Now we're really digging into it, or as much as we can remember after watching the movie over a week ago.... Daisy and Andy are engaged and it's a liiiiittle problematic. But besides that there's Violet's attempts to interfere with someone else's inheritance, Tom and Thomas each get a chance at love, Mary becoming the lady detective, and many downstairs shenanigans. Plus, we are assessing whether Allen Leech could be Bond after Tom's heroic actions, because why not? We are brainstorming our next...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr 18 min
The Downton Abbey movie has finally arrived and after so much discussion of our plans, we have finally seen it! We're back to bask in the glow of the movie-going experience and give our overall impressions of the movie! Stay tuned for more movie talk coming soon and let us know your movie thoughts on Twitter @ringforteapod!
Sep 24, 2019•33 min
We hash out the last bits of the series finale and our final thoughts on the show itself. From telegrams to telephones, John Bates in prison to Anna Bates in prison, and much, MUCH more, it's been a long road, but we've made it! Join us for this last episode of Downton before the movie!
Jul 19, 2019•1 hr 21 min
It's the series finale and they are packing A LOT into this one. We are splitting our recap up into two parts, pre-Christmas and post-Christmas (because there always has to be an event at Christmas time...). Just when Edith settles into the idea of being a London spinster, Mary gets to scheming and sets up a dinner with Bertie that just may change everything. After an entire episode about Mary being uncomfortable with Henry's racing, he decides to give it up anyway. But that means he's now tryin...
Jul 12, 2019•1 hr 1 min
Allison's voice is a little husky but we're back and chatting the SECOND TO LAST episode of Downton! Edith is still debating whether or not to tell Bertie about Marigold, but loses her opportunity when Mary decides everyone needs to be miserable with her. Everyone finds Mrs. Patmore's B&B misfortunes hilarious, so the Crawleys try to give her some positive publicity. Molesley is trying his hand at molding young minds. We're cooking up ideas for interim pods until the movie, send us your sugg...
Jul 05, 2019•1 hr
The Crawleys are off to the races! However, the outing ends in disaster, challenging Mary and Henry’s relationship. An exciting opportunity presents itself to Molesley, while Thomas continues to struggle to find his place at the Abbey. Tom and a new four legged addition to Downton both manage to pad this episode with joy. We only have two more episodes left until the (long) countdown to the movie!
Jun 20, 2019•1 hr 20 min
We're still making plans for the movie while an open house at Downton reveals that no one actually knows anything about it. Downsizing efforts mean Thomas is out of a job, and Violet is replaced by Cora as president of the hospital (it doesn't go over well). Daisy is back to acting like a child. Carson has some particular standards for domestic life, and it feels like a Mrs. Hughes scolding is coming. Mary and Henry continue their romance dance, but at least HE can admit he likes her (and maybe ...
Jun 12, 2019•53 min
You all know what we're talking about right? After it is brought up every single episode for as long as we can remember, Robert's stomach ulcer gets A LOT worse in VERY dramatic fashion. It interrupts the ongoing hospital nonsense which, like our involvement with Denker and Spratt, seems to still not be over. We finally learn something about Andy after he has been around for so long, with Thomas finally finding a way to befriend him. Carson has certain expectations for Mrs. Hughes' role in their...
Jun 05, 2019•1 hr 3 min
A lighter, more joyful Branson is back at Downton, and back for good it seems! Thomas is acting butler while the Carsons are away on honeymoon - yikes! Former housemaid Gwen returns to the house in a fancier capacity. Baby Bates is saved by an emergency trip to London; and bear with us, guys, we are STILL talking about the hospital....
May 29, 2019•53 min
Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson are getting married and it’s just as sweet as you imagined! Mary gets steamrolled by Cora in her attempts to dictate the wedding, and we didn’t mind one bit. Meanwhile, Edith has an independent romantic comedy in the course of the episode - WE. ARE. IN. LOVE. We’re rejoicing that Edith has a plot line that doesn’t involve Marigold for a hot second. Thomas continues to job hunt and we’re getting to know that it’s a sad world outside of Downton’s walls. Plus, a surprise ...
May 08, 2019•48 min
Not a lot going on in this one, folks, so forgive us our tangents.... We're talking about pigs, child acting, a sudden personality change in Mrs. Drewe, and Anna's infertility. The hospital stuff slogs on and Thomas is looking for a new job without much luck. Sadly, the most interesting thing to happen in this episode is the debate over the location for the wedding reception - Mary just won't butt out! Find us on Twitter @ringforteapod!
May 01, 2019•48 min
It’s the final season - let movie prep begin! Mary’s weekend in sin comes back to haunt her in the form of a REAL pushy lady. Edith considers a move to London, and we’re all for her new adventures (and spinoff!). The Mr. Green case is finally closed which calls for a case of Veuve Clicquot. And finally, in tech updates, refrigeration and carbonated water come to the Abbey - huzzah! Find us on Twitter @ringforteapod!
Apr 24, 2019•1 hr 4 min
We have reached another Downton Christmas special, which means we needed some extra time to unpack everything that was going on. Prepare yourself for a lot of speculation about the upcoming movie (lots of ghosts are involved)! We're still dealing with the ongoing Mr. Green murder saga, and Moseley is the new detective in town (with sidekick Baxter). The Princess Kuragin is... unpleasant at best, while the Prince cleans up pretty nicely. Branson is saying his goodbyes to Downton, try not to cry a...
Apr 17, 2019•1 hr 28 min
The gang goes to London for Rose and Atticus' nuptials! Lady Flintshire spends the whole episode being a "Pouty Patty" and a terrible mother. Daisy is enlightened when she visits a museum with Moseley and Baxter, and Edith continues to have NO CHILL about Marigold. And we can't. even. talk. about the Bates' complicated relationship with the legal system. Plus, we chat 1920s camera technology and Plato's cave! Have any Tiny Letters? Tweet at us @ringforteapod!
Apr 03, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Allison can't talk about Isis' diagnosis because we get too attached to the fictional stories of animals. Mary is being a real B and Violet shows some vulnerability. We were hoping to see the scene between Cora and Mrs. Drewe, but have to settle for Cora yelling at her in-laws. And in the end, Edith is able to arrange for Marigold to grow up at Downton after all, as if that wasn't predictable! Lord Merton's sons are THE WORST and we can't wait to see them go. Rose is secretly engaged (again!) af...
Mar 27, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Please excuse Christina's audio quality this week - yet another reminder that we are amateurs. Spoiler alert: We loved this episode. Mary gets a haircut and it's a BIG DEAL. Cora ain't putting up with any of Robert's nonsense. We see a different side of Violet and Edith and well... Edith takes a big step for herself. While we're excited and happy for her independent life, we are also terrified about how she's going to handle diapers and tantrums. Join us this week as we talk about one of our fav...
Mar 13, 2019•1 hr 2 min
Gonna try to avoid some run on sentences with this one (it'll make sense when you hear the synopsis we chose): Violet is trying to scheme with Dr. Clarkson to interfere with Isobel's love life, but her plan doesn't really work out. Rosamund shows up to try to knock some sense into Edith, who is not hearing it. Mary is continuing to do her "boys like me" thing with Blake, and Rose meets a new boy! Ugh, then Bricker takes his affection for Cora too far. We are finally rid of Sarah Bunting, but not...
Mar 07, 2019•48 min
Welcome to a tumultuous episode at the Abbey. Edith can’t stay away from Marigold, and we sense a restraining order on the way. A dinner party quickly gives way to Robert v. Ms Bunting and some good ol’ Robert yelling. Tony Gillingham is DONE - thank u, next - and we introduce a rating system for the episodes (57:42) - never too late, right?
Feb 27, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Cora is looking for something to do outside of Downton, and is maybe finding it with Mr. Bricker? Baxter finally reveals the motivation behind her thievery and we're still digging her relationship with Moseley (duh). Mary and Tony are being all sorts of dumb thinking they would get away with their "secret" vacation, but turns out they didn't! Then it seems like she's not all that interested in marrying him after all. There's some really underwhelming evidence in the case of the Mysterious Death ...
Feb 13, 2019•51 min
In this edition of The Crawley Girls Make Up Bad Plans for Their Personal Lives: there is yet another plan for Edith to legitimize spending time with her daughter, and Mary pretends to go on a sketching trip with a female friend who never existed until now. Moseley has a hard time coping with the knowledge of Baxter's past, Daisy has a controversial new tutor, and Rose is determined to get a radio for Downton. Rate and subscribe now, and follow/tweet at us @ringforteapod!
Feb 07, 2019•50 min
We have successfully recovered from surprise Giamatti and are back to talk about the changes afoot at Downton! Edith's plan to keep Marigold around predictably is not going well, Sarah Bunting is the new Drunk Branson, and Jimmy's former employer shows up to create some trouble. Moseley's hair looks a bit different and Baxter comes clean to Cora about her past. Oh yeah and Edith starts a fire in the house! Plus, Allison has a BIG problem with Thomas. Rate and subscribe now, and follow us on Twit...
Jan 30, 2019•1 hr 8 min
It's Downton in London this week! Rose is presented into high society, the Levinsons come to stay, and the Crawleys audition for Ocean's Eleven. Oh yeah, and Edith has a not-so-sneaky plan for the baby she had during the eight-month time jump. Join us as we say an actual final goodbye to Alfred. Rate and subscribe now, and follow us on Twitter @ringforteapod!
Jan 23, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Oh hey, it's another annual event hosted at Downton that we have never seen! As the family prepares for the bazaar, Edith comes up with a poorly planned solution to adopt out her baby to an unwitting family. Baxter and Moseley began a lovely friendship, and Alfred comes back to stir things up downstairs... again. Mary continues to be courted by similar-looking men, but we're trying to write Blake's backstory and figure out baby George's age. Bates goes on a day trip and then Green turns up dead,...
Jan 16, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Robert is asked to come to his brother-in-law’s defense in America but who will cross the waters to be his valet? Not-so- spoiler-alert, it gets sorted out in the first three minutes and it’s Thomas, the end. Back at home in Downton, Charles Blake and Mary have a Hallmark moment, Alfred returns (so soon!) to stir the love rhombus pot and Edith takes a very awful trip to London. Oh Edith! Join us for this very brief chat about episode 7, and as always, find us on Twitter @ringforteapod!
Jan 09, 2019•42 min
We finally agree that things actually happen in this episode! But first things first, the importance of cheese. Alfred is leaving to be a fancy chef, but not before making the upstairs folks real uncomfortable with a little speech. Anna and Bates are trying to find normalcy, but not before Bates sparks some new merch ideas. Edith is preggo and suddenly Robert and Cora's favorite child, and Gregson is missing! Rose brings Jack Ross and his jazz band to Downton as a birthday surprise for Robert, l...
Dec 19, 2018•51 min
Bates and Anna reconcile, but Bates is going to be a scary dude when it comes to Mr. Green. Baxter is the new lady's maid in town, and we're not quite sure what to think - is she in Thomas' pocket, or is she just mending pockets? Isobel tries to help young Pegg, and we're thankful since it led to a never-ending Maggie Smith chuckle. Our episode gets wrapped up with an Allison rant about Christmas movies - it's contagious! As may be our new tradition, check the time stamps! Rate and subscribe, an...
Dec 12, 2018•1 hr 11 min
Some things happen at Downton in this episode, but mainly we’re talking about Christina’s trip to Disney World and the must-see (or don’t see) Christmas movies of the year. Thomas says a few choice words to Edna that we’ve been saying for weeks. Tony Gillingham lays out ALL his cards (guys, can we put an end to premature proposals?). And Isobel gracefully tries to cope with life after Matthew. If you're here just for Downton stuff (as in, what this pod is supposed to be about), check the time st...
Dec 05, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Downton is throwing a weekend party, where fancy folks come to wear tiaras, eat dinner, drink tea, listen to a famous opera singer, flirt with the Crawley girls, cheat at poker, and bring along sleazy servants. Branson has a difficult time socializing with the fancy folk while Mary gets some business advice (and romantic interest?) from some dude named Gillingham. Edna continues to be an entitled and annoying human, Moseley takes a demotion to temporarily return to the house, and our beloved Ann...
Nov 21, 2018•49 min
A box arrives from Matthew’s office with a final word for Mary and Robert is all like but-let’s-not-bother-her-with-it. Bates puts his prison skills to use to change Moseley’s fate and reward us with some classic Moseley mugging. Rose is (no surprise) bored at Downton and drags Anna to a village dance. Daisy is starting to be someone we actually like and Gregson is coming to dinner next week! As always, you can find us on Twitter @ringforteapod!
Nov 14, 2018•51 min
In case you didn’t catch it, it’s been 6 months since Matthew’s death (thank you Moseley’s dad’s exposition). Isobel and Mary are grief stricken and poor little George gets left in the lurch. Turns out he can’t even rely on his nanny.… Robert continues to give no credit to the female gender. Whatever-her-name is back as a lady’s maid (sigh). Despite all this sadness, we get a beautiful Galentine’s moment between Mrs. Padmore and Daisy!
Nov 07, 2018•1 hr 13 min
