I can't decide if John and Maria will get together at the end of this, or will there be some horrible tragedy to keep them apart (see Mary/Matthew and Edith/everyone lol).

The downstairs conversations were better in Downton. I think so far Speer is less vile than O'Brian was, but we'll see.

I do feel a bit sorry for Mrs. Oliver, now knowing she's infertile.

And yes, the bits where the husbands were foolish enough to talk to their wives without checking for servants was great. I laughed both times.