We've only seen Bertie in one episode and a few spoilers, but he and Edith are quickly becoming my otp! How do others feel about their relationship?
We've only seen Bertie in one episode and a few spoilers, but he and Edith are quickly becoming my otp! How do others feel about their relationship?
I think it's highly unlikely that Mrs Pelham wouldn't want Bertie marry. Whatever her private feelings to "lose" her son to another woman or her position, according to Bertie she values position and duty, which means that she sees that it's his duty to marry. After all, only if he gets a legimate son, the next Marquess will be her grandson. And he is already over thirty and there could hardly be a more suitable match than marry an Earl's daughter.
It must be Marigold.
Bertie did say his mother would be thrilled at him marrying an Earl's daughter. He also described her as making "Mr Squeers look like Florence Nightingale". Given that she was "cock-a-hoop" about him succeeding to his cousin's title and estate, my impression from these clues is that she's a cold and calculating social climber, who doesn't want a scandalous secret (her son marrying a woman raising a love child) to threaten her plans, but Bertie will threaten to cut her out of his life if she does not accept that he will marry Edith and raise Marigold as his own.
I'm so glad Edith and Bertie are together and Edith is happy, although I've never been as short with Edith when she is unhappy like other fans have been. One thing I don't understand is when people claim Edith makes herself a victim. When something happens to make her unhappy, she's unhappy. And I think being jilted at the alter, having your lover go missing and brutally murdered as well as having your child cut off from you is a understandable reason to be unhappy. 'When you laugh, the world laughs with you. But when you cry you cry alone' indeed. I think Edith deserves her happiness and that she has never chosen to be unhappy. Shitty things just happen to her. She may have played a role in her misfortunes; as everyone has, but she can't be blamed for Michael being killed by the Brownshirts.
I agree, she never chose to be a victim and at last she got the happy ending she deserves.
I loved how they resolved the Bertie & Edith storyline. He simply loved her too much and while he's quite aware of his duties as the new Marquess, he wasn't going to let the objections of his mum overrule his heart. Marigold will be a problem (as Edith noted to Robert, it's not just Lady Rosamund who knows about her any more), but with finesse, she can be passed off as Edith's ward. Bertie will welcome her in to his life, that's all that matters.
I think Harry Hadden-Paton did a wonderful job playing Bertie, especially in the scene at the Ritz. Loved the way he showed Bertie will not be overrun by his mum, he stiffened up, Bertie simply shut down his mum when she objected.
As to the storyline of Bertie (and Edith), which I liked very much: but in fact it is all about Bertie and not about Edith. OK he loves her very much (for his own sake?) and no doubt it will make a happy marriage, but he does not show any empathy for her. Like: I want to marry you (on the sofa) and not 'do you want to marry me?' Same conversation in the park when he became Marquess. He needed her....Besides, all the way he ignored all the signs of her hesitation, never wondered or asked why. He just wanted it his way (only child?). Also at the Ritz it was all about his life and feelings without her, not asking how SHE felt. In the press was written that he made excuses to her: I can't really find them...
I disagree. Bertie's proposal on the sofa was very sweet. He was humble (he hadn't much to offer in the worlduy terms, only much love). He showed empathy both giving Edith time to consider and promising straightawy that she can bring Marigold.
When he came to Downton as a Marquess, he was in a state of shock: he mourned his beloved cousin and doubted his abilities to fulfill his new duties. In the situation his plea "I need you" was deeply moving as it showed his admiration and trust in Edith.
It's true that he didn't notice the warning signs, but it's usual in conversations. If a man is deeply in love, he thinks that his beloved is without faults, not suspects her of dark secrets.
If one compares Bertie's behavior with that of Henry, one notices that it was the latter who wanted it his way.
I think the scene was a lackluster.
Fellowes completely ignored the issue of trust which had caused Bertie to part from Edith. Because Edith hadn't told him, so he couln't trust her.
He should have explained what had made him change his mind and trust her again. F.ex. that he had came to understand that Edith had tried to collect her courage tell him in the corridor but he didn't give her a chance ("I take it yes").
Most of all, it should have been Bertie who wanted to meet Edith and who then contacted Rosamund to arrange the meeting.
Mary wasn't needed at all. How could she persue him in the telephone when teh telephones were situated in the places where anybody could hear calls?
I really do like Bertie and especially in the way he was performed by Harry Hadden-Paton (chapeau!). The character Fellowes made of him is vulnerable, humble and sensitive (was he bullied in his youth - apart from his mother?) and it is a pity that this character is not worked out better. Therefore I am puzzled why he ignored all the signs Edith threw up...On the sofa he would have fulfilled any wish of Edith, he with nothing to offer but...love. Obviously he was shocked by the death of his cousin, but the way he reacted on the news of Marigold should not have surprised him. Again no empathy for Edith, an illegitimate child must have caused a lot of sorrow in those days. And again no empathy for Edith at the Ritz. Not asking how have you been, but : I want you back and I want to marry you and almost tears about him having to live without her. Instead of : Do want me back and still want to marry me. Edith even told him that he broke her heart, no empathic reaction at all... May be Bertie and Edith will be the new mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, but Darcy in the end at least apologised for his earlier behaviour. And then in the case of Marigold he in fact treated his mother in the same way he blamed Edith for, not telling. From the spoiler showing the reunion at the Ritz I had also expected him to ask Rosamund for mediation or even Rosamund (who experienced the whole drama with Marigold from the beginning ) informing him about the sad life Edith had for years but still surviving in an admirable way, and consequently he could have changed his mind then, still loving her so much. But not Mary. I think Fellowes had to fill in what the Dowager asked Mary : to make up with her sister. As I wrote earlier : a spin off at Brancaster - a few years later - could offer a lot of new stories and information, especially on the background of Bertie....
I think what is good about Bertie and Edith is we would like to see more of them. We already care, but we want more. The problem I had with Mary and Henry is hat I needed more to believe in them as a couple, but I wasn't interested in them. I think Bertie was empathetic, it was in his character to be, but we didn't see it because of timing. When he stood up to his mother though he says her story makes him admire her more. So it is certainly hinted at that he understands Edith a bit better now. I could do with knowing more about Bertie, but at least I feel like there is more to know. Unlike Henry.