Last week in episode 2 of Downton Abbey Cousin Matthew accepted his dead fiancée’s dead father’s money, gave it to Lord Grantham, and they became business partners (whoa) saving Downton from ruin. Those who were not game to the cause were promptly crossed off the list and sent away – point in case for mama Levinson who because she could not save the estate, again, with her husband’s fortune, exited stage left and was never spoken of again. Hmmm? Plots churn so quickly in this series that we are not given a moment’s repose to think lest we see the wholes.
Was there really any doubt that the money would materialize? After all, the show is not called the Crawley’s.
#TeamEdith went down in flames after the ungentlemanlike behavior at the altar by that infamous drudgemaker Sir Anthony Strallen. We are still reeling over his erratic behavior. Could it be post-traumatic stress syndrome from the WWI? We like to think so and feel the need to rationalize it to death. He seemed like a nice enough chap even though the family thought him a looser. Really harsh—even by toff standards. I just had to dwell on her beautiful wedding dress a bit longer and post a picture of her in it before she has the maid burn it.
Recap of Episode 3 (spoilers ahead)
Now that the coffers of Downton are once again flush from cash from a dead fiancée’s dead father, the household staff will be pumped up to pre-war standards by searching for a new footman, housemaid, and kitchen maid. This means Anna will be a lady’s maid and Daisy will be assistant cook (finally) and not have to carry out the duties of two positions while being paid for one. Unfortunately, Anna does not seem excited in the least because there has been no mail for weeks from her husband John Bates who is locked in the hoosegow in York for bumping off his wicked wife Vera. She thinks he is being honorable and wants her to move on with her life without him. Depressed and downtrodden at Downton won’t do, so Mrs. Hughes to the rescue with a pep talk cheering her up, and us! Jimmy the dishy young footman is quickly renamed James, because Mr. Carson could never take anyone seriously who has a nickname. While James sets hearts throbbing downstairs with the ladies and valet Thomas, Daisy’s working strike is finally over when Ivy is hired as the new kitchen maid to replace her. However, she is not happy that her crush, Alfred the footman, has eyes for Ivy.
Mrs. Hughes has a visit from Isobel Crawley who delivers a letter from former housemaid Ethel Parks, who left service after an affair with an officer recuperating at Downton during the War left her in a motherly way. Once again she would like Mrs. Hughes to intercede and arrange a meeting with her son’s grandparents who she previously turned down for help. Isobel, always eager to get involved and be helpful to anyone would like to make Ethel her new project to get her off the street. The meeting takes place and Ethel surprises everyone by giving her young son to his grandparents to raise. A reversal of finger pointing for Mr. Bates and his cellmate in prison frees up a cache of letters from Anna being held as punishment by the guards, while Anna in turn receives her own stash of letters from him renewing their confidence in their love for one another.
Lady Sybil rings up from Ireland with a cryptic message that Edith reveals to the family shortly before her husband Tom Branson shows up on their doorstep dripping wet with rain and Irish rebellion. He has fled the country to escape the law after helping to burn down an Anglo-Irish country estate. The Crawleys are horrified by his participation in such a violent act, except Lady Violet who thought it an ugly castle anyway. Lord Grantham is furious that his pregnant daughter has been left to fend for herself in a foreign country, but still acts on Tom’s behalf with the authorities in London to clear the waters. Tom’s punishment is the worst imaginable (short of prison) to a rebel who wants to be a part of the Irish revolution: he must never step foot again in Ireland or he will be arrested. Other family members rebel too. Edith takes up a banner for the cause of women’s suffrage and writes a letter in protest of the current laws to The Times which is published, much to her father’s horror. Matthew Crawley goes over the estate finances only to discover that they are being greatly mismanaged. He seeks the advice of the dowager countess who does not see how the news will not put many noses out of joint.
Favorite Moments:
“Other men have normal families with sons-in-law who farm or preach or serve in the army.” – Robert, Lord Grantham
“Maybe they do, but no family is what it seems from the outside.” – Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Wow! That line is like the gun shot at Sarajevo. No one saw it coming because they were ignoring the truth.
“Good God almighty. You abandon a pregnant woman in a land that is not her own. You leave her to shift for herself while you run for it?…Go to bed. I’ll give you my answer in the morning.” – Robert, Lord Grantham
Serious moment for Tom Branson and the Crawley family. I can’t help feeling by Lord Grantham’s last words that he does not treat his children like adults. I thought he would blow a gasket.
“You’ve done a hard thing Ethel, the hardest thing of all.” – Mrs. Hughes
“What chance is there for a woman like her? She’s taken the road to ruin and there’s no way back.” – Mrs. Hughes
Another really, miserable moment in Ethel’s down-spiraling life. I know that her character is there to let us learn how women in this era had little choice if they broke the rules of propriety, and how the aftermath of the war multiplied this and forced many women into a life of prostitution, but it is just so dang depressing to watch.
“Downton is being mismanaged cousin Violet and something must be done. The thing is, how do I do it without putting people’s noses out of joint” – Matthew Crawley
“Oh my dear. I doubt there is a way to achieve that. You must do what needs to be done, but I think I can safely say a great many noses will be out of joint.” – Violet, Dowager Countess Grantham
Well, Cousin Matthew, personally I would rather carry a deceased Turkish diplomat through the halls of Downton Abbey in the black of night than tell Lord Grantham he has mucked up the estate finances, but if you don’t, your dear dead fiancée’s dead father’s money will be gone with the wind in no time. Even the Downton whisperer, Lady Violet, is stumped and that is a very rare instance indeed. We shall see how you progress with this new business arrangement without alienating every member of your family including your wife (that document forging vixen you sleep next to) who you know will think your conclusions idiotic. Really, good luck with this.
My Review:
After the high drama of last week’s jilting at the altar, this episode seemed rather tame – but there was actually a great deal going on – but none of it good news. Even though many of the plot developments were depressing, this episode was really interesting for me. I am glad to leave behind some of the old, long standing conflicts such as Matthew’s dithering over the Swire money, Edith’s pseudo-decrepit beau and the down-spiraling, wrongfully imprisoned Mr. Bates. It was actually a relief to me that Anna could not visit him in prison and their communication was entirely shut down. It was worth the prolonged misery of both to get our reward of seeing them reading their letters to each other after they were finally delivered. We are also really proud of Edith for using her brain and abilities (at Granny suggestion of course) and struck out from the family strictures by voicing her opinion on women’s rights. Yes, let’s let Edith be a flapper and go a bit wild on us, please-o-please. We want something else happy and fun in this family to be about her that really happens.
Besides Bates’ incarceration, several characters seem to be imprisoned by duty or default. It is disturbing how the family used their influence to cover up the crime that Tom committed in Ireland. Despicable, really. Even his wife Lady Sybil was shocked by his activities. I wonder why they chose to return to Downton where he hates the life of his English oppressors? Ironically, he is now a prisoner there and cannot return to his homeland. What will he do? Matthew is discovering that his business arrangement with his father-in-law is going to be more challenging than he ever imagined. How could he be so naïve? Here is another example of how Cousin Matthew is not very smart (or the writers just don’t allow him to be) even though he is a college educated, practicing attorney! Now he is surprised to learn that the estate is being mismanaged? It appears that it has been happening for generations: first when the current Earl of Grantham’s father needed to shore up the estate by having his son marry an American heiress, and recently by the bit of foreshadowing after Lord Grantham lost the family fortune on the one shot railroad deal in Canada, and then brushed off concerned comments by his attorney about how things should be done differently with the estate. Change will be difficult for everyone as the plot powers up for more crises.
This episode in definitely a bridge to new conflicts. Despite the questionable efforts of its inhabitants, Downton still stands!
Downton Abbey Twitter Party
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Join us for episode 4 of season 3 of Downton Abbey next Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 9:00pm ET & PT (check your local listings).
Further reading:
- Read my review of Downton Abbey S3E2
- Upstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Downstairs at Downton Abbey – A Cast Preview
- Visit Downton Abbey at Masterpiece Classic online
- Visit our Downton Abbey archives
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This reads more like a review of Episode 4, set to air tonight. It talks about things I didn’t see on Episode 3… But good to know what’s coming up for all of them on Downton Abbey.
Are you talking about the UK numbering or the US? The episodes are split up differently on each. This is for episode 3 of the US broadcast that aired on 1/20.
Oh, Sir Anthony! How could you?!?
Good review. I liked the episode because it returned to the history and away from the melodrama. I smell trouble with the new comely footman. I loved Carson in this episode and his comments about Thomas and O’Brien. Go Team Edith! I’ve researched women’s suffrage in America extensively and I look forward to learning more about the British fight. Poor Ethel! I feel bad for her but yet I don’t. Sybil’s story has taken an interesting turn. My dad is watching now that his beloved football team lost, He’ll be depressed all winter. Thank goodness for the distraction of Downton Abbey!
You’re so right about Lord Robert about to blow a gasket! Indeed, I don’t know which idiot male needs horsewhipping more — Branson for his sheer idiocy, or Strallan for his appalling behaviour. And the ending tonight nearly drove me to tears.
Ending? You mean the lace hankie required scene of Anna and Bates reading their respective letters??? Indeed! The only voice of reason is Mrs. Hughes. She is solid as a rock…the rest of the crew…it’s a crap shoot from one episode to the next.
Yes the end shots of Anna and Bates reading their letters. What a terrible act of cruelty on the authorities part. And beautifully handled. I feel sorry for all of the Crawley family, lurching along here and being spun from one crisis to the next. Those pre-WWI years must have seemed so peaceful and serene!
So far I’m truly enjoying season 3 except for one thing, do Mary and Matthew love each other??? Doesn’t seem quite so anymore. Their constant squabbling is getting tiresome rather quickly.
Now that the dead fiancee’s dead father’s money issue is over, maybe they will make peace and play nice?
Maybe. They are newlyweds acting like an old married couple who can’t stand each other’s company. It would be nice to see them smile when each other walks into a room or sneak behind the bookcase to steal a kiss or two. Something to remind us they did actually marry for love.
Charlie’s hand off was gut-wrenching, but of course, I’m enjoying it all. Calling this episode a bridge is wonderful. Plenty of new drama just around the corner. Better days for Edith! Matthew didn’t read the subtext during his business agreement conversation. It did go rather fast, of course. WIth no choice. He does want to make Mary happy (and pregnant)!
Poor Daisy.
Yes Matthew seems to want children while Mary doesn’t, they should have had that conversation before the vows. I cried to see Ethel let go of Charlie!! The previews show Isobel giving Ethel a job, why couldn’t she have done that BEFORE she gave her son up?! I hope the handsome new footman, who was the hero in the movie Eragon, based on the book of the same name, falls madly in love with Daisy and unbreaks her heart!
I knew the new footman’s face looked familiar! Thanks for pointing that out!
He was young, innocent, brave and ever so cute in his role in Eragon. In this role he is much more sure of himself, seasoned and seems to have quite a lot to say! Can’t wait to see what’s in store…
Lord Grantham’s dressing down of Robert was stunning and frankly he deserved it and more. I can see future fireworks if Matthew confronts Lord Grantham’s “mis-management” of Downton Abbey. Is there ever going to be closure on the situation with Mr. Bates and Anna? (groan) Poor Edith! She seems to have attracted enough male attention but can’t seem to finish the deal. I can see jealousy over the new maid and Daisy right away, can’t you? And what of the new footman and Thomas? What’s that weasel going to be up to? There doesn’t seem to be any falling off as the world’s greatest soap opera continues…
Jeffrey, did you mean the dressing down of Tom (Branson)? Robert is Lord Grantham. I’m just trying to make sure I’m confused here.
Precisely! I’m just clueless at times trying to match faces with names with the enormous and bewildering cast of characters in Downton Abbey. Just when I get a handle on it, they go and introduce even more.
The one confusing thing for me in Episode 3 was Bates’ back in favor for the prison guards. Previously, it looked like his cell mate was paid off to make Bates’ life more horrible, but paid off by whom? Who has it in for Bates inside the prison? Then all is better for Bates. Can anyone explain this? Obviously I missed something here and will have to watch this episode again.
I’m a little confused with you Ritamaie, but I know the episodes in the US are shortened, condensed versions, perhaps they left something out that would give us a better idea of what’s going on.
The Bates situation in prison was hard to keep up with, I agree!
The Masterpiece synopsis offered this:
“Unknown to either (Bates or Anna), a corrupt prison guard is confiscating their letters to punish Bates for striking his cellmate, who is in league with the guard in criminal activity.
Finally, Bates manages to turn the tables on his enemies, planting contraband that frames his cellmate, thwarts the corrupt guard, and restores the long withheld letters, both to him and Anna.”
Looking back now, that makes sense, however I wish it would have made sense while I was viewing. I do hope we find out soon what really happened to the late Mrs. Bates.
Overall, I am really liking Season 3 of Downton Abbey a whole lot more than Season 2. The storylines don’t seem to be quite as far-fetched and melodramatic. I’m very interested to see how the situation with Branson and Sybil plays out. I, too, am weary of the Bates/Anna storyline and just wish it would resolve somehow. I’m also tired of Matthew and Mary arguing about money this entire season. But it still was a great episode, and I can’t wait for next week!
Kate, I’m with you in enjoying Season 3!
Although, it is rather disillusioning to see Matthew and Mary constantly arguing about ‘money’, it is easy to see why Mary’s loyalty is still with her father and the family estate; she and Matthew haven’t even left Downton to establish their own home yet!
No less an authority on all things matrimonial, The Huffington Post, tells us that the thing that couples argue most about is MONEY!
You’re right…it does makes sense why Matthew and Mary are having their differences over the money and Downton, but I just wish those scenes could be balanced with something more sweet, reminding us all that they do love each other. :)
First I’ve heard of “teamEdith”–funny. And as a feminist writer, I’m delighted at her new story line.
However, I’m really tired of Bates being in jail, a little discouraged that the writers seem to be introducing yet another “jail-theme,” and I don’t think the motivation for that poor woman to give up her child was clearly thought out. Why not accept the two offers of help? It didn’t track.
I agree, I really felt it was wrong for Ethel to give Charlie up. Why didn’t Mrs. Crawley’s offer for a job come soon enough for Ethel to keep Charlie? Why didn’t she take the honest offer of financial help? I never cared for Ethel’s character but I don’t like to see any loving mother have to part with their child.
Maybe this is the set up for a wrenching plot development–Ethel fighting to get Charlie back or visitation…
I will certainly be routing for Ethel!
I’ll post a thought on Ethel and Charlie here. The last episode we saw had Mrs. Crawley at her door while a man, obviously a customer, brushed past her coming out of Edith’s door. There was the cry of a little boy in the background, which, if you think about it, that means her little boy (what, about 2 now?) saw and heard all that went on while that customer was with her. Do you really see anything good for Charlie coming out of that? I’m completely sure that, without Mrs. Crawley’s offer of service for Ethel at this time, this was absolutely the right thing for a mother who really loved her child to do. I’m not condemning her, I’m just saying that as a result of her actions prior to this, and the reality of what the future could hold for both of them at that time, what do you think was the best thing for Charlie? The best schools and opportunities for learning and a decent future, or mucking by and having to be a child worker instead of getting an education? As sad as it was, and I had tears falling down my face during that part, I absolutely think she did the right thing at that time. She wasn’t living in the 21st century, was she?
Karen: You gave a lot of thought to Ethel’s ‘dilemma’, didn’t you; and I agreed with all your points!
Back then (1920′s), before Margaret Sanger became a household name, women who became pregnant out of wedlock, often agreed to their baby’s adoption, and seldom saw them again (for a realistic view of this stark reality, watch Julian Fellowes, ‘Gosford Park’).
It was a far better solution, for both mother and child, than abortion!
watch Julian Fellowes, ‘Gosford Park’
I love that movie. Watched it again this weekend. Highly recommended.
It was a far better solution, for both mother and child, than abortion!
Agree.
watch Julian Fellowes, ‘Gosford Park’
I watched that movie on Netflix for the nth time this weekend. Love it–highly recommended.
It was a far better solution, for both mother and child, than abortion!
Agree
I find that Downton Abbey is morphing into Monarch of the Glen — consider the elder, entrenched owner of the estate showing cavalier disregard for finances; the earnest younger man (who unexpectedly assumes an ownership role) trying to tackle the mismanagement; the upstairs figure marrying a servant, who has to adopt new habits; the constant emphasis on the owners’ responsibility toward the servants and villagers. (Is a wolf sanctuary at Downton on the horizon?!) In its later seasons, Monarch of the Glen got stuck in a rut it could never climb out of, but it did have one redeeming feature I’d LOVE to see at Downton: Julian Fellowes as the charmingly goofy and softhearted Earl Kilwillie.
It’s official. I’m watching Downton Abbey to see the lady’s dresses. Other than Edith possibly becoming a suffragette, there isn’t a story line that holds my interest, and as an Irish-American, I find the simplistic portrayal of the post WWI Irish Troubles to be disturbing.
I totally agree. I’m not Irish at all, but I lived there and studied Irish history, and Downton’s portrayal is simplistic and demonstrates Fellowes’ weird Tory sympathies getting in the way. He really despises Branson, I think, and loves to make him look like an ass.
What happened to Matthew this season? He’s spent the first episodes dithering…about the money, about the estate management, about Mary. How hard is it to say “Hey Robert, I’ve looked over the books and I hope you don’t mind but I’ve got some ideas for improving how the estate is run, can we give them a try”? The storylines are just so forced. Robert the careful, experienced landowner sinks his money into one railroad scheme? If they have an extra house in the country plus, presumably, a house in town, why don’t they just sell those for the money to run Downton? Lavinia sends a last minute deathbed letter that only Daisy knows about? Cora’s mother arrives but since she can’t save the estate she’s packed off back to America? And don’t get me started on Bates and Anna, or Edith, or Sybil. There’s so much material to work with here, but Fellowes just seems to half-heartedly start a story line and then bam! it’s on to something else. Sigh.
You could always rent a movie…
I’m not allowed to criticize?
Ruth: Of course your are; but not everyone will agree with all that you say.
I would never expect everyone to agree with my opinion, but I would hope they would respect my right to have one.
Maybe Matthew reviewed the accounts and discovered that Lord Grantham donated a large amount to Freddy’s scholarship fund. What was Bates sewing anyway? A mailbag for all the letters he didn’t get. I loved the split screen letter scene.Very touching. Who hates Ethel’s son’s grandfather and his wretched mustache? I do. Who wants to have a nice piece of toast with Mrs. Hughes? I do.
I must have forgotten something: who is Freddy? And I agree with asking what were the prisoners sewing. I don’t think I’d be offended as to the story line of the Irish Troubles. I mean, they happened, though I’ll admit to knowing nothing about them. But, DA isn’t meant to be a history documentary. It is telling the story of the inhabitants of this house and their lives. The DA household isn’t going to be sympathetic with the Irish troubles, however wrong that is. And they fear for the trouble Tom is getting Sybil in without her even knowing his political actions of the past. I don’t think that Lord Grantham is treating his children as if they’re not adults. He’s reacting to this son-in-law he didn’t approve of in the first place who has put his daughter into harm’s way in a big way. The sending him off to bed seemed weird to me but an “I cannot speak of it anymore tonight please leave my presence,” seems a more adult way to for him to have spoken. I agree, we need to see more of Matthew and Mary canoodling and kissing and smiling secretive smiles. They seem to have settled into old married land. I can see that Mary is very faithful to her father and that it would be better for them to have a home of their own, at least for a time, for Mary to get her allegiances straight. She’s pledged her troth to another and staying in that house seems to me be to confusing her a bit. That “leave and cleave” bit makes a lot of sense.
Freddy was the son of the maid who Robert kissed a few times and nearly had an affair with. That whole storyline seemed out of place or rather out of character for Robert, especially since the point had been made from the start that Robert and Cora still shared a bed and enjoyed each other’s company and were happy together. I believe the reason this storyline may have been written, was to soften Robert’s heart once he learned of Mary’s indiscretion with the Pamuk. Thinking of his own indiscretion, once he learned of Mary’s, he was slow to judge her for it.
[...] rebellion reached Downton Abbey last week in episode 3, we were thrown into the drama of Tom and Lady Sybil’s flight from Ireland, Lady Edith’s [...]
Hello all,
Ethel comments: I do appreciate how awful it was to be pregnant out of wedlock and the resulting difficulties but Ethel’s character never appealed to me. I don’t like the way men mistreat women so this frustrates me to write but that’s what I feel about that character. Chow