You Heard It Here First
Oct. 19th, 2014 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kelly_chamblissI found myself with an unexpected free evening, so instead of grading or writing my fics (for which deadlines loom), I entertained myself by reading Downton Abbey reviews. In the process, I had what can only be described as an actual, for-real BRAINSTORM.
I think I have figured out one of the plot twists. Not the mystery of Thomas's illness (other on-line folks seem to have sussed that one out fairly convincingly, so it doesn't need me), but a completely different plot.
If it turns out that I'm right, you may call me a genius. If I am wrong, call me Sybill. (In fact, if I'm wrong, I'll just disavow all knowledge of the idea, and I'll swear blind to anyone who asks that it wastherealsnape's and tetleythesecond's brainstorm. After all, they have been known to dabble in the waters of Downton Divination.)
Anyway, here's the Brilliant Idea. Read it and be convinced.
My theory:
Violet Crawley's butler, Spratt, is going to turn out to be the unscrupulous footman who lured Baxter into stealing jewels for him and then dumped her.
My reasoning:
Baxter's Backstory: Last week, we learned the backstory about Baxter's theft of jewelry from a previous employer, a crime that sent her to prison for three years. According to Baxter, she had come under the thrall of a footman in the household, one Peter Coyle. She had fallen in love with Coyle and was willing to do anything he wanted. What he wanted was for her to steal jewelry and give it to him. In return, he promised they would run away together. But in the time-honored way of bounders everywhere, he simply took the jewels and scarpered, leaving Baxter holding the bag. She didn't turn him in (for murky reasons that aren't very convincing but are apparently necessary for the plot). She was caught, convicted, did her time, and now wants only to turn her back on a past she vows she will never repeat. She has learned her lesson; "I will never be controlled again," she says.
Countess Cora urges her to go after Coyle and turn him into the police, but Baxter refuses, and Cora doesn't press it.
Spratt's Stardom: Previously on DA, Violet's butler occupied a decidedly minor role. He announced people and served dinner and seemed to be as tradition-bound as Mr Carson, but that was about it. Last season, he did have a featured moment in which he sabotaged Molesley's job prospects out of fear that Violet was going to replace him (S) with M, but otherwise, he's basically been an extra.
This season, however, Spratt has been quite visible. It is he who spots Lady Mary coming out of the Liverpool hotel after her illicit weekend with Tony and tattles to Violet (with what motives, we aren't sure; he seemed rather slimy about it, and I suspected blackmail, except that Violet heads him off).
And now on this week's episode, Violet and Isobel have a long talk over tea in which Violet goes on rather at unusual length (she's never been so chatty about servants' personal lives before) about how Spratt is depressed because Violet's lady's maid has been hinting that she will be leaving. According to Violet, this fact upsets Spratt because the maid is "S's creature" -- he completely controls her, and he can't be sure that the next maid will be so pliable. (Even in the light tone of the scene, this control sounds a bit ominous.)
Also this week, Violet (again unusually) refers to Spratt's personal feelings as he is showing her and her guests (Isobel, Dr. Clarkson, and Lord Merton) into luncheon. Instead of just passing the butler as if he were not there, or at best, giving him a nod (the usual practices with servants at public occasions), Violet says, "Oh, cheer up, Spratt" and as an aside to Isobel, "It is as I feared; Collins (?) has handed in her notice, and Spratt dislikes the change." Then someone (I forget who) says, "Don't you like change, Spratt?" to which he replies, "I hate it." Then there is a little banter about how, like it or not, we have to accept new things, because THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'.
This is an awful lot of chit-chat with the servants on the way into dinner -- when have we ever seen that before?
And the maid-is-leaving plot is an obvious instance of of Chekhovian pistols-on-the-wall if I ever saw one.
So I think we are being set up, and what I think we are being set up for is this: Violet will find herself without a maid, Cora will kindly offer to let Baxter help out, and Baxter will head off for the dower house. Before now, as a maid at the big house, she would have had no reason to meet Lady Grantham's butler. So she will show up, all unsuspecting, and she will be face-to-face with. . .Peter Coyle as was!! Violet's butler is a jewel thief!
Well, whaddaya think? Pretty convincing, huh?
Arguments against my theory:
--Spratt's wonderfully lugubrious, basset-hound face doesn't seem as if it would have worked well for a career as a footman. Weren't footmen supposed to be dashingly handsome? Or maybe that was only in the really big or fashionable houses.
--If Spratt thought the stolen jewels would make his fortune, it doesn't seemed to have worked. He's still a butler in the depths of Yorkshire. (On the other hand, maybe the heat was on, and he couldn't fence the swag, so he is lying low until the coast is clear. [How's that for crook lingo?])
--Is it really possible that Baxter or anyone could be in the sexual thrall of Spratt? He seems too prosaic and ordinary. Then again, the hang-dog basset-hound air could be just a cover. If I've learned anything from fanfic, it's that one doesn't need to be movie-star beautiful to be da sexual bomb.
I think I have figured out one of the plot twists. Not the mystery of Thomas's illness (other on-line folks seem to have sussed that one out fairly convincingly, so it doesn't need me), but a completely different plot.
If it turns out that I'm right, you may call me a genius. If I am wrong, call me Sybill. (In fact, if I'm wrong, I'll just disavow all knowledge of the idea, and I'll swear blind to anyone who asks that it was
therealsnape's and tetleythesecond's brainstorm. After all, they have been known to dabble in the waters of Downton Divination.)Anyway, here's the Brilliant Idea. Read it and be convinced.
My theory:
Violet Crawley's butler, Spratt, is going to turn out to be the unscrupulous footman who lured Baxter into stealing jewels for him and then dumped her.
My reasoning:
Baxter's Backstory: Last week, we learned the backstory about Baxter's theft of jewelry from a previous employer, a crime that sent her to prison for three years. According to Baxter, she had come under the thrall of a footman in the household, one Peter Coyle. She had fallen in love with Coyle and was willing to do anything he wanted. What he wanted was for her to steal jewelry and give it to him. In return, he promised they would run away together. But in the time-honored way of bounders everywhere, he simply took the jewels and scarpered, leaving Baxter holding the bag. She didn't turn him in (for murky reasons that aren't very convincing but are apparently necessary for the plot). She was caught, convicted, did her time, and now wants only to turn her back on a past she vows she will never repeat. She has learned her lesson; "I will never be controlled again," she says.
Countess Cora urges her to go after Coyle and turn him into the police, but Baxter refuses, and Cora doesn't press it.
Spratt's Stardom: Previously on DA, Violet's butler occupied a decidedly minor role. He announced people and served dinner and seemed to be as tradition-bound as Mr Carson, but that was about it. Last season, he did have a featured moment in which he sabotaged Molesley's job prospects out of fear that Violet was going to replace him (S) with M, but otherwise, he's basically been an extra.
This season, however, Spratt has been quite visible. It is he who spots Lady Mary coming out of the Liverpool hotel after her illicit weekend with Tony and tattles to Violet (with what motives, we aren't sure; he seemed rather slimy about it, and I suspected blackmail, except that Violet heads him off).
And now on this week's episode, Violet and Isobel have a long talk over tea in which Violet goes on rather at unusual length (she's never been so chatty about servants' personal lives before) about how Spratt is depressed because Violet's lady's maid has been hinting that she will be leaving. According to Violet, this fact upsets Spratt because the maid is "S's creature" -- he completely controls her, and he can't be sure that the next maid will be so pliable. (Even in the light tone of the scene, this control sounds a bit ominous.)
Also this week, Violet (again unusually) refers to Spratt's personal feelings as he is showing her and her guests (Isobel, Dr. Clarkson, and Lord Merton) into luncheon. Instead of just passing the butler as if he were not there, or at best, giving him a nod (the usual practices with servants at public occasions), Violet says, "Oh, cheer up, Spratt" and as an aside to Isobel, "It is as I feared; Collins (?) has handed in her notice, and Spratt dislikes the change." Then someone (I forget who) says, "Don't you like change, Spratt?" to which he replies, "I hate it." Then there is a little banter about how, like it or not, we have to accept new things, because THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'.
This is an awful lot of chit-chat with the servants on the way into dinner -- when have we ever seen that before?
And the maid-is-leaving plot is an obvious instance of of Chekhovian pistols-on-the-wall if I ever saw one.
So I think we are being set up, and what I think we are being set up for is this: Violet will find herself without a maid, Cora will kindly offer to let Baxter help out, and Baxter will head off for the dower house. Before now, as a maid at the big house, she would have had no reason to meet Lady Grantham's butler. So she will show up, all unsuspecting, and she will be face-to-face with. . .Peter Coyle as was!! Violet's butler is a jewel thief!
Well, whaddaya think? Pretty convincing, huh?
Arguments against my theory:
--Spratt's wonderfully lugubrious, basset-hound face doesn't seem as if it would have worked well for a career as a footman. Weren't footmen supposed to be dashingly handsome? Or maybe that was only in the really big or fashionable houses.
--If Spratt thought the stolen jewels would make his fortune, it doesn't seemed to have worked. He's still a butler in the depths of Yorkshire. (On the other hand, maybe the heat was on, and he couldn't fence the swag, so he is lying low until the coast is clear. [How's that for crook lingo?])
--Is it really possible that Baxter or anyone could be in the sexual thrall of Spratt? He seems too prosaic and ordinary. Then again, the hang-dog basset-hound air could be just a cover. If I've learned anything from fanfic, it's that one doesn't need to be movie-star beautiful to be da sexual bomb.