Questions and more questions

            It was another busy night at the Abbey, both upstairs and downstairs.  More questions were posed than answered, but that’s why we keep watching!

            I’ll start upstairs, Robert finally showed some compassion in this episode.  He worked with the Drew family so they wouldn’t lose their home.  Agreed it was without consulting Mary, but I do believe his heart was in the right place.  I also think his feelings for Sibbie are genuine.  He can’t have it both ways though, he can’t hope to keep Sibbie if he continues to antagonize Tom.

            As for Tom, his persistent whining is getting on my nerves.  He keeps talking about leaving but doesn’t do anything about it.  If you’re going to America, Tom, go, or stop whining and accept the fact your situation has irrevocably changed.

            Edith held the surprise of the night.  When she stepped out of the taxi and walked into the doctor’s office, I almost dropped.  Is she pregnant?  Michael is in Germany, she hasn’t heard from him. Is he alright? Has he changed his mind?  What happens to her if she is pregnant? The situation is just dripping with questions and drama.

            As for Mary, it’s nice to see the sisterly affection between Mary and Edith is back.  In one conversation, Mary tells Edith that not for the first time Edith has the wrong end of the stick and that she should stop whining.  On the other hand, Mary can see no fault in her father, she told Tom she felt her father was a decent man (more respect than he has shown her). 

            Mary was obviously devastated about the news of Tony’s engagement.  She knows she’s made a mistake but she also knows she’s not ready to be married.  Tortured soul.  I think Mary suggested a party for Robert so she could invite Gillingham and Mabel Lane Fox (what a name).  I’m sure Mary wants a look at Miss Lane Fox.  Will we have another Lavinia Swire inicident?  More Spanish flu? Perhaps tuberculosis? Or maybe Miss Lane Fox will throw Tony over for someone else.  I think Mary and Tony are destined to be together.

            It’s also good to see the Dowager and Isobel sparring again.  A couple of the Dowager’s shots were particularly memorable.  She asked Isobel “I wonder your halo doesn’t grow heavy, it must be like wearing a tiara around the clock.”  Then her comment to the new young gardener “Wars have been waged with less fervor.”  Love it!!

            Now for downstairs, I sort of predicted that Alfred was going to leave to become a chef leaving a spot open for Mr. Mosely.  Alas, good fortune did not smile on either Alfred or Mosely.  I so hoped that Alfred was going to pass his culinary test.  Good for Daisy for helping him learn some techniques, clearly it was very hard for her, but she wanted him to fulfill his dream.  Now the question is will Alfred stay knowing that Jimmy and Ivy are an item?  Will Alfred finally turn his attention to Daisy?  What will become of Mr. Mosely?

            Who is Miss Baxter?  Obviously, she has a back story that only Thomas knows.  She tells him she’s grateful for the job and they both know why.  Is she an ex-con? Was she brought to shame in some other fashion?  How does Thomas know her? He must be blackmailing her so that she’ll spy on the family.  I’m intrigued.

            The Anna/Mr. Bates situation certainly heated up.  We saw an alternating dark and romantic Mr. Bates.  Has there been anything more heart breaking in the series (other than Matthew’s death) than when Bates asked Anna why she didn’t love him anymore?  I wasn’t happy, however, with the way he bullied Mrs. Hughes about the details of the attack.  He put her in an untenable situation, threatening to leave if she didn’t tell Anna’s secret.  Granted he was rightfully upset, but this was a case of not shooting the messenger.  On the other hand, the way he treated Anna, after he told her he knew her secret, was very gentle and understanding.  Then we finally returned to his dark side when he told a terrified Mrs. Hughes that nothing is over and nothing is done until he finds the man who assaulted Anna (as the piano and orchestra swelled with menacing music) Da Da Daaaa!

Can’t wait for Episode 5

Ta for now!

Bye Edna! and Lord Gillingham?

            After having been deeply disappointed by my Boston sports teams (Bruins 3-2 shootout loss to the Blackhawks and dashed hopes of another Patriots Super Bowl)  I knew I could count on Downton not to let me down. And it didn’t.

            Ok, did I miss something from last week’s episode? I watch each episode at least two or three times and I don’t remember Edna climbing into Tom’s bed (not something I’m likely to forget).  I knew he was drunk and that he was going off to bed but I thought alone.  Anyway, Edna picked up where she left off last season, trying to trap Tom into marriage.  I’m so annoyed with Tom. But who comes to the rescue, Mrs. Hughes.  As mild-mannered as she seems to be, we’ve learned not to get her Scottish blood up!  I loved how she tore into Edna and saved Tom at the same time.  Good bye Edna and good riddance!! Well, at least for now…

            Have we also seen the last of Lord Gillingham?  I don’t know why but I like Mary better with him than I liked her with Matthew.  They seem well-suited for each other.  But alas, poor Mary’s romantic life is never uncomplicated.  In matters of the heart, Mary always finds herself in the wrong place in her life at the wrong time.  Clearly she is attracted to Tony, but the memory of Matthew still has a hold on her.  Tony has crept into her broken heart and she knows turning him aside was a mistake.  Will Tony and Mary be another example of unrequited love? I hope not.

            Well Edith certainly blew the lid off the frumpy middle sister!  Out all night with Michael Gregson, snappy clothes, bicep bangles what a transformation!  She has to get rid of the dreadful orange toga with the black long-sleeved t-shirt.  It wrecks her whole new look.  Maybe that’s her plan: frumpy at home and stylish with Gregson.  I also think we got a glimpse of what is in store for Edith.  It looks like she may be managing his newspaper while he’s gone.  Let’s see what Robert thinks of that.

            As for Rose, this time I really can’t blame her for the commotion.  She knew her escort was making a scene, but she couldn’t do anything about it.  Be sure that she’ll be back to the Lotus Club.  Remember though, wherever Rose goes trouble follows.

            Finally, we come to poor Anna and poor Mr. Bates.  I absolutely understand and I’m sympathetic to how Anna feels.  She knows if she tells Bates he will kill the guy.  I think he would too.  On the other hand, I can see the anguish in Bates.  Clearly something is wrong, Anna says it’s not him but she won’t say more.  Will Mrs. Hughes tip him off, will Anna confide in Bates, will Bates somehow find out by some other means?  He’s too in love and determined not to let this go.  

            My favorite Dowager quote from the night was her remark to Isobel.  “If we all had moral thoughts, what would the clergymen do?”

I knew Downton wouldn’t disappoint.   On to episode 4

Ta for now!

Will the Grief Never End!

                For only an hour episode, Downton really packed a wallop in its second installment.  The Grantham house parties rarely turn out well (remember the Turkish gentleman) and this one turned out to be no different.

               I said I loved Tom in my last post, and I do, but his constant torment about being a round peg being squeezed into a square hole is getting tiresome.  “I’ve never felt more like a fish out of water than I have tonight.”  What was he expecting?? A pie eating contest? A tug of war in the great room? These events can’t keep coming as a surprise for him.  He needs to decide where he belongs: either away from Downton or stay on at Downton and somehow reconcile his beliefs with their way of living.  Enough whining, we already get that from Edith! I hope he decides to stay.

               You just know Edna is eating up Tom’s despair and manipulating him just as she did the last time. By confiding in her, which he swore he wouldn’t do, he’s serving himself up on a platter to the evil Edna, and she’ll make it look like it was his fault (which in part it will be).  She’s a schemer. The question is how far will she try to take it with Tom?  Will he get caught with her and get bounced out of Downton?  I hope he shows some character and can see through her.  He hasn’t so far.

               My opinion of Robert hasn’t changed, stuck in the past unwilling to move forward.  My other problem with Robert is that he’s so shallow. I thought Cora was going to pop a vein when she heard the world-famous opera star (real life opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa) was stuck in her room eating off a tray until after dinner. When Cora insisted that she join the rest of the party for dinner he worried what could he possibly talk about with a “singer?” Snob. He also wouldn’t give Michael Gregson the time of day until he won back Robert’s poker IOUs (and let’s not tell Lady Grantham!).  Now in Robert’s eyes he’s a solid kind of chap.

               Lord Gillingham brought Mary out of her shell slightly until dim-witted Rose brought down Matthew’s record player which sent Mary back brooding into her room.  I don’t think Lord Gillingham is the one for her, but I hope he turns out to be a friend who can help her and whom she can trust.  It's also time to find someone or something for Isobel to bring her out of her grief.

               As for Lord Gillingham’s valet, he’s a cad, an animal, and a despicable person. I thought this might be Anna’s year for some grief, but nothing like this!  I predict that Anna will become pregnant with his baby but Bates will believe it to be his.  I think Anna is right, if she ever told Bates who did it, he’d kill the guy and probably end up in prison.  The worry I have for Anna is that it appears that Lord Gillingam will be making frequent appearances to Downton in the future, bringing his pig of valet with him and Anna will have to deal with him every time he comes.

               As for downstairs, Alfred isn’t happy as a footman, he’d rather work in the kitchen.  I predict he’ll eventually become a cook at Downton (perhaps replacing Daisy who may go live on Mr. Mason’s farm) or elsewhere leaving the open the footman’s position to sad Eeyore-like Mr. Mosely. (Maybe he’ll even take the under butler position away from Thomas!!)

               My favorite Dowager line from the evening was in response to Tom’s confusion with aristocratic titles.  Tom said, “It isn’t logical.” To which the Dowager replied “If ever I'm looking for logic, it wouldn't be among the English upper class.”

Episode 3 here we come!

Ta for now!

Heroes and Villains

Julian Fellowes certainly has not lost his flair for the dramatic, heroes and villains galore! Episode 1 was drama-packed with commotion spreading all over including: upstairs, downstairs, the Dowager House, the Crawley House, London, and even a little drama spilling over into neighboring York.  Mr. Fellowes’s drama hit the ground running, literally, as Ms. O’Brien ran off in the middle of the night to join Lady Susan in India. So glad she’s gone!!

            Based on their actions last night I’m going to try to rate each major character as either a hero or a villain. Brace yourself, here it comes!

Robert How can one man be so well-intentioned and still manage to get everything WRONG!?! He thinks he can manage the estate, but he can’t. He thinks wrapping Mary up is good for her, when everyone around him knows she needs to go on with her life. Robert’s unwillingness to share management of the estate rose to the level of shameful when he embarrassed Mary at dinner, with everyone present, by peppering her with questions she couldn’t possibly answer. Grade: Villain.

Cora I am of two minds about Cora. On the one hand, she is becoming a stronger female presence in the Abbey by asserting her opinion more frequently.  She is a strong advocate for Mary with Robert, and the way she dismissed the evil Dickensian Nanny West was brilliant! On the other hand, she remains clueless about the true nature of the people working downstairs.  She allows Thomas to buffalo her into thinking that loyal Anna would damage a scarf.  Her hiring of Edna Braithwaite is exactly as Mrs. Hughes foretold: “a ticking time bomb.” Grade: Undecided

Mary Mary starts off as a villain when she allows herself to be consumed by grief to the point that she calls her son an “orphan”, shocking for any mother.  With the help of Tom, Granny, and steadfast Carson she shakes off the shroud of gloom and comes back eager to carry on Matthew’s work. I think she’s going to be great at running the estate. As a side note, did anyone else think Mary’s hair looked at times like Princess Leah from Star Wars with the two buns on either side of her head, not a good look. Grade: Hero

Edith/Michael Gregson Well their romance certainly heated up last night!  Whereas Mary has been the one to wear elaborate gowns in seasons past, Edith certainly made a splash last night with her mermaid-looking dress she wore into the Continental (even showing some leg!!).  She’s definitely coming into her own. If he’s willing to become a German citizen for her, this marriage better work. Let’s see, what can go wrong with this plan?  We’ll see… Grade: Undecided

Tom I love Tom (and not just because he’s Irish).  He’ll teach Mary everything she needs to know and together they will become a formidable team in running the estate.  I also love the way he is with little Sybbie (sp?) too. Grade: Hero

Cousin Isobel/Mrs. Hughes Last season these two teamed up to save the maid Ethel from an awful life.  Last night they teamed up to save Mr. Griggs, an old chum of Carson’s, from a life in the work house.  I love how Mrs. Hughes was able to convince Isobel to put her grief aside to help this man.  I especially love the scenes with Carson and Mrs. Hughes, she handles him beautifully and was able in the end to help him “stitch up an old wound.” Grade: Heroes

Carson Rock-steady Carson tries to be gruff and intimidating (which he is to the younger staff) but his softer side was on full display last night.  Taking a great risk by being frank with Lady Mary only to be rebuffed, but who does Mary go to for a good cry, not papa, Carson.  You just knew Carson was going to show up at the train station to say good bye to his friend. In the end he always does the right thing. Grade: Hero

Anna/Bates How can these two be anything but heroes?!? She’s kind to everyone, and he adores her for it. He can’t bear the thought she might be sad so he arranges to give poor down-trodden Moseley some money and make it look like he owed him. How romantic!!  I think Bates will need his “prison education” to protect Anna from whatever Edna and Thomas have planned for her.

Thomas/Edna Braithwaite What is it about Lady Grantham’s maids?  Is the position cursed?  First we had the scheming Mrs. O’Brien, only to be replaced by the duplicitous Edna Braithwaite.  As soon as you see her hanging out with Thomas, it’s not good for any member of the household.  Imagine picking on poor loyal Anna!! I hope they’re found out and bounced out. Grade: Definite Villain

Mrs. Patmore She gets to be a hero for sending Daisy a Valentine card to spare her feelings.  Like Carson, her rough exterior hides a softer gentler side.

Rose Trouble finds Rose wherever she goes. It would be easy to call her a villain because she’s so self-centered and irresponsible, and let’s not forget she unwittingly brings Edna back to Downton.  Still she’s young and hopefully will mature before she causes too much more damage.  Grade: Undecided

Daisy, Alfred, Ivy and Jimmy The four stooges. I still am eager to see if Daisy will end up at Mr. Mason‘s farm. Grade: Undecided

The Dowager Cousin Violet I saved the best for last. Violet is clearly smarter than all the other characters.  Her mind is like a chess board arranging people’s lives often without them knowing it.  She’s miles ahead of Robert, and often puts him in his place.  For all her interference though (grandparents are supposed to interfere), things always work out for the best for as she says “I’m never wrong.”  Grade: Hero

My favorite line from the episode (there were lots): As Edith, Cora, and Violet talk about arranging a job for Moseley, Cora dimly asks “As a servant?”  To which Violet shoots back “No, as a Chinese laundryman.”  Love it!!

On to Episode 2 …

Ta for now!

Anticipating Season 4 Episode 1

An Abbey full of Questions

 

 

      Alright Ladies and Gentlemen and those toiling away downstairs, the anticipation is over!  Season 4 of Downton Abbey starts tonight, and I for one, have my cup of tea and shortbread cookies waiting!

     Questions I'll be looking for answers to:

• Will heart-broken Mary ever come out of her room?
• Will Mary find romance again?  With Tom? (Nah)
• Will Edith continue to carry on with a married man? (Very Jane Eyre)
• Will Edith ever stop her incessant whining?
• Will Tom find love again?
• Will Rose rock the foundations of the Abbey?
• Will Anna and Bates finally catch a break and be happy for a while, or is it Anna's turn to go to prison?
• Will Thomas finally get fired? (Please!!!!)
• Will Mr. Carson continue to carry on, or will he be forced to change his ways to a more modern way of thinking?
• What marvelous one-liners will the Dowager come up with? (I especially can't wait for this one)

I think there are probably five episodes of questions there. If you have more post them in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!

 

Ta for now!