Catherine: Hi, Stephanie. Last night’s episode was a whirlwind of activity compared to the sedentary pace we’ve become accustomed to this season. Rose got married for one- I expected this to happen next season. Tom will finally fly the coop and Daisy may follow shortly behind. But best of all, Edith is no longer sad or pitiable. And in a reversal of roles, Mary is being outshone by pretty much everyone and left to lurk in the stairwells.
Stephanie: This was 2-3 episodes worth of plot development! Fitting since the season is winding up. I didn’t mind the quick progress to Rose’s wedding since people back then didn’t have long engagements to plan elaborate weddings the way they do now. Interesting how both Rose’s family and Atticus’ found fault with the match. Rose’s mother outdid Mary in Ultimate Bitchery by plotting to thwart her daughter’s wedding. First, by rude comments at the table (Lord Grantham is likely to cancel all dinner guests soon given how many loudmouths exhibited their rudeness over dinner in recent months). Then, she orchestrated photographic “evidence” from her cheap trick set-up to have a tarty woman barging into Atticus’ room days before the wedding. She clearly didn’t attend Shenanigans 101, because the check register to pay her cronies was left for her husband to find (a trail the Dowager would never leave). Lastly, Rose’s mother’s entitled, whiny declaration that she and Shrimpie were to divorce, a move meant to upset Atticus’ father Lord Sinderby who outright detests divorce, was swiftly dealt with by Atticus’ mother, who wins MVP this episode for standing up for her son, and for Rose. I hope we see more of her in a future episode-she’ll make a great friend and ally for Cora.
Catherine: Rose’s mother is the worst. Can we really be surprised how nasty she was at the dinner table? That’s Fellowes’ favorite trick this season—rage outs at the dinner table. Leaving a receipt was silly. Those are the kind of check stubs where you have to fill out the receipt by hand. There’s no copies- you fill it out yourself! I wonder how she filled out the stub. Perhaps “Blackmail Blood Money” or “Tart for Aldridge.” I can’t imagine that Mrs. MacClare was a nice lady when she did have money. Sure, losing’s everything has got to sour you but yikes! She’s not doing herself favors by making herself Public Enemy No 1 at Downton (okay, okay just frowning a lot can make you a public enemy on this show). Rose seems to have inherited her sweet temperament from her father, Shrimpie. I’m always interested when they interact. They’re clearly on the same page. Rose seems so young and naive to be marrying. Aldridge is rather brave to take her on. He’s also brave to stand up to his severe father. It was nice to see Aldridge’s mother stand up to the father but I think it spells trouble down the road. Crazy things happen when a parent insults their spouse in favor of their child. I see Lady Sinderby as getting along with Lord Grantham rather than Cora. And Lord Grantham guessed Marigold’s paternity! He did a 180 degree turn in these last two episodes. He’s no longer the fuming antique but now one hip and happenin’ dude. He didn’t try to stop Rose’s wedding! He guessed Marigold’s parents without freaking out! He put up a memorial for Mrs. Patmore’s nephew! He plays with little Sibbie and enjoys her!
Stephanie: I loved that Edith finally looks happy!. She’s found her place with Marigold on her lap. Though, I would venture she might show the same happiness in a London apartment with only her daughter and no one else. Still, Edith seems more confident, and she’s killing it with her style. She barely flinched at Mary including her as an afterthought for lunch. (“Even you, Edith.”) While Tom and Mary have bonded lately, Tom’s interaction with Edith was noteworthy this week. They both confessed to worrying over their children when away, and spoke of life beyond Downton. Mary, for as progressive as she considers herself with her modern haircut and casual sex weekend, still clings to the aging aristocracy of living with Mummy and Daddy and working to preserve the estate. Funny how Grantham recognized Marigold as Edith’s daughter before Mary did. Though interesting he noted the baby daddy’s characteristics in Marigold and not his own daughter’s.
Catherine: Edith’s one focus is her daughter and it’s lovely to see. Finally, someone who’s involved and adores their child. She mentioned having a hard time leaving her child in the nursery and Tom agreed. He said it was unnatural and it is. Downton would be a brighter and more chaotic place with children under foot. The upper class decision of partitioning children away from the it’s at a great cost. Much verve and human-ness is lost in the process. It’s hard to watch Mary at this point. She could have an ally and friend in Edith but all she can do is ceaselessly attack Edith- and for no good reason. She has the mothering skills of a gnat and the life direction of a…well, I have no idea and neither does she. What I’m worried about is Isobel not marrying Lord Merton. Doesn’t she believe in her skills to win over his sons? Rome wasn’t built in a day and winning over the hearts of dicks can’t happen in a day neither.
Stephanie: It does seem like Isobel is leaning toward not marrying Merton. How interesting would it be if the Dowager accepted Prince Kuragin’s “second chance,” and Isobel declined her offer? Though I think it’s more likely either Isobel will marry, or given her talk of “life’s next adventure,” she’ll move on to serve in some capacity where she’s needed. The one thing I can see keeping her with Merton is the new responsibilities that come with his Lordship. I don’t really see her staying put, especially considering the whole season’s theme of changing times. We saw Voilet and Isobel become unlikely friends, and now I see her moving on. What a difference in how Isobel and Violet take control of their lives over Rose’s mother. For as much as the Dowager schemes, it’s not merely in her own self-interests, but those of the family. She’s proactive and not simply reactionary.
Catherine: Violet has complained about modernity since Day 1 (remember her horror of their new electric chandelier?) but she’s gradually come to an uneasy truce with the changing times. She hasn’t prevented anyone from doing anything. There was, of course, her scheming to get Isobel away from Merton but that turned out to be due to her own loneliness and not innate snobbery as Mary (and most of us) thought. Violet has gone through quiet changes of her own and while she seems a little unbalanced between Isobel leaving and lady’s maid Denker’s antics, she’s making it. I doubt the Dowager will run off with Prince Kuragin- it’s so out of place in her well-ordered world. I find that plot striking a unbelievable note and chalk up the whole thing to Fellowes’ desperate attempt to wrap up the whole series with everyone being partnered and happy. Violet is a character who can stand alone. She doesn’t need a marriage partner, just a friend. Leave her with her friend and let her be happy. If Prince Kuragin can be that friend then okay. Speaking of friends, it looks like Thomas has one in the new London footman. That was a plot out of nowhere. We all know Thomas can be nice (remember his partnership with O’Brien?) so why do this? Maybe there’s something in the works for Thomas being partnered off as this is Fellowes’ idea of bliss but for now, it’s just odd.
Stephanie: Maybe the London footman was potential flirt-bait for Thomas-assuming he’ll be around again. Otherwise, it may have been to show Thomas isn’t limited to plotting evil; though he got the best of both worlds by helping the footman (perhaps to later call in a favor?), and to stick it to the maid for using the footman to get drinks at a seedy club. Meanwhile, Daisy has discovered the deeper side of education-that her possibilities are endless, and she may have severely limited herself so far in life. Call it a quarter-life crisis. Her revelation leads her to a hasty decision to quit Downton so she can pursue … things? in London. How heartbreaking was it when Daisy found Mrs. Patmore sobbing in the kitchen! Those were no light tears-Mrs. P was distraught. Even though Daisy reversed her decision later, I think this shows maturity on her part, and real character agency. Yes, London has opportunities, but she has a support system at Downtown, aiding her in her education. She can finish her schooling, continue to work, and then plan to move to London. I love how far her character has come! I hope she has adventures in London before she takes over the Mason farm.
Catherine: Daisy has turned out to be one of the best characters to watch on Downton. I loved how her reaction to seeing art wasn’t just pleasure but a great agonizing realization that she must do more and shoot higher. Really good art does that to viewers and it happened to Daisy too. While I do want her to leave Downton, I’m relieved she’ll stay just a bit longer and wipe poor Mrs. Patmore’s tears away.
Stephanie: As for Bates and Anna, they’re now Downton’s most unfortunate couple. Bates can never escape his prison-past, and now-what are the odds? His sweet, hard-working wife is accused of murder. It’s downright ugly to see a victim of rape arrested as murderer, so likely it will be revealed soon that Anna is the true victim and not a killer (PLEASE let this be resolved next episode). Though that leaves the question of who did kill Anna’s attacker? I think this is worth mentioning: I saw mention online that there’s a camp who believe Mary killed him. Their evidence: Mary is very outspoken when Anna is taken, and then, Mary is seen visibly upset (for once) downstairs, and chats with Bates about Anna’s innocence. Is she upset because of her own guilt? Personally, I don’t think Downton’s plotting is clever enough to have Mary as the killer. Even though the image of Mary in a jail cell makes me giddy-Edith’s visit to Mary in the slammer alone would make it worth it-but I’m very doubtful that’s the case. Since next week is the season finale, I really hope Anna will be back at Downton with Bates, and we finally get some closure to the murder.
Catherine: I love that idea of Mary committing murder! Like Mary could care that much about anyone. You nailed it: Downton isn’t about plot twists like that. I’ve been hoping that Anna killed Green though the possibility for that is nil. The detective who questioned her has her number about the rape. He’s been doing his profiling (did they do that then?) and he figured out Green’s prey type. What killed me when he questioned Anna about the rape was where he questioned her. He questioned her in front of her husband, Mrs. Hughes and Mr Carson. She’d never say anything in front of Mr. Carson! I know I wouldn’t. The Bates’ relationship will always be plagued by jail time but at least we got their theme music out of the doom. That music is the best part of their relationship and they don’t even know it. And with that, we only have one more episode left to go. I’ll see you next week, Stephanie!
Leave a Reply