Patiently Waiting

 

I’m not sure it’s because I was so enraptured with last season and its breathtaking pace and spellbinding plot-lines, but this season seems smaller to me and somewhat more depressing. The action has taken nearly entirely in the Abbey. There have been few visits outside of the Abbey with the exception of a few quick trips into London or Liverpool. And with the exception of Edith lighting her room afire there have been very few “wow” moments.  Even the weather has been considerably drearier than it was last season. True, we cannot have the pageantry of Rose’s presentation at Court every season, however, things seem to be more plodding along than whistling along this season. In any event, I do love the show and there is more than enough going on to keep my interest.

        Rose is turning out to be such a pleasant surprise. Perhaps being presented at court and nearly toppling the future king of England brought her to her senses. and thus she is acting somewhat more responsibly.  She is still naïve but this time her youthful innocence is comes off more endearing than insolent.  She takes people how she finds them (whether a man is handsome or not). She is oblivious to race, religion and politics. She is sweet and it appears her relationship with Atticus Aldridge will blossom.  We’ll see if his being Jewish will be an impediment to a relationship. My guess is she won’t allow it to be.

        As one relationship begins, another ends. We waived goodbye to Sarah Bunting.  I can’t say that I’m sorry to see her go. I didn’t mind her politics, it was her manner that was so offensive.  She was as rigid in her way of thinking as the “aristos” she despised. She did reawaken Tom’s political side which will no doubt have its significance in the future, but she cannot be truly surprised Tom didn’t fall for her.  He told her several times that although he didn’t agree with much of the family’s politics, he loved them. They were good to him and to Sibbie. So, if she was listening to him, how could she have asked him “Don’t you despise them?” Of course not!! She just doesn’t understand his relationship with the family nor did she seem to try very hard. Tom will be better off without her. The question is what does he plan to do now? I’m still not sure if he’s staying at the Abbey. Can he pursue a socialistic lifestyle and continue to live with the family?

        Alas Edith is being blocked by the Drews from ever seeing Marigold again.  Violet and Rosamond talk about taking Marigold away to some school in France like it was picking up a package and bringing it to the post office.  Margie Drew has a talon grip on Marigold and isn’t likely to give her up freely. How do they think they are going to get her away from them? Money won’t do the trick. Margie is not the type who can be bought off. So how do they intend to remove Marigold from their home? Who does Edith know in London who needs to be called from Carson’s office in the middle of the night? If it’s another of Edith’s ideas, with her track record, it won’t be agood one!!

        Thomas is a mess. The drugs he’s taking are clearly harming him. As soon as we start to feel a little sympathy for him, he feels the need to stir the pot up downstairs. Anna is one of the few people at the Abbey who has ever attempted to show him friendship and he’s eager to cause her discomfort. It’s so hard, if not impossible, to like him despite what he’s dealing with. Evil.

        Violent unsuccessfully scuttled Isobel’s relationship with Lord Merton. If anything she only galvanized it. His keen interest in medicine matches Isobel’s showing they have more in common than Violet thought. The true telling moment was Violet’s conversation with Dr. Clarkson. She told Clarskson that she didn’t want Isobel to become a drudge with no interests to keep her occupied while living with a boring husband in a drafty house.  Was she describing Isobel’s fate or her own?” Is this why she found Prince Kuragan so interesting all those years ago?

        Bricker finally made his move on Cora, he is as subtle as a bee sting. True to form, Robert walked in at the exact wrong moment, assumed the worst and a pretty pathetic fight ensued. Robert really shouldn’t fight in his uniform it’s not very flattering to his regiment!!  So now he’s upset with Cora, which he has no right to be. I think this is a case of the truth hurting. Bricker paid Cora the kind of attention Robert hasn’t lately. She may not have minded his advances when they were innocent flirtations, but she drew the line when she had to. Again Robert is angry with Cora for something he really should be blaming himself for.

        Here comes Charles Blake to save the day. His plan to get Tony and Mable back together again is the obvious choice of getting Tony away from Mary. He knows it’s not going to be easy but there is a certain inevitability about it. The only question is how ugly is this going to get for Mary before everyone comes to their senses? Will Charles come out on top for being Mary’s champion?

        There is an interesting parallel being drawn between Violet and Mary. Violet understands Mary’s predicament with Tony better than she lets on because she went through a similar affair. In the previous episode at the dinner Robert and Sarah had their donnybrook Mary and Violet sipped their wine at the same time glaring at Sarah. In this episode, each is picking up on the tension between Cora and Robert. Mary is the next generation of Violet, sharp witted, sharp tongued and fiercely loyal to the family and their way of life.

        It’s hard to tell about the Bates’ conundrum.  It would appear that the police are closing the net, but what evidence do they have? The witness did not see Bates and no one can refute his testimony about where he was that day. So do they have more information than we know? I think the inspector will find a steel ring around Mary, Anna and Mrs. Hughes protecting each other and Mr. Bates. They’re stronger than he knows.

        Finally, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes continue their sparring between the modern age and the past. Mr. Carson doesn’t like to think of himself as being left behind. Mrs. Hughes has no problem pointing out to him that he is a fixture of the past. Will her little nudges bring him into the modern age? Perhaps, and she’ll be there waiting for him?