Catherine: Hi, Stephanie. Last night marked the third episode from the end and the action is finally happening. Downton is firing on all cylinders- or as close to it as it can. My favorite moment last night was when Mr. Mason (Daisy’s father-in-law) invited Daisy to visit his farm with a few of her fellow servants, Baxter and Molesley. Daisy has a gem of a father-in-law and someone that never fails her on the wisdom front. Someone needed to point out to that girl that education continues no matter what the political party in power is doing! Dear God. Daisy is one of those people that will always be young no matter how old they get and she’s got a rock in Mr. Mason. Their happy lunch scene together reminded me why I bother to watch Downton. I felt good just watching it.
Stephanie: Daisy has developed into such a lovely, interesting character. I never would have guessed in season one that she would grow to be an example of the changing roles women in the show. For any Baxter and Molesley “shippers,” this episode was a nice glimpse into what could be for them. They’re both world-weary and more clever than they appear. Can’t you see them settling down out in the country like Carson and Mrs. Hughes are planning to? The Bates’ seem to be future planning again, and I’m glad they had another conversation to show that Bates believes Anna about hiding Mary’s birth control. Though it’s puzzling that he can’t imagine why Mary would need such a thing. Really? Aristocrats in a position of power who don’t have to work all day, a woman who is single and in her prime, and you can’t think of a reason? Our modern views aside, it seems baffling that Bates holds Mary in such high esteem that he can’t even imagine why she might be in possession of birth control. Come on Bates, you served time! You’re not blinded to the world!
Catherine: Bates not connecting the dots isn’t believable. He’s smart and cunning and this shouldn’t even be an issue. But whatever! I am not the writer of this series, after all. What I wondered last night was why was Blake helping Tony and Mary? There doesn’t seem to be much in it for him. He and Mary feel more like siblings than romantic partners- despite the kiss he got out of Mary. But I can forgive a lot of nonsense because of the scene last night between Blake and Tony. They spoke very clearly on Mary and I’m glad someone finally did. Blake spoke up about Mary’s shit- how she keeps beckoning to Tony at the last minute. So maybe Blake is one altruistic dude, and one who doesn’t like to see another decent chap caught in Mary’s endless snares.
Another person who called out Mary’s shit was her Grandmama. Mary’s heartlessness to Edith is beyond the limit and finally, someone said something! And it cut Mary’s snobby heart to the quick. “Lack of compassion is as vulgar as an excess of tears,” the Dowager said. Chew that one over, Mary! I got so irritated with Mary last night that I started mimicking her voice for a little comic relief. It’s a good nasally voice for snooty bossiness.
Stephanie: Mary is beyond ridiculous. The Dowager was right to scold her about a total lack of respect for her sister. In light of Mary’s consistent criticism of Edith, it would be only fair for Mary’s own indiscretions became known. She really can’t hide behind her widowhood any longer. I wish the Dowager pressed Mary further on that very issue since she knows Mary had that weekend fling. As for Blake, I like him better than Tony, but either he and Mary have zero chemistry, or Mary really doesn’t care about anyone outside of herself. I’m curious where her character is heading, because right now she’s lost all depth from her period of mourning, and seems to be a vapid socialite devoid of personality. Even Rose has more going on for herself-at least she volunteers and her naiveté propels her forward into trying to better the world. Rose seems headed for good things with Aldridge, even if they are rushing their relationship, I think Rose is proving she can handle more than she lets on.
Catherine: There’s got to be a new suitor that’s going to appear for Mary now that Blake is heading out. With only two episodes left to the season, I’m a little doubtful it’ll happen this time and we’ll have to wait till next year. Rose is as vapid as Mary but at least she’s sweet tempered and full of good will. Lady Sinderby (Aldridge’s mother) and Lord Grantham hit it off right away which is nice to see. What wasn’t so nice to see was poor Isis on her way out. As the dog is so rarely mentioned (just flitters around in the background), it was odd she should suddenly come to the forefront. What I’m curious is about is why notice poor Isis now? And why kill her off? Must Isis be got out of the way so that some plot point revolving around puppies can occur? That’s my personal wish. The more puppies, the better. It rang true to Cora’s character when she urged Grantham to let Isis cuddle in with them. So much of this season’s preparation has been for Lady Cora to step to the forefront and into her own. Her relationship with Grantham is getting back on track and the way she tongue lashed Rosamund and Granny for hiding Marigold was priceless! As were their sheepish looks in response. For once, those two women were without words.
Stephanie: I got it wrong about the dog being pregnant. At the moment, it seems the dog being sick is a plot device to get Lord Grantham back into his own bedroom with Cora. I’m glad we were both right in our prediction that Cora would champion Edith. While it was certainly embarrassing of Cora to barge into Edith’s workplace-the company she owns-and threaten to berate Edith in front of her staff, she at least views Marigold as part of the family and requests she raise her at Downton. I agree with Rosamund, the concocted story to raise a town foster child feels flimsy, and for a moment when the family was all together hearing the plan, I thought Edith might crack. I think Tom may clue in first, even over Mary. Maybe after Lord Grantham loses his beloved dog, he will be more accepting that he has another grandchild. I would hate for Marigold to grow up under a secret identity her whole life, though it is sadly indicative of the times. Mrs. Hughes gets another MVP for handling Anna’s questions of seeing the child’s clumsy hand-off to Mr. Drewe on the train. As much as the Upstairs thinks they are clever, the Downstairs always has their number! Mrs. Hughes is rightly protecting them this time, in my eyes. I think they’ve seen how Edith has been treated.
Catherine: It was a brilliant touch when Anna noticed Edith, Cora, Marigold, and Mr. Drewe at the train station. Upstairs is completely consumed in itself but Downstairs see all! Particularly Anna. She has a good friend in Mrs. Hughes and I believe if they haven’t put it together already, one of those two women will be the first to figure out Marigold’s parents. Cora’s plan is a bit nutty but it’s the first time anyone has figured out a satisfactory way to get Marigold into the house and under Edith’s wing! I was all for Edith running the publishing house and parenting her child in London but it wasn’t to be. Downton is the vortex that sucks everyone back in no matter how they try to get away. I had mixed feelings about Edith attempting to raise her child at Downton and how Cora barged in but in the end, Cora’s desire to have Edith and Marigold at Downton reminded me of Edith’s desperation to have Marigold. Cora is a mother, just like Edith and she’s desperate to have her family close and together. The nutty plan barely worked and Marigold is at Downton with the added twist that Grantham noticed something first about the child. He may be the first upstairs person to figure out the truth. Stranger things have happened!
Stephanie: As an aside, I have to mention Downton’s fashion in this episode. The hats at the train station were so wonderful! I wish fancy hats were a more regular style these days-I love them. Also noteworthy are the more loosely fitted beaded dresses and the long necklaces. It seemed quite progressive for Cora to be wearing a sleeveless sheath in the company for dinner after so any years of being more covered up. The look is definitely elegant. The other aspect that touched me the most this episode is the reveal from Violet that she isn’t upset over Mrs. Crawley’s engagement because of the class shift, but because she’ll be losing a companion. As much as I’d like to think the two will remain friends, the marriage will consume Mrs. Crawley’s time, and the two surely won’t see each other as often. I loved their meeting later in the episode when Spratt had his outburst about quitting. The two women have come so far, and it’s sad their unlikely friendship will be distanced. Though given the way dinner went with Merton’s sons, there’s a chance Mrs. Crawley might call off the wedding. Charmed or not, she might not want the fight that comes with being unwelcome in the new family.
Catherine: Edith’s clothes are out shining Mary’s at this point. Particularly her hats! Oh those hats. I’m relieved we don’t wear hats now simply because it be yet Another thing to buy but if money was no object, I’d be in heaven. Daisy’s hat at Mr. Mason’s lunch made me cackle. It looked like a mushroom. Albeit a feminine one but still a mushroom. Daisy’s head gear has always missed the mark but it’s not really fair to compare her with the Grantham girls. And of course Violet will be upset for losing her friend Isobel. She’s the only one on the show who’s got a friend! It was a sweet moment when she told Mary how she’ll miss Isobel. Mary smirked and clearly did Not Get It. I wonder if Isobel will still marry Merton what happened with his sons in the dining room kerfuffle. Which is the third dining rumpus that we’ve seen this season. Clearly a Fellowes favorite. But this time there was swearing (gasp) which I only noticed after everyone commented on it. Calling someone a bastard is swearing? Oh, yeah, I guess it can be. As for the boys themselves, they were dreadful, particularly Larry the bastard. But during his nasty moment, I thought Downton was going to get a little more real and a little less sweet. Downton Abbey, while it has some historical correctness, is not historically accurate. Larry pointed all the impossibilities happening at Downton: Mrs. Crawley being honored and accepted despite her middle class origins, an Irish chauffeur that ran off with a daughter of the house and who was welcomed back with open arms by the family, and the acceptance of Aldridge, the son of a Jewish banker, as a suitor for Rose. The 1920’s was a radical time but it was still deeply entrenched in classism and racism. Downton Abbey is a bubble of wishful thinking and for a moment, the illusion came crashing down. Which was quickly rebuilt as soon as Branson yelled at Larry and everyone regained their voices.
Stephanie: Violet may need Isobel’s support now that Cora is no longer trusting of her. She may find some social repercussions from the Edith fallout. It was nice to see a sweet moment between Tom and his daughter, and how he’s trying to include her on their plans. Not that she understands anything about moving far away and what that means, but it shows he’s seriously considering their future. I guess we’ll all be on Dogwatch the next episode. And we’ll see whether some of these engagements will actually turn into weddings. See you next week!
Catherine Eaton is a contributor to The Stake. Catherine is a writer living in a western suburb of Chicago. She blogs over at sparrowpost.com and enjoys foraging around the neighborhood in her spare time.
Stephanie Scott is a Young Adult writer living in the western Chicago suburbs. Library superfan, award-winning TV-binger, and she just might be your cat’s new best friend. She tweets at @StephScottYA.
