Hey Downtoners, ready for episode 6 of 9? Apologies for being late with this recap. I had another work trip, this one in snowy Ohio.
Previously: Robert Crawley/Earl of Grantham/Lord Grantham/Papa/Donk burst his ulcer but is ok (phew), Edith has a new boyfriend (Bertie), and footman Andy can’t bloody read!
It has been decided the local hospital will merge with the larger one in York. The Crawleys are opening Downton to the paying public to assist with the fundraising.
Sign me up
It’s been a few weeks since Robert’s health scare and he realizes he would have died if the local hospital closed and he had to go all the way to York, though he may have died if he needed modern care. His mother, the fabulous Dowager Countess (DC) has lost the hospital fight but is not accepting defeat easily.
Carson is still on the “get Thomas Barrow out of here since we need to cut back on staff and no one likes him anyway” bandwagon. It’s beyond obvious and is making me feel sad for Barrow, who could be a fun, smart guy if given some understanding and/or love.
Daisy is still studying to get into school. She doesn’t seem super eager like Gwen was but Mr. Mosely is really into it, so much so that the headmaster asks him to sit in on the exam and possibly help out at the school. This is shaping up to be a happy ending for his character. Question: is it only the younger staff members that are called by their first names? At what age do you make the switch? Wasn’t “Barrow” called “Thomas” at the beginning of the series when he was a footman? Do you switch once you reach a certain position? Aren’t Mosely and Andy both footmen? Maybe Andy is a junior footman? And aren’t Anna and Baxter both lady’s maids around the same age?
Carson wants to start having breakfast at the cottage more often. Mrs. Hughes somehow doesn’t kick him in the bubble and squeak when he asks if she knows how to make coffee.
The York hospital board plans to keep Isobel on as almoner but wants to replace the DC with Cora as president. Cora is flattered but hesitant to usurp her mother-in-law, whom they note is getting on in years (how dare you!) No one wants to be the one to tell the DC so they don’t.
The guy who framed Baxter and other women for theft will serve 10 years. He wrote her a letter asking her to visit him in jail, and, despite Mosely’s suggestions of burning it, she keeps it. Methinks she was in love with or related to him. Something’s up. Her character is either mending clothes or unbraiding Cora’s hair but Mosely seems smitten with her. Maybe if he becomes involved with the school she’ll leave Downton with him.
Barrow plays with George and seems to have a good relationship with the boy, who claims to be cheering Barrow up. Yeah, because Carson keeps dropping hints to GTFO. In fact, he’s been informed that an under-butler is rare these days and he would be the 1st go to because his position isn’t crucial as the others. And, unless this is the 1st episode of Downton you’ve ever seen, you know that times are changing. Besides, having an under-butler is so 1920.
They let the kid out again?
Anna is having pregnancy pains so Mary offers to take her to London and asks brother-in-law Tom Branson to come along. (He was “Tom” when he chauffeured but now “Mr. Branson” to his former co-workers.) Bates insists on paying Mary for Anna’s visit since his pride is worth more than money. Anna and the baby are ok.
Robert doesn’t want his wife working at all at the hospital but Cora is excited. The still-in-the-dark DC later talks about how she, as President, will cut the ribbon at the hospital and no one corrects her. Cowards.
Mosely overhears a “let’s get together later, my room or yours” exchange between Barrow and Andy and assumes it’s something other than reading lessons. Also doing some assuming is Carson, who busts Andy coming out of Barrow’s room (his excuse was borrowing a book but was empty-handed). Hooked on Phonics worked for me!
While Mary is in London she surprises Henry Talbot by showing up at a dinner he is attending. Branson plays Cupid and gets them alone together afterwards. They talk about his car racing and she tells him how Matthew died in a crash. He tells her she doesn’t have to come see him race but mentions how he’d want his wife to come to these kind of things. They get caught in the rain, duck into an alley, and kiss. It is surprisingly sweet. He admits he isn’t as rich as she is/her son will be but that he is a gentleman and is falling in love with her. Things are moving quite fast for m’lady.
Pros: pretty and stylish Cons: a snobby elitist
Bertie is coming to see Edith at Downton. Remember when she learned to drive? That was a smart move and a useful skill to have. They kiss and it’s very natural. Robert and Cora aren’t thrilled about his job as an agent but are happy for Edith. She shows him a sleeping Marigold but doesn’t tell him she’s her actual daughter. Mary, still the last to know, is unsuccessfully trying to get information from Anna and Branson. She should just ask her sister.
Cruisin’ the strip
Larry Merton’s fiancée Amelia Cruikshank comes to see Isobel. Her soon to be father-in-law is Lord Merton, the guy who is smitten with Isobel and wanted to marry her. She turned him down because his sons openly disliked her but it seems Amelia has different opinions and wants to be involved with the hospital. (Why are they introducing a new character this late? I’m going to assume it is to get Lord M and Isobel back together.)
Daisy gets bratty whenever Mrs. Patmore gives attention or even speaks to Mr. Mason, even though at the beginning of the episode she hung up a photo of her late husband/his son William and appears to visit him daily. I wonder if she just doesn’t want them to get together (as I said in my last recap, no one wants another older virgin asking about sex talk).
Dinner at the Carson Cottage where he is again being unkind to her: pushing aside his untouched salmon because she forgot the lemons, asking if the duck has crispy skin, and noting the meat would be better with horseradish and sour cream. Plus, he won’t drink alcohol since Robert can’t.
I wish she had said “I’ll have a drink while YOU make the dinner.”
The day of the house tour has arrived. Seems the only qualified people to guide the tours are Cora, Mary and Edith. The public will only be allowed in the following rooms: small library, big library, drawing room, smoking room, great hall and dining room. So, the majority of the castle’s main floor then? No one is allowed up or downstairs, but a little boy wanders into Robert’s room and chats with him for a bit. Surprisingly Robert seemed to enjoy the cheeky tyke.
We learn that none of the “tour guides” have extensive knowledge of their own home or the stuff in it. Cora does explain that the great hall used to be a medieval monk abbey refectory and someone asks if that’s why it’s called Downton Abbey. “I guess it is” muses Cora, the lady who freaking LIVES there. During the tour a livid DC storms in to yell at Cora about replacing her. She announces she is not speaking to Cora until she can learn to live with a traitor in the house. Drama queen alert.
The great hall
Mrs. Patmore’s investment house is ready to rent out – she even has a phone! She has caught wind of the Barrow-Andy situation and voices concern for the young, impressionable footman. Barrow explains to Carson their actions were innocent but his word isn’t good enough. He is rightfully upset and I curse this show for making me feel so much sympathy for him.
Damn you, show
The tour raised good money and Branson suggests they keep doing it, since the household is spending more than it brings in. The family demurs and says they’re not going anywhere, though the issue is raised that perhaps they can’t stay forever (because, say it with me: the times are changing).
Will someone from Downton (Mosely and Baxter?) become Mrs. Patmore’s renters? Does she have romantic feelings for Mr. Mason or is she just being neighborly? Will Andy ever learn to read? Will Barrow find a new job where he isn’t treated like shit? Sound off in the comments below and thanks for reading.
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