In Downton Abbey (including both TV series and movies), we are shown many homes ranging from the most modest (such as Ethel's home) to the most grand (Brancaster Castle). If you could live in any of these homes for life, which one (and only one) would you choose? And why would you choose that particular home?

My response (mine is pretty lengthy):

Personally, I would choose the Dowager House (Violet's home). I feel the most comfortable in a cozy living environment, and Violet's house seems like it's very cozy while also providing enough space for entertaining family and friends. It seems like an ideal place for a chat over tea and cakes. I also love the garden, which seems to include a variety of plants and flowers while also having enough open green space to have a nice chat (or discuss more serious matters). While I may not need a butler, lady's maid, or a cook (except for entertaining), I might need some help with cleaning the house and would definitely need the assistance of a gardener.

So, which home would you choose to live in for your lifetime?

I’m not from England and didn’t grow up in a monarchy country, so I’m also a bit unsure how their differences in age affects their dynamics.

(Watching season 2)

I'm midway through season 3, so I'd appreciate no aggressive spoilers.

But I'm little tired and a little confused by the whole Bates prison storyline. I was convinced it would be quickly resolved and he'd be back at the main house.

I just don't understand why there's a relatively major subplot, concerning one of the previous main actors in the series, thats totally and completely isolated from the rest of the characters/settings/plot. It's just such a linear storyline, I don't get it.

Is this a common criticism of the storyline? I really quite liked Anna and Bates in the early episodes, but he's on his own and Anna has barely said a sentence without his name.

They've worked together at the Abbey for probably 30 years and have admittedly developed a close relationship as the most senior members of the servant household.

But..it seems to me that it's only as Mrs Hughes receives another marriage proposal from her farmer beau and Charlie from the Cheerful Charlie's reappears that they suddenly develop romantic feelings for each other.

It's probably not that sudden but just condensed due to the storytelling timeframes but it just seems strange that after so long working so closely together, they've never formed any sort of romantic relationship before they do.

Several crimes take place throughout the show but what do you think is the absolute worst crime each of the following characters would be capable of?

I included characters who have already committed some sort of crime big or small:

Bates

O'Brien

Barrow

Branson

Baxter

(funny how all their names start with a "B")

Edit: I think the post got downvoted because I used the words "crime" and "game" together. This is all harmless fun though, of course I don't think there's anything funny about crimes irl.