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| ‘Downton Abbey’ recap: Edith disappears. Edith returns. And love is in the air. | ‘Downton Abbey’ recap: Edith disappears. Edith returns. And love is in the air. |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| First, your one-paragraph recap: | First, your one-paragraph recap: |
| Edith disappears. Mary doesn’t care. Edith is found. Mary still doesn’t care. Everyone’s planning their retirement. The Dowager Countess is sad about Mrs. Crawley’s engagement. Gillingham dodges a bullet. Lord Merton’s sons are as bad as Isis (the terrorist group, not the dog). Rose and Atticus rush headlong into each others teeth. Spratt’s head almost explodes. It’s a sad end for Isis (the dog, not the terrorist group). | Edith disappears. Mary doesn’t care. Edith is found. Mary still doesn’t care. Everyone’s planning their retirement. The Dowager Countess is sad about Mrs. Crawley’s engagement. Gillingham dodges a bullet. Lord Merton’s sons are as bad as Isis (the terrorist group, not the dog). Rose and Atticus rush headlong into each others teeth. Spratt’s head almost explodes. It’s a sad end for Isis (the dog, not the terrorist group). |
| There’s really not much more to say, but I’m paid by the word, so I’ll keep typing. | There’s really not much more to say, but I’m paid by the word, so I’ll keep typing. |
| Guests are expected at Downton but there’s panic in the big house over the missing Edith. A mild panic, to be sure, but still. Why has Edith left? Where could she be? Everyone raises a fuss. Except for Mary. Mary has no fuss to give. | Guests are expected at Downton but there’s panic in the big house over the missing Edith. A mild panic, to be sure, but still. Why has Edith left? Where could she be? Everyone raises a fuss. Except for Mary. Mary has no fuss to give. |
| Aunt Rosamund arrives on the train and the Dowager Countess greets her at the station. The clucky co-conspirators agree that they must let Cora know that Edith has a child. You know, Cora, it’s little Marigold. The one who arrived like some miracle at the Drewe farm following Edith’s loooong trip to Europe. The one Edith has been obsessing over. Yes, that’s the one. | Aunt Rosamund arrives on the train and the Dowager Countess greets her at the station. The clucky co-conspirators agree that they must let Cora know that Edith has a child. You know, Cora, it’s little Marigold. The one who arrived like some miracle at the Drewe farm following Edith’s loooong trip to Europe. The one Edith has been obsessing over. Yes, that’s the one. |
| Seriously, how did this possibility never occur to Cora? In any event, the DC and Rosamund have hidden the news about her granddaughter long enough. Time to fess up. Unfortunately for them, Mrs. Drewe gets to Cora first. She’ll be the one who lets her know. | Seriously, how did this possibility never occur to Cora? In any event, the DC and Rosamund have hidden the news about her granddaughter long enough. Time to fess up. Unfortunately for them, Mrs. Drewe gets to Cora first. She’ll be the one who lets her know. |
| [Last week's recap: Edith makes her move and Mary is so, so cold] | [Last week's recap: Edith makes her move and Mary is so, so cold] |
| The house is full of visitors. Charles Blake, Lord Gillingham and Mabel Lane Fox are all present. Blake is trying to convince Gillingham to give up Mary and marry Mabel. Gillingham isn’t convinced that Mary’s no meant no. He needs a headslap. | The house is full of visitors. Charles Blake, Lord Gillingham and Mabel Lane Fox are all present. Blake is trying to convince Gillingham to give up Mary and marry Mabel. Gillingham isn’t convinced that Mary’s no meant no. He needs a headslap. |
| Downstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Bates are talking about a small house they own in London. Everyone is starting to get interested in securing additional property. Lord Grantham with the housing development. Daisy with her farm. Mrs. Patmore with her rental property. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes with their “investment.” And now the Bateses. | Downstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Bates are talking about a small house they own in London. Everyone is starting to get interested in securing additional property. Lord Grantham with the housing development. Daisy with her farm. Mrs. Patmore with her rental property. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes with their “investment.” And now the Bateses. |
| “When you have property, you have choices,” says Anna. It’s Downtonomics 101 and everyone is becoming hip to the promise of real estate. | “When you have property, you have choices,” says Anna. It’s Downtonomics 101 and everyone is becoming hip to the promise of real estate. |
| Cora finds out the truth about Marigold and summons the Dowager Countess and Aunt Rosamund to her bedroom. She wants an explanation. It doesn’t go well for the DC and Roz, who look like two little girls trying to explain how the crayon marks got on the wall. | Cora finds out the truth about Marigold and summons the Dowager Countess and Aunt Rosamund to her bedroom. She wants an explanation. It doesn’t go well for the DC and Roz, who look like two little girls trying to explain how the crayon marks got on the wall. |
| “You never thought to involve me, her own mother!” Cora upbraids them. “We must find Edith and hear from her what she wants.” | “You never thought to involve me, her own mother!” Cora upbraids them. “We must find Edith and hear from her what she wants.” |
| In this week’s who-killed-Green news, Lady Mary is informed by Mrs. Hughes about how the train ticket she gave her from Mr. Bates’s jacket is proof of his innocence. Mary tells Mrs. Hughes that she burned the ticket. Poof goes the proof! Miss Baxter eavesdrops on the conversation. She wants to help the Bateses but they’re suspicious of her. | In this week’s who-killed-Green news, Lady Mary is informed by Mrs. Hughes about how the train ticket she gave her from Mr. Bates’s jacket is proof of his innocence. Mary tells Mrs. Hughes that she burned the ticket. Poof goes the proof! Miss Baxter eavesdrops on the conversation. She wants to help the Bateses but they’re suspicious of her. |
| Meanwhile there’s some happiness at Downton. Love is in the air. Rose can’t contain herself. She’s practically waltzing through the halls. Atticus arrives and they smile giant smiles at one another. Between them they have enough pearly whites to supply a piano. Rose is smitten. Almost bitten. | Meanwhile there’s some happiness at Downton. Love is in the air. Rose can’t contain herself. She’s practically waltzing through the halls. Atticus arrives and they smile giant smiles at one another. Between them they have enough pearly whites to supply a piano. Rose is smitten. Almost bitten. |
| Rose tells Atticus about the missing Edith and the family’s unsuccessful attempts to track her down. Atticus suggests calling the publishing house that Edith has inherited. Hey, there’s a thought. “Of course,” says Rose. “How clever you are.” Atticus puts on his confused Hugh Grant face. “Really? It seems rather obvious to me.” | Rose tells Atticus about the missing Edith and the family’s unsuccessful attempts to track her down. Atticus suggests calling the publishing house that Edith has inherited. Hey, there’s a thought. “Of course,” says Rose. “How clever you are.” Atticus puts on his confused Hugh Grant face. “Really? It seems rather obvious to me.” |
| Did this possibility truly not occur to anyone else? Mary probably figured it out but kept the idea to herself. The longer Edith stays lost the better. | Did this possibility truly not occur to anyone else? Mary probably figured it out but kept the idea to herself. The longer Edith stays lost the better. |
| Downstairs Daisy is glum. The Labour governnment is in crisis. “We’re trapped in a system that gives us no freedom, no value,” she moans. Daisy needs a visit from a Labour superhero. Tony Blair, perchance? Oh never mind, it’s just Molesley. He tries to buck up her spirits but Daisy is in the dumps. | Downstairs Daisy is glum. The Labour governnment is in crisis. “We’re trapped in a system that gives us no freedom, no value,” she moans. Daisy needs a visit from a Labour superhero. Tony Blair, perchance? Oh never mind, it’s just Molesley. He tries to buck up her spirits but Daisy is in the dumps. |
| Aunt Rosamund asks Tom if he’s leaving for America.”I want to make sure I do the right thing,” Tom responds with his maddening ambivalence. “I don’t want to disrupt Sybie’s life and then regret it.” Tom needs to ship out or get off the pot. | Aunt Rosamund asks Tom if he’s leaving for America.”I want to make sure I do the right thing,” Tom responds with his maddening ambivalence. “I don’t want to disrupt Sybie’s life and then regret it.” Tom needs to ship out or get off the pot. |
| Gillingham is being marriage-stalked by Mabel. She imparts advice her mother gave her. “Happiness is a matter of choice. Some people choose to be happy. Others select a course that leads only to frustration and disappointment.” (I think she’s referring to people who write “Downton Abbey” recaps.) | Gillingham is being marriage-stalked by Mabel. She imparts advice her mother gave her. “Happiness is a matter of choice. Some people choose to be happy. Others select a course that leads only to frustration and disappointment.” (I think she’s referring to people who write “Downton Abbey” recaps.) |
| Gillingham must choose between one woman who is offering herself up on a plate and another woman who keeps pulling away the football when he lines up to kick it. I think the choice has been made for him. | Gillingham must choose between one woman who is offering herself up on a plate and another woman who keeps pulling away the football when he lines up to kick it. I think the choice has been made for him. |
| Mrs. Crawley claps her hands at the table to get everyone’s attention. She’s lucky the lights didn’t go off. There’s a big announcement to make. She and Lord Merton have decided to get married. The Dowager Countess looks devastated. Lady Mary notices her strong reaction. She asks her what’s wrong and the DC says she’s worried about Edith. | Mrs. Crawley claps her hands at the table to get everyone’s attention. She’s lucky the lights didn’t go off. There’s a big announcement to make. She and Lord Merton have decided to get married. The Dowager Countess looks devastated. Lady Mary notices her strong reaction. She asks her what’s wrong and the DC says she’s worried about Edith. |
| “I can’t think why,” Mary responds, icily. | “I can’t think why,” Mary responds, icily. |
| “My dear, a lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears,” the Dowager Countess replies. What an elegant and pointed response. It’s not her customary witty putdown, but it’s the best line she’s ever uttered on the show. Who knows if Mary will take her grandmother’s words to heart. She has certainly been put on notice. | “My dear, a lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears,” the Dowager Countess replies. What an elegant and pointed response. It’s not her customary witty putdown, but it’s the best line she’s ever uttered on the show. Who knows if Mary will take her grandmother’s words to heart. She has certainly been put on notice. |
| Lord Merton wants to have a dinner for Isobel to meet his sons. Well, that seems like a lovely idea, we all thought. Mary and Cora insist that the dinner be held at Downton. (Can Lord Grantham expense any of these parties? A tax write-off? They do pile up.) | Lord Merton wants to have a dinner for Isobel to meet his sons. Well, that seems like a lovely idea, we all thought. Mary and Cora insist that the dinner be held at Downton. (Can Lord Grantham expense any of these parties? A tax write-off? They do pile up.) |
| Rose tells the other Downton women about Atticus’s brilliant observation that Edith might be at the publishing house she now owns. Cora and Rosamund plan to leave for London in the morning. In London, they go to the publishing house Edith has inherited from the late Mr. Gregson. Lo and behold, she’s already running the joint just a day or two after showing up. And apparently she had no trouble finding child care. Good luck doing something like that today. | Rose tells the other Downton women about Atticus’s brilliant observation that Edith might be at the publishing house she now owns. Cora and Rosamund plan to leave for London in the morning. In London, they go to the publishing house Edith has inherited from the late Mr. Gregson. Lo and behold, she’s already running the joint just a day or two after showing up. And apparently she had no trouble finding child care. Good luck doing something like that today. |
| They all head off to the local Starbucks to discuss the situation. Edith tells them she’s toying with the idea of going to America. What’d she’d do there is unclear. Pressed by her aunt and mother, Edith concedes that she wants to make sure that the publishing company doesn’t collapse and that she really wants Marigold to grow up English. | They all head off to the local Starbucks to discuss the situation. Edith tells them she’s toying with the idea of going to America. What’d she’d do there is unclear. Pressed by her aunt and mother, Edith concedes that she wants to make sure that the publishing company doesn’t collapse and that she really wants Marigold to grow up English. |
| It’s hard to feel pity for someone as irritating as Edith. I know they certainly seemed like lovebirds, but perhaps Gregson foresaw what his future with Edith would be like and chose to take his chances among the Brownshirts in Germany instead. | It’s hard to feel pity for someone as irritating as Edith. I know they certainly seemed like lovebirds, but perhaps Gregson foresaw what his future with Edith would be like and chose to take his chances among the Brownshirts in Germany instead. |
| Cora has a plan, which is always a dangerous thing. She wants Edith to bring the baby back to Downton. They’ll tell everyone that the Drewes have decided they can’t afford to raise the child and that Edith has grown so fond of Marigold, she wants to raise her at Downton. Brilliant. | Cora has a plan, which is always a dangerous thing. She wants Edith to bring the baby back to Downton. They’ll tell everyone that the Drewes have decided they can’t afford to raise the child and that Edith has grown so fond of Marigold, she wants to raise her at Downton. Brilliant. |
| Rosamund thinks Cora is bonkers. Edith is okay with the plan, but doesn’t want anyone to find out. Cora assures Edith that no one will know and so a happy Edith signs on. Her two days in London as a single mother have been exhausting. Let’s all head back to Downton! | Rosamund thinks Cora is bonkers. Edith is okay with the plan, but doesn’t want anyone to find out. Cora assures Edith that no one will know and so a happy Edith signs on. Her two days in London as a single mother have been exhausting. Let’s all head back to Downton! |
| Back in the village, Mary goes to visit her grandmother. Mary believes that Granny is unhappy about Mrs. Crawley’s pending marriage because it will elevate Crawley in Granny’s social circles and she’ll no longer be able to lord her ladyship over her. | Back in the village, Mary goes to visit her grandmother. Mary believes that Granny is unhappy about Mrs. Crawley’s pending marriage because it will elevate Crawley in Granny’s social circles and she’ll no longer be able to lord her ladyship over her. |
| But that’s not it at all, her grandmother explains. | But that’s not it at all, her grandmother explains. |
| “If you must know, I’ve got used to having a companion,” she tells Mary. “A friend, you know, someone to talk things over with…Isobel and I had a lot in common, and I shall miss that.” | “If you must know, I’ve got used to having a companion,” she tells Mary. “A friend, you know, someone to talk things over with…Isobel and I had a lot in common, and I shall miss that.” |
| It’s a sweet and honest admission and just more evidence why Violet has always been Downton’s most formidable figure. | It’s a sweet and honest admission and just more evidence why Violet has always been Downton’s most formidable figure. |
| Charles Blake finds out he’ll be traveling overseas and wants Mary to come to London. He won’t say why but he tells her they’re going to the cinema. I won’t make fun of how he pronounced cinema. | Charles Blake finds out he’ll be traveling overseas and wants Mary to come to London. He won’t say why but he tells her they’re going to the cinema. I won’t make fun of how he pronounced cinema. |
| Mr. Mason, the father-in-law of the war-widowed Daisy, invites Daisy and Molesley out to the farm. Miss Baxter is invited along as well. The whole plan is for Mason to encourage Daisy to stick to her studies. As side-plots go, this one is not particularly enthralling. | Mr. Mason, the father-in-law of the war-widowed Daisy, invites Daisy and Molesley out to the farm. Miss Baxter is invited along as well. The whole plan is for Mason to encourage Daisy to stick to her studies. As side-plots go, this one is not particularly enthralling. |
| Edith, Cora and Marigold return to the village. Mr. Drewe has been alerted and is ready to meet them at the train station. But what’s this? Mary is also at the station. The plan is in jeopardy! Thinking quickly, Edith tells Drewe to get on the train and take Marigold to the next station where she’ll pick him up. Drewe climbs aboard and Cora and Edith alight (such a good word, alight). They walk down the platform and run into Mary, who is waiting for a train to London. | Edith, Cora and Marigold return to the village. Mr. Drewe has been alerted and is ready to meet them at the train station. But what’s this? Mary is also at the station. The plan is in jeopardy! Thinking quickly, Edith tells Drewe to get on the train and take Marigold to the next station where she’ll pick him up. Drewe climbs aboard and Cora and Edith alight (such a good word, alight). They walk down the platform and run into Mary, who is waiting for a train to London. |
| It would have all gone smoothly, but Anna has seen Marigold with Mr. Drewe on the train. Who knows where this will lead? | It would have all gone smoothly, but Anna has seen Marigold with Mr. Drewe on the train. Who knows where this will lead? |
| Mrs. Crawley stops by to visit Violet. Spratt is furious with the new lady’s maid, positively combustible. He tells the Dowager Countess that he is handing in his notice. The DC is not worried. “He’s as touchy as a beauty losing her looks,” she observes. But she doesn’t want him to leave so she’ll forgive the outburst. “Anything rather than find a new butler,” she tells Mrs. Crawley. | Mrs. Crawley stops by to visit Violet. Spratt is furious with the new lady’s maid, positively combustible. He tells the Dowager Countess that he is handing in his notice. The DC is not worried. “He’s as touchy as a beauty losing her looks,” she observes. But she doesn’t want him to leave so she’ll forgive the outburst. “Anything rather than find a new butler,” she tells Mrs. Crawley. |
| At the kinema in London, Charles tells Mary to kiss him. It’s all a set-up so that Gillingham will see the kiss and realize that Mary is not interested in him. Gillingham is not fooled. “There was no need to stage a tableau,” he tells Mary. “If you had just told me I was allowed to walk away, then I’d have gone.” | At the kinema in London, Charles tells Mary to kiss him. It’s all a set-up so that Gillingham will see the kiss and realize that Mary is not interested in him. Gillingham is not fooled. “There was no need to stage a tableau,” he tells Mary. “If you had just told me I was allowed to walk away, then I’d have gone.” |
| “But I did tell you,” Mary responds. “Often. And you didn’t go.” | “But I did tell you,” Mary responds. “Often. And you didn’t go.” |
| “Well, I’m going now,” says Gillingham. | “Well, I’m going now,” says Gillingham. |
| It’s all a bit sad. Gillingham is officially just another notch on the Mary’s hatband. But what now for Mary? Charles is heading off. Maybe for months, maybe for a year. What about Tom? Oh, Tom? | It’s all a bit sad. Gillingham is officially just another notch on the Mary’s hatband. But what now for Mary? Charles is heading off. Maybe for months, maybe for a year. What about Tom? Oh, Tom? |
| Back at Downton, the plans are being made for the dinner party for Mrs. Crawley to meet Lord Merton’s sons. Mary finds out that Edith is planning on bringing Marigold inside the house. She’s sniffy about it. | Back at Downton, the plans are being made for the dinner party for Mrs. Crawley to meet Lord Merton’s sons. Mary finds out that Edith is planning on bringing Marigold inside the house. She’s sniffy about it. |
| Lord Grantham arrives with Mr. Barrow carrying Isis. Isis isn’t pregnant. She has cancer. It’s sad news for the house. Edith sees all the love for the dog and looks to be wondering why no one has any for her. She asks Lord Grantham about bringing Marigold into the house. “It seems idiotic,” he responds, but he leaves the decision to Cora. It’s the first decision he’s let her make all season. | Lord Grantham arrives with Mr. Barrow carrying Isis. Isis isn’t pregnant. She has cancer. It’s sad news for the house. Edith sees all the love for the dog and looks to be wondering why no one has any for her. She asks Lord Grantham about bringing Marigold into the house. “It seems idiotic,” he responds, but he leaves the decision to Cora. It’s the first decision he’s let her make all season. |
| Cora makes it official. Marigold is to be offered a home at Downton. Edith is happy. In her very sad way, of course. | Cora makes it official. Marigold is to be offered a home at Downton. Edith is happy. In her very sad way, of course. |
| The less said about the dinner, the better. It’s a white-tie affair, but it’s amazing it didn’t turn into a food fight. Lord Merton’s sons are outrageously bad guests. They make Miss Bunting look like Miss Manners. It is, even by Downton’s sometimes credulity-straining standards, an overcooked scene. | |
| The brothers Merton insult everyone, from Edith to their father’s wife-to-be, to Tom and Atticus. If Isis had been in the room, they would have said something unpleasant to her as well. Tom has heard enough. “Why don’t you just get out, you bastard!,” he yells. Well yelled, Tom. | The brothers Merton insult everyone, from Edith to their father’s wife-to-be, to Tom and Atticus. If Isis had been in the room, they would have said something unpleasant to her as well. Tom has heard enough. “Why don’t you just get out, you bastard!,” he yells. Well yelled, Tom. |
| “I do not endorse Tom’s language, but that is certainly how we all feel,” Lord Grantham says. | “I do not endorse Tom’s language, but that is certainly how we all feel,” Lord Grantham says. |
| Presumably Lord Merton knew how horrible his sons were so I’m not sure it made sense that he’d have ever invited them to such a crucial dinner. Mrs. Crawley is shaken by the boys’ boorish behavior. “The boys take after their mother, in every possible way,” Merton tells her. He’s clearly worried that the nuptials are in jeopardy. Who’d want to marry into that family? | Presumably Lord Merton knew how horrible his sons were so I’m not sure it made sense that he’d have ever invited them to such a crucial dinner. Mrs. Crawley is shaken by the boys’ boorish behavior. “The boys take after their mother, in every possible way,” Merton tells her. He’s clearly worried that the nuptials are in jeopardy. Who’d want to marry into that family? |
| Not all is lost, however. On this eventful night, Atticus asks Rose to marry him. They smile more giant smiles. She makes him kneel down for the proposal, but she can barely contain her excitement. They kiss. | Not all is lost, however. On this eventful night, Atticus asks Rose to marry him. They smile more giant smiles. She makes him kneel down for the proposal, but she can barely contain her excitement. They kiss. |
| Lord Grantham brings Isis to the bedroom. He thinks his beloved dog won’t last the night. Cora insists that the dog sleep between them on the bed. It’s a scene that’s meant to be loaded with emotion, but the truth is we don’t really know Isis. I’m not sure that we’ve ever even heard her bark. I love dogs as much as the next person, but this scene felt like a lazy heart-tugging attempt. | Lord Grantham brings Isis to the bedroom. He thinks his beloved dog won’t last the night. Cora insists that the dog sleep between them on the bed. It’s a scene that’s meant to be loaded with emotion, but the truth is we don’t really know Isis. I’m not sure that we’ve ever even heard her bark. I love dogs as much as the next person, but this scene felt like a lazy heart-tugging attempt. |
| Maybe they just don’t want to have a dog named Isis on the show anymore. Or maybe they’ll get a cat next week. We’ll find out next Sunday. Until then, have at it in the comments and let me know what crucial plot points I’ve neglected. | Maybe they just don’t want to have a dog named Isis on the show anymore. Or maybe they’ll get a cat next week. We’ll find out next Sunday. Until then, have at it in the comments and let me know what crucial plot points I’ve neglected. |
| PREVIOUS SEASON 5 RECAPS Episode 6: Edith makes her move and Mary is so, so cold Episode 5: A rare instance of fisticuffs Episode 4: A proposal to remember Episode 3: Mary’s bored already and the police pay a visit Episode 2: Lady Mary’s road-trip romp Episode 1: Change is in the air | PREVIOUS SEASON 5 RECAPS Episode 6: Edith makes her move and Mary is so, so cold Episode 5: A rare instance of fisticuffs Episode 4: A proposal to remember Episode 3: Mary’s bored already and the police pay a visit Episode 2: Lady Mary’s road-trip romp Episode 1: Change is in the air |
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