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‘Downton Abbey’ recap: Lady Mary’s road-trip romp ‘Downton Abbey’ recap: Lady Mary’s road-trip romp
(less than a minute earlier)
There wasn’t much to untangle this week at Downton. Mary prepped for an illicit getaway. Edith plotted to spend more time with her child. Daisy studied math. Rose begged for a radio. (Oh, Rose). Lady Grantham eyed a visitor. Lord Grantham acted all surly. And a policeman visited.There wasn’t much to untangle this week at Downton. Mary prepped for an illicit getaway. Edith plotted to spend more time with her child. Daisy studied math. Rose begged for a radio. (Oh, Rose). Lady Grantham eyed a visitor. Lord Grantham acted all surly. And a policeman visited.
There you have it. Shortest recap ever! Feeling caught up? No? Well let’s start with Mary and Edith then. For the life of me I can’t remember why they dislike each other so. I mean, Mary is cruel, calculating and cold and Edith is weepy, weary and whiny … oh wait, that’s why they don’t like each other.There you have it. Shortest recap ever! Feeling caught up? No? Well let’s start with Mary and Edith then. For the life of me I can’t remember why they dislike each other so. I mean, Mary is cruel, calculating and cold and Edith is weepy, weary and whiny … oh wait, that’s why they don’t like each other.
“They’re all being marvelous, but I do feel like such an idiot,” says Edith, about the workers cleaning up after the fire she caused.“They’re all being marvelous, but I do feel like such an idiot,” says Edith, about the workers cleaning up after the fire she caused.
“Maybe it’s because you behaved like such an idiot,” Mary shoots back. Easy, Mary! How about a little compassion for your sour sis?“Maybe it’s because you behaved like such an idiot,” Mary shoots back. Easy, Mary! How about a little compassion for your sour sis?
In a house built on self-absorption, Mary wins top prize. As she prepares for a week-long carnal road trip with Lord Gillingham she asks Anna to go off to the village apothecary and purchase a contraceptive device for her.In a house built on self-absorption, Mary wins top prize. As she prepares for a week-long carnal road trip with Lord Gillingham she asks Anna to go off to the village apothecary and purchase a contraceptive device for her.
“I can’t just go into shop and buy something,” says Anna. “What if I were recognized?”“I can’t just go into shop and buy something,” says Anna. “What if I were recognized?”
“But you won’t be,” replies Mary. She might as well have added, “Because servants like you are invisible and no one pays you the slightest bit of attention.” So Anna scurries off with Mary’s top-secret shopping list. Take note viewers! If you don’t think something bad will eventually result from Anna running this errand for Lady Mary than you have not been watching “Downton” closely enough over the years.“But you won’t be,” replies Mary. She might as well have added, “Because servants like you are invisible and no one pays you the slightest bit of attention.” So Anna scurries off with Mary’s top-secret shopping list. Take note viewers! If you don’t think something bad will eventually result from Anna running this errand for Lady Mary than you have not been watching “Downton” closely enough over the years.
Is Lord Grantham having a particularly bad year? I’d say so. This week, the village committee led by Carson asks him to hand over his beloved cricket pitch for a memorial site. A woman on the committee puts it to him this way: “It comes down to priorities Lord Grantham. Which is more important? A game of cricket? Or the loss of a son in the course of his duty?”Is Lord Grantham having a particularly bad year? I’d say so. This week, the village committee led by Carson asks him to hand over his beloved cricket pitch for a memorial site. A woman on the committee puts it to him this way: “It comes down to priorities Lord Grantham. Which is more important? A game of cricket? Or the loss of a son in the course of his duty?”
Don’t answer, Lord G. Don’t answer! Phew, he kept his mouth shut. But he’s clearly not happy. He and Carson are at loggerheads over the proposed site. Grantham is also at loggerheads with Tom Branson over his renewed interest in Marxism and Ms. Bunting. And he’s at loggerheads with Rose who keeps badgering him to bring a wireless into the house. Grantham is a loggerheady kind of guy. (Oh, and for readers under the age of 80, a wireless is a radio).Don’t answer, Lord G. Don’t answer! Phew, he kept his mouth shut. But he’s clearly not happy. He and Carson are at loggerheads over the proposed site. Grantham is also at loggerheads with Tom Branson over his renewed interest in Marxism and Ms. Bunting. And he’s at loggerheads with Rose who keeps badgering him to bring a wireless into the house. Grantham is a loggerheady kind of guy. (Oh, and for readers under the age of 80, a wireless is a radio).
Downstairs, playboy Jimmy is sent off from Downton for his indiscretions with Lady A. He says a heartfelt goodbye to Barrow and the farewell is almost touching. Well, not touching, because Barrow already tried that with Jimmy and that didn’t go over well. But Barrow is moved by Jimmy’s departure. Barrow is showing flashes of humanity this season. I hope they won’t make this a thing.Downstairs, playboy Jimmy is sent off from Downton for his indiscretions with Lady A. He says a heartfelt goodbye to Barrow and the farewell is almost touching. Well, not touching, because Barrow already tried that with Jimmy and that didn’t go over well. But Barrow is moved by Jimmy’s departure. Barrow is showing flashes of humanity this season. I hope they won’t make this a thing.
My faith in Bad Barrow is restored later in the show when he snarls at Miss Baxter. At one point Daisy asks him, “Why do you have to make everything sound so nasty all of the time?” It’s the question that every viewer of “Downton” has had in their head about Barrow since the first season.My faith in Bad Barrow is restored later in the show when he snarls at Miss Baxter. At one point Daisy asks him, “Why do you have to make everything sound so nasty all of the time?” It’s the question that every viewer of “Downton” has had in their head about Barrow since the first season.
Molesley tries to stand up to Barrow but Molesley’s not much of an intimidator. I want to like Molesley. I want to, but I don’t.Molesley tries to stand up to Barrow but Molesley’s not much of an intimidator. I want to like Molesley. I want to, but I don’t.
Edith … where do I start with Edith? I suppose I should have sympathy for her, but she doesn’t make it easy. This week she plots to spend time with her daughter, Marigold, who has been adopted by the tenant farm family, the Drews. Not knowing that Edith is Margiold’s real mother, Mrs. Drew is suspicious and thinks Edith a bit of a dilettante.Edith … where do I start with Edith? I suppose I should have sympathy for her, but she doesn’t make it easy. This week she plots to spend time with her daughter, Marigold, who has been adopted by the tenant farm family, the Drews. Not knowing that Edith is Margiold’s real mother, Mrs. Drew is suspicious and thinks Edith a bit of a dilettante.
I don’t blame Mrs. Drew for being wary. Would you let Edith raise your child? Or any child? Even her own child? Not me. But I hope this all works out well for dear Marigold who is being groomed to take over Downton in Season 24. It will probably involve a coup against Mary as Marigold avenges the slights her evil auntie slung at her mother.I don’t blame Mrs. Drew for being wary. Would you let Edith raise your child? Or any child? Even her own child? Not me. But I hope this all works out well for dear Marigold who is being groomed to take over Downton in Season 24. It will probably involve a coup against Mary as Marigold avenges the slights her evil auntie slung at her mother.
A new face arrived at Downton this week. An art historian, Simon Bricker, is drawn to the Abbey to view a painting by the Italian artist Piero della Francesca. What little I know about della Francesca I learned two minutes ago looking at his Wikipedia page. But you don’t need to be familiar with della Francesca to know that Bricker has his eye on more than just paintings. He’s obviously smitten by Lady Grantham and Lady G. is not immune to his charm — even if her husband thinks the new visitor is more interested in Isis than his wife.A new face arrived at Downton this week. An art historian, Simon Bricker, is drawn to the Abbey to view a painting by the Italian artist Piero della Francesca. What little I know about della Francesca I learned two minutes ago looking at his Wikipedia page. But you don’t need to be familiar with della Francesca to know that Bricker has his eye on more than just paintings. He’s obviously smitten by Lady Grantham and Lady G. is not immune to his charm — even if her husband thinks the new visitor is more interested in Isis than his wife.
“Tell your friend Bricker to stop flirting with Isis,” Grantham tells his wife. “There is nothing more ill bred than trying to steal the affections of someone else’s dog.” Apparently that’s worse than having a dalliance with a cleaning lady, eh Lord Grantham? How soon we forget.“Tell your friend Bricker to stop flirting with Isis,” Grantham tells his wife. “There is nothing more ill bred than trying to steal the affections of someone else’s dog.” Apparently that’s worse than having a dalliance with a cleaning lady, eh Lord Grantham? How soon we forget.
Last season’s big technological introduction was the arrival of an electric mixer in the kitchen. This season, the wireless radio stands in as the symbol of revolutionary change. “I find the whole idea a thief of life that people should waste hours huddled around a wooden box listening to someone,” Lord Grantham says. (Doesn’t he know he’s on a television show?).Last season’s big technological introduction was the arrival of an electric mixer in the kitchen. This season, the wireless radio stands in as the symbol of revolutionary change. “I find the whole idea a thief of life that people should waste hours huddled around a wooden box listening to someone,” Lord Grantham says. (Doesn’t he know he’s on a television show?).
Only after learning that King George is going to address the nation on the wireless does Grantham cave. “Surely we won’t be corrupted if it is only in the house for a day,” he says. The next scene should have shown him paying his monthly $400 Comcast bill.Only after learning that King George is going to address the nation on the wireless does Grantham cave. “Surely we won’t be corrupted if it is only in the house for a day,” he says. The next scene should have shown him paying his monthly $400 Comcast bill.
Near the end of the show we see Mary arrive at the hotel in Liverpool where her room is conveniently adjacent to that of Gillingham’s. He promises dinner and a night of passionate lovemaking. I’m sure he’ll at least deliver on the dinner part of it. They embrace and kiss. Mary does not take off her hat.Near the end of the show we see Mary arrive at the hotel in Liverpool where her room is conveniently adjacent to that of Gillingham’s. He promises dinner and a night of passionate lovemaking. I’m sure he’ll at least deliver on the dinner part of it. They embrace and kiss. Mary does not take off her hat.
In tonight’s final scene, a policeman shows up to ask about Gillingham’s valet Mr. Green who died last season when hit by a bus. But did he slip or was he pushed? A witness has turned up. This could spell trouble for our good friend Mr. Bates. See you next week, Downton…In tonight’s final scene, a policeman shows up to ask about Gillingham’s valet Mr. Green who died last season when hit by a bus. But did he slip or was he pushed? A witness has turned up. This could spell trouble for our good friend Mr. Bates. See you next week, Downton…
Extra, extra:Extra, extra:
Ms. Patmore arranges and pays for math lessons for Daisy with Ms. Bunting. Patmore is clearly the heart of Downton which probably means she’ll be killed off this season. That’s what happens to the most decent characters: see Lady Sybil, Matthew Crawley.Ms. Patmore arranges and pays for math lessons for Daisy with Ms. Bunting. Patmore is clearly the heart of Downton which probably means she’ll be killed off this season. That’s what happens to the most decent characters: see Lady Sybil, Matthew Crawley.
Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes continue the most protracted and restrained romance in history. Look for Carson to make his move just after Marigold takes control of Downton.Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes continue the most protracted and restrained romance in history. Look for Carson to make his move just after Marigold takes control of Downton.
Charles, another of Mary’s former suitors, comes to Downton to tell Mary he wishes her luck with Gillingham. Sure you do, Charlie, sure you do.Charles, another of Mary’s former suitors, comes to Downton to tell Mary he wishes her luck with Gillingham. Sure you do, Charlie, sure you do.
I’m sure I’ve missed things. Please add your corrections, predictions, observations in the comments below.I’m sure I’ve missed things. Please add your corrections, predictions, observations in the comments below.