Let’s cut to the chase, shall we, and not be blindsided by the numerous side trips in Episode 8 of Season 6. After this week, the creators of Downton Abbey will have one meager episode left to tie a multitude of plotlines into one neat strand. Will Episode 9 leave viewers satisfied? Is it possible? We’ll see soon. Warning: Plot spoilers. Do not proceed if you have not watched this episode.
The episode opens with the camera panning to the constable interrogating a hapless Beryl Patmore.
“Mrs. Patmore, you are the owner of a cottage on #3 on orchard lane. Among your guests was a certain Dr. Fletcher and his wife…?”
“Yes, they were my first and respectable customers.”
“Not as respectable as you think. The doctor is a mister. The wife is a missus, alright, but she’s a Mr. Dorrit’s missus.”
‘Oooooh,’ thinks Beryl, ‘that’s not good.’
“You may be called upon to testify on their ADULTERY. There is some concern that your B&B will be in the news as a house of ill repute.”
Beryl nearly faints at the thought of being known as a bawdy house madam.
In short order, a photographer stalks her at every turn to take a picture. Bookings are cancelled and business dries up. She wrings her hands with worry. What’s an honest cook to do?
Color Mary Green with Envy
At breakfast Tom and Mary discover from reading the paper that Bertie’s cousin, the 6th Marquess of Hexum, has died in Tangiers.
“Does this mean Bertie’s out of a job?” asks Mary, pretending sympathy. “Poor Edith.”
“Actually, no, it means he’s the heir,” says Tom.
Mary’s stiff upper lip drops to the carpet and her complexion turns Wicked-Witch-of-the-East green. ‘Crikey,’ she thinks. ‘Edith will outrank us all!!!! PLUS ME!!’
The news prompts the earl and his Cora to dance a little dance of joy. Their Edith is coming into her own!
Tom thinks, ‘well done, Edith. This chap is getting better by the minute.’
“So we’ll all bow and curtsy to Edith,” he says, pouring more salt into Mary’s wound.
Mary’s eyes narrow. “Well, Lord Hexam won’t want to marry her now.”
“Careful now, people might think you’re jealous, dear, and we don’t want that,” cautions her fond momma.
“If Henry was the Marques of Hexam, he’d have to beat the women off!”
“And Bertie?” asks Tom.
Mary sniffs in answer.
“Shame on you,” says Tom.
“Oh, stop lecturing me,” she says, her mind in turmoil. How has Edith managed to best her in the husband-hunting department? She clicks her pointy shoes three times, wishing Edith a speedy one-way ticket with Toto to Kansas.
Meanwhile, Edith confides to Aunt Rosamund that she’s worried Bertie will break up with her now that he’s one of the grandest men in all of England. “The engagement isn’t for sure.”
Rosamund isn’t as concerned as Edith, but she worries that her niece has yet to tell the truth about Marigold and that this secret might harm her prospects. (Cue ominous music.)
Meanwhile an ecstatic earl bounds around the Abbey like a flower girl in a field of daisies. “A genuine copper-bottomed marquess,” he sings gleefully. Who’d have thought his Edith could have pulled off such a magnificent coup!!
Mary Mopes
Mary is tres unhappy. She’s unhappy that Edith is happy while she’s unhappy. Tom, knowing her problem is her break-up with Henry, urges her to talk to the motor race driver, but she nixes the idea.
“We need to marry sensibly. Especially if were going to inherit the family show,” she sniffs.
Learning from Tom that Edith is Marigold’s mama, she wonders why he’s remained silent.
“It was not my secret to tell,” he says, unconcerned that Mary now knows the truth.
The Truth Revealed
A grieving Bertie stops by the Abbey before he travels to Tangiers for the funeral. He truly loved his cousin, who was just in his thirties and about to marry. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to inherit the title.
“Are you here to settle things with Edith before you leave? Mary inquires.
“I think so, but I must not jump the gun,” he answers. “I have MOTHER to think of. It’s just the two of us now.”
But he has thought about his future with Edith and he confides in her that as a marquess he does not want to be disappointing. The rank carries responsibilities and he needs her help for courage.
Edith loves Bertie, but her mind is in turmoil. “Yes, no, yes,” she says, worrying about Marigold but still keeping the secret. “I think I live in a fools paradise.”
Bertie is ecstatic. “I’ll take it as a yes!”
And so Edith and Bertie have an UNDERSTANDING. (Ah, don’t you just love British stiff upper lip passion?)
Mary’s Raging Inner Bitch Unleashed
Henry Talbot, refusing to give up on Mary, drops by the Abbey unannounced.
“This is so precisely not the way to win me over,” Mary says by way of greeting.
Their remeeting has not started off well. Then, when Henry overhears Tom and Mary argue over him, he leaves, realizing the futility of winning her over, and promising himself never to darken her door again.
His departure leaves Mary in as foul a mood as she’s ever been and completely unreceptive to the happy news Bertie and Edith wish to share at breakfast. Seeing her stormy face, Edith hesitates.
“Perhaps this is not a good time?”
“Edith, if the news is good, then we are very happy for you both,” says Tom. “Aren’t we Mary?
Mary remains stone cold silent.
“See. I told you,” says Edith. “The one thing that Mary can’t bear is when things are going better for me than for her.”
“Surely, that’s not true,” says an unsuspecting Bertie.
“You don’t know her,” Edith says to Bertie and stares at her sister. “I’m getting married and you’ve lost your man and you can’t stand it.”
Mary seizes the moment to extract revenge. “You’re wrong, I’m very happy for you. And I admire you Bertie, Not every man will accept Edith’s past.”
“Mary don’t,” warns Tom.
“Well, you’ve told him,” she says looking at Edith. “You couldn’t accept him without telling him.”
“What…?” says Bertie.
“About Marigold. Who she really is,” says Mary.
Bertie stares at Edith, who sees her world tumble around her.
“Marigold is my daughter.”
“Will you excuse me?” says Bertie, leaving the table. He heads up the stairs to pack and then summon a taxi.
As he waits for his ride, he and Edith have a final conversation. It is obvious that they are madly in love with each other, but he cannot get beyond the fact that she tried to trick him. He needs trust and she didn’t trust him.
Edith watches him depart, feeling that she’s thrown all happiness away forever.
Mary’s Comeuppance
Mary receives a blistering tongue lashing from Tom. She pretends that she didn’t know Edith had not told Bertie, but he doesn’t believe her.
“Don’t lie. You got what you wanted. You can’t stop ruining things!”
“Henry was high handed and bullying when he was here. Am I expected to lower myself to his level and be grateful?” she says in defense.
“Listen to yourself. You ruined Edith’s life today. How many lives are you going to wreck just to smother you own misery?”
“I refuse to listen.”
“You’re a coward, Mary, like all bullies, you’re a coward.”
A little later, Mary visits Edith and sees that she’s packing a suitcase. “Going away?”
“Do you care?”
“Look ,I wasn’t to know you hadn’t told him. It never occurred to me.”
“Just shut up! I don’t know what’s happened. Tom has made you feel bad, or Papa, or maybe it’s the same old Mary – she wants her cake and hate me too. I know you. I know you to be a nasty, jealous, scheming bitch.”
“Listen, you pathetic…”
Edith rounds on Mary. “You’re a bitch. And not content with ruining your own life but you’re determined to ruin mine.”
“I have not ruined my life. And if Bertie is put off by that then…”
“Don’t demean yourself by trying to justify your venom. Just go!” Edith takes her luggage in hand and turns to her sister. “And you’re wrong, you know, as you so often are. Henry is perfect for you. You’re just too stupid and stuck up to see it. Still, he’s lucky enough to get away from you, which is something to give thanks about.” Having gotten her anger and frustration out, Edith leaves for London.
When, oh, when, gentle readers, shall we see our Edith happy? Like our repetantThomas, she deserves a positive turn in her life.
The Plan to Save Beryl
Beryl Patmore, needing to bury a big story with an even bigger story, is happy when the earl and Cora invite themselves over for tea to lend the place their respectability. Carson DISAPPROVES, feeling she’ll be dragging the family into the muck.
His negative attitude affects Beryl, who asks to speak to the earl and Cora.
“I know you’re planning to come over for tea, but should you? It’s my mess, why should you be caught up in it?”
“Indeed,” mutters Carson, having taken quite a few lessons in churlishness from Daisy. He tells the family that he doesn’t want to see them dragged into a local tawdry brouhaha.
“I think we have to show a little more backbone than that,” replies Robert. “Mrs. Patmore has been loyal to this house and now this house must be loyal to her. She has made a large investment in her future. We can’t let it fall away to nothing.”
Beryl is overcome with gratitude.
“Well see you on Friday,” the earl says pointedly.
Carson raises his substantial eyebrows, but says nothing until he and his Elsie are alone.
“You think I’m a curmudgeon.”
“Yes, but MY curmudgeon,” Elsie says and kisses her husband.
Premonition
Belowstairs, Thomas wanders around the halls like one of the walking dead, his face pasty and expressionless, his movements slow and automatic. He’s received a letter saying he is overqualified for a position, and he sees no way out of his predicament.
Baxter is the only one who notices his distress, but she’s about to accompany Moseley to the schoolhouse. Thinking of his first frustrating day teaching class, Moseley shares his concerns about being a teacher, telling her he feels like a fraud.
“What if they found out I was a servant in the big house?”
“Why don’t you tell them?” says Baxter sensibly.
Then Moseley shares with her something that Thomas said earlier. “He told me ‘I hope you make something more of your life than I have.’ ”
Baxter has a sudden premonition and runs back to the house. As she searches for Thomas, she enlists Andy to help her find him. Andy kicks down the locked door to the bathroom and they discover Thomas in the bathtub with both his wrists cut.
Baxter goes into crisis control to keep the incident a secret except for the most trusted servants.
Edith’s broken engagement has cast a pall on the family in the drawing room.
“Anna says Edith’s gone to London,” says Cora.
“Do we really have to go over this now?” Mary says, still stinging from Tom’s and Edith’s angry words.
Rosamund gives her an angry glare. “Yes!”
Carson enters the room with the tea tray.
“Where are the footmen?” asks the earl. Carson quietly tells him of Barrow’s suicide. “Not many know. I shall say he is ill with influenza.”
“How sad,” says Robert, truly affected by the news.
Mary comes over to pour the tea. “Do you still think dismissing Barrow was a useful saving, Papa?”
“That’s below the belt, even for you.”
For once Mary takes all the negative comments to heart and seems remorseful. “What a day. I ruined Lady Edith’s life and Barrow tried to end his.”
Yes We Have No Bananas
Meanwhile in London, Edith is preoccupied with overseeing the magazine’s operations. Miss Cassandra Jones is expected to arrive in person to discuss an increase in salary for her delightful Agony Aunt column, which has proven to be a huge success. Edith’s editor, Laura Edmunds, has asked the writer to show up in person for the salary negotiations. Laura and Edith speculate who the writer might be. What if she sends a proxy? The two women agree beforehand to use a verbal signal should the real Miss Jones show up to reveal her true writer’s colors, and settle on “bananas.”
As it turns out, to much of the viewers’ delight, an anxious Sprat shows up as Miss Jones.
Laura and Edith look at each other with gleeful expressions – “Bananas!” they cry out in unison, leaving Sprat somewhat baffled.
Corrective Action Dowager Style
The dowager returns from her travels after Tom informs her about the situation with Edith and Mary.
Granny wastes no time confronting Mary. “Why did you do it?” she asks her oldest granddaughter without accusation.
“I’m sorry now, she says coolly. “With Edith I just say things and then they can’t be unsaid.”
“You’re unhappy. That’s why you lash out.”
“Henry is well born, but he has no money, no position He’s not even a country man! He grew up in London.”
“He shoots.”
“Like every social climbing banker shoots.”
“Tom thinks you’re in love with him.”
Mary’s hackles are raised. “You of all people to talk as if his qualifications don’t matter!”
“Tony Gillingham had birth, money, looks, but he didn’t suit you. He wasn’t clever enough, wasn’t strong enough. Henry Talbot is both.”
“I can’t be a car crash widow again. I can’t have him give up his profession. He’d resent me!”
“Believe in love.”
“Oh, granny, you do surprise me.”
“First make peace with your sister, then, make peace with yourself.”
Mary is at sixes and sevens. She tells Tom she ought to be angry with him for summoning granny. He’s amazed the dowager came at all.
Mary and Henry
Mary capitulates to pressure and summons Henry Talbot, mistaking him for a whack-a-mole who keeps popping up.
“You’ve whistled and I’m here. Now what?”
She goes for a Hail Mary Pass, Mary Crawley style. “I’ve stopped fighting it. A couple should be equal in both strength and passion,” she says as cool and collected as an accountant tallying up a column of simple figures.
“Are you always so calm and rational? I do hope so. I’m blowing hot and cold, east and west, plus seltzer water bubbles, and can’t think straight for the trembling in my upper and lower extremities.”
“I tremble at the touch of your hands,” she says, her face not betraying a whit of emotion.
He touches her hand.
“Oh darling,” she says with an unvarying expression. “Now what? Elope?”
“The fact is I happen to have a marriage license in my pocket. It’s good for another few hours. Wanna get hitched?”
“What about finding a bishop?”
“My uncle’s a bishop.”
“Good old merry reliable England. What about the caterers?”
“My aunt’s a caterer.”
“Well, then, let’s get married post haste.”
“Mmm. Why not? Saturday, then?”
And so Mary and Henry plan their wedding in five easy minutes, with a bishop thrown in and all of Downton Abbey their stage.
We see Mary at her most vulnerable when she visits Matthew’s grave to talk to him.
“I love him. I believe we are right together. I so much want to feel that you’d be happy for me. Remember, no matter how much I love him, I will always love you.”
There’s not a dry eye in the PBS audience.
Edith’s Surprise
Edith arrives unexpectedly for Mary’s wedding, looking raw and sad.
“You know I’m sorry,” Mary says matter of factly. “Why are you here?”
“Because you were unhappy, so you wanted me to be unhappy too Now, you’ll be nicer—for a while.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because, one day only we will remember Sybil or Mama or Papa, or Mathew or Michael, and any of the people of our youth. Our shared memories will mean more than our mutual dislike. Matthew wanted you to be happy – he would be very pleased…You look nice, by the way.”
Hearing Edith’s words, Mary’s shriveled heart begins to grow two sizes and glow, although most of us would take bets on how long this reconciliation will last.
The viewers are next treated to one of the speediest weddings in PBS history. We get no glimpse of the wedding breakfast. Was it a sit down? Or a stand up with nibbly bits passed around?
Curious minds want to know
Crisis Averted
Having seen the honeymooning couple off for a few days of uninterrupted bliss, the earl, Cora and Rosamund set off for Beryl’s cottage to save her business. After a fancy tea with Beryl’s special scones, they emerge, looking rich and sated. The villagers gaze starstruck as if this were a red carpet event. The photographer from the Echo takes a picture, thereby saving Beryl’s reputation from notoriety.
Feeling magnanimous (and somewhat shamed), the earl and Carson agree that Thomas can stay at the Abbey for the time being until he is recovered. Carson comes as close to apologizing as he can.
“I didn’t credit him as a man with any feelings. Turns out he has a heart.”
Indeed.
Thankfully, gentle readers, this is not the last episode of the last season. If it were, we would all be up in arms. Care to guess what the future holds for the Crawleys, Talbots, Pelhams, Carsons, and Bateses? And what of Moseley and Baxter, Isobel and Dickie, Beryl and Mr. Mason, and Daisy and Andy? Will love survive? AND WHAT OF TOM? Will love come his way again?
Stay tuned.
Some interesting side trips
- Moseley is coming into his own. He is giving teaching a try out for a few hours a day. The going is rough at first, with the children paying him no mind, but he takes Baxter’s advice and shares with them that he spent his life in service. His openness wins the class over, with the children becoming more receptive to his thoughts and knowledge.
- Daisy’s churlishness has thankfully been curtailed this week. She’s passed her exams and gives Moseley a compliment about his ability as a teacher, calling him a natural.
- Amelia Cruikshank, Larry Gray’s fiancée, has called on Isobel to urge her to attend the wedding. Isobel is wary, knowing how much Dickie’s son hates her. She resists Amelia’s advances, saying, “The ball is in Larry’s court. Only he can play it.” Viewers are beginning to wonder what Amelia’s motives are. Is she a conniver or is she sincere?
Jane Austen's World 
When Lady Mary showed up at Matthew’s grave, I said to Bill, “This is ridiculous.” So very dry eyes here, expecting more from Mary than sentimental tearjerker stimuli. My favorite plot element was Sprat showing up as Jones – now that was a real surprise except that he was seen madly busy writing in several scenes. It’s a shame they didn’t have a discussion in the office with him so he could show off his true witty self. Finally, the Marigold plot element was put to good use. exposing Mary as not unhappy and causing others to be unhappy – the psychology espoused by Tom is nonsense. She’s just a bully whose brain lights up with pleasure when she makes Edith miserable. Seeing Edith come back for the wedding didn’t seem all that possible but then again this was just good form from generations of brainwashed politesse. Granny saying she believed in love didn’t seem in character. There’s no profession for Henry if he has to give up racing. Bill thinks that Bertie will write a letter to Miss Casandra Jones asking for advice about how to get back with his beloved, and only Sprat will know his identity.
Patty, I agree! I got teary-eyed for Barrow and Edith, but not Lady Mary at the grave. And I would’ve liked to see more of the Spratt meeting as well, But Fellowes seems to want to give all for Lady Mary and short Edith. I can only hope the final episode will prove me wrong and give a happy ending to more than Mary.
“So we’ll all bow and curtsy to Edith,” he says, pouring more salt into Mary’s wound.????????
Bow and curtsy to a marchioness? Really the English should know better; one only bows and curtsy’s to royalty.
Everybody may have dropped a curtsy or bowed as a form of greeting in Miss Austen’s days but not in the 20th century.
I took the “bow and curtsy to a marchioness” reference as metaphorical. The social hierarchy in the Crawley household would be such that Lady Mary would indeed find herself outranked and bowing to that “nasty” younger sister.
Excellent insights and commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed your review.
This is the best commentary yet, ‘Henry and Mary” is flawless. Cool and rational as being the way to Henry’s heart is priceless. Episode 8 was compelling every step of the way. Allen Leach’s Tom was perfection. Weren’t we all saying yes! yes! keep going! get it said! as he levels at Mary that she’s been found out (and her game was therefore up) which she so desperately needed to hear? Mary was a wounded animal cornered, Now that takes courage. At the root of Mary’s lashings and cruelty is that she was unhappy. Lady Violet; facilitator par excellence in Mary’s breakthrough, riding in to save the day. A kind of deus ex machina moment..What a brother! What a granny! I must watch episode 8 again (online) before commenting further, which may come as a relief to this blog.
Thanks for saying it as I saw it…and Mary has been unhappy most of her widowhood. She isn’t a nice person because she has built a shell and determined that no one will get past it. Tom was terrific…because he sees the real person and refuses to put up with her nonsense. I cheered, I wept, I thought this was one of the best episodes in ages. These actors have each taken their character and made it their own – just great creativity. And the churchyard scene just did me in, too.
Oh yes, And Henry was pretty amazing as well. Great courage and resolve.
And able to roll with it. Mary was acting like a wounded animal cornered or at least showing her very contrary side. Great to see him be vulnerable AND strong. Very bright, intelligent, and alert.I thought Anna’s assessment spot on.
The last scene with Edith smiling and watching the children play in the cemetry was deeply moving.
The last scene with Edith smiling and joyfully watching the children play in the cemetery was deeply moving.
Yes!
What a review! You didn’t’ rate it however. Was it a “4” or a “5”.
Yes! I thought the Earl was going to dance a jig at the news of Bertie’s new title and Edith’s good fortune. Remember a few seasons ago when he told Cora she’s the one who’ll be looking after us in our old age; she couldn’t even get her dolls to do what she wanted! You’ve come a long way Edith.
I always did like Bertie from his first introduction back in Season 5…when he was just a “lowly” land agent. Who needs a titled husband when you can have the real thing!
Tom is Downton Abbey’s Dr. Phil! Managing, counseling, advising, and giving come-uppance to Mary, who really deserved it! (And this from a fan of Lady Mary!)
Hat’s off to Edith for finally getting enough spunk to put Mary in her place even though she did drift into that “foreign” language for effect. And it was big of her as she swooped past Mary to tell her that Henry was right for her. I’d say the two sisters have come a long way in this episode from the passive/aggressiveness of the past. Edith got it out in the open! Communication, girls, is the key to successful relationships world-wide.
“Oh! No! He didn’t!” was my reaction to Thomas’s attempted suicide. The moment Baxter stopped to turn around and return to the house I knew Thomas was up to something very detrimental to his health. I’ve been touched since he told the new Mrs. Carson that this is the only place he’s ever considered home. That drew a tear from me. And everyone has been so aloof towards him and his predicament. Not that he didn’t deserve it but if we all got what we deserved…. But the George likes Thomas so that says something. I love how Lady Mary (after her stabbing remark to her Papa) brings George to visit the recuperating Thomas! See, she does have a heart. Trouble is only people like Matthew and now Henry see it and bring out her soft side. She’s like a cautious cat who’ll only show her soft belly to those she trusts completely.
And I held my breath and muttered “oh, no” as Lady Mary sat at the breakfast table (after discovering Henry had departed) and began to pour rain on Lady Edith’s parade! Lady Mary! I’ve been an admirer of you all these seasons but you took the proverbial cake on this one!
Kudos to Lady Edith for returning to DA for her sister’s wedding! She really stole the scene on this one. One of the most outstanding scenes of the season (thus far). And let’s flash back to the parting scene between her and Bertie (the Marquess) where the British “stiff upper lip” to keep up appearances made my heart ache for the two of them. What a scene that made – the two of them all alone on the front lawn of Downton Abbey (did you hear that referenced in the latest Podcast). Superb scene and acting.
There is still so much to chat about from this episode. It was packed with revelations. I can only imagine what Sir Fellowes was faced with when he wrote that (gulp) LAST (tears) episode. So many strings to tie together!
I enjoy Vic’s Jane Austen blog filled with such interesting historical facts about her era, but these Sunday nights with all my fellow Downtonites has been special. I’ll miss you all and from time to time reminisce by scrolling through the archives.
Have really enjoyed reading your astute and generous review, songbirdalicia. Loved your mentioning Sir Robert telling Cora that Edith’s much hoped of marriage to Bertie, now the Marquess of Hexham and one of the greatest lords of the country IS rather wonderful for someone “who couldn’t get her dolls to do what she wanted.” What a GREAT line! And your saying “if we all got what we deserved” regarding Thomas suffering and ill-treatment really made me laugh. Too funny and too true.
I think you’ve hit upon all the most memorable moments and agreed, Edith’s return to attend Mary’s wedding was one of the most outstanding scenes of this entire series, as well as this season.
Brava.
Spin-off series possibilities:
Tales from a B&B (Mrs. Patmore’s)
The Family Bates (Bates and Anna and all their children)
Goodbye Mr. Mosely (from Downton Abbey to school principal!)
Ms. Cassandra Jones (the editor and Spratt spinoff show featuring Edith in cameo appearances; and judging from that smile Thomas gave the editor the day of the races, we might see more of Thomas)
The Crawley’s – following the lives of Sybie, George and Marigold up to the 50’s.
I just hope the talked about Gilded Age (movie/series) that Sir Fellowes is writing includes the courtship of Cora in America by Lord Crawley! THAT I’d watch!
Too funny! All of them have potential. Tales from a B&B –John Cleese’s Faulty Towers?
Only just watched it (and the previous episode) this evening. First thing that came to mind is to come here and see what Vic (and commenters) had to say about it. Excellent summary. The only thing I might add is that Carson has been getting stuffier and stuffier this season. I was just about to tear him out of my rolodex when, finally, he softened toward Thomas. I was also relieved to have less unpleasantness out of Daisy this episode.
On second viewing, I noted that in the last scene with Edith and the children so happy in the old cemetery, the headstone that the children were playing around was Sybil Branson’s.
It would seem that without Tom’s as well as Henry’s efforts, Lady Mary would have become Cruella DeVille. We saw the very worst side of Lady Mary this time round and the very best of Edith, who has become the bigger person in stepping forward to attend Mary’s wedding. Edith’s and Mary’s conversation/communication at last instead of the usual sniping remarks; as well as that last scene were very poignant.
Didn’t Henry look stunning in his wedding top hat and tails?I was surprised to see a type of handfasting during the ceremony–very beautiful.
I’m pretty sure Matthew Goode would look great in a gunny sack. However the top hat and tails were just fine as well ;-)!
Excellent review. I’m quite cock-a-hoop over it!
To be fair, Lord Merton and Sir Robert were very dashing in their top hats and tails as well! A shame we don’t have the taste or beauty of Downton’s clothes now. I vote we bring them back. We’d transform overnight.
It would never fly – someone would show up in their jeans for sure. But it’s nice to dream…
Suspect you’re right, Lynne. So much for “progress.”
Ok, my comments are late (I was preoccupied with Life), but here are my comments:
1. you are spot on point
2. Mary is a B**CH. Yep. I’m shouting that.
3. Edith is an IDIOT. A self-loathing idiot who Likes to Fail. Otherwise she would have taken the advice of Everyone and Told Bertie. Nevertheless, I hope Julian Fellowes doesn’t leave her at the end of DA as the to-be businesswoman/spinster. Blah. Maybe Bertie will grow some cojones. And a brain. And return?
4. Thomas is still an unsympathetic fool. He can read. He could- if he didn’t like teaching (and I wouldn’t want him around my little boy!) go into retail. He’s slimy. He’d make a great insurance salesman.
5. Carson is a curmudgeon. I’m glad he acknowledged it. But he’s *our* curmudgeon (doesn’t everyone have an uncle like that?)
6. Tom deserves a reward for returning to the UK and trying to help these poor, misguided blue bloods out.
7. Please, please let Anna and Bates have a healthy baby!
8. Please, please let Mrs Patmore’s B&B survive the tabloid fuss!
9. Please, please keep that criminal away from Baxter!
10. Hooray for Spratt!
11. Hooray for Granny! I will miss her zingers, but they will live on, in posters on Facebook, I’m sure.
12. Perhaps Daisy will learn to keep a civil tongue in her mouth? All the book-learning in the world won’t help her if she pitches a fit when she’s not happy about something. Unless she copies a certain politician (but then she’d have to be fabulously wealthy).
13. Hooray for Moseley. Maybe he and Baxter will become more than friends?
14. I still wish Sybil could return from the dead, a la Bobby in Dallas (“it was only a dream”)
Re: ‘He truly loved his cousin, who was just in his thirties and about to marry.’ – Are you sure? It seems to me pretty clear that he wasn’t the marrying kind – why else was he living in Tangier? Everybody knew, most didn’t mind, but nobody said anything in those days.
“So we’ll all bow and curtsy to Edith,” – yes, a metaphor but also a reality at formal occasions and often at the dinner table, where she would outrank them, something still taken very seriously in 1925 and as deeply felt as in Jane Austen’s day.
To find your place in the great scheme of things, see http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/hierarchies/precedence-amongst-ladies-england-and-wales, down among the ‘ . . Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order, Wives of the Eldest Sons of the Younger Sons of Peers, Daughters of the Younger Sons of Peers, Wives of the Eldest Sons of Baronets, Daughters of Baronets, Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights of the Garter, Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights, Daughters of Knights, Members of the Royal Victorian Order, Members of the Order of the British Empire, Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order, Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire, Wives of the Younger Sons of Baronets, Wives of the Younger Sons of Knights, Wives of Esquires, Wives of Gentlemen.’
I prefer to see all of Downton’s characters as being highly sympathetic, even at their worst. To me this is great writing. They evolve. They slip into their faults, some severely.They’re never just black or white.And I think most of us can identify at some level which each of the characters. All of whom, whether titled or in service, clearly share the same sorrows, joys, tragedies, etc. in life. Who’d have thought Edith to be the one to step forward so eloquently?
Edith and the gentle Bertie alone and small in that green expanse of sweeping landscape. Their hearts breaking, was it an ending or a beginning? The poet Rumi wrote something like “break my heart and break it again so I may learn to love more.”. Edith in the graveyard with the sun behind lighting her small straw hat like a halo was an absolutely amazing bit of filming. There she was, smiling, illuminating Rumi’s words
Mary’s moment at Matthew’s grave was very poignant. Deeply moving in its simplicity and done so like Lady Mary would have done. That’s a very good bit of acting there, to say the least.
At no point do we see any of the characters betray who they essentially are. And there’s ALWAYS humor. Given the level of emotion in these last episodes, it took several viewings to really appreciate the humor that punctuated some of the heavier scenes,, sometimes very subtley–if you blinked you might miss some of them but, regardless, worked to bring balance and perspective to them. And some were REALLY funny,
I mean, this is brilliant writing.
Loved your review!
And brilliant performances by each and every actor. No one missed a beat.
correction: Most of us can identify, at some level, (with) each of the characters.
Yes, Mary was a b**tch, but doesn’t anyone remember Edith writing to the Indian Ambassador about Pamuk’s demise?
I certainly remember and Edith’s actions were not to be forgotten. Looks like both sisters have gotten their comeuppance.
Thank you for your blog. The subject of the financial support for the widowed Countess was apparently discussed a while ago, but I have a question about it. If Lord Grantham were to die before his grandson George reached maturity and Violet were still living, what would happen to the income from the estate and the housing for the widows and mother-in-law? Presumably Violet receives 30% of the estate’s income from her Dower’s allottment; Matthew allocated 50% to Mary after he gave his inheritance to Downton; so Lord Grantham, it seems, collects only 20% of the total. When he dies, does Cora receive only 30% of that 20% (ie. 6% of the total estate income) as long as Violet survives (which would give her far less than Mary)? And when Granny does die, does her 30% revert to the entire estate? Does Cora then receive 30% of the total or does she receive 30% of Robert’s half? And while both grannies are alive, where would the widowed Cora live?
Then when George reaches maturity, would the entirety of Mary’s 50% of the estate income be transferred to George?
Thank you, in advance, for your insight.
A good set of questions but impossible to answer with sight of the marriage settlements for Violet and Cora, stating what they bought to the marriage as a dowry and how it was to be applied, and Matthew’s will. There would also be other trust deeds and claims on the estate – and estate duty to pay.
I’ve just spent/wasted some time trying to find out what the estate duty rates were in 1925, which has led me to this authoritative article: Downton Abbey and Death Taxes http://taxfoundation.org/blog/downton-abbey-and-death-taxes. It links to Downton Abbey Season 4: The Tax Season https://sambrunson.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/downton-abbey-season-4-the-tax-season/ which explains about Mathew’s will but only scratches the surface of the complexities that arise – and doesn’t touch at all on the question of where ‘The Two Grannies’ will live or how much they will have to live upon.
It also links to tables of rates at different dates. The tax rate for a £1 million estate was 30 %, 40 % from 1930. They couldn’t afford to die!
Thank you for the two articles. I enjoyed reading both. The issue seems to be dizzyingly complex and probably needs the input of an estate lawyer. Too bad; I’d love to know more.