Welcome back to jolly old England during the simpler time when people spent their entire lives working for the same family. Tonight we learn that Mr. Carson has been at Downton since he was a junior footman and plans on staying until death do he part. That actually explains some of his reluctance to refuse Mary’s wish for him to marry Mrs. Hughes in their Great Room but he should know happy wife = happy life.
Previously: Mrs. Hughes wants her wedding her own way. The Dowager Countess (DC) is being stubborn about the town’s hospital merging with a larger one in York. The Drewe family vacated the Yew Tree (Pig) Farm since Mrs. D can’t handle having Marigold so close by, and Mary is still the only one who doesn’t know she has a 2nd niece living under her own roof.
Mrs. Patmore tries to get input from the bride-to-be on the reception menu but Mrs. Hughes would rather have a sit down breakfast and not stand around eating appetizers like the posh do. She brushes it off as no big deal and tells Mrs. P she’s just going to wear her day dress and not do anything special. You know/hope her friend isn’t going to let that happen.
At the DC’s house butler Spratt is working on his stamp collection and being harassed by the wretched lady’s maid Denker when someone comes to the back door. He is mysterious about who it was and later gets busted by her when he attempts to sneak a blanket outside. She tattles to the DC about him having issues but all the DC wants is her hot “choc-o-late”.
Thomas Barrow is looking for employment elsewhere as it is clear that he isn’t liked at the house. Mr. Carson allows him time off for an interview and I wonder why he doesn’t just tell Thomas that yes, the rumors are true and they may have to downsize so find yourself a new gig. He probably doesn’t want the downstairs crew to panic but he is being harsh to Barrow and it’s only further increasing my pity and new found compassion for him. When Carson mentions the interview to Robert the conversation ends with his Lordship having what appeared to be a minor chest pain, and he blames indigestion. Methinks they are setting up a heart problem and that makes me sad.
Anna thinks she might be preggers and put on a (rare) happy face. She doesn’t want to tell her hubby until after her visit to Dr. Ryder when she’s further along.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a smile on this one
At dinner, Cora is no fool and realizes Mary has bullied Carson into having his reception at the house so she calls up Mrs. Hughes, who confesses she’d rather a breakfast at the local school, complete with music and a bit of hooley (Irish slang for party or celebration – thanks Google!) Sounds like fun. Charlie Carlson and Elsie Hughes sitting in a tree…
A manservant for every diner
Barrow arrives for his interview and realizes the house is in disarray and only has one part-time staff member. The “Sir” living in the old house reminisces about the old days because that’s the show’s theme. Barrow is 0-2 in the job interview department.
Edith is in London to deal with her magazine’s editor when she runs into family friend Bertie Pelham, who asks her out for an after work drink. Her editor barely has anything ready for the next edition so she sacks him and has to do the whole thing herself. Luckily cutie Bertie offers to help and they work through the night to get it done. I’m sensing good things will happen with these two.
The original cut and paste
Mosley is helping Daisy with her school entrance preparation when he tells her he heard Cora mention the possibility of having Mr. Mason run Yew Tree. He warns her it might just be talk but of course Daisy is a runaway locomotion, first thanking Cora for her kindness, then telling Mr. Carson and Mr. Mason. I am not a big Daisy fan these days. Side note: the downstairs crew must always have gossip about what they overhear while serving the upstairs crew.
The Sargent questions Spratt about his nephew escaping prison and, surprisingly, Denker doesn’t throw him under the bus, even though she is aware her frenemy put him up in the potting shed. She may be setting him to owe her a favor, since she is never nice.
Mrs. Patmore has ordered a dress for Mrs. Hughes and it is almost as ghastly as the original one she planned to wear. It looked nice in the catalog and I sympathize, having been in that situation a few times (damn you online shopping). Mary is informed and offers one of her mother’s embroidered evening coats, even though she doesn’t get permission to do so.
Hospital wars: the DC is outnumbered in her stance against the merger and tried to get Robert to see things her way but the Crawleys are Team Isobel. At a meeting with the other trustees members, the DC is pissed Cora secretly went to the York hospital to meet the doctors. Isobel tells Dr. Clarkson he is afraid of the merger because it will diminish his importance, a fact he ultimately admits is true. Everyone argues and are upset that they can’t get along.
Cora comes home in a bad mood to find Mrs. Hughes in her bedroom trying on coats with Anna and Mrs. Patmore. She snaps at them since no one asked her permission. The ladies are upset but thankfully Cora comes down to apologize. Mary should have been up there with them, not because they would steal but to help them decide. Anyway, the whole exchange was awkward but Mrs. Hughes ends up with a lovely coat.
Pre-wedding night finds Mr. Carson packing – I guess he is moving out of the house after the wedding the way the John and Anna Bates did? On Downton land but in their own little place? Spin off alert! BTW, John Bates gets a little air time this week, though his character has been reduced to snarking at Barrow and worrying about his wife’s state of mind. I don’t think I like him anymore.
Wedding: the ceremony is lovely and Mr. and Mrs. Carson are pronounced man and wife. I’m a sucker for weddings. They do seem to care for each other and give a little kiss. And it appears Mrs. P did an amazing job on the food!
So cute
Quite the spread
Everyone gathers round to toast the happy couple but before the glasses are clinked a voice in the back of the room offers congratulations. It’s Tom Branson, the former chauffeur and sometimes political agitator from Ireland. Tom was married to Robert and Cora’s late daughter Sybil and has been living in Boston with little Sybie until he realized it’s the show’s last season Downton is their home and family. Hugs all around.
So, will I now have to refer to Mrs. Hughes as “Mrs. Carson”? Did you think Cora was being a snob not wanting to host a wedding for servants in her house? (I didn’t, she seems to really like the staff as people, but then again, she does care about what others think). Will Spratt’s nephew come around again and do we care? Are you happy Tom and Sybie are back? And how come only the women wore hats to weddings? Sound off in the comments below and thanks for reading!
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