Downton Abbey Week Wrap-Up!

(Cute gif alert!!!)

It is over! I enjoyed it a lot, and it was SO fun to swoon and talk (IN CAPS) about Downton Abbey with you all. I enjoyed this week more than I thought I would - and you know, I SO am not tired of talking about DA. I could go on for days more. Thank you so much for your lovely comments, posts, and general supportive enthusiasm.

Tag Answers:

Ivy Miranda

Meredith

Abby

Emma Jane

Downton Abbey

Rachel

Evie

Emily, at "A Portrait of Grace" wrote a lovely post filled with DA pictures, gifs and DA characters.

Meredith at 'On Stories and Words' wrote a great posts on DA Underrated characters

Rachel at 'A Girl's Place' listed things she loved about DA

She also wrote a post about the beautiful costumes

AND a post about 'Downton Abbey Did You Knows' which I really recommend you checking out. :-)

(If I forgot you, do give a shout!)

 Also, Long Live Downton Abbey. Am I right? ;-P

In which I randomly talk about Downton Abbey

{Spoilers of all seasons (although if you go to the picture of Rose, from down then there are only spoilers from up to season two. So if you've seen the first two series, you're safe to go.}

{Also, I have to warn you that some time in this post a gif of Matthew Crawley will appear in front of your eyes. It is a very handsome gif. Be prepared.}

- My grandparents live ONE HOUR away from Downton Abbey. (As in Highclere Castle.) How have I not visited this beautiful place yet?!!!!

- I have an "I love Downton Abbey" sticker on my laptop. For some odd, mysterious reason unbeknownst to us all. (Also, Emma gave it to me, and I love her.)

- I miss Matthew an AWFUL lot.

(But at the same time, I like Henry Talbot a lot too. But Matthew was better. Duh. He had blue eyes and all that.)

- Edith and Bertie are stinking cute together, you guys. Edith really did get bad luck when it came to lovers, didn't she? First Anthony - wow, and that couldn't have ended more dramatically. Then, after a string of other useless gentlemen, that creepy journalist - who vanished. Terribly rude, I know. Finally, she found Bertie... and we all love him. Bertie is good. Bertie is the best. (Also he and Edith fit together. Edith finally succeeded in finding a good match.)

(TOLD YOU THEY WERE ADORABLE.)

- Three of my cousins have MET the actor who plays Sir Anthony (and Mr Weston in Emma!), and my uncle (aka their father) has met him twice. They went to the same party or something? Ugh, I am jealous. (Yes, they are aware of this. And the worst thing was, they didn't think it was anything big of a deal. But really... a Downton Abbey actor, guys. :-O BE EXCITED. Just for the sake of it, be excited!)

- Tom Branson in season six is so different to Tom Branson in season two. I miss the old Tom. (Do you?)

- Remember when Mary walked up the isle to marry Matthew? That was beautiful. And so unpredictable. Like wow, we just didn't see that coming, did we?

- Rose really has the best wardrobe. Tied with Mary Crawley, of course. No-one can really beat Mary's wardrobe - it has no bounds. (As beautiful as Mary's wardrobe is, I'd pick Rose's wardrobe if I could pick one. She always looks unbelievably gorgeous and adorable and sunny. Mary's is almost... too much for me. I would not cope with it.)

(But remember when Rose's hair was crazy?) (And remember when she dressed up as a maid?) (And remember that lovely black Jazz singer?)

- Let just keep on reminiscing. Remember when Mary wore that ugly top hat? Remember when Edith was super mean? (And remember. It's Edith's fault that the Pamuk scandal went abroad... like seriously. That's the whole reason why M&M had love story complications. Edith has a lot of apologies to make.) Remember when William and Thomas had a fight in the kitchen and Daisy totally crushed on William? And remember that Daisy used to have a crush on THOMAS. Like really girl, get your priorities straight. Remember when Robert wore white suits? Remember when Sybil was a suffragette and she got hurt and Matthew helped her up (after Tom did - wow, Sybil really is lucky) and Mary felt this tinge of jealousy? Love that scene. And remember Cora in Edwardian clothes? And remember Patmore getting glasses?

- And then season two... BLOWN AWAY.

(This is the gif I was telling you about. If one could hug gifs, I would hug this one for at least ten minutes right now. And my life is really busy; so that says a lot.) (He looks so boyish and shyyyy.)

- Season two is my favourite for many reasons. It has a tone of seriousness and the Important Things... because of the war. Downton suddenly is overshadowed by it. Life is way more than frocks and chauffeurs and lovers quarrel and yes, even newspaper articles. There's a war going on. Matthew almost died. Tom is politically involved (at least he is in his brain) and he and Sybil tie together through that. Sybil finds higher purpose through nursing. And, miraculously, Lavinia and Mary become friends through the hardships of the war and a certain wounded fiancé. Just... everything is more emotional and real and it really gets me.

- I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bit where those annoying girls give Tom a white feather and he goes, "I'm in a uniform" and after they say, "Wrong one", HE GIVES THEM A CHEEKY SMILE AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. (He really doesn't care a jot what people think about him and just wow can I hang out with him?)

- By the way, it's hilarious how Belgian people pronounce 'Downton Abbey.' I'm glad I have a British accent.

- On the subject of accents: If you're American, don't forget to pronounce the T in "Downton." Thanks.

(Apparently black lace is epic.)

- Sometimes I wish there weren't THAT many Downton Abbey fans. I meet a lot of them, and although I feel a certain connection whenever I do, there are a lot of them. Too much. (Because if there were fewer, there would actually be tickets available to visit Highclere Castle.) My mum's friend at Church. The lady down three roads. The lady who lives down the road of the the lady down three roads. My dad's collegue. My cousins. The man at French Classes. The teacher at French Classes. My great-uncle. My second cousin. My second cousin's husband. Endless list I tell you. This is a good thing! Means I know what to talk about! But it does make me 'just another fan' and that sometimes takes the fun out of it.

(But it's okay; I'll bear it with as much grace as I can muster.)

- I own a book called "Behind the Scenes of Downton Abbey" but I got it when there were 'only' four seasons, so now I really want the new 'Behind the Scenes of Downton Abbey.' Emma and I found it in several shops back in June, and we itched to buy it. It was seriously the coolest book ever; endless full-colour pictures; each character analysed and talked about, and even an episode guide at the back. (Buy me it.) If only price tags weren't a thing in America.

(Mary's hat in the gif above = WOW WOW WOW WOW.) (Also, they are a cute married couple, right-ho, Jeeves?)

Zee Costumes

Ahh, the costumes in Downton Abbey - everyone raves about them, everyone swoons over the lace, the sleeves, the swoosh, the embroidery, the hats... because really, they are absurdly, insanely beautiful in this show. It makes the level of costuming so high for all the other Period Dramas. Everyone in DA always looks impeccable, the necklaces and hats are in perfect balance, the clothes have all the wrinkles in the right places. Let's also not forget the hairstyles! I mean seriously IT IS AMAZING. These characters could all be in magazines in every single snap shot. Not fair.

Basically what I'm going to do in this post is just talk about the clothes & wardrobes I love best. It might be random, and it will be filled with loads of pictures. Excuse me and pardon me if it bores you to death, but really, I couldn't have a DA week without at least some appreciation post for the costumes! (Imeanreally.)

(By the way, I apologise to the lovely characters downstairs in Downton, who probably won't be mentioned at all in this post. But I love them still. They just don't have many dresses of many colours. :-P) (Money does do SOME things. :-P)

Mary's wardrobe in season one and season two was serious life goallls. She looks so good in Edwardian fashion - the corset makes her posture so regal and the hairstyle and statement hats make her look so stunning and Mary-like. It's funny how some characters look way better in Edwardian and some look way better in Twenties-clothing! Lady Cora is another example - she looked so good in Edwardian clothes - with the high collars and impressive sleeves she looks like royalty. Sometimes she looks rather weird in 20's outfits. :-P

I also LOVE Sybil's clothes in Season one - the purple dress is my favourite:

(Here's a beautiful collage of the purple dress, if you're interested.)

Sybil is still in her teens in the first season, which means her outfits are slightly girlish and her hair is still half-down, in a thick braid, or with a half-updo. I love her light blue and light pink blouse-outfits, and the triangular collars. I love her white dress in the garden party too. And of course, one MUST mention her adorable light blue bloomers. :-)

I will forever love that scene. :-) Especially Tom's adorable smirk in the window... cuz he approves wholeheartedly. :-P

In Season two, there's the great War, so everyone wears slightly more simple clothes, and of course they pull it off like gold. Lady Mary's wardrobe is still my favourite, of course - but we should take a sec to talk about the men IN KHAKI. I mean they look fantastic; especially Matthew. :-P Tom Branson looks swoon-worthy as always, in his dark green chauffeur garb with his cap and leather boots, but the khaki clad men almost steal the show. :-)

My favourite dress of Mary's in Season Two (my favourite dress in season two, PERIOD) is the one she wears in the following picture. It's a blouse and a skirt actually, but the blouse is soooo pretty. *insert heart-eyed emojis, like loads of them*

ALSO THE SCENE WHERE SHE SINGS AND MATTHEW COMES IN. It is seriously my favourite scene in the whole entire show, I think. :-) :'-)

I LOVE Mary's wedding dress!!! The wedding dress itself isn't that spectacular actually, but that was the fashion of the time and she does look brilliant. Her veil is stunning and I LOVE the head peice, with the leafy silver thing. And I know I say it often, but Lady Mary looks so much better with long-hair-updos than that Willy Wonka bob-cut.

(But she looks good whatever, don't worry.)

Both of Edith's weddings were a sight for sore eyes. She looked best in wedding number two and HAPPIER TOO haha, but WOW LOOK AT SYBIL AND MARY AT Edith's first wedding!!!!!! Mary's blue dress is immaculate and diviiiine (the flutter on the sleeves at every little breeze!!!! Ahh!) and Sybil's purple and lace dress is gorgeous too. I love Sybil's bob; she looks so good in one.

Sybil and Mary seriously outshone Edith on her first wedding day, ha.

(This picture was suppose to be a gif, but it's not. moving. Whatever.) (I love her outfit and the hat is JUST COOL. She looks great in it.)

Edwardian style wasn't very nice on Edith - and her hairstyle in Season One was UGH so unflattering! She became wayy prettier when the bob was invented and she had those finger waves in. Cloche hats and a sporty silhouette and long necklaces suited Lady Edith to a T. She looks brilliant now. Her second wedding dress was shockingly pretty. :-)

And you know what else she wears so well? Those hats with one side flat up. She slays in those kinds.

This pink outfit is probably my favourite of Rose's. Look at all the little white beads embroidered all over! And then the creamy pearl necklace and her hair peeping under the white hat?!! Gorgeous.

I cannot finish this post without mentioning Lady Rose's wardrobe!!! At first it's very girly and tomboyish; a lot of sailor-ish looks (which I think is perfectly adorable), and her hair is out of control and frizzy. Her hats are plain with a simple ribbon. Then, as she matures and grows into a lady rather than a teenager, her clothes become more elegant and classy - but still very cheerful and bouncy and fun and colourful - just like her.

Her hair is always gorgeous too, and HER WEDDING DRESS. <3

My sister and I like to joke about how lazy these characters are that they can't even DRESS themselves, but actually if you look at the way they are dressed it's almost not surprising! It's like putting on a wedding dress every day, almost, and people often need help putting on wedding dresses. Plus, they had corsets and fancy hairstyles etc. 

Haha. This is when Anna was going away for a week. :-P

What are some of your favourite Downton Abbey costumes?

Downton Finale Episode - A Review

{THERE BE SPOILERS.}

(And, as always, I own none of the pictures here. All creds to Google Images.)

Back in June, when I stayed at Emma's  (if you don't know who Emma is; she's a very dear friend of mine who I visited back in June and met for the first time ever in person) house, guess what we watched the last evening we were together?!!! THIS BEAUTIFUL FINALE EPISODE. (I know, we watched it at the right moment, right? :-P) I was already a whole mix of feelings (bye America, I miss my house, ughh tomorrow is a long journey, you know the drill) AND THEN I SAW THIS.

Wow, I don't know if it did me good or bad. (ACTUALLY WAIT I DO. I DID ME SO SO GOOD.) (Seriously, it warmed my heart like nothing else did. It was soooo happy and gooey and cosy and HAPPY AND JUST HEART-WARMINGLY EPIC.) (I recommend this to death.) (And for once in Downton Abbey history, it didn't break my heart (apart from the fact that it ENDED) - it warmed my heart instead.) 

(Also, I should stop typing every sentence in brackets, haha.)

Right, so our poor lil' Edith suffers with the lovers parting ONCE AGAIN (she's like 26 and she's done this about nine times; the poor lass.), but this time it's different. You know why? Because it's actually going to end well and they were actually meant to be. Mind blowing, right? 

We should take a moment to appreciate Bertie (I wrote Pertie first and wow that's so embarrassing. How old am I; three or something?) Pelham. Bertie is by faaaaar my favourite of Edith's suitors; he's such a gentleman and he's just such a GOOD SORT. A chump. A brick. I love him. He's also super cute and when he cries about his friend I die a little. (That wasn't in the Christmas special, but it's worth the mention anyway.) I wholeheartedly ship Edith and Bertie (Berdith?) and I wish them all the best in their married life together. Maybe I should send them a card.

(On a side note - are those electric 2016 Christmas tree lights I spot?) (Also, George's outfit is adorable and I would be grateful if you gave me it for my future son. Remember that when the time might come.)

In the meanwhile, Mary is all mumsy and married again - with Henry. I like Henry if I don't think about The Old Days in Downton - but I do really like him. He's fun. I have to say; I think the whole car thing is kind of boring, but I'm glad he and Tom found something to kill time on. (Tom is still cool, but he's so old and I treat him as an uncle nowadays rather than a cool dude around my generation. *cough*)

By the way, am I the only one who's not that fond of Mary's wardrobe in Season Six? Some of it is exquisite, but the long blouses and the 20's silhouette doesn't flatter her very much. She looks... Mumsy. (Although she is a Mum, so I suppose it doesn't matter that much. Times are changing, after all.) It flatters Edith a lot, though.

Rose came back!!! I whooped for joy when I saw her (SLAYING IN THAT OUTFIT - she looks absolutely beautiful) although I was a bit disappointed that her and Atticus didn't even bring Baby with them. They could have managed that, come'on. 

I KNEW these two would be attracted from Very Early On. :-) I'm proud of myself. They are cute, but he is adorabler than she is. But I think they make a fine couple.

The Christmas trees in Downton Abbey are just so amazing. I think it's funny how they are pretending to decorate it when it's so obvious that it got done by professional Christmas Tree Decorators behind the scenes, haha. Good try, Crawleys, but you can fool me there.

Now we must talk about Thomas.

*clears throat* *starts* Okay, so Thomas in Season Six? I LOVE HIM. And wow, never in my life would I have thought I would love him so much as I did in Season Six. Especially in this Christmas Special, I just want to go and give him a hug and be his friend. I love that Miss Baxter is a good friend to him, and I love that even Mr Bates is kind to him. I love that Thomas shows every inch of his good and kind side and that people can look at that and forget his Evil Deeds. (Because Thomas really was a bad guy in the old days. Remember when he and O'Brian thought up naughty tricks outside the kitchen door while smoking cigarettes? Yeah. Those were the days.)

I choked UP when he said goodbye to the Downton folk. WHEN HE SAID GOODBYE TO GEORGE. (Ahhhh, I love it when he hangs out with the kids - it warms that HEART of mine. Thomas should be the Downton Nanny.) I'm so happy for him that he got to stay at Downton Abbey after all - because he's right; there's no place like Downton to have a job. :-P

(Also, it annoys me so much that Mr Carson won't ever give him a chance. Mr Carson has annoyed me lately.)

(Thomas' smile is so lovely. I love seeing him smile.)

SO YES. I LOVE THOMAS NOW. MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN.

Here's a picture of the Crawley family, being terribly lovely in front of the epic tree. I love them. There's Cora, with her head tilted like it always has been tilted (I used to think it was because of the heavy Edwardian hats and hairstyles, but it's just Cora), and there's good old Robert, probably saying something very sappy and poetical and cliché and epic; and pulling it off like a pro, making everyone nostalgic and teary-eyed.

There's Edith, not single anymore for long (and not wearing the best dress she's ever worn) and there's Tom, loyally staying in Downton, a good friend and a carved-in Downton Abbey Family member forever. And Mary, looking swell as always, and getting the attention.

So Mr Carson is retiring!! I SAY. Good luck to Mrs Hughes (who I will always be so fond of - she has never set a foot wrong) for keeping him entertained and cooking stuff for him that he approves of.

No really, they are very sweet together and I think they'll stand strong together for a long time to come. And Mr Carson will have fun telling Thomas how to run Downton Abbey like it has been run for 50 years.

I'm REALLY happy that Mary and Henry are expecting a baby! I'm not surprised, but it made me happy. My guesses are on another boy - called Charles - or a girl called Charlotte. (*Wink to all the Royalty fans out there who get this*) (You know - GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE.)

We must take a moment to talk about Andy. WE LOVE ANDY. I have a mild crush on him right now - he's so cute and adorable and he means so well. I think Daisy's an absolute moron for saying that 'she could do so much better.' I absolutely LOVE Mrs Patmore for telling her what's TRUE - she always falls in love with people who aren't in love back and she never loves those who love her. Daisy is a complicated soul; and it got on me nerves. But worry ye not, she finds her brain in the end, and they have some cute moments. (Not enough though. And Andy sort of deserves more cute moments and more attention from Daisy. I like them a lot together, and I wish we saw more of it.) (I mean, can you IMAGINE how cute their first kiss would be?!!)

(And Daisy's bob? Welllll. It looks better in the movie than in the pictures here, but the fringe kind of annoys me.)

(Here I am with the brackets again.)

BATES BABY!!!!!!!!!!!! And of course they leave us without a name because oh, Mr Fellowes likes to tease us, don't he. (I think they'll call him David. David Bates.) And is this is first time Anna calls her husband 'John'? :-P

Also, Mr Carson: "In Lady Mary's bedroom? Surely not." Hahahahaha.

(Ignore the lack of Robert's jacket on the picture. It's confusing because he wore a jacket (thank GOODNESS) in the movie scene. Maybe this is a picture from a rehearsal!?! I don't know. Maybe they photo-shopped the jacket on afterwards, haha.)

THEN WE HAVE DARLING EDITH GETTING MARRIED. ON NEW YEARS EVE.

Ahhhh, I have a cold, I have a cold, I have a cold. Edith looks so ridiculously pretty in her high-fashion, showing-her-ankles, big-veil, big-epic-bouquet wedding dress and their wedding party is a New Years Party as well... and SHE AND BERTIE ARE SO HAPPY AND BLAHHHHHH.

This is what the viewers have been waiting for ever since they discovered Edith was a good sort - A HAPPY ENDING FOR HER. Edith has gone through so much misery and woe, more than the average Downton persona, which says a lot because do you realise how many tragedies are buried in this house? Like, a million. She so deserves this happy ending and no-one can help but shed a tear when she says she never knew what it felt like to be this happy. (Aww, the love.)

This couple whispers during the service. I thought that was kind of weird; why hold a conversation when your sister is literally walking down the ISLE?! I like Mary a lot, but sometimes, you must admit, she does weird things. (No big deal though, this time. :-P) And why aren't George and Marigold at the wedding? I hope Marigold is the flower girl, because that would be so sweet.

THEY LITERALLY ARE THE SWEETEST COUPLE EVER. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR WEDDING. IT WAS PERFECT.

(Oh yes, I have one more thing to say: I love how it's always the same pastor doing all the weddings!)

Of course, I must end this post with The Last Shot Of Downton Abbey... it just leaves us bawling the night away, because wahhh, IT IS OVER. IT IS OVER. :'-( And look at the beautiful home of mine, looking so majestic in the New Year night, with snow and silvery highlights everywhere. (Julian Fellows, I've decided I love you after all. Although I still haven't forgiven you about Matthew and Sybil and I never ever shall.)

Right; so now. Have you seen this glittering finale? Did you cry as much as I did? Wasn't it GORGEOUS AND HEART-WARMING?!!! Let's talk about it together because gosh I need someone to talk about this with me. The feels must be shared. They are too much to be borne alone.

Defending Lavinia Swire

(Warning: There be spoilers.)

Here's a post I've been wanting to write for a long time now; a post which defends Lavinia Swire - one of the most famous third wheels in cinema history. People almost sighed a sigh of relief when she died, and many fans just see her as "that annoying obstacle in Matthew and Mary's love story." 

For those of you who have never seen Downton, I'm sure you know Matthew and Mary end together. (Come'on, that's HARDLY a spoiler. Everyone knows this. M&M's. We know we're there for the m&m's and not for the raisins and the nuts. (Blimeycow reference. Shutting up.)) However, their love story is anything BUT swift - because Matthew introduces his 'fiancé', Lavinia Swire in season two. Now, we all hurl and make up our minds to hate her, because hey obviously Matthew and Mary are still mad about each other. Shoo, Lavinia. Go. Shoo. Buzz off. Booboo. After a while she does just that - and dies from a broken heart. A few episodes later on, everyone's forgotten about her - ladida, ladida. Lavinia is gone; and life is well.

Isn't that terrible?!

Now, I love Lavinia. I think she's a darling girl and I think people hate on her much to much. Just because she's a bit shy and introverted doesn't mean she doesn't have a heart, you know. People say she never smiles - but there are reasons. She isn't the kind of girl that goes 'heyyyy how are you?!!" and smiles at strangers. She's shy and she's reserved - and hey, her fiancé who she loves to bits is off to war and finds himself reattached towards a beautiful Crawley girl. She shouldn't be smiling very much.

Now firstly, I must say this: I AM A HUGE MATTHEW AND MARY SHIPPER. I don't ship Matthew and Lavinia. I say this because I know some people do (I mean reeeeaaaally?! Matthew and Mary belong together; it's plain as clear sky!) and because I don't want people to attack me with that argument against Lavinia in the comment box, haha. I want Matthew to be with Mary as much as the next person - but - but I love Lavinia too. (Yes, this is humanly possible!)

Look here, draw close, and I'll tell you the secret.

Why, you ask, do so many people dislike Lavinia? (Well, maybe you didn't ask, but hushup.) Well, because WE ARE LAVINIA.

No really; think about it - a lot of us are Lavinia. I know I am. In love with Matthew. Check. Sometimes believes he is too; in my dreams. Check. Knows he actually isn't. Check. He loves Mary instead of me. Check. (I might as well be dead. Check. Okay, maybe not, but you get the point.)

And THAT, dear people of the Internet (which nowadays includes toddlers from preschool and World War veterans), is why so many people dislike Lavinia. Because they relate to her so much! Isn't that ridiculous? Why on earth would you hate someone who you can relate to? Stop that! It's childish behaviour. Stoppit. Instead of hating on someone you can relate to, how about emphasizing and wallowing in her sad story? Because there ain't no-one with such a sad tale as hers.* (That's why she doesn't smile very much. Not because she's a depressive spirit with no lust for life.)

* (Well maybe. Anna Bates.)

What I also don't like is that people hate on Matthew because of Lavinia. "He should stay true to his fiancé!" "He shouldn't have fallen in 'love' with Lavinia!" "He shouldn't have fallen in love with Mary again!" BLAHDEBLAH.

Guys. HE WAS GOING TO MARRY HER BUT THEN SHE DIED.

I admit, this is slightly different than the Edward-and-Lucy situation. Edward fell in love with Lucy when he was young (and foolish) and now Lucy is terribly annoying and he knows it. Matthew never hates Lavinia - he thinks she's a sweet girl; he's willing to sacrifice his love for her and marry her. He 'fell in love' with her after his break-up with Mary (this sounds like teenage drama, but it's so much more, believe me) and when he returned to Downton, he realised, "Wow. Mary really is mine still." His hiatus from Mary with Lavinia even led to an engagement, but when he spent time with the Crawley's again, he realised it was perhaps a mistake.

So don't hate on Matthew. Please. He's having hard enough time as it is. (And he was going. to. marry. her.) Also, when she dies, did you see how utterly guilty Matthew feels???!!! Did you see how sad and heart-broken he looked? HE IS EVERY INCH THE GENTLEMAN. OKAY?!?!?!

It really annoys me too, when people say she's ugly. ImeanREALLY?!!!! Just look at her face up there and see how beautiful this girl is! How can people say she's ugly?!

My heart aches for Lavinia, because she really does LOVE Matthew. Like, I'd-die-for-him-love. It might seem shallow and soppy for us viewers, because we don't want to believe she loves Matthew with deep love, like Mary - but really, she loves Matthew just as much as Mary does. She cries when he leaves, and she wants to marry him even though she knows he won't ever be able to give her children or be able to walk again. She loves him so much she doesn't care a jot. And Mary; poor thing, sees that all happen.

And Lavinia, poor thing, sees Mary and Matthew's thing all happen. She sees them DANCE together. AND KISS.

(Gosh, this is a complicated story. Because my heart burns for all three people. I feel desperately sorry for Matthew. I feel DESPERATELY sorry for Mary (I mean really - and she's so kind towards Lavinia; I'm SO proud of her in Season Two) and I feel desperately sorry for Lavinia, as well.)

(Seriously, if you don't feel bad for her; where is your heart, Elinor?!)

Really, she's such a darling, sweet thing - she so does NOT deserve all zee hate. So please, respect her from now on. I know Matthew and Mary's love story is a complicated one, and yes, Lavinia is an obstacle in their love life - but that doesn't mean she's an annoying little person with no heart and no feelings and no importance. :-)

Lavinia, love, you're great.