This is Day 1 of my participation in Jen’s 7 Posts in 7 Days Challenge. Sorry it came so late. I have been gone most of the day and then had a mom-daughter night out with Bella so I’m barely posting now. But I have two hours until midnight so technically, I’m good. 😉

Source: PBS

This is it! Our last Downton discussion of Season 4. It has been quite a season too. I was approaching the finale with a little trepidation after last year’s depressing ending and then the heavy topics covered in Season 4. I wasn’t sure what to expect. However,  it was a fun two hours with a number of comedic moments.

I actually watched this episode earlier in the week. Brian bought me the Season 4 Blu-ray for Valentines and we had a date night watching it together. I didn’t have my laptop with me or take any notes and simply enjoyed the story as it unfolded. (Not to mention that the detail on the Blu-ray was amazing. It made everything more grand!) Yesterday my mom arrived to spend a few days with us so last night we watched the episode together and I was able to take my notes and record my favorite quotes etc. 🙂 So here we go…

Edith – It took a few minutes to realize that we were fast forwarding the time line by 8 months. Edith already had her baby girl and left her in the care of The Shroders in Switzerland. With the return of Gregson less likely, Edith found it even harder to be away from her child. Of course, I desperately wanted her to go back and get her baby and raise it as her own but I have to view this in the mindset of the time and understand why she felt she could not let anyone know the baby was hers. I am glad that she worked it out so the Drewe Family could raise her child close to her. At first I was suspicious of Mr. Drewe, wondering if he could be trusted but in the end his kindness won me over. I am assuming he figured out it was actually Edith’s child and he wanted to repay the family’s kindness by helping Edith and the baby. Now whether or not I am right or whether or not Gregson returns from the dead is to be seen.

Rose – Rose was the central figure as everything revolved around her royal presentation. It was humorous to see how quickly she recovered from her broken engagement with Jack but I must admit that it was fun to see her in her element in the jazz night clubs. The whole Prince of Wales and get-the-letter-from-Sampson plot line was both a little weird and a little hilarious. It was interesting to see the Crawleys interact with historical characters that will later make (notorious) news. I would have also loved that Bates saved the day if we didn’t have that darn Greene plot still hanging over our heads…

Anna and Bates – It was lovely to see Anna back to her old self with a smile on her face. I am glad she was able to heal from the whole ghastly ordeal. On the other hand, what were the writers trying to do with Bates. He went from sweet, noble, romantic hubby of Anna to lying, forging, stealing murderer. Granted, he saved the day at the end but it was sort of a weird way they played up his darker side. I just hope this whole Green/Bates plot is put to rest and never spoken of again.

Tom – Poor Tom. He is getting the Edith stoke of luck these days and can’t find his bearings. I was a little unsure about Miss Bunting at first but she has steadily gotten on my nerves. Why is she always just popping up? Why is she so pushy? Why didn’t she realize how uncomfortable Tom was at the house? I don’t see her as evil, like that nasty Edna, but she is not what Tom needs – a lovely girl that loves Tom for who he is (past and present) and doesn’t make him feel bad for being a part of the Crawley Family now. I am not saying she can’t change her tune in the future but the writers will have to do some tweaking to her character to please this fan. (The only thing more annoying was Thomas doing his usual lurking in the hallways. I don’t think he will rest until he brings Thomas down.)

Mary – I had fun watching Blake and Lord G constrain themselves and not go to blows over Mary. But I have to give Lord G big points for wanting a fair fight and telling Mary about Blake’s prospects. (I never saw that one coming!) Blake seems to be the Mr. Darcy to Lord G’s Mr. Bingley. Some may complain that they are dangling this story and Mary should choose but I am glad she did not. It seems only fitting that Matthew be given a whole season of remembrance before we are ready to fully embrace a new love in Mary’s life. And my stance is still the same. I dearly love Lord G but I am still Team Blake when it concerns the best match for Mary.

Miss Allsop and Harold – I enjoyed watching their interactions and it was refreshing to see them take off their masks and just be open and honest with each other. In doing so, they seem to bring out the best in each other.  It is interesting that in this episode two “underdogs” (Harold and Molesley) met women who brought out their better side and gave them confidence they did not have. In return, Harold and Molesley gave Madeleine and Baxter strength to stand up to an overbearing man that was controlling them. It was very touching. Which brings us to…

Molesley and Baxter – The character that I have most grown to love this season is Mr. Molesley. He went from a complaining and whiny little Eeyore to a unexpected knight in shining armor to the troubled Baxter. I do hope she is able to get out of the clutches of Thomas and find a happy home at Downton with Moseley. Sigh.

Slade, the American Valet –  It was hilarious to see the difference between the reserved English and the forward Americans. It was definitely a clash of cultures. One of my favorite scenes was when Slade wanted to speak to Carson “man to man.” The look on Carson’s face was priceless. It was also wonderful to see someone fall for Daisy and for her to get the romantic recognition that alluded her all season. It is interesting that Ivy is out of the picture now. Perhaps this will make it easier for Daisy to find a man next season.

Random Thoughts

• Watching Martha  in action actually made me like Cora more because she had such an overbearing mother yet was able to turn out as such a kind lady, with the capability to have a strong head, at least when she is not falling prey to people like Thomas.

• My favorite couple of the show? Violet and Isobel. BFF.

Fave Quotes:

• Slade: Are you excited? — Daisy: I’m never excited.

• Tom: Losing Sybil was hard. Compared to that, everything is easy.

• Carson to Slade: You’re a footman not a traveling salesman.

• Mrs. Patmore: All women need someone to show a bit of interest in them, preferably in a manner that in not entirely proper.

• Violet: “Can’t you even offer help without sounding like a trumpeter on the peak of the moral high ground?”
—Isobel: “And must you always sound like the sister of Marie Antoinette? — Violet: “The queen of Naples was a stalwart figure. I take it as a compliment.” — Isobel: “You take everything as a compliment.” — Violet: “I advise you to do the same. It saves many an awkward moment!”

• Mrs. Hughes: “You can always hold my hand, if you need to feel steady.” — Mr. Carson: “I don’t know how, but you make it sound a bit risqué.”

What were your favorite moments? Any predictions for Season 5? Please dish. 🙂

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