From left: Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham, Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Grantham, Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes and Jim Carter as Carson. Photo credit: Nick Briggs
First, how wonderfully satisfying to see Tom back at the breakfast table, exuding peace and goodwill and hearty, Irish Tom-ness.
Second, though the cat (Carson) was away, the mice didn’t play too hard; the whole of episode four was really quite upbeat, with some harbingers of doom ahead:
1. For those who yearn for Tom and Mary to make a match, Mary was pretty clear. “You’re my brother.” Also, re: being on board with Tom’s love life: “No more Miss Bunting if you have any pity.” Same. If you have a shred of pity in your whole body, Tom, do not foist that woman upon us again.
2. I was delighted to see that deliciously shrew-y FANNY DASHWOOD from “Sense and Sensibility” on Downton as Prudence, Lady Shackleton, toting her handsome nephew Henry Talbot to the Abbey. Can we keep Prudence for more than one hour?
Raise your feather if you’re a fan of Fanny’s!
3. Yes, “40 strong men” would have to die in order for Henry Talbot to be earl, but GOLLY, the sparks flew between Henry and Mary, did they not? “We should have lunch, or drinks…or something,” indeed.
4. Best Dressed of the Night goes to Edith, again!, for her aqua beaded dinner dress. Oh, but Edith, where’s your helpful paste-up man from last week?
5. Line of the Night: “(Mrs. Hughes) knows the mystery of life by now,” sighs a dreamy Mrs. Patmore, “which is more than I can say for myself.” (Is some worthy gent taking a big shine to Mrs. P too much to ask?)
6. When Gwen, the former housemaid, comes back as a lunch guest, and tells the family that Sybil was the one who helped her move upward in life, grief and memory co-mingle in a bittersweet moment. Beautiful, nuanced acting, especially from Michelle Dockery (Mary), and Allen Leech (Tom).
7. SO GLAD Anna finally told Bates that she was pregnant. I know this show can be sudsier than a bubble bath, but keeping a pregnancy secret–really?
8. Speaking of secrets. what in the world is ailing Lord Grantham? The stabbing pains in his abdomen do not bode well. I predict a cancer diagnosis, which will play right into the ongoing hospital drama.
9. Re: The hospital drama–I felt the vaguest spark of interest this week, after not caring for the past three, although, perhaps it was a touch of Dyspepsia. Anyone out there give a rip yet?
10. Were Carson and Mrs. Hughes (tee hee–apparently the upstairs cannot be expected to keep up with staff name changes) toasting their homecoming with Raspberry Cordial? 🙂 What better way, I ask you, to toast to their now presumably full knowledge of “the mystery of life”?
11. Violet and Cousin Isabel Zinger Du Jour:
Violet: “I haven’t been down to the kitchen for 20 years,” she said, on the way downstairs to greet the blushing bride and groom at the little reception.
Isobel, dry as dust: “Have you your passport?”
Episode 4 was a little packed, but overall good stuff this week. What say you????
Remember, every comment below on the blog itself will be entered for a Downton Abbey tea of the winner’s choice at the end of the season!
Need to catch up?
Last week’s episode, episode 3, was as jolly as can be, what with the Carson/Hughes nups and Edith’s newspapery all-nighter, though it all went pear shaped the week before on episode #2.
Episode 1, you ask? A gem, wherein
Carson and Mrs. Hughes Contemplate Knowing Each Other From a Biblical Standpoint!
Very tantalizing indeed!..Cant help but wonder about Tom and Mary. Also, will Daisy and the footman take things on.
Daisy is annoying me lately. Maybe she and the very curly headed Andy will ride off into the sunset!
Yes, Daisy has been annoying us too!
Laura, I was thinking the same thing about Daisy and the footman.
I thought the Gwen moment was the best. Full circle and covered so much: changing times, house dynamics, personalities, tensions between the upper and lower house! And well Tom makes my heart happy and now he is a Capitalist!
Well said, per usual, Alex! The Gwen moment did encompass so much. Masterful TV writing, right there.
And Mr. Barrow wonders why he has no friends. I await the diagnosis with Lord Grantham which might add spice to the hospital debate especially with the Countess Dowager (Momma). Love again for Mary would be nice. Edith continues to grow with the time
Mr. Barrow is his own worst enemy. If only he would let people in, he would find he wasn’t quite as lonely. Also, if he would be nicer….I feel sorry for him, but he frustrates me.
Oh the passport joke! So funny! I am also having trouble caring about the hospital drama…did the feeling pass for you? 🙂
Ha! Amanda, I am happy to report any Dyspepsia has passed. However, the vaguest interest in the hospital drama is actually still there, probably because I believe it will tie in with Robert’s stomach pains.
I felt that this one was a bit snoozy. Or, maybe I was just tired – but I kept drifting off… Not too enamored with some of the topic lines this season. I am with you – something bad is going to happen to Lord Grantham…
They jammed it too full of overlapping stories, I think. Goodness, I hope they don’t kill off poor Lord G!
I was wondering about the stomach pains also! Good prediction on needing a new modern hospital to help out or convince Violet how wrong she was in not supporting it! I love how much happier Edith is this season and Mary is getting a conscience! Adding Sybil’s kindness to that scene with Gwen and Tom was perfect in bringing back her memory!!!
Yes, the scene with Gwen felt very full circle, and also full of hope for the future. No one can compare to Sybil, especially not Miss Bunting! 🙂
Downtown Abby thrills my soul. This week my favorite scene was the lunch. Gwen is so gracious in excusing their failure to recognize her. At least Lady Mary realized that for the two years Gwen worked for them nobody in the family actually “saw” her. She is beginning to see.
Yes, true Elaine. Mary is beginning to see!
I agree with every point you made. (including seeing Ms. Fanny) I also thought the moments Gwen talked of Sybil was the best. I found it a bit interesting that Mary was contemplating how Sybil changed things for other people and she didn’t in the same scene when she whisked Anna away to save her unborn baby. Ummm…hello, Mary. Don’t look now but I think you’re changing peoples lives.
Agreed! And yet Mary seems to thinking deeply and perhaps will help more people in the future … I say this as if she is real; as if this is all real! 😉 lol
Wow! Mary is becoming more selfless!
I’ll grant you Edith is looking mighty elegant these days, as befits a magazine mogul, but did you not see the glorious gold number Mary wore to dinner at home? Also, while I am so not a fan of her ladyship, Mary did at least think Gwen looked familiar…so apparently she alone of the family glanced at the maids now and then. But I’m still Team Edith all the way.
I somehow missed the gold dress but I believe I saw a photo of it online. Glorious! But lately Edith is stealing the show, fashion wise.
The episodes seem to be rushing by. Wait I’m not ready to be done with Downton … but yeah I can’t change that things, now can I. It’s coming to an end weather or not I’m in favor of it. I have been enjoying your recaps my friend. I’d like to add that the dress Mary borrowed from her Aunt [and I do believe she was worried she looked shabby], to me seemed rather delightful.
Daisy is beyond annoying – she’s really getting on my nerves this season. And I agree, Thomas is his own worst enemy. Just when you start to feel sorry for him, his arrogance kills any sympathy you might have. Feel like the show is definitely fore-shadowing things to come, and that Downton can’t continue to operate as the grand house it has been in the past. I’ll really miss this show.
Thomas is fascinating. We see his arrogance which masks deep insecurity, and sometimes, glimmers of sweetness. I wonder how they will wrap up his story.
My prediction is that Lord Grantham is having heart trouble and that the new hospital leadership and technology will save his life, thus vanquishing Violet’s objections once and for all. (I hope they don’t kill him off– too depressing to end the series.)
Great prediction, Laura! I also hope they don’t, but fear they may kill him off.