John Bates: A Study

In this episode of the Downton Abbey Reflection, we dig deep into the character of John Bates. One of our listeners, Muneerah Page, requested a Bates study, so a Bates study we did. A lot of John Bates' past is a mystery. So in this episode, we do a lot of searching and a lot of speculation. What was Bates really like before he came to Downton Abbey? Has he really changed his ways? What causes him to be so selfless? After discussing Bates' past, we talk about his current state of affairs: prison. Is Bates really guilty? If not, who is? We talk about who a lot of you think may be guilty of poisoning Vera Bates and what motives they may have. If I left out any significant possibilities, leave a comment or voice message to let me know! Also, there are now two new ways that you can interact with me and the other listeners of the DA Reflection. You can leave a voice message by calling (816) 379-6956 or by going to the blog at and clicking on the "leave a voicemail" button on the right side of the screen. Let me know your name, where you're calling from, and what question or comment you'd like addressed on the podcast or blog. Free Mr. Bates!

You can listen to John Bates: A Study online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

John Bates: A Study is an episode from Downton Abbey Reflection by Carrie.

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This episode was published on Aug 28, 2012.

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