Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Downton Abbey season 5 episode 4, recap and musings



Let’s cut some lemons for the tea and see what our favorite characters are up to this week at Downton.

We begin with Barrow returning from his mysterious trip to London.  (We know that his father’s health is not his reason for sneaking out.)  As lunch is served, we are informed of the family’s itineraries for the day.  Lord Grantham will go out to check on a potential real estate development.  The return of “Shrimpie,” Rose’s father, is imminent.  Rose is continuing her exiled imperialists charity.  And, Edith says something and is mocked.  Why does she even try with these people?

The Dowager Countess and Lady Crawley make their way to the Russian house. The Dowager apologizes to the Prince. (That maybe the first time we’ve seen her apologize to anyone)! The D.C. seems genuinely shocked and saddened about the squalor that the exiles find themselves in England.  The Prince tells the ladies that his wife is still missing.  Lady Crawley pipes up, “We must not give up hope!”  To which the Dowager says, “Hope is a tease designed to prevent us from accepting reality.”  Lady Crawley calls her on her nastiness,  “You only say that to sound clever.”

“You should try it sometime.” The D.C. always has to get the last word in.

Later, when Lady Crawley and the Dowager are alone, the Dowager softens. She tells cousin Violet that she was going to run away with the Prince, but Lord Grantham subtly won her back by giving her a locket containing pictures of her children.  It seems that Mary was correct in her assumption that there was definitely a story between those two.

Lord Merton creeps up to find Lady Crawley gardening. After very little preamble, he proposes to her. (I liked how he said if he got down on one knee, he worried he wouldn’t be able to get up)! The proposal doesn’t surprise Violet, but his declaration of actually being in love does shock her.  Of course, she’s going to say no.  But, out of kindness or pity says she’ll think about it.  Later when she tells the Dowager about it, she is also incredulous that Lord Merton included the idea of love with marriage. How improper!

In another quick set up scene we learn that Mary is going to London for a fashion show and to break off her “engagement.”  Mr. Bliker, aka “the flirt,” is coming to Downton to discuss “art.”  I’m surprised that Lord Grantham would allow him to visit after what happened in London last episode.  Downstairs, a groaning is heard. Ms. Baxter discovers Thomas doing something in the loo; it looks like drugs!
Then we head to the study to find Lord Grantham and Edith having a rare tender moment. Edith states that she has discovered that Michael was likely a victim of “brown shirts” in Munich.  She asks her father whether it is better to “keep him alive with hope” than to know the truth. Lord Grantham is kind about it, but says it will be better for her if she knows the truth, that he is likely dead. The unspoken message is that knowing what happened to Michael will at least allow Edith some closure.

The “Dress Show” in London was an opportunity for the viewers to see all the beautiful dresses that were popular at the time. Unfortunately, the scene is cut woefully short by Mary’s siting of Mr. Charles Blake.  He winks at her, and as the “bride” waltzes out we realize that he’s not alone.  Mary is introduced to Ms. Fox, Lord Gillingham’s spurred fiancé.  She’s having none of this pretend politeness and exits. Mr. Blake offers to take Mary to dinner.  During dinner, he realizes that Mary is tossing Tony.  Blake cleverly offers himself as an excuse to break it off with him.  I don’t think Mary takes the hint, as she is too busy trying to perfect her bored look for tomorrow.

Anna has to deliver a message to tell Tony where to meet Mary. (You’d think they would have had phones at this time in London.)  Someone near Gillingham’s flat spots Anna.  She then ventures over to where Mr. Greene died.  I’m not sure how she knows this detail and it looks suspicious.

Back at Downton, Mrs. Patmore is able to plead her case to Lord Grantham about including her nephew on the war memorial. Lord Grantham is sympathetic, but must follow the rules.  Mrs. Patmore seems heartened that then his lordship is somewhat more progressive then Mr. Carson.  Mr. Carson is truly a dying breed!

Edith and the Dowager have a rare conversation.  It is about her relationship with Marigold, but that is not mentioned directly.  The Dowager states that it is in her best interest not to see her anymore.  Edith retorts, “My best interest or the families?”

“To me they are one and the same!” replies the Countess.

“That is where we differ.” exclaims Edith.

I think this scene is a good illustration of desires of the new generation (happiness & self reliance) under the constraints of the older generation, which values propriety and appearances.

There is another touching father-daughter moment, this time with Rose and “Shrimpie.”  He explains that he has decided to divorce her mother.  Even though this will leave him impoverished, he stands firm that he must leave her.  Rose has been thinking about marriage and wants her father’s support because she hopes to marry for love.  Shrimpie seems to really love his daughter and agrees to support her decision on a spouse.

Downstairs, Ms. Baxter is handed a magazine belonging to Mr. Barrow.  I had to pause my screen to read the ad, which read, “Choose your own path!” It shows a picture of a man and woman. Is this early “reversion” gay therapy? If so, what in the heck was he injecting?

Their uncomfortable dinner is underway upstairs. Some idiot, (Lady Crawley), invited Ms. Bunting to dinner. (Maybe she was trying to piss off Lord Grantham). The debate of Daisy’s schooling is brought upstairs.  Mrs. Patmore and Daisy give Mrs. Bunting praise for helping her.  Instead of just saying, “Thank you.”  Rose has to add that famous last word, muttering about the control Lord Grantham has on his serfs from “cradle to grave.” Already agitated by Mr. Blicker’s flirting, and Rose’s mere presence, Lord Grantham storms out asking that Ms. Rose Bunting NEVER return.  For once, I’m with the Lord. She may have her opinions; but if she wants sympathy for them, there are much better ways and places to express these sentiments. Lord Grantham will not change into a communist just because some teacher enlightened him to his imperialist ways!

Lady Crawley meets Lord Gillingham at the Peter Pan statue. He refuses her refusal! Mary is stunned. She thought she’d just show up, say she’s “rather fond of him,” and that would be that. I think she has seriously misjudged his ego.  He could make things difficult for her since she was intimate with him.  However, men who go for Mary seem to meet curiously cruel ends.  Maybe, a hike to Dover is in order!

Lastly, we learn that the person watching Anna was a plainclothes officer who was staked out in front of Lord Gillingham’s house. They are curious about her because she seemed to retrace the murder’s steps around Piccadilly Square. (On no!)

Next week’s preview shows Anna being questioned.  It doesn’t seem that they really have any evidence in this case.


The episode ends with Lord Grantham and Branson coming to a compromise about the land deal in the village. I think he realizes that compromise will ensure what he cares for most, Downton and it’s survival.

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