Now that we've all had our hearts broken by that heart-wrenching scene of Anna sobbing, how do you feel about Anna/Bates? Are you still cheering them on or have any of you defected to team Anna/Molesley? Do you think A/B will come together in series 2...or ever?

Any ideas how Vera will appear on the scene? I've seen speculation she is Violet or Rosamund's lady's maid, though we know Rosamund brings someone else as her maid in the Christmas episode.

How do you feel about Vera who has been described as a"childhood sweetheart of Bates" who "cannot tolerate...the thought of her husband being happy, and happy with someone else." Personally, I'm hoping this is an oversimplification of her character because I'd like to see a story with some nuance and to understand how marriage with Bates changed her into the woman she is today.

1) I'm still in love and always will be!
2) ALWAYS
3) NEVER
4) If they don't, I'll cry. Then I'll organise a protest.

I'm thinking she comes because she hears about old Mrs B's death, but of course she'd have to be contacted eventually for John to divorce her, so that might have some bearing. If she doesn't want to see him happy she'd probably head straight over there, not bothering with the hassle of a super sekrit way in.

I hope so, too. It would be a horrible shame to have a panto villain, the story deserves a lot more. I have high hopes for Vera though, Fellowes has proven his ability to write proper 3D characters and I believe he's an Anna/Bates shipper of a sort himself, so hopefully he'll have put his best work into Vera. I'd love to see some angsty detail of their past together.

See, I agree that he does write some 3D characters, but I really don't think all of them are. Or at least certain characters only acquire depths for particular scenes but it's not present through the whole series if that makes sense!?

Anna is 3D, Bates is complicated and 3D compared to their greatest antagonists, Thomas has his moment of crying after the Duke rejects him but then he's just mean and O'Brien is a baby-killer who doesn't even have a rejection from her lover to explain her meanness. I'm a bit worried Vera might end up going to same way.

That being said, the quality of the acting may elevate her character - Maria Doyle Kennedy is awesome and I think she's going to have some amazing scenes with Joanne and Brendan. After seeing her in the Tudors, no one plays the wounded first wife quite so well!

I completely agree! Her Katherine of Aragon was phenomenal.

I hope she's not a pantomime villain, I'm sure Bates has just as much to answer for with regards to their marriage and it's breakdown.

I am however wanting to see Anna give Bates a bit of a royal roasting. I hope she gives him what for and doesn't just take it all lying down without so much as a complaint. To me, he needs a few he truths from Anna and she needs to stand up to him. After seeing her sobbing in that trailer, if she doesn't, then I will!

Having said that, I want them together, they are meant for each other and I'm desperate for them to get their happy ending.

*wears Team Anna t-shirt*

Ditto. I'd stick up for John in any fight, but Anna needs to stick up for herself. He would listen to her, if only she'd say something.

Scarlet, that definitely does make sense - but I'm hoping that there's more dimensions of characters like Thomas and O'Brien to be explored! We know they have depths - the dancing scene with Thomas and Daisy shows that he's not just an out-and-out bastard - but it's just taking longer to explore. I hope so, anyway.

And if the writing doesn't do Vera justice, I've no doubt the actor will! I am so very much looking forward to seeing her work in Downton. She'll bring a fantastic dynamic, I can hardly wait.