Cora Discovers The Servants Stealing | Downton Abbey

Sara O’Brien convinces Cora that Daisy and Mrs Patmore are hiding something and they want to find out what is happening with all the food missing.
From season 2 episode 4: Tensions flare between Isobel and Cora over the management of the convalescent home; Ethel's flirtation with Maj. Bryant lands her in more trouble that she could have anticipated.
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[@errolpletcher9186]

"Borrow? Why, were you planning to give it back??" I love Mrs. Patmore and her sass. 😂

[@angelarysdam2786]

🤣

[@TerryFreak389]

😂😂

[@MandatoryReporter2015]

I’ve used that line on my kids.🤣

[@Boskov01]

It's also contextually correct. One does not "borrow" ingredients like baking soda. Asking to "borrow" just sounds nicer. (Please forgive my brain for going on this tangent).

[@dkerris]

This is good. But my favorite Cora moment is when she fired the nanny who was abusive to little Sybil. THAT was an awesome moment.

[@clarkclarke]

Yes it was ..

[@anyviolet]

Forgot about that! Yes, her best moment.

[@candybryant9064]

I loved that scene too,Cora was great

[@pixpusha]

Yes I saw that clip. Why did the nanny call the little girl a half-breed? I thought both her parents were one race.

[@katierussell9044]

@@pixpusha because they were of different class systems

[@2charliep]

Mrs Crawley would never have put a stop to it, she’d have rolled her sleeves up and pitched in just as Cora did.

[@flyboy152]

And funded it out of her own pocket.

[@pwatson5766]

And after the soldiers had their hot meal, Isabel would help them find jobs!

[@hsbvt]

...and would have been saying "What more can we do to help?"

[@cwayzums]

Mrs. Crawley is awesome. I can as well see her jumping right in to help and Lady Mary as well.

[@gerardcollins80]

This could've been a cool and interesting story for Isobel and her servants, where they form their own charity and start growing. It's unfortunate it was just left at this.

[@nategraham6946]

Cora is amazing. Soft spoken, but pure authority, and an amazing heart. Balance logic, responsibility with compassion.

[@nephtys369]

She has power. She knows it. She knows everyone else knows it. There’s zero need to shout or yell.

[@pmn2821]

It's her American traits.

[@michelemaggio-t6r]

@@pmn2821 You said it!!! The best of America...

[@Theadambshapiro]

That's just it! She has authority and power, which is why she takes charge, but she has kindness and generosity and that's why people let her take charge. It's never a power grab. It's more of a "Here's how we can do it more efficiently".

[@jws1948ja]

Sybil learned from her.

[@Marcus_1001]

One of my favorite Downton scenes. I'm generally not a big fan of Cora, but I loved her here. "Oh I'm going to do more than that. I'm going to help them...and so are you." BAM!! Ha ha, O'Brien!

[@betsyoman7173]

And, O'Brien, you're not just going to help, you're actually going to be overjoyed that Mrs. Patmore and the others had such a good idea. Aren't you????

[@sethc6663]

I think the hatred that Mrs O'Brien seems to get in the comments, just proves what a great actress Siobhan Finneran is. That's just my opinion though.

[@SwimmerPrince]

Seth C I watch Siobhan's other series Happy Valley and she is amazing... Looking forward to discover more of her body of work

[@andresuston7692]

Other actors have played hated characters before, it what they do.

[@sethc6663]

@@andresuston7692 Your're right they have. But Siobhan Finneran is the topic in these comments.

[@Mania28]

She was also great in benedorm

[@Lania99999]

Absolutely! And Rob James-Collier too who plays Thomas. He actually ended up being one of my favorites in the last season.

[@yannickdrmda5295]

Everyone's praising Cora but Mrs Bird is the real kind heart here, giving charity with her own little salary. Cora is rich and comes from a social backgroukd where charity is more like an occupation for women since they don't work nor manage the estates.

[@ojnab85]

@MsUsagi513 I'd like to imagine they're cooking something like "Soup for the Poor" like English Heritage's Mrs. Crocombe demonstrated (though set around 30-40 years before Downton Abbey's time) and it's probably why Mrs. Patmore and Cora both immediately recognize that it is a soup kitchen and not some commercial venture, because as you said, this is something they would have been doing anyway and perhaps the only reason they hadn't been was because they were already busy being a convalescent home and the servants didn't think it was timely or their place to suggest it.

[@soniaf7794]

Yannick DRMDA, I agree with you. The show tells us that poor people, servants are indeed kind and generous. It is hard to find these attributes in rich people, nobles, people that have no idea what suffering is. Cora is the exception.

[@shanewindhaus8385]

Oh shut up!! They were all being kind, except O'Brian. Get over yourself.

[@CzechMirco]

Yes of course there must always be someone who belitles someone's else good heart and charitable actions as "meaningless" or "cheap" or "hollow" etc.

[@joanbernsten3960]

Let's not forget Molesley!!

[@msinvincible2000]

You can see that Sybill is completely her mother's daughter ( while Mary was like the Dowager, and Edith a little bit like Mrs Levinson)

[@19852011cat]

I always though that Edith took after Roseamund

[@msinvincible2000]

@@19852011cat Edith is quite modern and indipendent, that's why I think she's like her maternal grandmother

[@MegaCemani]

You're right about Mary 😅

[@Robert08010]

That's a fascinating observation. I knew that about Mary but I never considered that regarding Sybil or Edith.

[@mommaofsix1201]

I love that Cora puts O'Brien in her place.

[@burlesonee]

Cora did it with a smile too. That O'Brien is a snake!!!!!!

[@donnademarino4845]

She is but she ended up with Susan, the other nasty "B" but she had to let her go when they lost their money and O'Brien ended up working for the governor's wife in India. I only caught that after watching that episode about three times when Mrs. Hughes and I think Carson in an opening scene were discussing her and what happened to her. So I guess O'Brien ended up liking India so much she stayed. Hope she got a little sun so she didn't look so much like a vampire or one of the undead.

[@bonitomusolini3291]

That's because she realized her own sin

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

Managing Bread is o'brien's place??

[@plutogirl9397]

Tbh she should fire O’Brien after this, this nasty snitch behaviour really shows character, shouldn’t let this snake stick around for so long

[@ihavetwofaces]

O'Brien is essentially an irredeemable character - even after seeing the error of her ways nearly killing her employer and causing her to lose a child, she still settles into her old ways and sews doubt and suspicion whenever she can. Siobhan is an incredible actor.

[@luisferr2001]

I agree. she´s incorregible too!

[@danielvanr.8681]

I'd go as far as to say that she's an incredible _actress._ :)

[@mluirph]

In her defense, O'Brien may have genuinely suspected theft and wanted to alert her employer to that possibility. I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, she may have felt guilty for what she had done to Cora and therefore wanted to protect her household even more.

[@nycp1969]

I think it depends how you look at it. O'Brien felt genuinely regretful about plotting to hurt Cora, and she vowed to make it right by being loyal to her going forward. But is hurting a bunch of other people the way to do that? Her immediate supervisor told her to mind her own business and she didn't. It was strange the way they wrote her character out. She suddenly had an about face and left Cora in the middle of the night. Downton was very entertaining, but not always the best writing or character motivation.

[@wasserperson]

​@@danielvanr.8681..? Why?

[@davidhutchinson5233]

As a vet myself...I have to admit when the soldier said, Don't pity me....I teared up a bit. Semper Fi to our brothers and sisters in and out of uniform everywhere.

[@robjohnson8522]

Ooooo rah

[@grease58]

On behalf of ALL of us in the USA- THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!

[@johnmh1000]

@@grease58 And from the UK. Thank you for your service, you have made a difference in the world.

[@susie2366]

My brothers were wounded in Vietnam. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ♥️

[@saragolightly]

thank you so much for your service

[@dlamancha5697]

Beautiful scene! Cora's such a soft-spoken powerhouse. McGovern plays Cora so brilliantly. She's a wonderfully multi-layered character.

[@aprillynn5425]

They was just trying to help the homeless I love how cora helps at the end

[@D_Marrenalv]

Possibly some were homeless, but more likely they simply were unemployable due to their permanent injuries and disabilities, because they were also veterans, which added some impetus to everyone's reason for helping. Yes, Lady Cora is a wonderful lady and person.

[@ingriddubbel8468]

Cora NOT cora.

[@Aarontlondon]

They was? Do you mean 'they were'?

[@kcbh24]

They were.

[@tereasdownes9793]

Poor men im glad Cora helped a woman is also a soldier heres why Helps regrow crops so no one will starve Builds bombs and bullets so men can arm themselves They become nurses and cooks so men will have medicine and food

[@emilyake9689]

Cora is a total queen. I love her. She commands respect while being generous and kind.

[@saquist]

I think Cora commands respect by BEING generous and kind. It's a rare quality.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

Cora is brilliant in that many view her kindness as her being meek or devoid of strength. It allows her to put her opponents on the back foot when anyone attempts to test her

[@michelemaggio-t6r]

Love her...

[@DSmith-gs4tr]

I love how the servants try to keep themselves busy when there's nothing to do. It's admirable.

[@diannaa6189]

I have a bone to pick with O'Brien every since the miscarriage. She makes my skin crawl which means she is an excellent actress. She played her part well. Love the series. Well done. I want more please!

[@tweetiepie551]

Which bone did u wish to pick?

[@cassieo]

I think we should take her sixth vertebrae... lol.

[@mathewcole7848]

In fairness to a very nasty person, even O'Brian was shocked and horrified at what she did there. It was the only time you EVER see her exhibit anything like remorse in the whole series.

[@sheilaburns8977]

O'Brien was horrible from the first episode. Hated when she tripped Bates and he fell on his face. Siobhan Finneran was horribly brilliant as O'Brien; such a meanspirited woman. She is also good in Happy Valley. … PEACE to ALL.

[@EstherHulst-Artist]

@@mathewcole7848 but still she's never honest about it but continues to look down on everyone. She's not humbled or anything just more loyal to Cora, again not loyal enough to be honest

[@frankelder1158]

I love every single character in this scene. The friendship between Mrs Bird and Mrs Patmore was lovely, Daisy is a sweetheart, Molesely is just my all time favourite, Cora is underrated and incredibly fierce and O'Brien is a complicated 'baddie'. Such a good show!

[@vincentfiestada]

Could Mrs. Patmore have been more obvious than shouting "SPECIAL STORAGE AREA?!"

[@tonyneal3266]

Right

[@Alderina]

It’s just her being herself

[@the_jolly_bunny]

Hahaha!!!

[@CeltycSparrow]

This once again illustrates how Lady Cora is a fair and compassionate mistress. She sees her servants hiding something and rather than scolding, she helps them. And Mrs. Bird's compassion cannot be overlooked either. She has a very kind heart.

[@Robert08010]

It wasn't just that it was good and right but it was also important to them enough to do this on their own. I think Cora understood that.

[@davidadkison4702]

What is really funny is to see how Cora’s maid gets her comeuppance such a sour look on her face. lol 😂

[@deniseball7764]

Never much of a Cora fan but she certainly reiterated her place and position in the manor - and the maids too !!! Although just recently saw the Mary and the dead lover scene - and Cora really gave her daughter a good one there but full credit when she followed up on Thomas letting her in on the nannys behaviour

[@CeltycSparrow]

@@davidadkison4702 I agree. O'Brien was deliberately trying to cause drama and get them in trouble for this kind gesture to the army veterans, and not only does Cora support their kind and generous cause by helping them to feed the soldiers lunch (completely backfiring on O'Brien's plans) but she makes O'Brien help them serve the food, as well. Karma indeed. lol

[@josephtaylor4115]

If only more rich people were like Cora. This scene is just so wholesome.

[@antmagor]

Joseph Taylor tell me about it. I look back at the time of the world wars and it does feel like despite all the problems of the day, there was an aware that doesn’t seem to exist anymore. It was like people of privilege we’re starting to wake up to the problems around them.

[@OpinionatedLumber]

@@antmagor there wasn't, not more than there is now. How would you even notice such thing?

[@LelaFG]

There are good rich people but the media always shows the bad side never the good.

[@antmagor]

Safwane For starters, it didn’t matter how rich you were you couldn’t help but notice the bombs going off in your backyard. Ask anyone old enough to remember the air raids.

[@duvine3882]

They were & still are; she was made aware of the situations because it affected her personally were she lived. Nowadays the rich are made aware by organizations that toured them to causes of need. Still many ones are exiled or do exiled themselves to survive never to experience the needs of others for their own survival.

[@Stevebaby123]

This show is so beautiful on many levels. I just started to rewatch the series. The music is almost like a character within the scenes and the costuming is so incredible.

[@bobbidazzler1343]

Beautifully observed. It brings me to tears on occasion. 🥰

[@jgroenveld1268]

I love the sound track used when Cora walks into the kitchen and how it changes as she gives her approval.

[@nicholasfields9507]

OMG yes. The look she exchanges with Daisy as she walks in... she's soft-spoken that look could almost melt steel.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

I also love the stark visual difference in the outfits. When she walks in, she’s wearing this dark coat and her hat gives her a very cold and distant look, a high and potent lady amongst the peasants. But then she sheds her coat to help, revealing a bright pale blouse that makes her stand out in the kitchen like a ray of sunshine, there to help and make merry

[@valeo6820]

The acting is so superb. The best made for TV series in the history.

[@pixpusha]

You can tell a lot of effort has been put into this show. It is awesome.

[@jonathancineus6424]

Cora was such a good person, I absolutely loved her. Her kindness was even visible in her piercing eyes. I was especially sad when this character was cheated on. For a conniving servant.

[@jennifersivewright3117]

Remember when Robert thinks Cora is having an affair with the art critic, Mr Bricker? Then Cora asks him to sleep in their bedroom and says he needs to think if he has ever strayed? Naughty Robert. I didn’t like Jane, an annoying character.

[@keara.ls3]

I freaking love Cora. She’s always so understanding, caring, and forgiving. She’s such a sweet lady. And with a bit of a nasty sting if you’ve crossed her.

[@nancyrubano-nord5265]

Watched this before and I still think it's awesome how Lady Crawly said to start using food from the house and pitched in to help serve. How wonderful. Shows a true lady.

[@xxhorror13]

You gotta love when O'Briens plans backfire

[@dariusanderton3760]

we love to hate her

[@lolabrini3758]

yessss!!

[@slytherinnyc]

2024.. .still watching... this part makes me cry... thanks for posting..

[@dttra566]

It's moments like these that makes Downton Abbey the best show ever. I mean other shows have those touchy moments too but Downton Abbey just does them so much more elegantly and with so much more class.

[@TheRealMr_Chaos]

And it is scenes like this that make Series 2 my favorite of the show. This is when the Crawleys truly began to understand the world outside of Downton.

[@Aramanth]

Because Cora has such a soft yet restrained nature, she is sometimes hard to read. Does she approve? Does she disapprove? But as ever: Cora never disappoints!

[@donnawheeler2195]

Love Cora. She stepped right in and helped. You could tell she appreciated good hearted people.

[@stischer47]

These scenes bring a tear to my eyes because I know how the WWI vets were mistreated on both sides of the Atlantic. It is still a shame how current vets are being treated.

[@Adam657]

Let us not forget that every vet of WW1 is dead today. To have even been ALIVE during WW1 you'd have to be 102 years old today. For WW2 to have been 18 in 1945 (well let's say 16 if you lied abour your age) in WW2 you'd have to be 91 today. - None of these veterans are mistreated. People who are 60 years old today and go on about "we are old and should have respect!" were born in 1960(!) and weren't alive in any world war. These were the only wars in which you were ACTUALLY defending our country (and conscripted to). Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq were not defensive wars, but political ones. The GOVERNMENT should look after these veterans, NOT the public.

[@kcbh24]

@@Adam657 will you shut the f*ck up, you libertarian nut. You are ignorant and clearly have no sense.

[@flyboy152]

@@Adam657 What the F does the fact that all the WWI veterans are now dead have to do with how they were treated during & after the war? In the US, things were better, so they usually weren't begging on the street. But Britain was completely drained by WWI, and little provision for veterans, wounded or not, was made once they were discharged.

[@dariusanderton3760]

@@Adam657 somehow you offended everyone. (1) "Let us not forget that" or "You need to understand that" etc. is a condescending way to say something and makes people hostile before you have even finished the first sentence, especially if you say something that they actually do know already (2) do you think the majority of people have somehow forgotten that every veteran of WW I is deceased and every remaining veteran of WW II is in their 90's. Most of the people watching this video are likely on the older side or are interested in history (3) elders should be treated with some respect regardless of the era or century (4) naturally government should help take care of veterans and senior citizens (5) if someone was drafted to fight in Vietnam, they had no choice about fighting, so do you imply they should be treated less respectfully than other people in their 60's or 70's ? (6) if a war is defensive or political is sometimes a matter for debate -- if the Allies stepped into Germany in the late 1930s and forced Hitler out of power when he was breaking treaties and rearming Germany, some would label that intervention as political, but it was also pre-emptive defensive. Likewise slowing the spread of Communism was seen as defensive, especially for South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia.

[@lepolhart9623]

That's because they're cannon fodder for the governments that use them.

[@ibnawf112]

... I love everything about this show, I wished it never ended

[@maxeyre2024]

At least we have the movie coming up! :)

[@ibnawf112]

@@maxeyre2024 ... I seen the trailer. I simply can not wait 😊😊

[@shesosweet2781]

@@maxeyre2024 when?!!!

[@pan-opticon]

She So Sweet It’s coming out in September!!!

[@shesosweet2781]

@@pan-opticon 😭thank you so much. I was heartbroken when it ended.

[@xhogun8578]

Jillian Fellowes created such wonderful characters and everyone cast in the series brought them to life so beautifully.

[@sisi429]

Time and time again, Cora proves she is a class of her own! Brilliant!

[@Lulubelle545]

Cora has so much of Sybil in her in this scene. It’s so beautiful ☺️

[@ytcarol]

It's moving to see Her Ladyship understand the meaning of charity in this situation. I admire her character - she always seems to have her moral grounding in place.

[@gabrielalopetegui]

awwww..am I gonna start watching all 6 seasons AGAIN?? I did it 3 times already, and I'M not ashamed to admit it !

[@ddemo2613]

Even though this is a small and simple scene for Downton Abbey; still one of my favorite that truly conveys the tone of the whole show.

[@gabrielalopetegui]

Am I EVER gonna get tired of rewatching DA?? I don’t think so ♥️♥️♥️

[@overcomerbtboj]

Me neither- i’m about to re watch for the 5th time again 🤣😂

[@wesssavorn9018]

This is exactly what makes me cry with happiness . I love this show . It really does touch our hearts and souls. I cry because it's such a worth while show and Mrs O'Brian gets shown up and taught a lesson ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😢😊

[@loreelee8268]

Cora should have fired O'Brien years ago.she is only for her own gain.cora is such a kind hearted woman she is one of the greatest characters of the show.loooooove it

[@mikeoxmaul45]

You can't fire someone just because of their personality; that is unconstitutional. Also if you do this several times you'll have gained a reputation for sacking employees and no one will work for you. Unless he does something wrong then you can fire him.

[@loreelee8268]

@@mikeoxmaul45 she had several reasons that she could have sacked her for.....me I am the type of person I would not care what someone would think or why they thought anything

[@misombra]

@@mikeoxmaul45 I can't tell if you're joking or really dumb but you can absolutely fire people for their personality in the USA, which is the area governed by the Constitution, which isn't England, which is where this TV show is made and set.

[@misombra]

I'm not reading this entire wall of BLAH BLAH OBVIOUS THINGS I LOVE MY OWN VOICE BLAH BLAH but he said 'unconstitutional' which uhhh you know what never mind

[@msi8311]

@Mike Oxmaul Employers 100% fire based on personality but will list another excuse

[@dobazajr]

Thank God Cora survived the Spanish flu. She's a great loss if she succumbed to it.

[@flyboy152]

They weren't going to make Robert a widower in the 2nd season of the show. It would have completely changed the dynamic of the rest of the seasons. So, they killed off a minor character, who was the perfect person to get out of the way so Matthew & Mary's story could proceed.

[@zbr76]

One of the many times Cora was bleeping awesome! Love her!

[@Savagery21]

This is one of my favorite scenes. The Crawleys are lucky to have staff full of good and trust worthy people.

[@uchetvault]

One of the best scenes in this movie when Cora tells to O'brian "And more than that I'm gonna help then. And so are you"

[@judynichols2904]

Cora is one of my favorite characters ,she is has a great heart for the people and it shines through !

[@ParkerAllen2]

Just really great storytelling - Julian Fellowes is an excellent writer and he really knows how to create an effective, moving moment.

[@michaelreece2966]

This is one of my most favorite clips from the Downton Abbey series.

[@jerseygirl7288]

I have literally never watched this show before. And for whatever reason, I watched this clip and it made me burst into tears.

[@bighands69]

The whole show is fantastic drama and worth watching.

[@pjtribble7214]

So happy to see.... tribute was paid for soldiers via movies back then. This "Downton Abbey" video touched my heart. Thank You! Much ♥️ from military brat and aging veteran father!

[@Cheirish95]

This show is full of humanity

[@kevinward5806]

I cry every time I see this! The kindness and the suffering brilliantly displayed. Great show!!

[@shubhraagarwal453]

I freaking love this show. Watched the entire series in lockdown period and now I'm craving for more. Will watch the movie now.

[@TheRavendearest]

How incredibly sad that our vets are still left to the streets hungry and broken, their sacrifices forgotten by an uncaring government.

[@cecillebarone9252]

So true,the UK Now does a much better job of taking care of not only vets,but ALL her people everyone has Healthcare,and I don't there is the homelessness the exists in "america"

[@taroman7100]

While we bring in most of Mexico and Central America our dear vets continue to be forgotten. My country has fallen away from its first duties.

[@bighands69]

Uncaring government? Where do people come up with this nonsense. The only way government can pay for these things is to take the money of you and give it to other people.

[@sdearing6375]

It is sad to talk the easily manipulated into wanting to go to war

[@davidhutchinson8730]

When he said I'm one of the lucky ones....i got tears in my eyes. As a veteran myself....There isn't much I wouldn't do for my brothers and sisters who served.

[@valeelen1]

Cora is amazing... In spanish, cora are the letter for the word Heart, Corazón... her name is perfect, and the actriz is fantastic, when Sibyl talk about her relationship with Brandson, her expresion was unforgetable...

[@soulstrength]

My entire Sunday evening was sewn up because of this show! Oooh, how I wish it was still on. Bravo Cora! ❤ This is one of my favorite scenes for her.

[@1ndependentone568]

O'Brien NEVER fails to be true to her baser instincts -- a great villainess. Cruella-esque.

[@gjm1953]

"Now hold it right there! If we can’t feed a few soldiers from our own village, them as have taken a bullet, or worse, for king and country, then I don’t know what." Mrs. Patmore is a kind and noble creature.

[@orthohawk1026]

I love that look on O'Brien's face when Cora says "Oh, I'm going to do more than that; I'm going to help them.....and so are you!"

[@nikiryan8648]

"O' Brian you can manage the bread" classic slap down!

[@lauriebolles3149]

I don't know how many times I've watched this segment, I'm sure it won't be the last time.

[@jimwigler]

This always brings a tear to my eye.

[@luciancombs4463]

My gosh, I truly hope I'm wrong, but there will never be a show as good as this.

[@johnfreeman1164]

The ending of this always brings a tear to my eyes.

[@Prissy59]

The amount of times this show made cry I think it's every episode am such a baby ,best show ever

[@jimwigler]

I always become emotional when I see this scene. How Wonderful!

[@davep3768]

One of the best shows on either continent.

[@inayatahmed5828]

It is scenes like this which make me really mad when we get to season 6 where Mary accuses Cora of being a snob! Cora is the furthest person from a snob as can be imagined. Mary is the real snob and she gives proof several times. This is one of the reasons I can't stand Mary. She always thinks she is the one in the right. Cora has a beautiful heart, and a charming personality.

[@flav2689]

Inayat Ahmed Amen.

[@kcbh24]

It was just a scene about mothers and daughters. It didn't define Cora at all. No reason to be all steamed about it.

[@scarletleader5420]

To be fair, if you re-watch the first few episodes, you'll see Cora say a lot of snobbish/insensitive things, much to her husband's distress. That said, she's not heartless or evil, and the upper classes WERE encouraged to do at least some charity work.

[@luxaholicanonymous2577]

Mary was so mean to Edith. However Karma got to her. Mary ended up marrying a man without a title and Edith became a Marchioness.................poetic justice 😍😍😍😍

[@jehannethompson1432]

What the hell is wrong with you. This scene has nothing to do with Mary and you talking about her. My Gosh.

[@tomj528]

I've seen the whole series several times as our local PBS channel plays it on Monday afternoons at 1pm. We never miss it.

[@tomj528]

@Quaker 2019 The version that I've seen has the reference to Boxing Day and I don't think that it's been "dumbed down" as it has many other references as well, but who's to say. We now watch it for free on PeacockTV. Apparently Amazon Prime has the British version and several people have commented that they feel the British version has had the story "hollowed out" as it's missing some key scenes and story lines.

[@tomj528]

@Quaker 2019 I never get too wrapped up in minor details of the different versions of shows as I just enjoy what I'm watching at the time, although it's annoying to have different versions with censored scenes. Robert is horrible with money, I always laugh out loud when he wants to "invest" in the original Ponzi scheme. Despite this failing, he truly is the lord of the manor as he's generous, fair and always a gentleman. It's a great story, well acted and the characters are unforgettable. I always enjoy seeing the architecture, vehicles, furniture and the items they've assembled to portray the daily living of both the family and the servants.

[@tomj528]

@Quaker 2019 I'm in the same boat, my wife who's still in her late 40's has dementia so I end up repeatedly explaining every single episode to her including which character is which and even what other shows the actors were in that she knows them from. I also love the wonderful library, I would love to spend a lifetime reading every single volume although I'd hate to have to dust those bookshelves and once I've read a book I rarely read it again. These days I'm happy to keep books at our local library system rather than at home. A few years ago I had to get reading glasses and now my eyesight is down from 20/20 as I'm on the wrong side of 50 years old. Despite this, I'm hoping to spend a good portion of the next 30 years or so enjoying "the classics" as part of my golden years. If my eyesight fails me then it'll be books on tape. Perhaps what I've gotten most out of the show is to further see and contemplate what wealth is and what it means. It's clear in the show that the Abby (and other wealth family's properties) while being a showplace is also an incredible burden. If you think about it, the house provides some nice rooms like the library, dining room, sitting rooms but all of the rest of it is just additional bedrooms. If you're not interested in hosting throngs of friends and relatives (I'm not) then it's really kind of useless. It's given me a new appreciation for our home and the peace that it provides. If you look at wealth with new eyes it becomes clear that "the good life" is incredibly affordable and that it's easy to live more richly than even the wealthiest of just a hundred years ago. I just received our electricity bill, $67.44 to keep our home at a comfortable temperature and humidity, cook our food, run electronics for unlimited entertainment and information, clean and dry our clothes, dishes and bodies, to keep our food fresh, our bread toasted and a whole host of other labor saving devices such as tools and lawn care machines.

[@reneebraxton1032]

Cora's facial expressions are PRICELESS!!!

[@bernardbennaval1068]

I burst into tears every time I watch this!So beautyful!

[@nunyabiznez6381]

This is one of my favorite scenes of this show.

[@safespacebear]

"don't pity me, I'm one of the lucky ones" heck!

[@mkmom8473]

I love when O'Brien gets her comeuppance.

[@Clau92Cris]

One of the utopic beautiful moments we all long to happens in real life and we loved from Downton Abbey.

[@donna30044]

If I had to pick a favorite character, I couldn't, as there were so many to love and admire.

[@cymbamcreynolds8838]

Scenes like this remind you that Cora's family comes from new money in America and that she may have done more manual labor in the home as a child before being able to afford servants. Despite her station in Downton and her desire to gain a title, she didn't look down on her roots and was humbler because of it

[@robertsilva8097]

I remember when seeing her daughter Mary was disrespecting her because she's an American and Cora says you're also American Mary you could see Mary's reaction and core the mother says to marry your half American the way she said it was very beautiful

[@tomrichter244]

It is funny, but that simple piece of music always makes me smile, and brings me back to that very special show every winter!

[@lizabethduran4417]

Great show. I was sadden so much when it ended

[@gjm1953]

Me too, Lizabeth. But was there ever a more satisfying finale to a series?

[@sapphire2797]

I love downton abbey for it's many hearwarming moments such as this one

[@philyra2]

Cora was amazing. This show was just awesome and I miss it so much.

[@FannyDash]

Cora is known as a kind and caring person so it would have surprised me if she had acted otherwise. Who really made a change was Mr. Molesley when he said hang on wait a minute to this young man. Then Mrs. Bird had the time to think of her storage so they were the brave ones to give the property of Mrs. Crawley without permission to the Soldiers. This man impressed me too, saying that he was one of the lucky ones with a destroyed life.

[@jamesr1703]

The best is when the O'Brien of your own workplace gets put in her place and is seen for what she really is. We all work with an "O'Brien" everyday.

[@L2069-e8y]

Unfortunately the O'Brien of my workplace never got put in her place. Nor did the Thomas. They just continued to get away with it. The sad part is these tactics work because management always believes them.

[@jrbr549]

This is my favorite moment from the show.

[@roninc.3465]

5:26 O’Briens thoughts “Huh Shite” 5:36 Cora’s thoughts “O’Brien you can do the bread.... cause your a little shite stirrer” *Smiles Passively*

[@Peppi94]

Watching this reminds me of Mrs. Patmore's efforts to run a little boarding house - which somehow turned into "a house of ill repute!!!" :)

[@toddjh]

5:28 Mrs. Bird is all "nobody jinx it!"

[@TheToadChild]

Nobility all through out that room. Class.

[@BillyAlabama]

One of my all-time favorite scenes from the series.

[@razdinachowdhury6677]

Did you know that what her character did was actually inspired from the duchess who used to live in the castle Downton Abbey was shot in? She converted the castle into a hospital for injured soldiers during one of the two world wars.

[@TechBearSeattle]

A lot of country houses like Downton served the UK in that way. It was part and parcel of the patronal system: the male aristocrats fought as officers, while the women oversaw hospitals and cared for the vets. Sadly, WW I was the last time this really manifested.

[@edukid1984]

@@TechBearSeattle Well, if you think about it one of the obligations that aristocrats were supposed to fulfil (in exchange for their access to land and wealth) was to provide material and manpower support to the King/Queen/state in times of war.

[@bighands69]

@@edukid1984 No it was not an obligation to fulfil their access to land and wealth. They did it because they were human and did the right thing.

[@edukid1984]

@@bighands69 I wasn't referring specifically to Downton Abbey's plot, but the historical relationship between the regent and the aristocrats. You don't honestly think they were just "doing the right thing" when they sent troops and horses at great expense of gold and often lives in times of war?

[@bighands69]

@@edukid1984 SOme lords were horrible to their subjects and it is very well documented. And some did the right thing.

[@nowisreal]

Evil plays as a lever for good to stand out, if it likes it or not. Well done, O'Brien, again!

[@flashstudiosguy]

I always love these moments where the mild antagonist thinks their Christmas has come, only for the Big Boss to turn it back on them because the frustration on their faces is priceless! "Look, Boss, they're stealing food!" "To feed People in need? Excellent! Grab a knife and start buttering bread , we're going to help them!" "WHAT?! I.. I mean, yes, Boss, right away Boss.. Grr.."

[@petecholewinski8602]

That cello or bass note that plays at 4:19 when Daisy sees Cora sounds like the start of the 'Jaws' theme. And then...everyone freezes in terror!

[@BretonInTokyo]

I miss that show SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much !!!!

[@mylinhtran7756]

This scene makes me cry happy tears every time.

[@fatimawithaddedspice]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 One of the best character's ever honestly