Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 6

 

When a badly burned Canadian soldier arrives at Downton to recuperate, he reveals himself as Patrick Crawley, the heir to Downton everyone presumed dead after the Titanic sank. However, with no proof (and a Canadian accent) no one but Edith believes him. He leaves Downton with his true identity uncertain and nothing left behind but the memory and a small note for Edith.

Daisy is dealing with her guilt over marrying William in the eleventh hour and refuses to take her widow’s dues – though the new maid (a war widow herself) is persistent.

Carson discovers Mrs. Hughes is feeding Ethel and brings the matter up with Cora who approves, and decides to write the father’s parents to invite the young man to Downton, with the intention of impressing on him the honor he has thus far lacked. They receive word that the man was killed in battle and seemingly ends that train of thought.

Mary is devoted to the invalid Matthew and Richard decides to bring Lavinia back into the picture to separate them. When that doesn’t work as he’d hoped, he threatens to ruin her if she considers throwing him over.

Bates travels to London to talk with his estranged wife, and returns earlier than expected with a scratch on his face. Later, he receives a letter explaining that Vera is dead – an unfortunate turn of events, since he did previously say to the Earl of Grantham that he wished her so.

My Thoughts:

I had a feeling Richard Carlisle would eventually morph into a less than likable character – just because Iain Glen rarely plays characters I like. I do feel like it’s taken him quite a while to show the very disagreeable side of himself in this series though and I appreciate that.

Once again, John and Anna have come up on a road block in their relationship. Seemingly this should clear a few things up for them, but I have no doubt it will be written awry and we shall see our star-crossed lovers once again in turmoil.

I definitely feel like the rest of the staff needs to get off Daisy’s back, and I was really happy when she snapped at them. The poor girl was just forced through a very difficult thing and even now, after William’s gone, they won’t let it rest. Someone needs to whack them all with wooden spoons!

Honestly, Matthew’s “I felt something” at the end wasn’t a shocker for me. I was waiting for them to restore the story’s upstairs hero to his former glory  (okay, he might not go back to former glory, but at least it looks like he’ll be walking again at some point.)

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 5

Cousin Matthew and William the Footman are both injured in the war. Their injuries make life at Downton bleak. William’s Lungs are irrevocably damaged, and Matthew appears to be paralyzed from the waist down. The loss of use of his lower body leads Matthew to break off his engagement with Lavinia to save her from a childless future.

Ethel, having had the baby is being kept in food by Mrs. Hughes, and is trying to get the father to own to it – something that doesn’t look as though it is going to happen any time soon. Due to the severity of his wounds, William asks Daisy to marry him so she’ll receive his widow’s pension. In light of pressuring from most of the staff she agrees and seven hours after they’re wed, William succumbs to his injuries.

Vera Bates returns, and she’s going back on her deal. Promising to ruin the Crawley family and Bates along with them, she leaves intent on selling her story to the papers. When Anna reveals this to Mary, the eldest daughter visits London and confesses to Sir Richard Carlisle and asks that he save her – which he does, buying the exclusive rights to the story.

My Thoughts:

Yay for Richard Carlisle being sneaky sneaky! I can see her admission of this to him going badly… but so long as she doesn’t break off the engagement, I’m sure it’ll work out.

I really just want Vera to go away. But I’m pretty certain at this point in the progression that there is no potential for a happy ending with Anna and John (Did George R. R. Martin have a hand in writing out their bit?)

Honestly, every time I see Ethel, I figure it’s her own fault. Her plight has not made her any more a likable character than she was before.

Wallowing Matthew is not fun. He’s never been a particularly chipper chap, but this severe downturn in his health is (understandably) a total downer. Lavinia does a good job of deer in the headlights in her portion of this and I find her portrayal of this range of emotions wonderful – even though they’re sad ones.

Also, and a side note, not being able to use your legs, does not mean you can’t have kids. I feel like they would have know that, even in 1918.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 4

With Tensions still high at the house, Cora and Isobel but heads for the final time as schedules are changed without notice and without discussion. After a heated argument. Isobel leaves, destined for France where she’ll be needed.

With Isobel gone, Mosley makes a play for the now vacant Valet position at Downton Abbey, and Mrs. Bird starts a soup kitchen for unemployed veterans. Soon, Mrs. Patmore and Daisy offer to help and though she tries to put a stop to it, Mrs. O’Brien ends up being roped into helping as Cora finds the idea a wonderful one.

When Matthew and William go missing, the whole house is on edge, but with no definitive word, they’re forced to push on as though life is normal – or as normal as it can be when you live in a convalescence home. After an episode of worrying, they turn up in the middle of a concert to boost the patient’s spirits.

Ethel is discovered in bed with one of the convalescing officers and Mrs. Hughes dismisses her immediately. But she returns and reveals that she’s pregnant, giving Mrs. Hughes pause about turning her away again.

My Thoughts:

Matthew’s disappearance is somewhat of a false conflict. The characters don’t know he’s coming back, but as an audience, I think it’s safe to say we do. So, you have to make me care not about whether or not he’s going to make it back, but how the people affected by his disappearance will act while he’s gone. I did want Mary to break with her normal propriety for once and just run straight at him… but that’s mostly because I don’t feel like she’s truly admitted how much of a cow she was about the whole situation in the first season’s finale.

I believe when Ethel came back on screen I immediately texted a friend “What do you expect when you’ve been a wonton hussy?” And I appreciate anything that allows me to text the word hussy. I’m still not sure how I feel about Ethel’s character – especially since I keep calling her Edith and that just gets confusing – so it should be interesting to see what develops from this situation.

I feel a little bad for Mosley, getting jerked around so much, but as Anna is my favorite, I can’t help but enjoy her having a modicum of happiness again.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 3

With the house preparing to become a convalescence home, the medical staff and those living in the house find themselves continually butting heads as Isobel attempts to place the staff under her iron rule.

When Cora – at the nudging of O’Brien – convinces the doctor to let Thomas be in charge of the management, Isobel is upset, but hopeful that the position open above Thomas, but below the doctor will be given to her.

Edith, still sullen over the loss of her tractor-driving, finds her place in keeping the officers comfortable and making sure their needs are met.

Matthew brings General Sir Herbertt Strutt  to Downton to observe the convalescent home and see the men there. But his visit is almost disastrous when Branson, the chauffer who planned to step forward as a conscientious objector is turned down for service because of a heart murmur, and plans to make his point known by dumping a pot of swill over the general’s head. Luckily, Anna finds the note he wrote Sybil in time to have him stopped.

While in London, Violet learns why Lavinia and Richard Carlisle are acquainted and is shocked at the news. While Daisy is trying to keep up appearances – and William’s spirits – by accepting his proposal before he leaves for the war.

My Thoughts:

I did not expect Mr. Bates back so quickly. And I feel like he should have been gone longer. I know he’s not exactly back, but I think it would have been a more impactful absence if they’d had him actually gone for another full episode.

The whole debacle with Branson and the smelly soup had me really nervous! It’s a credit to the series/episode writing that I care enough about this whole thing to be stressed over the possibility of Branson so irrevocably embarrassing the family.

Edith is finally finding her way back into the realm of decent person again. I appreciate that, since I liked her so much in the first episode and she just went downhill from there. Hopefully this upward trend will last for a while.

All I have to say about Daisy’s situation is – Poor girl. I can’t see it getting any better – in fact, I see it getting a hundred times worse.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 2

The Crawleys have a rather full house with the return of Matthew – about to start his assignment at home to boost recruitment – and his fiancé and mother; Mary’s guest, Mr. Carlisle, a newspaper man and clearly interested beau; and cousin Rosamund comes at Violet’s behest.

Overworking himself because of the lack of footman to wait in the dining room, Carson succumbs to stress at their dinner and as if that weren’t enough excitement for those living at Downton Abbey, Rosamund finds that Matthew’s fiancé is much better acquainted with Mr. Carlisle than anyone could have guessed.

Edith finds her calling to help others by driving a tractor for a local farmer, but unfortunately her mutual attraction to the married man results in a kiss seen by the farmer’s wife who quickly puts a stop to her aide.

With the suicide of a depressed patient after learning he must leave Downton Cottage Hospital, Cora and Robert agree to let their home be turned into a convalescent home, threatening to disrupt everyone’s lives.

My Thoughts:

I did not expect Mr. Bates back so quickly. And I feel like he should have been gone longer. I know he’s not exactly back, but I think it would have been a more impactful absence if they’d had him actually gone for a full episode.

No matter how many times Thomas shows himself to be remotely human, I won’t believe it. The scene in which the patient kills himself rather than be sent away and Thomas is shown weeping felt off to me. I won’t say that Thomas has no capacity for sorrow, but I don’t feel that particular moment was built up enough to make his grief feel real, especially since he goes back to being the same old arse he was before.

I really do love Iain Glen in just about anything he does. He can take characters I’ve hated in other formats or adaptations and make me seriously consider liking them. I don’t get much of a feeling for his character in this episode, but I am hoping to see more of him!

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 1

With the war in full swing, life at Downton is less than cheerful, and when Matthew returns during leave with his new fiancé, Lavinia Swire, for a concert to benefit the hospital, Mary does her best to hide her disappointment. Edith is her usual catty self, and Sybil feels useless, so she decides to go to a nursing collage, much to her mother’s immediate dismay and eventual pride.

Downstairs, Miss O’Brien tortures the new housemaid, Ethel, because she’s being a twit about making more of herself. Mr. Bates returns from his mother’s funeral with news of his wife’s return and the possibility of divorce and proposes to Anna, but her happiness is short-lived as his wife arrives shortly thereafter and forces Mr. Bates to return to London with her, else wise she will scandalize the family.

My Thoughts:

The sisters haven’t changed much in between seasons. I’m sad for Mary, now that Matthew seems lost to her. Though, she did do this all to herself, I can’t help but feel bad for the girl – especially when Edith won’t take a moment to stop being a bitch. Sybil of course is just wonderful in all of her wanting to help and realizing she’s utterly useless. And I do love just how proud their mother is when she watches Sybil in the kitchens.

I think Anna is my favorite character in the entire show, so to make her so happy and then dash her hopes on the rocks was just heartbreaking. I’m interested to see how this all plays out in the end. I have a feeling they’ll leave Mr. Bates out of a few episodes to prolong the suspense, but who knows?

I’m really annoyed that O’Brien doesn’t seem to have changed much – if at all. I realize time has passed since she screwed Lady Crawley over with the soap, but I don’t feel any more remorse from her, as though that’s been forgotten. Now that she doesn’t have Thomas to be snippy with she seems less of a twit, but I think that’s just because we don’t get her being a harpy on smoke breaks.