You Are Cordially Invited to Season 5

Like the passengers say before a death-defying rollercoaster ride, “here we go!!” Based on the previews PBS has been showing, Season 5 of Downton Abbey is sure to be a whirlwind ride the like of which we haven’t seen yet. Take your Dramamine!

            ‘Twas the night before Season 5 when all through the Abbey

            All the servants were stirring to bring off a dinner none too shabby.

            The silver was gleaming and polished with care

            In hopes Lady Grantham won’t fix them a glare.

            The Ladies and Gents were in deep conversation,

While footmen had visions of longer vacations.

            Cora in her tiara and Robert in his tails, 

Had just settled down for some pheasant and quail.

            When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

            Mr. Carson ran out to see what was the matter.

            When what to Robert’s wondering eyes should appear,

            But Lady Mary with three suitors thinking her quite dear.

            More rapid than eagles the suitors they came,

            And she whistled and shouted and called them by name:

            “Oh Charles! Oh Evelyn! Oh Tony! Oh boy!

            Which one should I choose for my new handsome toy?

            To the Isles of Scotland, to the Court of the King

            I’d like some diamonds and sapphires in my engagement ring!” 

So off to the jewelers the suitors they flew

            With bags of money and landed estates too.

            She was dressed all in Chanel from her head to her shoes,

            Wondering “which man should I choose?”  

           With a wink of her eye, and a toss of her head,

            Gave her parents to know they had nothing to dread

            She spoke few words, but went right to her choice

            With loads of drama in her well-bred voice.

            “To keep Downton going, and for the love of my life

            I have decided that I will become the wife…”

 

In order to finish my poem we’ll have to do as Julian Fellowes suggests “we’ll just have to watch the show.”

 From what I’ve seen so far in the previews this is what I’ve learned:

·       Edith’s stretch of bad luck continues: Michael is nowhere to be found, she can’t stay away from her little girl (named Marigold (ew)), and she’s nearly burned to death in the Abbey!

·       Mary and Tony get cozy in some hotel (remember Mr. Pamuk?)

·       Mr. Green’s death is being investigated because there was a witness to his death, look out Bates!

·       Daisy wants to be more educated so she’ll be prepared to run Mr. Mason’s farm

·       Cousin Violet has some sordid secret herself

·       An art critic takes an interest in Cora to Robert’s consternation

·       Jimmy has an affair with a Lady who visits the Abbey (and will likely be sacked)

·       Thomas bullies Mrs. Baxter who looks terrified

·       Thomas becomes a sympathetic character (how is that possible??)

·       Branson stays at Downton and likely takes up with Miss Bunting the school teacher.

·       Love springs later in life either for Isobel and Lord Merton or Carson and Mrs. Hughes

·       There will be a wedding at some point

 

As for my personal take, I am still pulling for Charles Blake. I think he’ll

make a better husband for Mary than Tony Gillingham. Tony just rubs me the wrong way. To borrow a comparison from Frozen, Gillingham makes me think of Hans of the Southern Isles. I think he’s interested more in Mary’s estate than in Mary. He wants to be Mary’s lover so how much can he really respect her?? He’s spoken of how he’s had to sell off parts of his estate to pay the taxes after his father died and was all too ready to throw off Mable Lane Fox (who apparently will be making an appearance this series). Charles, on the other hand, knows Tony from the war, is independently wealthy, and loves Mary for who she really is, and I think he is miles smarter than Gillingham.

            I so hope Anna and Bates will catch a break, but I’m sure it won’t

be easy for them. I feel my stomach acids churning already. Warm up the piano and vibrating violin strings.

            I’m sure Mrs. Baxter’s secret is a whopper if she trembles every time Thomas comes near her. Will Molesley be her savior?

 

            As for Edith, like my grandmother used to say “if she didn’t have

bad luck, she wouldn’t have any luck at all”, it appears Michael is lost for good. Two perspective husbands down, but what will she do now? Her baby is with the Drew family and she visits a little too often. I predict Mrs. Drew will contract an illness, die, and Edith will become the new Mrs. Drew and become mother to the Drew children as well as her own little girl. Well, that can’t be any more farfetched than what has already happened to Edith!!

 

 

            Finally, I am most looking forward to Violet’s observations and one-liners. I also can’t wait to see what indiscretion in Violet’s past is

going to come back to haunt her now. It’ll be interesting to see her caught off her perfectly ordered guard.

I’m so excited…off to polish my tiara.

Cheers!