Phote credit – itv.com

So what did you think of last night’s DA? The storylines seemed to go a bit slower but it was still enjoyable.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

The show opens up with Mary and Gillingham in bed after a week of playing house. Gillingham is smitten and Mary plays along but as soon as he is out of the room Mary’s expression shows that she is only playing the part and her heart is not in it. (Didn’t I say that Tony was not right for her. He was too “nice” and she needed a man like Charles Blake that would challenge her and keep her on her toes. And hopefully, without having  to get her into bed first. But I digress.)

Unfortunately, Violet’s butler, Mr. my-facial-expression-are-priceless Spratt spotted Mary and Gillingham outside the hotel. Being the little rat that he is (okay, maybe that is harsh but I still can’t forgive him for sabotaging Mosley) he told Violet what he saw. Violet’s jaw nearly dropped but with lightning fast speed and she crafted the perfect excuse and feigned shock that Spratt could think anything so undignified and Spratt gave some of his best facial expressions yet. Grandmama saved the day and kicked butler butt at the same time

Now Lady Mary must face the music with Granny. I am glad someone tells Mary that times may have changed but most people would still be shocked at this behavior. I still think it is odd, particularly after how she suffered when her previous fiance found out about Mr. Pamuk. Mary tried to justify her actions but she really only succeeded in looking like a bratty teenager, complete with haughty looks and eye rolls.

And if all of this wasn’t enough, Mary had the gall to ask Anna to take her diaphragm and sex book and hide it in her cottage. Seriously? But then again, she also once asked Anna to help her carry a dead naked man from her bed so maybe that’s not so far fetched.

On a side note, I am assuming the birth control is going to be found in Anna’s room. Will Bates find it? Will he think that is why they haven’t been able to conceive a child? Will this tie back into Green and the rape and somehow make it look like Anna was guilty of… I can’t even finish the sentence. I don’t know. It just seems like more drama is going to come out of that one.

Speaking of Bates,  a witness has come forward and she heard Green say, “Why have you come?” Apparently Green knew that Bates may come after him for what he did to Anna. He made sure everyone would be suspicious of Bates if anything were to happen to him. Bates gave his alibi but technically he still had the opportunity to get to London. (And there was that ticket to London that Mary burned last season.) You know, all I can think about this did-he-didn’t-he storyline, is two song titles –  Let it go and shake it off! It is getting old and I cannot take much more of looking at Anna’s anguished face as she suffers from worry. After all that she has been subjected to, please let her have some happiness!

(Spoiler alert!! If you don’t like sneak peeks of what’s to come, skip this paragraph……… I was getting a photo for this episode and I accidentally saw a photo for an upcoming episode in which  Bates AND Anna needed to prove their innocence. What the what?? This can’t be good for my blood pressure!)

Rose and Her Russians

Here is another example of behavior that seems out of character. What has happened to Rose? Last year she was scandalously involved with a jazz singer and then sneaking around dance clubs disguised as a lady’s maid. Suddenly she is organizing teas for Russian refugees. I don’t begrudge her charity work but it seems like a big leap without much explanation as to why she has had such a change of heart. Am I missing something?

The one good thing about this storyline is that it gave us an opportunity to see Granny speechless when she came face to face with an old Russian friend (flame?) she knew years ago. Mary teased her about it but she insisted there was nothing to it.

Secrets Revealed

Baxter continues to agonize over whether or not she will tell Cora the rest of her story. I wanted to kiss Mosley when he firmly told her that she should tell the truth on her terms since either way, the outcome would be the same. Baxter had courage and shared the story that she allowed a bad man to change who she was and stole for him. In the end she was left to carry the blame but she has learned her lesson. Cora forgave her and let her stay. Baxter looked obviously relieved and overjoyed that the weight was lifted off her shoulders. (Now go give Mosley a kiss of thanks, Baxter.) 😉

It has already been established that lately Robert has been displaying more love and affection to Isis than his wife. Cora expressed her feeling of uselessness, longing again for he days when she was busy and making a difference in the world. At times Robert treats her more like an accessory than a partner in marriage. Meanwhile, Mr. Bricker is more than infatuated with Cora, not only paying her compliments but he genuinely values her opinions. After their evening at the art gallery, Bricker is about to burst with want to kiss Cora but he lets Cora take the lead. Cora is flattered and enjoys the attention but she knows that she cannot step over that line. They are treading on dangerous ground but I am happy they showed some moral restraint. Cora went back inside Rosamond’s home only to find Robert fuming that she was out with Bricker. He speaks cruelly to her and she goes to bed.

It’s interesting that in the previous season when Robert was feeling useless and unloved, he had his fling with the maid. Now it is Cora’s turn to be temped to do the same. Whenever I see these scenarios play out, I am reminded of the importance of couples to nurture their friendship and romantic love. It is so easy to get bogged down by the routine of the day that we forget that our spouse still needs to feel loved and desired and appreciated. It is something you must constantly work out whether you are newlyweds or married 20 years. When that is not available in the marriage it is much more tempting to acquire it elsewhere. Okay, and that is a completely random thought. Did I mention that it is very late and I am feeling a bit punchy for want of sleep. So let’s wrap this up. Who else haven’t we discussed…. Edith!

Oh, Edith. I can’t help but hear The Smith play whenever you are on screen – “Please, please, please, let me,” “How soon is now,” “Heaven knows I’m miserable now…” It could go on and on. I have no idea where this storyline is going. Will she finally tell the truth? Will she kidnap Marigold? What was Robert saying to Edith in the preview about telling the truth? I have no idea. Where do you think the storyline will go?

Okay, let’s stop there. If I forgot something, please add it in the comments!

Favorite Quotes

Isobel: “Surely servants are human beings too.”
Violet: “Yes, but preferably only on their days off.”

Mrs. Patmore: “Sympathy butters no parsnips.”

Violet: “An unlucky friend is tiresome enough. An unlucky acquaintance is intolerable.”
Isobel: “You’re all heart.”

Violet: “Can we be confident that there will be no unwanted epilogue.” (I cringe at the thought of a baby being refereed as such , but it is a classic Granny quote.)

Violet: “In my day a lady was incapable of feeling physical attraction until she had been instructed to do so by her mama.”

Okay, your turn. Tell me what you think!

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Photo Credit – ITV.com

I was out of town this weekend but was able to catch the latest episode of Downton Abbey at the hotel. However, the recap is a day late. Sorry!

Secrets

The show opened with Anna and Mrs. Hughes discovering the photo of baby Marigold that Edith hid under her pillow. Anna is a woman of discreetness (she’s getting a lot of practice from Lady Mary lately) and the look on Mrs. Hughes’ face showed that she is putting two and two together, especially after she overheard Edith and Drewe talking after the fire.

I am waiting for Mrs. Drewe to put two and two together. Her annoyance with Edith is growing and her anger towards her husband is understandable. I’d be having a “lively chat” with my husband if he was trying to pawn off the child I had adopted into my heart. I think there will have to be some confessions made from Drewe if he doesn’t want to damage his marriage. Whether or not Mrs. Drewe would keep quiet if she found out, or be spiteful, I don’t know. Worst case scenario, she realizes the baby is Edith’s but thinks Drewe is the father.

Meanwhile, the other keeper of secrets is Anna. I wanted to hug the poor girl when Mary kept telling her she wanted to avoid the consequences and Anna exclaimed OMG when she realized what she was being asked. Anna manages to procure Mary’s requested item and Mary ventured out on her “sketching holiday.”

On the downstairs front, Jimmy made his goodbyes and left Downton. There was a sweet exchange between him and Thomas. (And later between Anna and Thomas.) I like that Thomas is not shown as a 100% villain. I enjoy when the veil is lifted and we get a glimpse into the vulnerable and hurting man inside. My heart goes out to Thomas at these moments. However, these glimpses do not last long. Thomas was back to his nastiness as he sought his revenge on Baxter by spoiling the good opinion of the man who cared for her most.

I felt for Mosley as he struggled with the revelation of Baxter’s past and her refusal to justify her actions. She does admit that she may not have acted on her own but she’d say no more. Although, I wish she’d come clean, I admire Baxter for accepting the responsibility and the consequences of her actions. You can see how much it pained her to relive that moment of her history and the shame she felt because of it. Her confession to Cora has seemed to give her an inner strength she did not have when she was cowering under Thomas’ gaze. I do hope things work out well for her (and Mosley) in the end.

Sex vs Love

A new character is introduced tonight, an art historian by the name of Simon Bricker. (A familiar face to the lover of period movies.) It seems that things are being set up for Cora to have a romantic brush with Bricker. In turn, Robert spent most of the show upset about something. (Huh. I said that as if it was unusual.) He is correct to suspect Bricker’s intentions, even though he seems more concerned about his dog Isis than his wife. (I couldn’t stop laughing at that.)

Charles Blake is back and he is not pleased with Lady Mary. He does not hide his displeasure, although he does wish Mary happiness. Her exchange with Charles shook Mary’s confidence a bit. I find ill logic in her thinking that having sex with a man she thinks he might love will help her avoid divorce. If anything, the opposite is true, but as I mentioned before, that is a topic for another post.

Despite her temporary misgivings, Mary secured her hotel room, which was adjoined with Gillingham’s room. Moments later, he knocked on her door looking as dashing as ever. They share seductive banter with one another with lines like, “We’ll make love all night, and in fact, for as long as either of us has any stamina left.” Wait, wait… is this Lord Gillingham from Downton Abbey or Rico Suave from a telenovela? It’s getting hard to tell. (Insert eye roll.)

For me, part of the charm of Downton Abbey, and period movies in general, is the subtlety of attraction and the slow simmer that a glance or a smile can produce. The touching of a hand and eventually a tender kiss can send a heart fluttering and wanting more. I find that more enticing to watch than what actually goes on in the bedroom. I am a big fan of a healthy sex life but that should be left to a husband and his blushing wife. (Or vice versa.) 😉 I don’t want (or need) to see in on screen. But that’s just my opinion. I don’t begrudge you yours. 🙂

Case in point, I love the sweet dialogue between Carson and Mrs. Hughes about the location of the memorial.

Carson: “There’s a bonus. It puts us back in agreement, Mrs. Hughes. I am not comfortable when you and I are not in agreement.”
Mrs. Hughes: “You are very flattering. When you talk like that, you make me want tot check the looking glass to see that my hair is tidy.”
Carson: “Get away with you.”
Mrs. Hughes: “No, I mean it.”

That little dialogue and the looks shared between them was swoon worthy and for stodgy Mr. Carson, it was the strongest testament of affections we’ve seen from him so far.

In the closing scene, a policeman came to talk to Mr. Carson about Mr. Green. (Anna’s rapist.) Apparently there was a witness, which means that Mr. Bates and Anna’s relationship will be raked over the coals once again. Dun, dun, dun… Just please, let Mr. Bates be innocent. (No, it’s not preposterous to think Greene bent down to tie his shoe and then he accidentally fell into the path of a moving vehicle.)  Well, at least do not make us endure another dragged out Bates-is-in-prison storyline. Okay, thanks.

Favorite Quotes

— Violet: “Mrs. Crawley has been distracted lately with Lord Merton frisking around her skirts and getting in the way.”

— Robert: “Do people think we are some sort of hotel that never presents a bill.”

— Mrs. Hughes: “That’s a nice thing you are doing.”
— Mrs. Patmore: “Is it? I think I’ve been a damned fool and doubled my workload.”

— Robert: (Speaking of the wireless) “It is a fad. It won’t last.”

— Violet: “Mrs. Crawley is never happier than when she has the chance to use her guiding hand.” (The only thing better than Violet’s lines were the looks Isobel was giving Violet in return for her barbs.)

— Bates (Discussing Lady Mary’s trip.): “It doesn’t sound much like Lady Mary. It sounds a bit bohemian.”

— Lady Mary: “Charles, I am sorry if I’ve hurt you. It is just only lately that I’ve started to come out of the midst.”
— Charles: “And the midst is clearing around the lithe and supple figure of Tony Gillingham.”

— Cora: “She was a German Communist who was shot and thrown in the canal. We wouldn’t wish that on Miss Bunting.”
— Robert: (Considering the thought.) “Hmmm.”

— Mr. Bricker: “Goodness. Is this what they call a lively exchange of views.”
— Mary: “It’s about now that Papa usually fetches his gun.”

— Carson: “I don’t like it when we are not on the same side.”
— Mrs: Hughes: “We’re different people, Mr. Carson. We can’t always agree.
— Carson: “I know. But I don’t like it.”

— Mary – “You are not being fair. I am not some over-heated housemaid drooling over a photograph of Douglas Fairbanks.”

–Robert: “And tell your friend Bricker to stop flirting with Isis. There is nothing more ill-bred than trying to steal the affections of someone else’s dog!”

— Daisy: “Why is it called a wireless when there are so many wires?”

Random Thoughts

— Like Thomas, there are moments when Miss Bunting is not aggravating me and I was touched that she was determined to help Daisy with her studies. If she can channel a little more of her charitable heart and tone down her abrasive rudeness, I’d enjoy her character much more.

— Brian thinks that Charles Blake knows something about Gillingham that he is not telling Mary. I’m not sure.

— I thought is was so unkind of Robert to say about Edith that he hopes that Drewes don’t get sick of her. (As if he is a bed of roses.)

— I’m looking forward to learning more about Rose’s Russian refugees. One of them is going to have a past with Violet. Hmmm. Do tell!

Okay, now it’s your turn! Share with me your thoughts, comments and predictions! 🙂

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