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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