Source – ITV

(SPOILER ALERT: Do not read this post if you have not watched last night’s episode yet.)

It is difficult to comment on this episode because of the horrific attack on Anna. Unfortunately, or fortunately rather, I accidentally saw a spoiler a few days ago that said Anna was attacked by Green. It said it was in episode 3 so I thought it was going to be next week and I’d warn you guys today. But I forgot in the UK last night’s episode was #3. (In the US we watched episode 1 & 2 for he premiere.)

Anyway, I was shocked when I read it but at least it prepared me beforehand. I wonder if I would have suspected it as I was watching Green and Anna interact with each other. (Was it a shock to you or did you see it coming?) Instead it just made me sick to my stomach to see him act friendly towards her knowing what was to come, particularly since Bates sensed that something was off with the guy. But when the actual scene came on… to hear her screaming and fighting him… I can’t think about it or I’ll either burst into tears or become so raving angry that it will affect my mood towards my own family. Then to watch Green waltz around downstairs and say goodbye to Bates and Anna as if nothing happened, had my blood boiling. After the episode I literally had to stay up and watch a lighthearted show so it would not be the last thing on my mind before going to bed.

And if that was not enough to make us suffer, we also had to watch Edna lay the ground work for own sexual assault.

Tom – It was painful to watch Tom this episode. He had made such tremendous progress in being a part of the DA family and doing well in his work and helping out Lady Mary but this time we saw his old insecurities as he felt out of place and missed his lost love. I also find it odd that no one seems to be concerned about his loss of Sybil. Little comments have been made in several episodes where it almost seems as if they forgot that he lost his wife. However, nothing was more painful than watching Edna prey on him.

Edna – As Bates would say, “She gets my goat.” I already mentioned last week how much I don’t like her but last night she stooped to a new low. She sickened me with her plot to get Tom drunk (drugged?) and then sneaking into his room… Is there any chance he snapped out of it and threw her out before it was too late? If she purposely gets herself pregnant I think I will lose it.

Okay, let’s try to focus on some of the lighter sides of this episode.

Dowager Countess – Her best line of the night…

Violet: I’m afraid Tom’s small talk is very small indeed.
Robert: Not everyone can be Oscar Wilde.
Violet: That’s a relief.

Mary & Lord Gillingham – I find it interesting that Mary was allowed to test the waters, so to speak, with a character that is romantically involved with someone else. I think it helped her to let her guard down and open up to him. I really enjoyed the scene of Mary and Lord G on horseback. I love how she shared about Matthew and how he changed her. It is true that the Matthew was able to melt the ice queen. However, being open to deep love also means being vulnerable to deep pain. But I love a less icy Mary more and hope she continues to heal and finds a healthy balance between strength and sensitivity.

As for Lord G, he doesn’t seem too attached to his intended but I don’t mind since I think he is lovely. He seems like a gentleman (except for his earlier faux pas when he asked if she had children)  and a decent man and genuinely concerned about Mary and her well being. No one could ever take the place of Matthew but I would like to see Mary happy once again with a good man. Now whether or not he is good remains to be seen. We all know that if there is too much happiness then Fellowes must plan something unspeakable to happen to our beloved characters (death, assault, false imprisonment, betrayal…). Sigh. If I wanted reality, I’d watch the news. Moving on.

Sampson – Brian and I spent the first few minutes of the show trying to figure out where we saw the actor that played Sampson before. I allow myself 10 minutes of racking my brain until I have to pull out my phone and look it up. Thankfully, it came quickly that he was Richard from Bleak House.

Gregson – I may not trust Edith’s boyfriend and think he will cause her future heart ache (this is DA after all) but I did relish the scene where he outsmarted the card sharp Sampson. He even managed to temporarily win over Robert buy winning back his bacon.

Mrs. Crawley – It was so sad to watch Isobel struggle with living life and mourning her dead son as others were “moving on.” I can only imagine the pain it would be lose ones only son and to hardly ever (?) see your only grandchild. Now that her pet project (Mr. Griggs) is gone she needs something else to give her some purpose. Is the doctor married? I could picture them side by side curing the ills of the world.

Carson & Robert – Their snobbery was reaching new heights this episode. Although, when Robert shows it I roll my eyes. When Carson shows it I laugh and think, “You are so silly, Carson, but I love you.”

Tidbits

• I find it hilarious that the table is set with the use of rulers.

• I had to laugh at Cora and Robert’s conversation about the evils of gambling with Robert agreeing and hiding the fact that he lost his own small fortune to Sampson.

• What was up with Mrs. Patmore? She needs to let the girls take the reigns a little more often so she doesn’t have a real heart attack.

• Kudos for Alfred making a delightful sauce. He needs to get in the kitchen more often.

• Cora – The strong and sensible Cora was back tonight. Her best line, “Am I the only member of this family that lives in the 20th century?”

• Mosley – I love our little Debbie Downer. His best line of he night… Mrs. Patmore: Are you a footman now? Mosley: I’m having my career backwards.

Well, usually I am so excited for the next episode of Downton Abbey but I am not this time. We will have to watch the painful aftermath of Anna’s attack as she understandably distances herself from Bates. No more knowing looks and stolen kisses. I just pray it does not do irreparable damage to their marriage. And we will see what damage Edna has done. That (bleep.)

My only consolation is that after next week’s Downton I will get to watch Season 3 of Sherlock..a show I love as much as DA. Okay, that’s it for now.

Let me know what you though of the episode? Did you see all the heartache coming or was it a surprise? What do you think of Mary and Lord Gillingham? Spill. 😉

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

I wish that before I had watched Season 4, I would have pulled out my Season 3 and rewatched it. It would have refreshed my memory as to who the returning characters where. Brian and I were racking our brains trying to remember who Mr. Griggs was (wasn’t he Carson’s partner that was blackmailing Carson in a previous episode?) and who Edna was. Finally we remembered she was the tart who was after Tom and kissed him. Well, I still need to go back and rewatch this episode to catch all the little parts I missed but for now, here are my first thoughts.

Mary – I did not know what to expect with Mary’s character now that Matthew is gone. Mary can be surly with a sharp tongue but Matthew softened her and her love for Matthew (particularly when he was engaged to Lavinia) brought out a more charitable and empathetic Mary that I loved. I could understand her grief but when she was neglecting baby George, I wanted to shake her and tell her she had to buck up for the sake of her child. However, when she had a good cry with Carson then I knew it would be cathartic and part of her healing. (Bravo, Carson.) By the end of the episode, we saw Mary’s spunk once again.

Dowager Countess – Love her. Need say no more.

Robert – I don’t know why but ever since Robert’s past indiscretion with that maid, I can’t seem to warm up to him. Almost everything he does bugs me and his particular treatment to Mary this episode seemed more self serving than worrying about her welfare.

Tom – Now this is a character who I was unsure about at first but have grown to love over time. This episode sealed the deal in the way he cared for Mary and was the voice of reason numerous times.

Edna – Well, they were quick to fill the role of O’Brien with the new baddie Edna. However, she does not seem like one I will  playfully “love to hate.” I think she will be a “nails on chalkboard” character that raises my blood pressure whenever she is onscreen, much like the former Mrs. Bates. Now she has teamed up with Thomas and they are in cahoots as they play cat and mouse with Anna and Bates. (I’m assuming it is Thomas’ way to continue his personal war against Bates.) Thomas and Edna are really going to get me riled up this season.

Anna & Bates – Are they too cute or what? The Valentine card scene was so sweet I had to get out of my chair and kiss Brian. They just make you want to cherish being in love. But all that happiness in our soapy drama means that some turmoil must be ahead. (Refer back to Thomas and Edna.) Also, how could Cora and Robert immediately think so badly of Anna? She has been nothing but faithful to them (above and beyond duty when you consider carrying a dead body from Mary’s room) to automatically believe she would act in such a manner. At the very least, they could have given her the benefit of the doubt or asked her about the “incident” to get her side of the story. Grrr.

Isobel – It was hard to see her in her grief saying that she was not a mother anymore. I hated when she finally rallied to see her grandson only to be turned out by the nanny. I was so happy to see her find a sense of purpose again in helping Mr. Griggs. (Even though I thought it a little creepy to invite a perfect stranger into your home. )  Oh and speaking of that nanny…

Nanny – I can’t remember her name and don’t feel like looking it up but when Thomas was ratting her out I felt sorry for her since Thomas is Thomas. But when those disgusting words were aimed at sweet Sybbie I wanted to jump through the screen and smack her face. Cora can sometimes get on my nerves but when she calmly but firmly kicked her out and wouldn’t let her touch the children or even be in the same room, I was more than pleased. My question is – was it just a coincidence that Thomas made those comments to Cora or did he really know how awful she was treating Sybbie?

Molesly – I like poor old Molesly. Even thought he is sometimes weird and whiny I can’t hep but want to root for the guy. And I was so upset when that bully butler  made him look a fool in front of a prospective employer.

Mrs. Hughes – She was just a busy little bee going through Carson’s trash, finding Grigg’s, talking Cora into taking him in ect. I wonder how she was able to get so much time off from Downton. 😉

The Downstairs Youngsters – The Jimmy, Alfred, Daisy and Ivy saga is a little stale. When Daisy got that Valentine I was hoping there was a new love interest outside of Downton. Inside, there seems to be only two options and Alfred is too whiny and Jimmy is a troublemaker.

Rose – Speaking of troublemaker, I am waiting to see what shenanigans Miss Rose has in store for us this season.

Edith – I don’t know what t think about Edith. As unlikable as she was at first, I have rooted for her many times and shook my head when she made one mistake after another but hoped she’d finally come around, particularly after she got her confidence caring for the soldiers. But now that she is in this Mr. Rochester-ish relationship I can’t imagine it ending well.  I suppose they needed a female character to reflect the changing times and loosening morals.I thought that was going to be Rose’s role but Edith is charging ahead. And are we suppose to feel sympathetic towards Gregson and his lunatic wife? I don’t trust the guy and the fact that he chooses to become a German before WWII will provide for interesting storyline. The only positive thing Edith has going for her are the lovely outfits she is able to wear. Love the colors.

Okay, I wanted to add my fave quotes and tidbits but it’s late and I’m starting to see double so I better get to bed. Let me know what you thought of the episode!! 🙂

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

NOTE: If you have not already seen Season 3,hurry up already, I mean, there are spoilers ahead!

I’ve been hearing a lot of news here and there about Season 4 and the new cast members so I thought I’d put post a few of the highlights for this week’s 7 Quick Takes, hosted by Jen.

~~ 1 ~~

Earlier this month Masterpiece released the first official photo of Lady Mary and Baby George Crawley.

Source: Carnival Films

~~ 2 ~~

Season 4 will pick up the storyline six months after Matthew Crawley’s death. (I am still shaking my fist over that one.) There are two new love interests waiting in line for her.

Source: Getty

Tom Cullen will play Lord Gillingham, a childhood family friend of the Crawleys who visits the family when he attends a house party.

Source: Getty

Julien Ovenden will play aristocrat Charles Blake, another potential love interest for Lady Mary.

Note: Ovenden played Andrew the son of Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in Foyle’s War. I loved that show. Not to mention, I also feel in love with the name “Andrew” while watching it and hoped to one day have a son named that. 🙂 Also, did you know that the show is returning? Woohoo! But more on that later.

~~ 3 ~~

Other new cast members include… (Photos from Getty.)

Dame Harriet Walter as Lady Shackleton, an old friend of the Dowager Countess.

Joanna David will have a guest role as the Duchess of Yeovil.
(Remember her as Mrs. Gardiner in the original Pride and Prejudice?)

Nigel Harman will play Green, a valet.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will play a guest who sings in the house.

~~ 4 ~~

Source

Shirley MacLaine will return as the outspoken Martha Levinson. The Dowager will no doubt be ready with her razor sharp tongue.

Source

 Lily James who originally made a guest appearance as Violet’s rebellious great niece Rose has been confirmed as a series regular for Season 4.

~~ 5 ~~

Another character which has not been cast as of yet, is the role of Jack Ross. He is to be a musician/singer at an exclusive club in the 20’s. He is black, very handsome, a “real” man (not a boy) and has charm, charisma and the “wow” factor. Just reading that makes me say, Wow. It’ll be interesting who they find!

~~ 6 ~~

As if it wasn’t enough that we had to watch Sybil die in agony, watch Matthew be ridiculously killed off, now we have to say goodbye to the woman (and bangs) that we love to hate.  Siobhan Finneran has quit Downton Abbey. Blast!

Source: Carnival Films

The DailyMail.co.uk reports:

The big question, of course, is why quit the biggest show on TV? Siobhan admits there is no plan to cross the pond like her fellow cast member Dan Stevens, whose character Matthew Crawley was killed off when he picked Broadway over being the heir apparent.

She just wanted out — and has done for a while. ‘I signed up to do three series and that was all I wanted to do,’ says the 47-year-old. ‘I talked it through with my family and it was the right decision for all of us. I had great fun doing it but I just didn’t want to do it any more. I decided this before we even did the last series. When I stop loving something, I stop doing it.’

She has made her mind up — although the Downton people are hoping she will change it. While Dan was killed off in a car crash in the Christmas special, according to producers the door has been left open for Siobhan to return. Not that she appears to care much about what happens to Sarah O’Brien. ‘I have no idea how they will explain my absence,’ she laughs.

Read more here.

And to signify a change in her life, Siobhan had a hair makeover. She is now even harder to recognize.

Source: Getty Images

~~ 7 ~~

Well, we still have many, many longs months until Season 4 arrives. In the meantime, you can get your period drama fix next week with the new series Mr. Selfridge. It premiers on Masterpiece on March 31, 2013 and will run until May 19. The first episode is 2 hours. Episodes 2-7 will be an hour and Episode 8, 90 minutes. Here’s a preview.

Watch Mr. Selfridge Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Oh, and for those still going through seasons 1 – 3 of Downton Abbey, if you want to read my two cents on the episodes, go to my Downton Abbey page. 🙂

Have a great weekend!

 Source: AustenProse.com

(I couldn’t sleep last night so I write this in the wee hours of the morn, although I couldn’t post it until now.)

Spoiler Alert – If you did not see last night’s episode, stop reading!

For the rest of you, well, what did you think? What an episode!

Of course the only thing on everyone’s mind is Matthew’s death. I accidentally saw the spoiler before Season 3 started. I knew what was coming so there was no emotion from me when it actually happened. I hated knowing because I could not fully enjoy the season with that news hanging over my head.  I wonder, if I had not known, if I would have had a suspicion with the way they were playing up Matthew and pumped up his likability after all the “I killed Lavinia” drama was over.

Seriously, what I did not like (besides the actual death) was the way it happened. It was so sudden, so out of the blue and so WTH? We were given absolutely no time to process, grieve or ask ourselves, “Did I just see what I think I saw?” Nada. Instead we get PBS asking us for money. Major boooo!

I can’t help but compare Sybil’s and Matthew’s death. With Sybil, it was tragic but felt organic. You experienced it as it happened and it was believable. Matthew’s death seemed like an after thought that was thrown in at the end.

And frankly, I feel sorry for the UK since this was their Christmas special. Can you imagine? The show is moving along all jolly and playful and then bam, a stake of holly through their hearts. You’re a mean one Mr Grinch Fellowes. At least with us, we’re in the Lenten season and already operating in suffering mode. 😉 (*In defense of Mr. F, see the article links below.)

Anyway, it’s 1:00 in the morning and I can’t sleep. Truth be told, I was watching the show, tweeting and reading the feed at the same time so I know there were little bits that I missed and quotes I wanted to hear again so I could write then down. I rewatched the episode after Brian went to bed and now I’ll comment on a few other story lines.

Romance for the Older Set – both Mrs Patmore and Isobel found themselves with offers of marriage. Cupid was busy this week! Seeing Mrs. Patmore like a school girl made me giddy myself. I loved her line, ““No man’s wanted to squire me since the Golden Jubilee. Even then he expected me to buy the drinks.” I looked that phrase up and saw that it was The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, celebrated on June 20, 1887. That was 35 years prior so no wonder Mrs. Patmore is excited! When we could see all was not as it seemed, I felt so bad for Mrs. P especially when she covered her eyes as Mrs. H told her the truth. I was delighted that she felt relieved and could laugh at the situation. Mrs. Hughes saves the day again!

As for Isobel, I really thought that she and the doctor would make a good match and Lord knows she will need someone to comfort here when she finds out the news that her baby boy is dead in a ditch. Ugh! When she refused the doctor’s advances I thought she merely mastered the art of the dignified brush off. However, others online said she really didn’t get it. She didn’t realize he was proposing? What do you think?

Mrs. Wilkins – I thought this fellow lady in black would be a possible BFF to Mrs O’Brien but when she was slighted and her nostrils flared, you know it was more akin to frenemy territory. But the poor amateur didn’t stand a chance. You can’t O’Brien Ms. O’Brien.

Shrimpie and Susan – I don’t know which was more heartbreaking, seeing the deterioration of their marriage and home or realizing that a Hugh had to live with his unfortunate name all his life. On the plus side, Robert realized how lucky he was to have listened to Matthew’s advice about modernizing Downton. I also liked that we were able to get some background about Rose. We can see why she is looking for love in all the wrong places.

Mr Granger & Edith – You know, I had some sympathy for the original Mr Rochester and his love for  Jane in Jane Eyre,  but I have no pity for this version of Rochester and his mad wife. Mr Granger seems more concerned about his own desires and it is an insult to expect Edith to have the “job as his mistress.” #teamedith cheered when Edith realized that and said, “I just can’t see a happy ending.” But as usual, Edith is the writers punching bag so she had to recant and beg Mr G to stay in her life. #teamdith is not amused! So will Edith actually have an affair with this bloke? Will she become the voice of the 20’s modern woman? Ugh.

Jimmy and Thomas – Jimmy continues to think he us all that during this episode. And who would have thought that Thomas would continue to tug at my heart strings and that I’d be rooting for him as he took the fall for Jimmy. Last week, I said that it was a lack of love that made Thomas such a pill and it seems that his caring for another person has made a better man of him. I am glad he and Jimmy were able to reconcile even though it seems like it would be an awkward friendship with Thomas still crushing on him.

Anna and Bates – Okay, I haven’t been waving my #teamanna&bates flag for a long time but today I dusted it off and waved it proudly. When Anna was dancing and Bates looked so fondly at her, it was a beautiful moment. They recaptured that touch of magic that they experienced in the first season. Bravo.

Evil Edna (as Brian nicknamed her) and Tom – From the first moments Edna was on screen I did not like her with her conniving ways and belittling words to Tom. My blood pressure would go up every time she entered the screen and when the hussy went into Tom’s bedroom, I was fit to be tied. I was never so glad to see Mrs. Hughes to the rescue, again.

As for Tom, he has been so grand lately and I’ve grown to love his character and have a sisterly affection for him. However,  in regards to Edna, I agree with Mrs Hughes. He may not have encouraged her but he didn’t discourage her either. My heart did break a little when he cried for his beloved Sybil. I do hope he finds happiness again in the future.

Mrs Hughes – Thank God she is at Downton. She is the voice of reason and her motherly love and care continues to nurture countless characters, upstairs and down.

Random Thoughts

• I like when the characters’ names differ.  There are too many E names – Edith, Ethel, Edna.
• The scenes with the bagpiper were hilarious.
• It was funny to see Daisy and Ivy arm in arm as BFF’s. Glad of it.
• How cute was it when Mr Carson held and cared for Little Sybbie?
• I love that Mr Carson was a proud papa with the news of Lady Mary and her baby.

Best Scene and Line of the Night

“Mosely does it Gangnam style”

Source & Caption:  DowntonAbbeyOnline.com

When Mr  “Every Savage Can Dance” Molesley gets drunk and dances his jig.

Robert: They do say there is a wild man in all of us.

Violet: If only he’d stay inside.

Other Favorite Lines

Mrs  Hughes: You were young once.

Mr Carson: I’m young now. (Brian actually laughed out loud.)

***

Ivy: She’s got a fancy man. I’m telling you.

Alfred: Mrs Patmore?

Ivy: Why not? She’s a woman.

Thomas: Only technically.

***

Violet: “Unless you want Rose married to a third rate colonial official with no money and bad teeth Susan better think again.”

***

Shrimpie: “Love is like riding or learning French. If you don’t learn it young, it’s hard to get the trick of it later.” So true!

***

Matthew: “Ten hours crawling through heather and nothing to show for it. Perhaps it’s a parable of life.”  Touché, sweet Matthew. Touché.

Articles of Interest

This is the news I’ve gathered from various articles I’ve read over Season 3. I will try to link the main articles below so you can read them for yourself. Here it is in a nutshell.

Dan Stevens did not want to renew his contract so he could have more time for his other acting jobs. JF tried to get him to stay for the beginning of Season 4 so he could end the Christmas special on a happy note. Dan wanted a clean break. JF saved the final death for the last minute so it didn’t ruin the rest of the storylines. In one way JF is happy because he can start with Season 4 with a clean slate and not have to deal with the grieving family. (That’s my wording. But too soon!) They are looking for an actor to play Lady Mary’s love interest next season. Rose will be a new permanent character to “replace” Sybil in having another female in the house.

Julian Fellowes Statement on Downton Abbey Season 3 Finale *Spoilers*:

 Julian Fellowes Discusses a Season of Comings and Goings at ‘Downton Abbey’

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 3 finale: Season 4 promises new love and a new face at Downton

(I can’t find the Rose – Sybil link. I’ll try to find it.)

Video

I leave you with this lovely video of some of our favorite moments  with Mary and Matthew.

Okay, that’s it for now. Brian is wondering why I am still on the computer. Please do share your thoughts (so I know I am not the only one too obsessed with fictitious characters in a fictitious show. LOL. 😉

Have a great holiday!