Comments on: ‘Downton Abbey’ season 5 character debate: Hugh Bonneville’s Robert Crawley https://cartermatt.com/101854/downton-abbey-season-5-character-debate-hugh-bonnevilles-robert-crawley/ TV News, Interviews, and Reviews Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: noway11 https://cartermatt.com/101854/downton-abbey-season-5-character-debate-hugh-bonnevilles-robert-crawley/#comment-129958 Sun, 05 Jan 2014 12:29:00 +0000 http://cartermatt.com/?p=101854#comment-129958 In reply to guest.

Agree in full with the above. And may I +1
the nickname here of Lady Rose? The Gidge is a total annoyance. Methinks Gidge would do well back in America.

]]> By: guest https://cartermatt.com/101854/downton-abbey-season-5-character-debate-hugh-bonnevilles-robert-crawley/#comment-129735 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 15:09:00 +0000 http://cartermatt.com/?p=101854#comment-129735 Robert’s finest moment in two seasons was the cricket match episode. He was on his game working his lordly power over law enforcement, righteous footmen and even reluctant batsman Tom, made peace with his sons in law and had a glorious response to learning Jimmy had freaked out when Thomas kissed him–all played expertly by Hugh B. who left us knowing Lord G was not only large and in charge, but fundamentally kind and good-humored. But Robert had virtually nothing to do this series. He began simply as a vessel to show the era’s backward overprotective treatment of fragile women by their men and blustered a little about avoiding change (again). Thankfully, that didn’t last long, but after his two-scene mini-story in helping that farmer guy, he had little else to say or do. He had no story even at his own birthday party! Hardly a scene with his adoring wife (who has even LESS to do than Hugh does), or his former bromance partner Bates. A door was opened when Bates confided some marital disharmony and Robert offered one single line of support–but then they NEVER discussed things again, even when Robert was sent to America and Bates didn’t want to come. (Why does JF make Robert that dense? He really isn’t ever written as an unkind or insensitive person. He just went through marriage troubles himself. Why can’t he at least suspect something is very wrong with his only friend??) The Christmas special teased a major Robert/royals storyline with the letter and for just a moment it appeared Bates and Robert might take on the caper together…only to turn the whole thing over to perky little Gidget, assisted by cousin Mary and the Pig Man. (WHY??) It was a rare opportunity to let two strong characters and leading men actors play off each other a bit in a different scenario than two lines while putting Robert’s waistcoat on. But no. No interaction with Cora as they brought out Rose either–another opportunity to at least mention dearly departed Sybil. It must have been a bit bittersweet event, but nope–it was all about Gidget having a happy day. More screen time is spent mooning over Alfred the Dull than for either Sybil or Matthew. As for Season 5, which I suspect will be the last, here’s hoping JF lets the grown-ups chat a bit and moves focus away from the Melrose Place teen drama upstairs and down. It would be no surprise if Hugh B or Elizabeth want to leave. They are horribly underutilized in favor of the kids now and I fear Hugh is hanging around just for the grand meals in the dining scenes. Maggie and Penelope Wilton have carefully crafted scenes with each other, Carson has Mrs. Hughes (yay), and Anna and Bates and Mrs. Patmore and Ivy all have their bits. JF has no idea what to do with the Granthams and so resorts to Robert being backward (again) and Cora rolling her eyes and doing needlework. As far as viewers know, they’ve never even met their grandchildren. I hope series 5 allows Robert to begin to evolve and grow in his modern world, I hope he does NOT resist Tom having a love life (though that teacher seems a bit pushy for a match with him). It would be nice to see him take on a fatherly role for Tom and for his invisible grandson and heir. I know the aristocrats were hands-off and all, but it’s telly and he waited his whole life for a son, and now seems curiously disinterested in the fatherless boy. Even Uncle Carson had a cuddle with Sybbie and evil Thomas is prone to playing coochie-coo with the baby girl. WTF? And please by god let the man take an active role in getting Edith’s secret child off the farm and into the nursery at his house! He once acted on Thomas’s behalf, doesn’t his own daughter deserve the benefit of his influence? Please let him prove he loves his long-suffering middle child. Is that too much to ask?

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