Thread:Bchwood/@comment-168424-20131120033752/@comment-168424-20131127202110

Unless you have better things to do, you should make the video anyway.

I have thought a little about it and have some ideas:
 * Show short clips of the major characters from Series 1 (Upstairs: Robert, Cora, Mary, Edith, Sybil, Matthew, Isobel, Violet; Downstairs: Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Anna, Bates, Branson, Daisy, Mrs. O'Brien, Thomas, and maybe Mrs. Patmore) in groups or individually, depending on the quality of the video available.
 * Show some highlights of major changes affecting those characters through Series 3:
 * Robert dealing with financial troubles, Cora reacting to various events and dealing with her mother, Mary and Matthew courting, Matthew in the war, Edith getting jilted, Branson courting Sybil and her dying, Isobel and Violet tangling, perhaps ending with Matthew's death.
 * Carson straining the wine and talking to Mrs. Hughes, Anna and Bates courting and events surrounding his arrest, jail time and trial, Daisy being courted by William, reacting to his death and fighting with Mrs. Patmore, Mrs. O'Brien and Thomas plotting together, and Thomas in the war.
 * Throw in various other entertaining scenes: Cora directing Anna and Mary carrying Pamuk's dead body, Edith driving, Matthew saving Sybil during political riot, Violet reaction shots, Robert and his dog, events during the war, Robert at trial, meeting Cora's mom, etc.
 * The end could be a shot of Downton Abbey itself with questions moving through the frame or floating around about situations leading to Series 4:
 * Will Robert save Downton Abbey from financial ruin? Will Cora's family help? How will Mary cope with Matthew's death and her new baby? Will Edith find happiness? What will become of Violet and Isobel? How will Branson integrate with the Crawley family and his daughter?
 * How will Carson and Mrs. Hughes cope with major changes downstairs? Will Anna and Bates escape his past? Will Thomas regain his position in the household? Will Daisy find another?

I hoe that's not too much to cram into a video and I hope it helps.