Andrew: Good morning, Cat! The season finale of Downton gave us plenty to discuss—some storylines have resolved, and others have introduced new conflicts that will surely continue into the next season. But there’s one thing we now know for certain: John Bates is a stone-cold killer.
Catherine: Good morning to you, Andrew! I have to disagree with you about Bates. There’s just not enough proof that Bates killed Green. This wasn’t a dark alley way killing. Green died in the open, during the day with plenty of witnesses. Bates got to London but it doesn’t mean he murdered Green. I doubt this is the last we’ll hear about the Bates/Green debacle. But if Bates IS the killer, you gotta admire him for pulling it off so well.
Andrew: Well, between the suspicious ticket train ticket proving that Bates lied about his trip to York, and Bates’s other criminal skills on display this episode, I’m pretty convinced. Forging one letter and sneakily pickpocketing another to save the prince from embarrassment, Bates demonstrated once again that he’s willing to do things that aren’t quite ethical in service of a greater good. Of course, the whole plotline was unbearably silly—for a while, the episode became the ever-rising cake you so hated last season—but the prince’s romantic exploits, and Mary’s slightly too on-the-nose prediction that his troubles weren’t over, did give me a chance to brush up on my British royal history, a subject in which I’m woefully ignorant. Turns out the prince is the one who’d later fall in love with an American heriess and abdicate the throne as Britain was on the cusp of war with Germany, events dramatized in Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech. Entertainment AND education—thanks, PBS!
Catherine: Wasn’t it a major faux pas for Rose to meet the Prince before she was “out”? There was mention that she shouldn’t be going out too often before she was presented but then suddenly it was okay- handwave, handwave. Seeing Dudley Ward with the Prince threw me off but after some wikipedia gathering, I too realized that the Prince would end up being the current Queen’s uncle. As beautiful as Rose’s presentation appeared, it also looked painfully boring. My modern mind had a hard time wrapping itself around the reason young women were presented to the Royal Family. It’s a sort of mildly pleasing inventory taking on the future mothers of England.
Andrew: I don’t really understand all the conventions surrounding Rose’s coming-out and subsequent ball, but both events offered an excuse for Downton to do what Downton does best: costumes! They were glorious, weren’t they? What a Downton finale lacks in plot twists, it more than makes up for in period fanciness. The event also offered an excuse for Cora’s American family to come visit, and for guest stars Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti to appear on the show. I remain disappointed at how little MacLaine is given to do on the show—I wish she was given one-liners half as acid as the Dowager’s—but Paul Giamatti was a pleasant surprise. I found him absolutely convincing as a rich American who uses his money with women to buy his way out of an inferiority complex.
Catherine: Paul Giamatti was a treat. He brought a complexity to his character that we don’t often see on the show. At first, I was a little squicked out by him but by the end, it was clear he was a good guy despite his issues. He was very good to poor Madeline Allsop and got her out of the very tough position she was in by being honest with her. Madeline, who I thought was just another piece of fluff, ended up being a fine person too. That was one pairing I was relieved to see did Not end in romance. MacLaine did indeed warrant more screen time but despite having very few lines, her expression of boredom and disgust were terrific. I could watch her knocking down Madeline’s father with just her expressions all day long.
Andrew: Paul Giamatti’s character was one of many who didn’t quite find love in this finale: Daisy was pursued but not wooed by an American valet, Tom’s relationship with Miss Bunting deepened but didn’t end (yet) in romance, and Mary still hasn’t chosen between Tony and Charles. Some of these relationships aren’t destined to turn into anything, but with a few, we’re meant to wonder: what’s going to happen? Might we see these relationships blossom into romance next season? Even Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson were holding hands by the end of the episode—that’s basically third base for these two reticent Brits. I’ve no idea where all these relationships are headed, but as Mary put it to Charles when she found out he was an aristocrat like her (I’m paraphrasing): “Game fucking ON!”
Catherine: Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson holding hands was one of the best moments of this episode. They’re pretty much the father and mother of Downtown and if they ended up together…that’s one pairing that woks for me. As for the others, Daisy had many choice bristly lines with her American suitor. “I’m never surprised,” was among her most deadpan remarks but it hardly cooled the fire of his ardor. Ivy taking Daisy’s place to America finally did set him back. I predict a feisty new kitchenmaid for Season 5 with the name Petunia or Parsnip- seeing that so many women on the show have plant names. Baxter’s and Molesley’s sweet encouragement of each other continues to be a highlight of the show. And what do you think of Isobel and Merton? I’m still for the Doctor. Merton has a lot to overcome if he’s going to be a worthy suitor for Isobel.
Andrew: It’s nice to see Isobel get a possible love plot with Merton—but I’m with you! Doctor Clarkson all the way! And big ups to Molesley and Baxter standing up to Thomas. Others I’m rooting for going into the season break: Tom and Edith. Not as a couple of course, but seeing both “fight their corner” after a time of individual struggle is wonderful. Tom is starting to be at home at Downton, but under his own terms. Miss Bunting’s a big part of that. And Edith is standing up for what she wants. She wants to be part of her child’s life, and she’s making it happen—whether her Granny or Aunt Rosamund approve or not. Good for her!
Catherine: Tom’s words came at the moment that Edith needed them the most. It’s lovely to see Tom, a man’s who’s struggled with himself and who he is for so long, speak wisdom and courage to a fellow struggler on the path. Go Edith! She’s bringing her baby back despite family discouragement and she’s also going to be the owner of a publication. If Gregson doesn’t reappear, I have big hopes we’ll see Edith learning the ropes and managing her newspaper in between visits to her baby. Edith’s development is more interesting than Mary’s at this point—Go Edith! this is one of the few times she’s trumped her sister. Mary’s suitors continue to circle around like polite cagey sharks but I’m Team Blake for this one. Despite this episode feeling like it was in the middle rather than an end, seeing Mrs. Patmore enjoy an ice cream by the sea ended up being enough for me.
Andrew: Seeing the gang by the sea—and Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes wading into the water together—was the perfect ending to a sometimes silly, often serious, but usually sweet season. I enjoyed it immensely, not least because of these chats. Thank you so much for doing this with me, Catherine! My enjoyment of each episode was magnified by the prospect of discussing it with you the next day. I hope we can do it again next year.
Catherine: Downtown Abbey redeemed itself for me. The cake rose a little less this year and saved itself from completely toppling over. Our chats have been great and I’m going to miss them. Next season and great discussions just can’t come soon enough. Till next year, Andrew!
