Revelations (Not the Biblical Kind)

               Episode 3 was filled with revelations which will have a bearing on important future decisions and outcomes. We’ll start with Lady Mary. Ah, Mary, Mary quite contrary. She has an annoying habit of wanting it all and using others for her own purposes. She has an intimate affair with a man (I’m trying to keep things G rated) and yet she doesn’t want to be tarnished AGAIN; and she asked devoted Anna to sacrifice her personal beliefs and pristine reputation so she won’t be discovered with an illicit book and a birth control device. In the 1920’s, sleeping with a man, not your husband, and using birth control makes you a tarnished person. She is so arrogant, she deludes herself into thinking as long as she doesn’t get caught everything is alright. Incredibly immature.

In any event, Mary’s “research” in Liverpool left her feeling that Charles Blake was correct. She confesses to Tom that Tony “is a nice man but he’s not…” Let me fill in the blank…SMART!!

Of course they have nothing in common. Tony is a well-bred, landed, handsome shell. He’s as deep as a puddle. It only took Mary one week to discover she’s already tired of him. In the sneak peek to the next episode it looks like she’s preparing to give him the push. But as we’ve come to know by now, nothing is that simple. The Dowager gave Mary both the least helpful and the most helpful advice. Violet said, “In my day a lady was incapable of feeling physical attraction until she was instructed to do so by her mama.” Sorry Granny, that ship sailed a long time ago. Then she told Mary, "You have to take control of your feelings before they take control of you." That is advice worth taking, which means Mary, quite contrary won't.

 

         Cora was the next one to have a revelation. For Cora, this was a revelation a long time in the making. Robert has had the long time practice of “not concerning” Cora with matters which affect the estate.

Since the war, Cora discovered she likes being involved and being useful. Robert treats her like one of Downton’s ornaments: beautiful and valuable but mute. Cora was first rankled by Robert’s refusal to tell her more about the development of houses on the estate, as if it was beneath her understanding. Then came Mr. Bricker who paid Cora the kind of attention Robert hasn’t. He was not only captivated by her beauty but also by her intellect. Robert’s belittling comment had a biting effect when he said he found it difficult to believe that an art critic could find her observations about art impossible to resist. A comment which no doubt Robert will regret.

         Poor Edith, all her revelations bring sadness. She could not have been too surprised, however, by the revelation that Margie Drew has had enough of Edith’s visits to see Marigold. She has more than worn out her welcome. Tim Drew was harsh with Margie when he told her she was soft in the head, but in Margie’s defense she doesn’t know the whole story. Now Edith’s child will be so close and yet so far away. Heartbreaking. How many ways can this girl be tortured emotionally?!?!

         Daisy and Rose turned out to have the only happy revelations of the episode. Daisy learns she is brighter than she ever gave herself credit and Rose has a caring heart and is capable of thinking of someone other than herself. Well done ladies. 

         I have to admit that Baxter’s revelation was a bit of a letdown for me. Baxter revealed to Cora that she was under the influence of a nasty man who persuaded her to steal the jewels and left her to face the consequences.

  I thought Baxter’s story would be more compelling but at least she gets to stay and continue her relationship with Mr. Molesley. Since Baxter won’t go to the police about Mr. Coyle, I wonder if Mr. Coyle will make another appearance in Baxter’s life and try to repeat the scheme at Downton.

         Violet’s revelation was subtle yet powerful. The appearance of Prince Kuragin at Downton nearly knocked her off her firmly planted aristocratic feet. It certainly left her breathless. 

 Is there more to the fan than just a fan? It would appear so based on her reaction and based on Kuragin’s statement that she hid the fan because she was afraid Lord Grantham would get upset if he saw her with it. Did she take her own advice all those years ago and take control of her emotions…we’ll see…

         Finally the reveal of reveals, there was a witness to Mr. Green’s death, a young woman who heard Green say, “Why have you come?” just as he fell (or was pushed) into the street. Then the police sergeant told Carson that apparently he and Bates had an argument at Downton. Mr. Green was a clever one, he was setting Mr. Bates up in the event Bates came after him for what he did to Anna. Perhaps he wasn’t as clever as he should have been. Bates, not to be outdone in the sly department, had an account for his day in York, his prison education at work. He made sure he was seen in a few places in York that day, making it unlikely that he’d have traveled to London.  Will Mr. Green have the last word? I hope not.

         Carson and Mrs. Hughes are again on opposite sides of an issue: whether or not to include young Archie, Mrs. Patmore’s nephew, in the village’s memorial to the WWI soldiers. It seems that it is these controversial issues which are bringing Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes closer together. Perhaps as they negotiate these trials they are coming to a better understanding of each other and closer together. Or will it be that their differences are too many for them to overcome personally?

         Tom and Thomas will have their big revelations in episodes to come.

On to the next episode…

Cheers!!