Episode three of Downton Abbey aired on Masterpiece Classic on Sunday. The “engine of social change is roaring through society,” its ripples even reaching traditional life at Downton. As the family upstairs and their servants downstairs face change, they are forced to make choices. Some like Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) hold on to the past, hoping that the entail can be broken and others like the parlor maid Gwen (Rose Leslie) and Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) attempt to forge their own future out of the norm. Here is a brief synopsis from Masterpiece.
The fair has come to town, and with it comes romantic hopes for several Downton Abbey inhabitants. In a triumph of the absurd, Violet, the Dowager Countess asks a baffled Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) to use his legal acumen to dissolve the entail — the very document by which he is to inherit Downton Abbey. Matthew’s findings and his hopes for Downton cement his growing closeness with Robert, the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and a new warmth suffuses his encounters with Lady Mary.
But Mary’s thaw doesn’t extend to her sister Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) , as their competition becomes crueler. Cora, the Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern) simply wants Mary married, but newly circulating rumors may hinder that aspiration. Meanwhile, Violet’s power struggle with Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton) moves from the hospital grounds to the annual flower show as Isobel casts her democratizing gaze upon Violet’s prize-winning roses.
A kind gesture by valet Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) is not lost on housemaid Anna (Joanne Froggatt); but he cryptically professes to not being capable of more. Lady Sybil discovers the politics of gender and class, with the help of the socialist chauffeur, Branson (Allen Leech), and butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) discovers that several valuable bottles of wine have gone missing. The vulnerable kitchen maid Daisy (Sophie McShera), under increased pressure and ire from a fretful Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), possesses a dangerous secret that she learned upstairs.
This episode was all about social changes with many characters pushing and pulling at their station, or each other. One would think that of all the social classes in the Edwardian-era, that aristocrats know their place and what is destined for their lives. The working class can move up if they can, but a family born into a peerage has pretty much made it. This may apply to the men folk, but certainly not for the ladies unless they marry up. I was moved by Lady Mary’s plight. She has come to the grim realization that she is powerless. A pariah. Her conversation with her cousin Matthew says it all. “Women like me don’t have a life. We choose clothes and pay calls and work for charity and do the season, but really we’re stuck in a waiting room until we marry.”
Lady Mary knows that her mother and grandmother’s efforts to smash the entail are futile. Her father, Lord Grantham, has accepted the inevitable. She will not inherit nor be an heiress. She is frustrated and angry. Cousin Matthew has been accepted as the heir and is now the son that her father never had. “Matthew, Matthew, Matthew.” (Shades of Jan Brady in the 1970’s sitcom The Brady Bunch, whining “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.”) Her mother isn’t much help either. She thinks her daughter is a lost soul, and she is right. Mary took a lover with no thought of marriage. She is a ruined woman if it is made public.
Ironically, I was reminded of a great quote from Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice by Mary Bennet. Set one hundred years prior to events in Downton Abbey, not much has changed in regard to woman’s worth and reputations.
“This is a most unfortunate affair; and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation.” Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, “Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable — that one false step involves her in endless ruin — that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful — and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.” Chapter 47
Reputations are still brittle, as Lady Mary well knows, and her sister Lady Edith even more so. She will use Mary indiscretion against her for revenge. There is nothing more painful than sibling-icide. It’s as old as Cain and Able, and just as ugly.
On a happier note, love is in the air. I had to applaud housemaid Anna for not being a lady and just saying so to the man she loves. What a plucky Miss she is. It is easy to be generous when you have nothing to lose! Kudos also to Lady Sybil. I feel a romance brewing between our spirited rebel and the socialist chauffeur Branson! Just thinking out loud mind you, but they make a handsome couple, even though socially, their romance would not be accepted. Hmmm? Interesting plot possibility.
I will end on a great quote from the butler Mr. Carson. “What would be the point of living if we did not let life change us?” I couldn’t agree more.
The conclusion of season one of Downton Abbey airs next Sunday, January 30th with episode four. Will it be a cliffhanger?
Further reading:
- Watch episode three of Downton Abbey online at Masterpiece until Feb 22, 2011
- Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode one
- Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode two
- Downton Abbey Entailed? Understanding the Complicated Legal Issues
- A Downton Abbey Etiquette Primer
- Upstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Downstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Visit the Downton Abbey web site at Masterpiece Classic
- Read my preview of Downton Abbey
© 2007 – 2011 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
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I agree that Lady Sybil and Branson make a nice couple but it would never work. Nevertheless, we all need a bit of romance every now and then. I just hope Sybil won’t get her heart broken. Such a lovely girl!
Edith turned nasty and I thought she was way out of line with her revenge against Mary. You don’t betray a sister like that…
Mary and Matthew are getting closer and although she doesn’t deserve him, I wish him happy all the same so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for them to make it.
Evidence of change: the hommage to Mrs Miniver. Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham lets old Molesley take the prize for Best Bloom. Anyone who has seen Mrs. Miniver will recall the touching scene when Dame May Whitty gives the prize to the station master for his Mrs. Miniver rose.
I see some similarities to Gosford Park also written by Julian Fellowes. In GP there were also three aristocratic sisters and the first two had been in competition to marry the wealthy Michael Gambon — the other sister was more like Lady Sybil, sweeter. There are other similarities as well, especially the upstairs/downstairs element. I loved Lady Grantham’s comment that she thought raising daughters would be like Little Women — no such luck! As the American countess, she makes reference to the great American classic for girls.
I would be so sad this Sunday if I did not know we will have more Downton Abbey.
Unfortunately, the garden party storyline was not intended as an homage to Mrs. Miniver. In an article from The Telegraph, Fellowes:
“conceded that he had read Little Women and seen Mrs Miniver and may have subconsciously repeated certain scenes.
‘Who can say what is lodged in one’s brain?,’ he said. ‘I am not conscious of lifting either, but it doesn’t mean (the viewers) are wrong.’ ”
POSSIBLE SPOILER *** POSSIBLE SPOILER *** POSSIBLE SPOILER
This link goes to an article about the garden party storyline and references a few other things, the plot isn’t really revealed, but proceed with caution depending on how much of the show you have seen.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/8100220/Julian-Fellowes-denies-Downton-Abbey-plagiarism-claims.html
Laurel Ann, if this is not acceptable even with the warnings, please remove or edit.
I too was shocked by Lady Edith’s plans for revenge. They seem so close minded, as she obviously has not considered the repercussions such a step will have on the entire family, herself included. It also irks me that she allowed herself to be manipulated into such actions by a spiteful servant, purely seeking to cause mischief.
I am so excited for Part Four, but oh I am already bemoaning the year between the end of this series and the debut of series 2 & the Christmas special here in the US. This show has been marvelous!
I’m really enjoying the costumes, settings, and the complexity of some of the characters. In fact, I find myself wanting a big HD TV…all the better to see it with. ;-)
They’ve done a great job of juggling a large number of characters and making each unique and identifiable. The meanness of the sibling rivalry is, as others have said, shocking and truly ugly. But it shows how well the writing is since I find my sympathy switching from Edith to Mary.
Looking forward to more!
I guess hommage was too strong a word? Some others have commented on the similarity between the DA scene and the Mrs. Miniver scene. Perhaps Fellowes saw Mrs. Miniver long ago and he didn’t really see the similarities. He may have totally forgotten.
We are all in agreement that we will miss DA and welcome the return.
Thanks for posting the link. I actually did not mean the “Mrs. Miniver” comment as a criticism. As many times as I have read Little Women, I had forgotten when the girls sprinkle the dessert with salt instead of sugar — which shows Fellowes, who probably hasn’t read LW as many times as I have, could easily forget.
Maybe this backlash is the “tall poppy syndrome” — anything that is too popular needs to be cut down to size.
No matter what, I can’t wait for the second season and the Christmas special.
I love watching Downton Abbey each week and am already sad thinking about how next week is the last episode for the year!
I feel bad for Mary’s plight, but I really don’t like her treatment of Edith. That being said, the hint of what Edith’s revenge might be seems a bit over the top! I hope poor Edith is able to find happiness on her own in the end out of Mary’s shadow.
Fabulous recap, LA. I think I enjoyed this episode the most, especially the flower show! I am liking Lady Mary, warts and all, and Lady Sybil is a sweetheart. Really, really, really hope that Gwen gets a secretary job and can move on. Admire Anna–she is more a lady than she acknowledges, actually.
However, I struggle with the notion that Lady Mary “took a lover.” That implies an ongoing relationship–the cad entered her room, compromised her, and died. That’s hardly taking a lover. I actually think this is the only weak part of the storyline, and it defies belief on several levels.
I don’t mean to quibble, because overall I LOVE DT-A!
["However, I struggle with the notion that Lady Mary “took a lover.” That implies an ongoing relationship–the cad entered her room, compromised her, and died. That’s hardly taking a lover. I actually think this is the only weak part of the storyline, and it defies belief on several levels."]
Actually, I don’t think it’s really weak at all. Lady Mary’s reputation is already endangered, due to the fact that the Turkish diplomat was seen in her room, late at night. That is enough to condemn Lady Mary. And that is why Lady Grantham and Anna tried to disguise the matter by moving his body back into his room before his body could be discovered.
I have been rooting for Anna and Bates from the beginning; I just love them as a couple, and I hope that Bates can open up to Anna (I sense what he thinks makes him unavailable might not be as big a hurdle as he thinks it is). I also loved that he told her that she was a lady to him, the best he’d ever known. There might have been some swooning when that happened…
I am so happy there is going to be a second season of Downton Abbey, but I certainly do hope there is not a cliffhanger since we have to wait almost a year for the next season!
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode three [...]
I’m so sad this is the last episode.
Wow I couldn’t believe how nasty the sisters are to each other. Edith isn’t thinking clearly at all. If her sister is disgraced it ruins her chances as well.
[...] Read my recap & review of Downton Abbey episode three [...]
[...] My review of episode three of Downton Abbey [...]
I wonder if the Masterpiece summary got it wrong by calling Cora the Duchess of Grantham; I believe she is a countess (to be a duchess, her husband would have to be a duke); correct me if I’m wrong!
(In case you’re wondering why I’m commenting on this so late, I just finished the both series, so I’m going back and reading these reviews!)
Hi Asia, you are totally correct. Lord Grantham is an Earl, so his mother and wife would be Countesses. I have corrected the text with my apologies. Thanks for pointing out the mistake.