Downton Abbey : Robert's Burst Ulcer is Season 6. Too Graphic for Downton Abbey?

When Robert started belching out lots of blood all over the dinner table in front of a large group of people (including Neville Chamberlain) I thought I was going to be sick.

Was this sort of graphic scene really necessary? It seems more in line with a cheap horror film than Downton Abbey.

I would have expected the majority of the ladies at the table to start vomiting at the sight of such a spectacle. It would seem like a natural reaction.

Considering that he seemed quite normal in the next episode (other than spending time in bed) why did they feel the need to put the audience through that?




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

The ladies of DA had seen much worse caring for the war wounded. I doubt it would have made any one of them vomit.

While that's true it's quite different when it's happening to your husband, father or son.

And I don't recall The Dowager Duchess seeing much blood during the war.




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

Violet was the toughest woman in the family. She would not have been fazed in the least. I imagine in her long life she has seen more than the others could have dreamed of seeing.

dowager Countess

geez.

.

Psssst,'JohnD'it's the 'Dowager COUNTESS':)!??

I never got why they didn't just kill him. Then it might have been a dramatic horrifying moment because that sometimes happens. The fact he was normal later and it made no difference to anything is what annoyed me.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

It was inflicting something unnecessarily graphic on the audience, out of touch with the series as a whole and yes, I agree, as he seemed fine in the very next episode (except for needing some rest) completely gratuitous.




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

I don't watch contemporary horror films because I find them much too graphic for my taste.

To me this out of a horror film.




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

I think you are very sensitive and saying it was a horror film IS quite an exaggeration.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

It certainly isn't something we would expect to see in Downton Abbey.




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

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It certainly isn't something we would expect to see in Downton Abbey.

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Following your train of thought, how did you feel about all of season 2 with the horrors of WWI? What about Thomas having his hand blown apart? How did the moans and cries of the soldiers affect you? I'm just asking because Robert's ulcer bursting was no more graphic than the war scenes, and in actuality is much less intense.

"Sympathy doesn't the parsnips." - Mrs. Patmore

The war scenes served a purpose.




Mice work in mysterious ways.
No, dear. That's God.

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The war scenes served a purpose.

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As did Robert's ulcer emergency. Perhaps JF went with a graphic show of the ulcer to bring home the point of the local cottage hospital - could it handle such a dire emergency? Would a member of the aristocracy receive the best care? (Not that his standing in the community would mean better care by today's standards but I believe in that era, that notion would hold.) It sounds as if you object mainly to the blood, am I correct?


"Sympathy doesn't the parsnips." - Mrs. Patmore

If that was the point of the blood-spout, then it was pointless. Because Robert received amazingly excellent care at the local cottage hospital - he was one of the maybe .001% of people who survived a burst ulcer in the early 20th century - and Violet lost the battle anyhow.

The only reason I can see for the bloodiness of Robert's burst ulcer was JF attempted a scene that creates/mirrors a level of drama, tension & panic similar to Sybil's eclampsia death in Season 3. Did we need it? Probably not. AND logically, Robert dying would make more sense, but JF wasn't going to wrap up the last season with that happening. Just as he wasn't going to kill off Violet.

The only thing that came out of the dinner scene was Mary cluing into who Marigold really was. It did nothing for the dreary hospital plot line.

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The only thing that came out of the dinner scene was Mary cluing into who Marigold really was.

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Always a treat to see Mary cogitate; you can almost smell the rubber burning.

I didn't dislike Robert, but his sudden death would have been a great kick start to the end of the plot. Everyone dealing with that and George being the next earl (does he get the title then or when he's an adult?) But it would have opened up some good possibilities since the whole show was about finding an heir in the beginning it would have been interesting to see what happens when you finally need that heir. But obviously Mary could have gathered a conclusion about Marigold a different way and whatever the snoozefest of the hospital fight wasThat may be the worst storyline in that I could not get myself to care even a little and then I don't even remember what the problem was or how it got solved. But obviously the ulcer didn't end that story.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

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I didn't dislike Robert, but his sudden death would have been a great kick start to the end of the plot.

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I agree with you about the possibilities that could have come out of Robert's death. But one of those possibilities would have also been a major, if not crippling, financial blow to the estate. They were still paying off the death taxes following Matthews death. With Robert's death, the debt would be equal to what they owed for Matthew.

I wonder if they would have overlooked that? But I forgot about any taxes. I wouldn't want the show to end on a financial ruin note.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

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I wouldn't want the show to end on a financial ruin note.

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Are you sure? I'd really miss another endless discussion about how they're going to get the money to save that pile. (/s)

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There's this fellow, Ponzi . . .

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Palmless facepalm:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CIAnWSLXpUc/maxresdefault.jpg

I would have preferred an ending between hopeless financial ruin and the "everyone pairs off and is super happy perfect ending!" that we did get. Maybe a financial setback but we know Tom and the mechanic's used car business is poised to save the day.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

They were leading up to something happening with Robert by the number of times he "felt unwell". I too thought he would die in mid-season, possibly of a heart attack. Then the Crawleys would spend the rest of the season preparing to leave Downton, which would have to be sold to pay off the death duties.

@dizexpat'the war scenes "SERVED A PURPOSE"'??? R u kidding with dat???

I didn't find it horrifying at all. I found it ridiculous and silly. And pointless.

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When Robert started belching out lots of blood all over the dinner table in front of a large group of people (including Neville Chamberlain) I thought I was going to be sick.

Was this sort of graphic scene really necessary? It seems more in line with a cheap horror film than Downton Abbey.

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I know what you mean OP.

I too found it rather too graphic especially as you pointed out that he was fine in the next episode and given the rather feel-good nature of the show.

I'm not big on the queezy, graphic horror kind of stuff and even though I can watch it on "Game of Thrones" for example, it did feel out of place in this particular show.

IIRC, I do believe that right before the episode aired in the UK, it had a "Graphic warning - Viewer discretion advised" type of message at the start of the show (just as it had done with the Anna rape scene)

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why did they feel the need to put the audience through that?

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I think to show just how serious and horrific a burst ulcer could be in those days? He really could have died. But like a poster above has mentioned, I honestly wish they went that route instead of him lying in bed perfectly alright in the very next episode! It would have been less farcical than him talking about paintings at the Tate.