Follow this link for my Downton Abbey fanfic
And some more Downton
But I would like if we could be friends
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| Right you are Mr. Barrow, If that's all I think I can manage that. |
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| Thank you, Jimmy, Thank you. |
An interesting conclusion to season 3 for Thomas Barrow. Redemption of a sort and finally being able to show that he is vulnerable underneath the villainy. Jimmy Kent's capacity to forgive takes him by surprise, even though it was what he dared to hope for. He finally has a friend who perhaps will become a confidante who may take him out of his loneliness and despair. Jimmy knows that he is homosexual, but puts that and what has happened between them to one side. Something, I believe, Thomas feared no one would be able to in order to become a friend.
I'm not foul
**If you haven't seen season 3 of Downton Abbey, you should stop reading now**
Downton Abbey season 3 was mostly disappointing, but Fellowes' decision to add some humanity to Thomas Barrow's otherwise unpleasant character proved a highlight. Barrow, portrayed by Rob James-Collier, is the main antagonist of the series. He is concerned for only one person - himself - and he will do anything to ensure he comes out ahead no matter whom he has to walk over in the process. And he is gay. Generally I have a problem with gay villains because the history of their portrayal is littered with stereotypes where their homosexuality is the root of their evil. To a certain extent that would appear to be the case here, but it is not that cut and dried.
Living a closeted existence in Edwardian England would have been grinding. The threat of jail, the potential loss of employment and never being able to work again, the social stigma and the isolation, all would have had an impact on him. But others managed without becoming as mean, conniving, and spiteful as Thomas. At his core, Thomas is insecure and is driven to overcome his insecurity by any means possible, to gain a measure of control. His insecurity is apparent when he says after Lady Sybil's death, "In my life, I can tell you, not many have been kind to me. She was one of the few." Putting aside the reasons why people have not been kind, it is his reaction to this lack of kindness that has shaped him. While the way society forces him to deal with his homosexuality feeds into that insecurity, his homosexuality is not its cause. It is, in fact, what shows he is more than what we see.
Prior to season 3 there were glimpses of this, most notably in his affair with the Duke of Crowborough. In that case it was not Thomas who took advantage but rather the Duke who reneged on his promise to take Thomas away with him. This type of rejection is difficult for anyone, but given Thomas's insecurity it only served to make him withdraw further and become more intent to come out on top no matter what the cost. To his credit, Fellowes does not appear to use Thomas's homosexuality as a crutch to explain what makes Thomas a villain. In fact, other than the Crowborough affair and a few other references, by the time season 2 rolled around Thomas might as well have been asexual.
In season 3 that changes. Jimmy Kent, the new footman, appears out of nowhere in the kitchen and you can immediately see his effect on Thomas. What follows is not really Thomas's fault. Thanks to O'Brien's plotting and his own surprising naïveté he begins to hope that he has finally found someone, but that all comes to an end when egged on by O'Brien's comments about how Jimmy has a crush on him and throwing caution to the wind, he gathers his nerve to go to Jimmy's room one night and kisses him as he sleeps. That is not the smartest move when all he really has to go on is what O'Brien has told him, but suppressed desire that seems about to be fulfilled can override good judgment no matter what your sexuality. Jimmy is outraged and to make matters worse Alfred Nugent, the other footman, witnessed the entire scene. Jimmy's rejection devastates Thomas, but that is only the beginning.
When Thomas is finally outed to the butler Carson, it would appear that his time at Downton is over. His homosexuality has lead to his downfall, but surprisingly this is where the change begins. To Carson's accusation that he is foul, Thomas replies, "I'm not foul, Mr. Carson. I'm not the same as you, but I'm not foul." Thomas does not see his homosexuality as a curse. It is something he must hide, but not something he is ashamed of. I believe this is the point where Fellowes completely backs away from homosexuality as the cause of Thomas's dysfunction.
This is further supported when Thomas prevents two men from robbing and beating Jimmy by stepping in an taking the beating himself. Given what has occurred between them, including Jimmy's insistence that Thomas be sent away from Downton with a bad reference, essentially ensuring he would never work again, the old Thomas would have relished letting that happen to him. But he still has feelings for Jimmy and it is those, in other words his homosexuality, that spur his unselfish act; unselfish in so far as he knows that his actions will not change Jimmy. Ultimately Thomas's gayness is what proves to make him human and to show he is capable of kindness. And ultimately it is what makes Jimmy his friend, putting an end to his isolation.
What remains to be seen is how this plays out in season 4. Will there be a softer, kinder Thomas or will he completely revert to his old ways? Will his friendship with Jimmy flourish? How will Fellowes deal with a villain who is more than just a villain? The answers to these, assuming they are in fact answered, may be what will make season 4 worth watching.
Downton Abbey season 3 was mostly disappointing, but Fellowes' decision to add some humanity to Thomas Barrow's otherwise unpleasant character proved a highlight. Barrow, portrayed by Rob James-Collier, is the main antagonist of the series. He is concerned for only one person - himself - and he will do anything to ensure he comes out ahead no matter whom he has to walk over in the process. And he is gay. Generally I have a problem with gay villains because the history of their portrayal is littered with stereotypes where their homosexuality is the root of their evil. To a certain extent that would appear to be the case here, but it is not that cut and dried.
Living a closeted existence in Edwardian England would have been grinding. The threat of jail, the potential loss of employment and never being able to work again, the social stigma and the isolation, all would have had an impact on him. But others managed without becoming as mean, conniving, and spiteful as Thomas. At his core, Thomas is insecure and is driven to overcome his insecurity by any means possible, to gain a measure of control. His insecurity is apparent when he says after Lady Sybil's death, "In my life, I can tell you, not many have been kind to me. She was one of the few." Putting aside the reasons why people have not been kind, it is his reaction to this lack of kindness that has shaped him. While the way society forces him to deal with his homosexuality feeds into that insecurity, his homosexuality is not its cause. It is, in fact, what shows he is more than what we see.
Prior to season 3 there were glimpses of this, most notably in his affair with the Duke of Crowborough. In that case it was not Thomas who took advantage but rather the Duke who reneged on his promise to take Thomas away with him. This type of rejection is difficult for anyone, but given Thomas's insecurity it only served to make him withdraw further and become more intent to come out on top no matter what the cost. To his credit, Fellowes does not appear to use Thomas's homosexuality as a crutch to explain what makes Thomas a villain. In fact, other than the Crowborough affair and a few other references, by the time season 2 rolled around Thomas might as well have been asexual.
In season 3 that changes. Jimmy Kent, the new footman, appears out of nowhere in the kitchen and you can immediately see his effect on Thomas. What follows is not really Thomas's fault. Thanks to O'Brien's plotting and his own surprising naïveté he begins to hope that he has finally found someone, but that all comes to an end when egged on by O'Brien's comments about how Jimmy has a crush on him and throwing caution to the wind, he gathers his nerve to go to Jimmy's room one night and kisses him as he sleeps. That is not the smartest move when all he really has to go on is what O'Brien has told him, but suppressed desire that seems about to be fulfilled can override good judgment no matter what your sexuality. Jimmy is outraged and to make matters worse Alfred Nugent, the other footman, witnessed the entire scene. Jimmy's rejection devastates Thomas, but that is only the beginning.
When Thomas is finally outed to the butler Carson, it would appear that his time at Downton is over. His homosexuality has lead to his downfall, but surprisingly this is where the change begins. To Carson's accusation that he is foul, Thomas replies, "I'm not foul, Mr. Carson. I'm not the same as you, but I'm not foul." Thomas does not see his homosexuality as a curse. It is something he must hide, but not something he is ashamed of. I believe this is the point where Fellowes completely backs away from homosexuality as the cause of Thomas's dysfunction.
This is further supported when Thomas prevents two men from robbing and beating Jimmy by stepping in an taking the beating himself. Given what has occurred between them, including Jimmy's insistence that Thomas be sent away from Downton with a bad reference, essentially ensuring he would never work again, the old Thomas would have relished letting that happen to him. But he still has feelings for Jimmy and it is those, in other words his homosexuality, that spur his unselfish act; unselfish in so far as he knows that his actions will not change Jimmy. Ultimately Thomas's gayness is what proves to make him human and to show he is capable of kindness. And ultimately it is what makes Jimmy his friend, putting an end to his isolation.
What remains to be seen is how this plays out in season 4. Will there be a softer, kinder Thomas or will he completely revert to his old ways? Will his friendship with Jimmy flourish? How will Fellowes deal with a villain who is more than just a villain? The answers to these, assuming they are in fact answered, may be what will make season 4 worth watching.
A tug at your heartstrings
But isn't Thomas Barrow a sexual predator?
** Sorry if the title is a bit of a spoiler, but if you have not seen Downton Abbey season 3 stop reading now **
That question came by email in reaction to my analysis of Thomas Barrow. Really? That is what you took away from my post?
No he is not. “Sexual predator” is fraught with all kinds of emotional connotations, but at its core is the assumption that the victim has been hunted and that the hunter has likely used guile and deception or a position of power to achieve his goal.
You cannot point to that in Thomas’s behavior. He was overly familiar with Jimmy in the way he touched him, but that was meant to test his reaction. Thomas himself said when confronted by Carson that no one could speak out and he had to read the signs that someone was like him. When Jimmy did not rebuke him it lead him to believe he might feel the same way.
What he missed, of course, were Jimmy’s facial expressions and that he in no way reciprocated. If Jimmy had said something or even gently moved his hand away that would have been the end of it. Thomas would never intentionally place himself in a position that might lead to his exposure and loss of his livelihood. I am not blaming Jimmy for any of this. He was manipulated into believing that rebuking Thomas could hinder his advancement or even lead to his dismissal, but it was not Thomas who did it.
And then there was the kiss. In Thomas’s scenes leading up to it you can see his agitation, his uncertainty and his hesitation. Even as he is about to lean in to kiss Jimmy he pauses in what could be seen as anticipation, but is just as easily trepidation. This is not the end of a hunt nor is it a well-thought-out plan. It is impulse fueled by desire, desperation and misunderstanding. Had Thomas thought to awaken Jimmy to ask him, to find out if what he sensed was real, there would have been some uncomfortable moments, but none of what followed would have happened. But then that would not make for a good story
That question came by email in reaction to my analysis of Thomas Barrow. Really? That is what you took away from my post?
No he is not. “Sexual predator” is fraught with all kinds of emotional connotations, but at its core is the assumption that the victim has been hunted and that the hunter has likely used guile and deception or a position of power to achieve his goal.
You cannot point to that in Thomas’s behavior. He was overly familiar with Jimmy in the way he touched him, but that was meant to test his reaction. Thomas himself said when confronted by Carson that no one could speak out and he had to read the signs that someone was like him. When Jimmy did not rebuke him it lead him to believe he might feel the same way.
What he missed, of course, were Jimmy’s facial expressions and that he in no way reciprocated. If Jimmy had said something or even gently moved his hand away that would have been the end of it. Thomas would never intentionally place himself in a position that might lead to his exposure and loss of his livelihood. I am not blaming Jimmy for any of this. He was manipulated into believing that rebuking Thomas could hinder his advancement or even lead to his dismissal, but it was not Thomas who did it.
And then there was the kiss. In Thomas’s scenes leading up to it you can see his agitation, his uncertainty and his hesitation. Even as he is about to lean in to kiss Jimmy he pauses in what could be seen as anticipation, but is just as easily trepidation. This is not the end of a hunt nor is it a well-thought-out plan. It is impulse fueled by desire, desperation and misunderstanding. Had Thomas thought to awaken Jimmy to ask him, to find out if what he sensed was real, there would have been some uncomfortable moments, but none of what followed would have happened. But then that would not make for a good story
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