I know he favored Elizabeth and James was his mothers son but at least you knew and saw affection and warmth between mother and daughter some times... Richard was always such a hard ass to James all the damn time.
shareFirst let me say that the activity on this board has cooled off. Maybe it's just a phase.
Look at it from Richard's POV. James was kind of a drifter. He nearly ruins his army career by drinking, gambling, and dating a music hall singer former servant. He gets her pregnant out of wedlock. He gets engaged to an army brat then breaks it off. He quits the army for a job he ends up hating. He dates Richard's secretary behind his back. He ends up being not a very good husband to her. He does a decent, better-than-expected, job of running for Parliament only to quit after he loses. He has an affair with the wife of his oldest friend, who also happens to be a Marquess. He gets in way over his head in the stock market.
Also, traditionally, upper class British dads weren't particularly known for their outward signs of affection. I know Richard wasn't born upper class, be still belonged to it.
Yet his little girl was kind of a rebellious scandal making problem- they managed to fix her boo boos all the time though-also. And all she hit was a hug and sympathy. Sons were held to higher standards of course. Marjorie knew both her kids were not up to snuff at least.
shareElizabeth was sent off to a foreign country. She never lived near her family again, and only saw them occasionally.
That she made a good life for herself in her new country is to her credit. But she didn't get a better deal than James.
It was never stated why Elizabeth left.
I remember a post from a couple of years ago and it's still here.
In the books based on the series, the circumstances of Elizabeth's divorce were explained. Partridge, the real father of her child, let the secret slip and word reached the "King's Proctor", whoever that was, that Elizabeth had committed adultery. Therefore, her divorce was blocked. Whether Lawrence refused to sue her for divorce (he could have) is not mentioned. Afterward, she moved to Reno, Nevada to establish residency and get an "American" divorce. As Lady Marjorie had feared, she fell in love with the lawyer representing her and married him. She could then never return to England because she would be a bigamist. That was how Nicola Paget was written out of the show.
Divorce laws in England must have been quite strict back then.
They wrote her out of the show by sending Elizabeth to Reno to obtain a divorce since she couldn't get one in England, as explained. You're right; it wasn't explained on the show and it should have been. Dana and the divorce lawyer are the same person; in the books his law practice was in New York.
shareThe problem with that is that Reno divorce lawyers don't become directors of Goldman Sachs.
shareI am not convinced books, magazine articles, deathbed confessions of writers, or whatever we dig up should be given the same weight in a discussion about a TV show as the actual show. That's my 2ยข.
Back to the topic at hand...
It's true that the show never explains why Elizabeth left, and really the soapy writing of the Elizabeth Era was so different from later years that it was silly for me to compare them at all.
But seeing as how both children got on their parents' nerves...absence definitely made the heart grow fonder. James should have stayed in India or at the very least should have kicked Richard out when he had the chance. (I say this as a member of Team Richard.) He knew it, too, but couldn't break away. That's part of what's so interesting about the James Era.
nyctc7, yes, sad to say that activity here has cooled, but in the Golden Age, we had some wonderful discussions and your participation was key - you always had something intelligent and incisive to add. I look forward to a time when we can revive this board again - it's been a long time - I hope all is well with you and wish you and yours the very best of this holiday season. Take care!
No medicine cures what happiness cannot.
gaelicguy, I definitely noticed your absence. I miss Rogache as well. I think she passed away. There are a couple of others I haven't seen in quite a while as well. We UD fans aren't getting any younger, so I am delighted whenever anyone discovers the series. Downtown Abbey generated some interest in UD, but DA is now over.
Merry Christmas and holiday greetings to you, too!
Edited to add: A couple of years ago I purchased http://www.kaleidoscopepublishing.co.uk/books-insideupdown.html. It is a big, heavy coffee table book that is a bit unwieldy to read, but I guess still a must buy. I had the earlier paperback edition, but a long time ago sent it to Rogache.
Yes, nyctc7, unfortunately, roghache did pass away in October 2015 - she had been ill for several years and I found out from nachohater. She was a wonderful woman and SUCH a great asset here. As I said, that was a golden age here - THANK YOU, by the way, for pointing out how many ideas were lifted by Julian Fellowes for the over-hyped and overrated DA - though any time there's interest in a British period drama, there is cause for celebration.
THANKS SO MUCH for the heads up regarding Marson's book - I thought it was out of print or so I heard or read. I will add this to my Christmas wish list - DEFINITELY a must buy for devotees of UD.
Take care of yourself, again all of the best of the holiday season and I will check in here more regularly in 2017. THANK YOU AGAIN!
No medicine cures what happiness cannot.
Nyctc7, as Gaelicguy has posted roghache sadly passed away in Oct 2015 - she was a brave, kind, wise and lovely lady and I am very much indebted to this board for getting to know her. Private person as she was I hope she wouldn't mind my paying tribute to her here.
I used to post here under username nachohater some years back but rarely come here now - some lively and intelligent discussions, and shared love of a classic TV series - for me it doesn't feel the same without roghache though.
Nyctc you are the friend that roghache mentioned who gave her the Updown book? I know she was very grateful for that kindness.
Gaelicguy, wonderful to see you posting here! (what Gaelicguy doesn't know about 'Upstairs Downstairs' isn't worth knowing)
Didn't Elizabeth marry that fellow, who bailed her out of jail, and she moved to Canada? That's who Marjorie Bellamy was going to visit, when she went down with the Titanic.
share