Episodes that are difficult to watch

The prison scenes are indeed disgusting but the suffragettes themselves were disgusting too, at least as depicted here. I'm female, by the way, and happy to have the vote but am not one to think the ends justified the means in this situation. Throwing rocks (or whatever hard object) at politicians' homes or offices sounds to me like a probable way for someone to get seriously hurt, not the right way to protest social injustice! I can imagine their frustration at not having the vote but nevertheless, such violent, destructive antics make me ashamed of my gender and frankly, the behaviour of the women in this episode seemed totally juvenile to me! IMO, not a likely way to convince anyone women deserve the vote. As for Elizabeth, one has to wonder whether she recalled that her own father was a politician and how well she would have liked rocks thrown at 165!! I find the episode difficult to watch, it's also one of my least favourites, because just about all aspects of it are so infuriating!

I'm not sure whether you want to include sad episodes here but anyway...

Peace Out of Pain is difficult to watch because of the terrible quarrel between James and Hazel, with him being so cruel to her and no sign of really making it up before she died (although in the Diana affair episode, he later claims they made their peace???). Then we have the sadness of Hazel's death from the flu possibly compounded by a broken heart, then the inadequate mourning for her in that household (the way I saw it anyway).

All the King's Horses too. In case anyone here hasn't seen it, the final scene where James takes his leave of Hudson and departs 165 for the last time is the saddest scene in the series, IMO, very difficult for me to watch.

How intriguing! I watched Shoulder to Shoulder, the fascinating story of the suffragette movement in the UK, through the eyes of the Pankhurst family, so the prison scenes, though disturbing, were something I had already seen and researched. Elizabeth and Rose had a rather rocky, though devoted relationship, essentially because Elizabeth constantly vacillated between her rebellious and dutiful natures. Elizabeth adores her father, but she finds herself drawn to anything that is "different" or "out of bounds." Therein lies why we watch her. Dearly as I love seeing any of the main characters, Hudson and Mrs. B really were the glue holding it all together.

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!

"Knowing that Angela Baddeley had died by the time that episode was shown makes it even worse."

I agree. Bless her. Also, the knowledge that a spinoff series centred on the Hudsons' new business venture was being planned makes it all the more sad; so much lost potential.

I was also moved when I heard that when Patsy Smart (Miss Roberts) was filming her post-Titanic episode, her own daughter was dying from cancer. Knowing that she may have drawn on her real-life distress for her role made it so potent.

"I Dies From Love" made for difficult viewing. Poor young Emily never stood a chance.

tiderolls, Peace Out of Pain, certainly makes my list, but I rather like something you hit upon in your post. The title is a double entendre - that, presumably, the 'peace' (or the armistice) comes, but not without the pain (barely imperceptible, as roghache correctly states), it brings to the Bellamy household. But that Hazel's pain is over and she is at at peace, I think, gives the episode's title its true import. For every time I've seen that episode and knowing what's coming, that bitter, acrid fight James and Hazel have is very hard to take, when Hazel asks what's she's done so wrong (nothing, of course, is the answer), that James is cruel to her and curses her - superbly played, but so very difficult to watch at least for me.

I'm glad crazyeightyeight mentioned "A Patriotic Offering." It puts a face to the German invasion and, of course, unspeakable behaviors that have universal resonance. However, not behaviors exclusive to Germans, which is why I have always found The Beastly Hun hard to watch. The Schoenfelds (sp?) are clearly very nice people, very fond of the staff, going out of their way to make Daisy a birthday cake, mindful that Edward is at the front and to divert her, if ever so briefly. It's shocking how they are treated by the staff, especially with a child who has sustained a head wound. Hazel, as ever, comes off the best and, yes, it is Mrs. Schoenfeld who decides that they are not welcome to stay, not really welcome. The denouement here is almost the exact opposite of A Patriotic Offering, in that, despite the horror the staff feel towards the Belgians' ordeal, they never muster the same sympathy for these hapless naturalized British citizens. Excellent points and observations made in The Beastly Hun, but hard for me to take.

One last comment - perhaps it was my mood, something astrological, but the last time I watched The Glorious Dead, it hit me HARD. The episode is masterful, but Rose's misfortune had me in tears a few times - something I have never done whenever I've watched it. Rose's shock, Mrs. Bridges's, with open arms, "Come to Mrs. B." call to Rose, Rose's talk with Hazel, James's talk with Rose and James taking Hazel's hand, after proposing a walk in the park and lunch - a husband offering his wife comfort, after discovering her dalliance with another man (the only source of consolation to her throughout the episode), packed a wallop. I think part of my reaction this time out was having the commentary on and having Simon Williams, MWO and Jean Marsh go silent, probably forgetting (or remembering) what a stunning episode it is, their own work and that of the writer and the director, each of whom are mentioned by the trio and are certainly given their due.

I am sorry for going on and on. Do forgive me.

The devil turns away from a closed door.

Poor Bunny, he was head over heels in love with Diana when he asked her to marry him and he wasn't perceptive enough to understand that she didn't love him back. He eventually realized this but he continued to be in love with her, so he continued to hope that eventually she would love him back.

I've often wondered what ultimately happened to the Newburys. I'd like to think for Bunny's sake that Diana eventually came to recognize his worth and to feel some affection for him, but I'm really doubtful of that. I imagine they went on in that shell of a marriage for the remainder of their lives. I tend to doubt that Diana ever had another affair. She just went on being nasty to Bunny and clever and charming in public.

I agree it's difficult to watch Hudson talking about the Germans in this way in 'The Beastly Hun', but the publication Hazel discovers in his possession was an actual publication from the time, many people did think as Hudson thought. It's never comfortable to think of a character we like (if we like Hudson, and I have to say I do) thinking in such a way, but the propaganda of the time portrayed the Germans as brutes (and in 'A Patriotic Offering' the staff were horrified by the atrocities committed upon the Belgian family) it's entirely credible IMO someone with not a very high level of education and of limited experience such as Hudson would drink it in without question.

The line about Mussolini is a wonderful one, but again many British people did respect the perceived order of his regime at that time (thinking of the old line about the trains running on time ) so it was good UD realistically reflected that. I think Hudson with his need for order and certainty would always have been vulnerable to regimes promising that, so uncomfortable as it was I think it was spot on characterisation.

An interesting thought jaustengirl about Hudson if he had lived to see WWII, and what his reaction would have been (as many did, I think he would have admired Hitler's running of the economy pre-war).