Episode #1.2 - S1-E2
Question: How does Edith know that Mary and the Duke were in the men's quarters? I never saw her there. Only Bates sees them. Was she hiding? Bates wouldn't have told her.
Question: Lord Sinderby has a painting of Jesus in his library. Would a Jewish leader decorate his rooms with a crucified Jesus? I really don't know, so thanks for an answer from wiser ones.
Episode #1.4 - S1-E4
Question: Why does Daisy "take a turn" in Lady Mary's room? She never saw them take Pamook's body from Mary's room. She only saw them putting him back in his room, which is said to be "miles" away.
Answer: Lady Mary was one of the three women Daisy saw carrying Pamuk's body. Daisy realised he could not have died in Cora's (Lady Grantham) room, as she sleeps with husband Robert, nor would Cora and Mary ever help carry Pamuk from Anna's bedroom in the upstairs servants' quarters. Lady Sylvia and Lady Edith were completely unaware of what happened and Edith later quizzed Daisy for information. That left Mary, who everyone noticed was particularly distraught. Daisy could have overheard Thomas later telling O'Brien that he had shown Pamuk where Mary's bedroom was located (though he never saw Pamuk go inside).
Episode #4.6 - S4-E6
Question: When Lady Edith gets the letter confirming her pregnancy - who is the letter addressed to? Because she would not have wanted to use her real name, or have the OBGYN doctor's return address on the envelope.
Answer: The letter was addressed to Edith, an adult woman. As such, the family respects her privacy and would not question her receiving something from her own doctor. If anyone asked, she would merely give some vague explanation for seeing a physician. If she was concerned about anyone becoming suspicious, then she could have instructed the doctor's office to send it in a plain envelope.
Episode #1.1 - S1-E1
Question: Lady Grantham did not want electricity in the bedrooms, but near the end of the episode doesn't she turn out a light at her bedside while Lord Grantham blows out a candle?
Answer: It's possible it's a paraffin lamp. My grandparents have these for power cuts - There is a thick wick which can be raised or lowered by turning a little knob. This can make a brighter flame or cut it out entirely. The flame is covered with a glass tube and, for fancy versions, a lampshade fits over the top.
Episode #3.6 - S3-E6
Question: When Robert and Cora come to see the doctor at the end of the episode to hear his explanation about Cybil's death, who shows them into the room? It looks a lot like Bates, who hasn't been released from prison yet.
Answer: Although this looks a bit like Bates with a similar build and darker coloring, it is actually Lady Violet Crawley's butler, Spratt, who is showing them into the drawing room. They are meeting at Violet's house to talk with Dr. Clarkson about Sybil's death. Also, Bates was never a butler, he was a valet, and would never be the one to show people into a drawing room or anywhere else. Servants' roles and duties were strictly defined.
Question: I understand that the show won the Emmy for Best Made-For-TV Movie or Miniseries. And, yet, the show has had more seasons. Just how do the rules for that category work and what made Downton Abbey eligible to be considered a miniseries?
Answer: Yes, because at the time it was not sure if it would continue and since it was short it could be seen as a miniseries. it also depends on where the producers decide to submit it. However since it continues on it is no longer a miniseries but a full series and thus cannot be submitted in the miniseries category anymore.
Episode #2.7 - S2-E7
Question: Mary states that Sybil is 21 in 1919, but says he's born in 1895. Also she dies in 1920, so that makes her 24-25, was that an age mistake?
Answer: According to various Downton Abbey online sources, Sybil Crawley was born between May - June 1895 and died between April - August 1920, (exact months were not listed). She would have been 24 years old when she died. Mary's comment can be attributed as a character mistake or, more likely, the screenwriters were careless.
Answer: Lord Sinderby purchased the house, furnished and appointed, from someone else, complete with staff that come with the home (some of whom aren't happy to be working for a Jewish family). He bought the title, as well. If the artwork featuring Jesus is valuable, he might keep it. Also interesting, his ancestors Anglicized their name, though he is proudly Jewish.
Michael Albert