The Best Moments of Lady Sinderby (Penny Downie) | Downton Abbey 

I never understood that line, actually. What did it mean? "We're Jewish, thus we're wealthy, thus we pay well"? The stereotype (however unfair it may be ) about Jews' generosity is quite the contrary, after all.

@@tobynsaunders It was well known that the Flintshires were bankrupt. So, it was Lady Sinderby sassing at Susan that they are capable of paying their stuff, so no they dont find it as difficult as Susan thinks.

@@samkiiit What does that have to do with being Jewish though? Was the joke, "Unlike you, we're Jewish, thus we have money, unlike you, and thus we can afford to pay staff, unlike you"?

@@tobynsaunders it’s because Susan had made multiple negative comments about them being Jews, so it kinda turns her negative and utilizes it as backing for a retort.

@@SouthCountyDreaming I figured it may have been that but it was so lacking in wit that I wasn't sure.

So well put. Thank you for that.

And eventually Lord Sinderby warmed up to her ... after she saved his @$$

Keep

Rose is very lucky to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.

MOTHER, there is no need for this 'real' mother nonsense as Rose only has one mother.

I like how shrimpie also handled his wife. Taking a stand and blackmailing her into silence at least on the matter of the photo she manufactured

"Get down, you cat!" Yes, I love that too!

She is to be admired for the way she handles her husband as well as Susan, Rose her mother, just in that moment for the wedding to be held, she kept both of them in their place, and rightfully so.

Yes, Rose’s mother is a total lunatic.

Threats?

Certainly makes it clear that one can be a badass and look good doing it.

It really was wonderful to see her fight for her son’s happiness, just throwing in her lot with him.

Rose wil finally have the mom she deserves

@@EstherHulst-Artist Oh, love that thought, because Rose is a gem. Unfortunately her mother wasn’t and missed the boat on appreciating her.

Yes.. I loved how she took an Anti-Semitic slur and threw it back at Susan with a smile. She realized Rose was a gem despite Susan being such a bitter vile poison. Something tells me that Lady Sinderby and the Dowager Countess could be allies.

She's got a lot of charisma!

So well put, AND she put Susan in her place in such a subtle way!

Yes and Lord Sinderby not wanting to upset her in any way shows where the true power lies in that relationship.

Her character is someone who is kind but who at the same time is very aware of other people's ideas. She behaves like a gentle woman but there's steel behind the common smiles she grants everone.

@@lauratas9609 yes.. she did it three times and it was epic, especially at the dinner table when Susan was totally Anti-Semtiic and Lady Sinderby just called it out, wrapped it in a barb and threw it back at that miserable old hag. One could almost see a slight smile from the Dowager Countess, who by the way, was at a ROTHCHILD wedding... you can't get any posh than that.. lol Side note.. we NEED a prequel on the Dowager Countess' early years. lol

There are several reactions to being an outsider, once you have a certain amount of clout. One is to become a snob and start to exclude others. Another reaction, the one Lady Sinderby seems to have, is to continue to see the self in the other and behave accordingly. Lady Sinderby's conversation with Tom is a beautiful example of how she sees the parallels in their experiences as outsiders.

I thought she was lovely. Her husband, on the other hand, was nasty and quite the hypocrite (Whoring around with another woman and a child. I wish Rose had not helped him out, but then the sweet Lady Sinderby and Atticus would have been hurt by his actions and they were both good souls.).

@@sheilaburns8977 But in doing so, Lord Sinderby now owes Rose--it was a very slick move on her part!

@@skontheroad As I recall, he was not all that unhappy about being in Rose's debt--he made a point of saying that she was clearly a good hearted soul as well as quick thinking.

She has appealing qualities and shows a great deal of fortitute, especially when dealing with her husband.

Charming yes but fierce as a tiger when something threatens her cub. Gosh I love her

I cannot imagine being so determent to ruin my daughters life like Susan is Some make excuses for her but she just tries to make everyone else miserabele

Hahaha lady Flintshire is the worst and Violet TOLD HER

@@EstherHulst-Artist I cannot imagine being so DETERMINED to ruin my DAUGHTER'S life, like Susan is.

@@EstherHulst-Artist Susan gets the "C" word as a nickname.

@@user-ne3yw2cu6c Susam Flintshire was a miserable So-&-So. Remember when she wrote to the Dowager about the Lady Mary & Mr. Pamuk's situation? She was thrilled Violet said. But she was also jealous of the Crowleys. Their family relationships were warm & loving whilst she & Shrimpy could barely tolerate one another. & her relationship with Rose was a mess by her own hands & due to her wanting to control the poor girl. Also, she & Shrimpy had lost the family home; Duneagle Castle' due to mismanagement. The old adage is true about Susan: Misery Loves Company, sadly.

I just saw the episodes were they're up in Dunne Eagel and she's was a real B! Then she had the nerve to steal O'Brian from Lady Grantham! I never wanted to slap a person in my life!

@@kerriethompson2073 Yes, but wasn't it lovely that two of the most disliked characters ended up together, and ultimately out of sight and out of mind.

I can't stand Susan

I also love the fact that Rose will have a true mother figure who will love and accept Rose the way Susan never did.

I adored Lady Sinderby. She was strong, far thinking and loving.

She went into total Mama Bear mode lol.

Threatening to divorce her husband publicly in front of his bride to be, and in laws to be, is not exactly the epitome of class and grace. As for loyalty, she showed more to her son than her husband, not super classy.

@@kachi2782 She made her feelings known to her husband and to her son. She did not speak to the whole assembly in the county building; unlike Rose's mother. She made it a point to tell everyone she and Rose's father are in the process of getting a divorce. Rose, the bride-to-be was not present. She was with her father. Lady Sinderby was happy her son was getting married to Rose, unlike her husband who found fault in Rose because she is not of the same faith and because she isn't Jewish . At that time in history Lady Sinderby knew of the tremendous prejudices against her people and loved Rose because didn't care the Sinderby's are Jewish. She knew Rose is truly in love with Atticus and she would make her son very happy. So yes, Lady Sinderby's loyalty is to her son because like a mother she put her son's happiness before her husbands narrow mindedness. She could see that would make him no better then those who show prejudice to them because they're Jewish.

@@kachi2782 disagree

@@nessinator2526 Amazing argumentative, i hope you're not a lawyer .

@@kachi2782 Lol nice comeback. I hope you’re not a lawyer too. I felt the need to express my disagreement but am too lazy to explain my reasoning. Idk ok ugh. Basically I disagree because Lady Sinderby’s words align with her actions. She wants what is best for her son and it’s not like she made a grand announcement about the divorce, it was just a simple threat made directly to her husband. That doesn’t exclude her from having class or grace. The wedding wouldn’t have been possible without her expression of approval (against her husband). One instance of disagreement with him doesn’t mean she’s altogether completely disloyal to him, she’s just loyal to her son in this case. And she doesn’t just spout empty words, she stood her ground. Quite elegantly I might add. That’s classy and graceful in my opinion. Being classy or graceful doesn’t just mean you’re a stiff.

I love how you discribed it

and don't forget, she absolutely got Violet's approval with every quip she gave.

Yes indeed, an example to many snobs

THIS is a great comment! Thank you....

@@TheChill001 Exactly.. Downton Dinner Tested... Dowager Countess approved! lol

It wouldn't have mattered that he was Irish, but his class was a massive problem.

@@nigelsheppard625 Oh the fact that he was an Irishman, an Northern Irishman meant alot then and sadly even today. The class system in England (and the USA for that matter) hasn't changed much over the decades/century

,

@@nigelsheppard625 Class was a significant issue But religion was also a big issue during that era.

@@here_we_go_again2571 well he is a catholic "on top of that" (the problem arises with the christening of sibbie)

😂😂😂For real😂😂😂Brutha said "WOT?!?" like he had the vapors!

Yes Richard III dug up under a Leicestershire car park where he'd been buried after the Battle of Bosworth and when the authorities did enhanced DNA tests there was No connection. No bloodline to the Saxe Coberg Gotha's - this incumbent lot at all ! But no one talks of it ? But Carson looked impressed at the mention of Richard III - history is Intriguing and there are reasons that in the 70's the Education authorities started to close down history and they only dealt with WWI Onwards. They don't want people to know or understand and enjoy history. History widens our horizons and to some extent saves us from making the same mistakes again. Peace ☮️ out SW England 🇬🇧.

The way they pronounce her name, I never made the connection until seeing your comment in print. "Flint-shire" as if she is trying to burn down the house. And even Sinderby has a relationship to fire, "cinder". Curious that those names should come together.

Cora was motherly to her.

@Don Losentes and both are originally born Jewish! The time between the World Wars was especially difficult for Jewish people everywhere. It made asses like Lord Sinderby and angels like Lady Sinderby. Cora, on the other hand, had a good but coniving mother who got her a pre-wars marriage with a man who had the same delights and problems with his mother! Cora's mom didn't intend it but she was the matchmaker of a lifetime. I feel for Lady Sinderby because Cora and Robert's love for each other is so beautiful. The good Lady deserved better yet insisted on being better! Bravo!

I'm also partial to Mrs. Crawley.

Can u explain this,

@@veerseth4911 The Rothschild family is one of the ultra wealthiest jewish families in the world. So if you marry in that family, you are set for life.

@@veerseth4911 Hannah Rothschild was the sole heir of her father's enormous fortune, which she inherited at the age of 23. When she married the Earl of Roseberry, she was the wealthiest woman in Britain.

I thought most of the Rothschilds converted to Christianity, also they're not the richest people in the world, look up debunking Rothschild conspiracy theories

@@SerenaBlackCat Well idk about the whole Christian razzmatazz. We are talking about the Rothschilds before 1920s, when they were reigning supreme in wealth. And even if not the richest people in the world, they were anything but poor.

They share a background of being outsiders, in their own ways.

That made me laugh out loud. She put Susan in her place!

The actor playing Lord Sinderby has the BEST voice!

Yes! I remember her as Syd in "The Cazalets" where she was quite different. Excellent actress,.

Too bad Susan doesn't like Jews.

Thanks to this comment I have now shipped Lady Sinderby and Lord Flintshire.

*Flintshire*

She's tough as nails but gracious.

Lady Sinderby handled that perfectly, so diplomatic and smooth -- took the wind right out of Lady Flintshire's sails. Susan was shocked, which was soooo satisfying!

Lord Sinderby had an affair??

@@Celisar1 yes and also he has a son from the affair. I think it’s on Christmas special episode.

I'm don't think Rose did it to defend him but rather to spare her dear mother-in-law the shock of finding out that her husband has been carrying on a affair. Lord Sinderby was discreetly paying to support the woman and the son he'd fathered with her. Rose obviously didn't approve (though when we first me her, she was having an affair with a man she knew was married), but she didn't want her mother-in-law to be hurt and her husband's family to be scandalized. Lord Sinderby obviously felt his guilt crashing down on him, but at least it taught him to appreciate his new daughter-in-law.

@@rowanaforrest9792 i agree with you on that too. It’s because Lady Sinderby loves Rose wholeheartedly. It’s a lovely mutual relationship between Rose and Lady Sinderby. Just like a mother and her daughter (unlike Rose’s own mother Lady Flintshire who tried ruining the wedding)

@@rowanaforrest9792 I think you are right: Rose was saving the occasion, protecting her loving mother-in-law, and not upsetting her beloved who would have had to face his father's betrayal of his loving, dutiful wife. And what a way that would have been for Atticus to discover he had a brother named Daniel after their father. I am not certain Rose was yet having an affair with the married man she was out partying with, but certainly it was in the offing if it had not begun already. I was glad Rose named her daughter Victoria Rachel Cora for her mother-in-law and Cora, whom she felt was more of a mother and guide to her than that godawful Susan. I was sad when she mocked Atticus' name that no one pointed out to her the culturally Roman origins of the name, while hers is from Hebrew Scripture (just to make the point sharper). What a rotter that woman was.

Flintshire

@@kathieprater2431 I stand corrected. X

*Flintshire*

Yeah, thanks to these comments I ship it

You realise, I expect, that divorce was not acceptable in society (for the two people you speak of to get a divorce and then remarry). Divorced people were not invited to any social functions. It's why people remained in wretched marriages and sought affection, comfort . . . from outside the marriage. The rule appeared to be that although their society peers were aware of the extra marital arrangements, but anyone who broke the code and spoke about it was immediately shunned. You may remember the row between the Sinderbys when Lady Sinderby threatened her husband with divorce if he continued with his behaviour. She'd divorce him, and that would be an even greater disaster. It'd certainly sink all his efforts to be accepted by society.

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a poor memory.

What?! Aren't there 'beautiful people' in every era? 🤔

Especially his proposal of a romantic nature! Love Dickie Merton

"I leave you to the delights of your soup" is one of my favorite Dickie lines! They are SUCH a lovely couple and deserved every bit of their happy ending away from his horrid son and daughter-in-law.

Yes

I don't know, I don't think that she (the character Lady Sinderby) is that good an actress (I'm thinking about when Rose covered for Sinderby 's mistress and son at the front door) to have hidden her feelings so well had she known.

She is very English.

Textbook antisemitism; and in contrast to Rose's comment of "why would you not be English" when first meeting Atticus. "English" blood is a mix of ethnicities anyway.

Well well, that is also a comment to her so hated Scottish husband, Irish Mr. Branson and American lady Cora.

Michelle…those who have “titles”, had ancestors who were dedicated to the defense of their country during the early history of England, and the king gave them lands and money from the treasury to help protect their lands, therefore protect against foreign invadors. Nobody has the so-called noble blood, it was just an invention by the church to keep themselves in the king’s graces (a king had huge numbers of followers). I could just go on!

@@marinazagrai1623 Please don't.

She was memorably charming as Cordelia in "Brideshead Revisited" -- going way back in the mists of time.

Susan…she liked Rose and didn’t care that Rose wasn’t Jewish. She probably wanted grandkids while she was still alive instead of waiting for the right Jewish girl so her husband could be happy.