Cheerio m’lords and m’ladies and welcome back to Downton. Are we ready for this week’s sexcapades with the Carsons? At least we don’t have to deal with the Mr. Green murder nonsense anymore.
Previously: Lord Grantham wonders how long they can continue living large, Daisy blows it for her father-in-law Mr. Mason, the downstairs crew worry about their jobs, Mary is officially the agent of the family’s lands, and Isobel and the DC are quarreling over a potential hospital takeover (Team DC!)
Morning at Downton finds the staff gets ready for the day. I like seeing the mechanics of running the household – Mosely is even ironing the newspaper to dry the ink so it doesn’t blacken the reader’s hands. Mrs. Hughes needs to go to the village and her fiancé offers to walk with her. She gets the cutest look on her face:
If she’s blushing now…
A Mr. Finch is at the house to discuss business with the agent and has a hard time grasping the fact that the agent is a lady Lady. The show beats us over the head with their weekly installment of how the world is changing. He talks about fat stocks and putting together a pig show.
The engaged couple walk and talk wedding plans. Mrs. Hughes isn’t keen on Robert’s offer to host the reception in the servant’s quarters (yeah, that’s cold). She would rather go somewhere local and make it more “them”, though of course the Crawleys would be invited. Carson notes how important Lady Mary is to him (their relationship is one of the best on the show) but Mrs. Hughes doesn’t want to be a servant at her own wedding, which is understandable. And most of her guests would have to work the event, unless the Crawleys hired a staff to serve their staff.
Robert, the DC, Isobel and Dr. Clarkson have a meeting to discuss a large hospital in York that has offered assistance to their cottage hospital. Hospitalgate pits the DC and Dr. Clarkson, who don’t want to become a ward of the York hospital and lose control, versus Isobel, who welcomes the funds for new equipment/better care. Robert is hesitant to take a side. Not invited to this meeting is Trustee Cora.
The children are allowed out! Not just out of the nursery but outside! Mary offers to take them to the pig farm to see some potential prize-winners for Mr. Finch. But the pigs are kept at the Drewes’ farm, where Marigold lived before coming to Downton. Edith is nervous since Mary doesn’t know the little girl is her daughter and Mrs. Drewe will probably say/do something stupid (though she doesn’t know either, she just thinks Edith took away the girl she was raising for the fun of it). Edith cannot join them since she has to go to London to deal with Mr. Skinner, the jerk editor who keeps giving her shit about running the magazine Gregson left her. Can’t she just replace him?
The children make a rare appearance
Mosley brings Daisy some sample exams to help her study for entrance into school. (Is it me or is he sweeter these days?) An education could put her in a better position to help Mr. Mason but she wants to do something now since she cost him his home and livelihood. So Mosely asks buddy Baxter to see if there is anything Cora can do to help. Her Ladyship wants to help Mr. Mason but she cannot. Daisy’s angry at “the system”, which includes Cora. Daisy goes to talk to Cora herself (why involve Baxter then?) who might have an idea on how to help.
While getting Mary dressed for bed (why don’t I have someone to help me into my sweatpants?) Anna is still acting like a Debbie Downer. She admits that she can’t have children so Mary offers to take Anna to her fertility doctor in London. When Anna scoffs at the expense, Mary says she’s earned it by keeping all her secrets (yeah, I’ll say) and hiding her “Dutch thingamajig”.
“Clinocap”?!?
In town, Isobel runs into ex-boyfriend Lord Merton who is involved with the hospital deal and would be working closely with her if it goes through. He tries to flirt in his stodgy way but she ain’t having it.
Thomas Barrow (who hasn’t had much of a story line lately) is looking at the classifieds after asking Mr. Carson about job security without a real answer. His paranoia grows when new footman Andrew is asked to wind the clocks, a duty Barrow used to perform. It’s like Showgirls, there’s always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you.
The Drewes’ pigs are deemed worthy enough to be entered into the show. Mrs. Drewe makes a mild fuss over seeing Marigold but they get out of there without raising suspicion. Mr. Drewe refers to Mary as Marigold’s auntie but that is probably what she calls her. Mary says she hopes it’s the last time someone calls her an auntie which is weird because she is Sybie’s aunt. Plus, that’s kind of a bitchy thing to say.
The Bates discuss adoption or not having kids while Anna continues to be a downer.
Barrow has an interview to be a butler in a nearby house and asks for time off. Carson’s all “be my guest” and I feel bad for Barrow, other than be a complete dick to everyone he isn’t all that bad. The interview is not going well. Guess an assistant butler also has to act as footman, valet and chauffeur (the horror). Plus, he is deemed “delicate” looking and is asked about his marital status (it’s complicated). I’m guessing he won’t be getting this job. The interviewer notes that 15 years ago the world was a different place and yes show, we get it, times change.
Mrs. Hughes wants the reception held in the local schoolhouse but Carson seems to not want to refuse Mary’s offer to have it in the Downton’s Great Room. When he does attempt to refuse, the Great Lady Mary is undeterred and actually says something along the lines of “I’ll see that the wedding is held in the Great Room if it’s the last thing I do” which, girl, this is not your wedding! This threat puts Carson in an awkward position. When he tries to negotiate with his betrothed she plays the “I’m the bride so the wedding is about me” card. Mr. Carson is in the middle of the two women he most respects, but considering only one is willing to be your wife and “all that comes with it” you should probably side with her.
Cora comes to the hospital. She is aware of the meeting she was left out of and states the obvious: there have been great medical advances since the war and they need to be able to offer more to the villagers. To make this happen they need funding from the York hospital. Even if that takes control away from the board of trustees. Most likely joining her on Team Isobel is Robert, who is probably nervous going against his mom. Even Dr. Clarkson looks like he wants to jump ship. You know what would happen if the York hospital took over – change! No wonder the DC and Robert are hesitant.
Back in London Edith decides to keep the apartment Gregson left her. Mary and Anna are also in the city seeing the doctor. He may be able to help strengthen Anna’s uterus if/when she gets preggers again so she has a new bounce in her step.
Carson allows the staff to attend the pig show that afternoon since the family won’t be home, though he does needs some staff to come back early to serve the tea. Sorry Barrow, he asks Andrew and Mosely to help out. Poor Barrow.
I love seeing the village and old-timey cars
Pig show: everyone is there including Mrs. Drewe who is staring at Marigold. Downton wins first-in-show but Marigold is missing! So is Mrs. Drewe and their car. Mr. Drewe takes Edith, Robert and Cora to his farm. That lady has some nerve! She isn’t aware that Edith is the girl’s birth mother but as a mother herself she shouldn’t be basically kidnapping the child and worrying everyone. Also, she must realize they would come looking for her so I don’t know what she was thinking. In the end, Mr. Drewe acknowledges they have to leave the area for good.
Not the most dramatic conclusion but a satisfying episode in that we got to go outside of the house most of the episode. We’re like the children, kept inside most of the time. I will say there wasn’t enough of the DC but this hospital argument is kind of boring. Not boring will hopefully be the Marigold reveal to Mary. I noticed that Mary is dressing more masculine/business-like now that she is an agent. It “suits” her.
Get it … suits
So, what will happen with Barrow and why is the show making me sympathize with him? Will Anna continue to be somewhat happy? What was Cora’s idea to help Mr. Mason (does it involve the now available pig farm)? And most importantly, where will the Carson wedding be held? Post your comments below and thanks for jumping in the wayback machine to a simpler time, when the world was apparently starting to change.
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