her child must be extremely strong. Now that Mrs. Drewe is starting to be creeped out by Edith and they are threatening to move away, I feel even worse. She is facing the strong possibility of losing her almost-husband and now her daughter, at the same time. Rosamund and Violet want to send the girl away, but frankly, I think Edith just needs to tell the family. She will never live in peace knowing her daughter is alive and never getting to see her.

Honorable Mentions:

Dowager Countess and Prince Kuragin: I can't wait to see what will happen between them. They both obviously have feelings for each other, and it will be interesting to watch their story progress, especially if the princess is gone for good.

Branson and Bunting: Ugh, Miss Bunting. I love what she's doing for Daisy, but other than that, she is sooo rude and I'm glad to see her go. Hopefully she stays out of their dinning room forever. However, I'm afraid Branson is ready to leave too. :(

Banna: ANNA DIDN'T DO IT!!! So stop, and leave them alone already!!!!

Barrow: Why does he always manage to make me feel bad for him??? Poor guy is poisoning himself to try and cure something that isn't a disease...He's still suuuper mean though!

Rose: I LOVE ATTICUS <3

 

March 4 Life

      

So I know that when I started this blog I set the theme for TV shows on Sunday nights, but two weeks ago I was lucky enough to participate in a moving and inspiring event, the March for Life in Washington, DC. It was one of the most impactful (is that even a word?) experiences in my life and I felt that it would be interesting to share.

The March for Life is an annual Pro-Life protest that culminates outside the Supreme Court. It takes place every year on January, 22 - the day Roe v Wade was decided 42 years ago. I went with a bus of students from around the area - Lowell Catholic, St. Francis in Dracut, St. Monica's in Methuen, and my parish, St. Anthony's in Lowell. The bus ride was over 8 hours with two stops and traffic, and one girl was carsick and threw up across from me multiple times, but I lived. 

Day 1: 

So on Wednesday I woke up at 4:30 to get ready to get on a bus to DC. The bus left at 6:00 AM, and headed to St. Elizabeth Seton Basilica in Maryland. The first mass was amazing. The mass was only for participants from the Archdiocese of Boston, but the church was completely full. I was asked to bring up the gifts out of approximately 1000 people, and was really happy to be able to participate. The homily by our bus priest, Fr. Bill, was very powerful, and the whole atmosphere was amazing. 

Later that night, we attended a rally/concert at the Patriot Center. Rend Collective, a Christian band, opened it. We showed up a little bit late and missed most of their act, but what I saw of them was great. After they performed, Chris Stefanik spoke. He mixed humor with
many great lessons. (I now follow his YouTube channel!) After Chris was done speaking, Matt Maher (!!!!!) came out. He preformed some of his classic songs and also some new ones I had never heard before. While all the performers were amazing, that wasn't the best part of that night. I remember looking around me and seeing Christian teens surrounding me. They were all singing along to the kind of music I listen to, and they were praying together as a group.

The night ended with Adoration at the Patriot Center. Yes, my back hurt, my knees were cracking, and I could barely keep my eyes open when we stumbled into the Hampton Inn for pizza around midnight, but it was totally worth it. My first impression of the pilgrimage was a great one.

Day 2:
We woke up early once again, and had to be down to the conference room for breakfast by 6:30. This was the day of the March! We packed into the bus and headed to Mass again. Once again, the Mass was with the entire Archdiocese. Cardinal Sean said the Mass this time, and it was amazing. Listening to him speak is an experience in itself. He has so much wisdom and faith, and even listening to him for 20 minutes leaves a mark on you. We were also joined in Mass by about 80 seminarians. There were soooo many people walking around in black clothing with white collars, it was more than a little intimidating.

After Mass, we got back on the bus, (this time equipped with bagged lunches) and went to the heart of DC where the March was taking place. The atmosphere at the actual March was amazing! We learned chants (Hey Obama, yo mamma chose life!) and there was no anger among us. We were really peaceful and happy. The best moment for me was turning around at the top of Capitol Hill and seeing thousands of people behind me. You couldn't see where they ended! I never knew that so many people shared in the same pro-life beliefs as me, and it was really encouraging to see that.

After the March, we went to dinner with the Archdiocese of Boston (more pizza yay). Then we went to another Adoration service and had the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That night made me think about a lot of things, and I really feel like it lead to a deeper faith and understanding of who God is to me. Also, witness talks from different people reminded me that being Pro-Life isn't just about Abortion. It's about respecting individual lives in every word you speak and action you take. They taught me to treat everyone with compassion and love no matter what.

Day 3 (Goodbye DC):
On the last day, we attended Mass again, and had our last worship session. We had to say goodbye to some of the friends we had made along the pilgrimage and to people we might have known before. After Mass, we were supposed to watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, but our bus broke down and we missed it by three minutes (bummer). We did have time to visit the Lincoln Memorial, and some of the war memorials. I think my favorite part was seeing the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. First of all, it was huge. I had learned about it in art, but didn't realize it was that big. Secondly, some of the quotes surrounding the main sculpture were very relevant to what we were there for and were very touching.

Sadly, after only a few hours of sightseeing, we had to get back on that stupid bus, and head home. It was weird knowing that I had only just met these people but was so sad to leave them. I only knew them for three days, but they probably know more about the real me than many of my good friends. Overall, the experience was amazing. I was happy to be able to share it with a few friends from my Church and my grandfather who I am extremely close with. The trip made me realize the importance of my faith in my everyday life, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Hopefully, I'll be able to go next year again and get to experience it all over again!

   

Completely Random Rant about Tony Gillingham

I know this post doesn't count for the week, but I feel the need to explain why Tony Gillingham is the perfect person for Mary. (Really, I just want to post a ton of pictures of him.) 
He doesn't give up on love

He's asked her to marry him not once...

But twice

He reads her mind...

Mary had just told Anna it's important to know "that side of things" is in order when he made his scandalous suggestion

He makes her smile

I mean this gif just says it all...

They have so much chemistry!

(This one's from the trailer)

Finally, he's just so cute....

I mean come on! <3

Thank you Tom Cullen for making Downton Abbey even more special!

 That is all...continue with your Tony-less life

I promise I'm not crazy!!

 

Guess Who's Back. Back again. Downton's Back. Tell a Friend!

So my beloved Once Upon a Time is on hiatus…I’ll miss it until it comes back in March, but at least I have Downton Abbey to hold me over until then. However, I’m going to run into a problem come February 8^th when two of my top 3 favorite shows, overlap. Downton and The Walking Dead are both on at 9 PM on Sunday nights, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it!! I have to weigh the elegance and grace of an English manor against the hard truth of the zombie apocalypse. It’s such a hard decision! Anyway, for now I have my favorite friends from Downton to spend my Sunday nights with. 

 

The premiere of Downton Abbey was amazing. There were so many things that made me smile…except for stupid Thomas Barrow! Like what the heck his problem?! All he does is use people. Thank God for Mr. Molesley. If it wasn’t for him, poor Baxter would be completely controlled by Barrow. Molesley is just an all-around great guy. Yes, he might be a little funny-looking and a bit too interested in the color of his hair, but he always has the best of intentions. Giving Baxter the advice to go to Cora herself is some of the best advice I’ve heard on this show since Edith was advised to have her baby. Also, Cora’s reaction to Baxter’s news that she was a convicted criminal gave me hope. In the past, Lady Grantham could be stuck-up and unwilling to understand. When she told Baxter she could stay, it made me realize how far the people upstairs have come.

The Baxter Scandal, as I have affectionately named it, isn’t the only thing going on Downstairs. Jimmy, (who I have hated since his first appearance despite his gorgeous eyes and perfectly toned body) became “involved” with his former employer Lady Anstruther. After a series of pretty gooey

letters, Lady Anstruther comes up with a crazy scenario to spend the night in Downton. Not too surprisingly, she and Jimmy are caught in bed together by none other than the Lord Grantham himself. Lady Anstruther sneaks away before morning, but Jimmy isn’t as lucky as Lord Grantham “advises” Carson to dismiss him. Good Riddance Jimmy! Take your bad attitude with you! There might be another advantage to this. Jimmy was Barrow’s only real friend (even after it was revealed that Barrow was in love with him), and seeing Jimmy go might make Thomas realize he should be nicer to the other people left.

The people Downstairs aren’t the only ones facing problems. Lady Edith has grown too attached to her daughter, Marigold, who is in the care of the Drewe family. Mrs. Drewe had begun to become suspicious. If someone was that attached to my adoptive daughter, I would be too! However, with Gregson gone, Marigold is all she has left. When Mr. Drewe confronts Edith and admits that he knows Marigold is her daughter, I was moved almost to tears. He is such a sweet man and so considerate of Edith's predicament. Hopefully, they can work something out so Edith can see her baby all the time.

As Carson said “I feel a shaking of the ground I stand on.” Things are changing, not only in Downton, but all over the world. The old system of servants and masters is beginning to fade. Lord Grantham (or “Donk”) is feeling that in a special way. Carson was asked to head a committee that traditionally would have been led by him. He put on a brave face about it, but it was obvious that he could tell this wasn’t an isolated incident. His world is changing, and he has a right to be afraid.

Not everyone is afraid of this new world, however. Branson in particular is sliding back into his rebellious ways with all the change. He is now seeing a teacher from the village who seems to bring out the worst in him. Honestly, I hate that woman. You can have your opinions, but there is absolutely no reason to be rude and shove them in others’ faces. She makes even Branson turn on his father-in-law, Lord Grantham. Sybil wouldn’t have wanted Branson to ostracize himself from the Granthams. She worked so hard to make them get along, and if Branson ruins it, it’ll be a disrespect to her memory!

Enough of the bad things about Downton! No episode is complete without the Dowager Countess! Violet was up to her old antics again this week. Today's subject: Isobel's love interests. Recently a certain Lord Merton has been calling on Mrs. Crawley. Now, if Isobel turned out to have mutual feelings for Lord Merton and married him, she would have a higher position in society than Violet. There is no way the former Lady Grantham is going to let that happen! Time for some meddling! Violet held a luncheon and invited Lord Merton, a widowed woman with some status, and none other than Dr. Clarkson! Of course, the luncheon was somewhat of a disaster. Lord Merton paid no attention to Isobel and talked to the other lady the whole time, and Dr. Clarkson made a complete fool out of himself by insulting Isobel. It couldn't have been more perfect for the eldest of the Grantham clan. She sat there with her rather smug smile and her little giggle of satisfaction that she, once again, won.

Okay, so this whole blog post, I've been trying to avoid talking about Lady Mary and the love triangle she is involved in. So I'm just going to say it straight out...TEAM TONY FTW! I never liked stupid Charles Blake as much as I liked Tony Gillingham, and all Blake did was get in the way. I mean what kind of guys steals his friend's girl?! Also, Tony is 1000000x hotter and more gentlemanly. Mary and he are a perfect match! They just look so right together!! The premier made it seem that Mary is starting to sway towards Tony (YAY). Come on, she invited him to stay at Downton. Obviously she has some kind of ulterior motive! Anyway, first of all, they were obviously flirting the entire episode. Second of all, did y'all see those looks they were giving each other at the dinner table?! You're lying to yourself if you say those are totally friendly and innocent. To top it all off, Lord Grantham loves Tony. It's not often you see a character in a TV show ship two other characters together, but Donk ships it like FedEx! My favorite part of the episode was when Tony daringly ventured into Mary's room to make a proposal. This time, he wasn't asking for marriage. He was asking for them to "get to know each other a little better," if you catch my drift... His accent when he says "So what do you say to my scandalous suggestion." melted my heart. Tony is one fine specimen of a man, and if Mary refuses, I'll take him!! Sadly, they were interrupted by a fire...UGH!!

That's right everybody, FIRE! My home for an hour every Sunday went up in flames. (Yes it was only Edith's room, but still!) Several things came of that fire. Mary and Tony were stopped in their tracks.  Jimmy and Lady Anstruther are caught in the act. Worst of all, however, Thomas Barrow is hailed as a hero again. Why does he always come so close to getting kicked out, and then redeems himself in the eyes of Cora?! It's so annoying!!! Anyway, the local firemen got the fire under control, and everyone was allowed to return. I can't wait until this Sunday where I'll get to see what's going to happen with all of these new stories that have just begun!

Tune in this Sunday to stay completely updated on the drama of Downton Abbey!