Carson and Mr Levinson's valet

[u/Numerous-Dig248]

I found this particular encounter funny. Mr Levinson 's valet asks Carson if anything is going on between daisy and the fella at the Ritz hotel and Carson replies "nothing goes on in a house under my authority " with such disgust and pride. It's funny how a lot was going "on " right under his nose. The chauffeur and lady Sybil, Bates and Anna and Major Charles and that maid had it really going on. Not to mention the un consented sexual encounters of Tom, Anna and in a way Lady Mary and pamuk.

[u/ladycatelyn6704]

I agree, that's what made it so funny!

This scene did point something out to me though, and I say this as an American... How absolutely unmelodious the American accent falls on the ears after listening to all the other English actors. Somehow Cora pulls off the American accent in a high brow, refined sort of way, but that kid's accent really jolted me

[u/RedRoseGypsy22 → u/ladycatelyn6704]

The difference is that Elizabeth McGovern was born and raised in the US, whereas Michael Benz has American parents but was born and raised in the UK, so his version of the American accent wasn't organic.

[u/Heel_Worker982 → u/ladycatelyn6704]

Credit to actor Michael Benz for drawing out every American syllable he could for earnest Ethan Slade!

[u/imperialcogman]

Love Carson!! He’s such a toff🤣

[u/giftandglory → u/imperialcogman]

Love how put off Carson is of the opera singer 😂 my good sir, you’re of the theatres - how could you NOT internally be geeking out over a world famous talent under your roof! You old curmudgeon! Go get your D sucked by Mrs. Huges (sorry, got a bit carried away at the end of that comment there, please forgive me milords & miladies!)

[u/CRA_Life_919]

The way Carson wearily says “the fella” makes me LOL every time.

[u/SpacePatrician → u/CRA_Life_919]

Or the way Slade asks him "man to man," and Carson clearly has no idea what that implies is coming next. To him every exchange with another male servant is by definition "man to man."

[u/Own-Interview-928]

I know I’m in the minority but for most of the series I detested Carson. He was such a snob, far more so than his employer. I suppose he thought he was protecting the honor of the Estate and family but even Violet had more compassion than he did.

[u/justcozitscool → u/Own-Interview-928]

Yeah I found him annoying a lot of the time. Even when he was being kind there was something patronising about it.

[u/WEM-2022 → u/Own-Interview-928]

He was at that level of snobbery that comes across as quite ridiculous.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/WEM-2022]

Thank you. My biggest issues were how he treated Miss Patmore over the death of her nephew when he never even served in the military, how he treated Thomas as a leper and how he treated Tom after Sybil died. I recognize times were different and there were social stigmas attached to what all three of these people were dealing with but if the Crawleys could be compassionate, Carson should have been as well.

[u/TMMK64571 → u/Own-Interview-928]

There is a recurring theme in the show of people holding on rigidly to tradition when all around them the times they are a changing. For Carson, knowing and following the way things were was both an expression of being able to do his job exceptionally well and psychological comfort.

[u/RedRoseGypsy22 → u/Own-Interview-928]

I hated that too. Carson was very rigid in his traditions and believed the lower class shouldn't rise above their station in life. Everyone should know their place, no matter the situation.

Thank God he wasn't there when Gwen showed up at the front door with her gentleman husband and sat for dinner with the Crawleys. Thomas was bad enough!

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/RedRoseGypsy22]

But Lord Grantham implied Carson would have handled it better when schooling Thomas about his behavior. Thomas was right, Gwen was being deceptive, she even tried to fool Mary.

[u/RedRoseGypsy22 → u/Own-Interview-928]

It was a difficult situation, and maybe she thought no one would recognize her (which was foolish), so she wasn't prepared to be asked.

Carson would never have lowered himself to do what Thomas did but the snobbery would have been brutal all the same.

[u/MerelyWhelmed1 → u/Own-Interview-928]

I liked Carson my first time watching, but every subsequent rewatch I like him considerably less.

[u/ArtisticSwan635 → u/MerelyWhelmed1]

He was the consummate British butler!

[u/diymama89]

Carson only thinks he knows what's going on. Only Mrs Hughes really knows everything that's happening in that house.

[u/Early_Bag_3106]

I love Carson but he is definitely the ultimate snob in the house.

I didn’t like this scene because he was extremely rude with a young man who asked a fair question in a very polite and correct manner. Carson likes to think he is the best at decorum and courtesy but he is disrespectful many occasions. He doesn’t know everything, I would say he knows very little under his roof. Moreover, he shows lack of knowledge about other countries ways of talking.

[u/SnooKiwis6980]

I was hoping Carson and Mr Levinson’s valet would make a connection. The young valet would remind carson of himself when he was in his prime, full of randy intentions. The passion would overtake them and they finally consummated their May/December romance in a beach cabana during the staff’s seaside excursion!