Last night was one of those nights where I didn't want to miss anything. There were so many lines spoken throughout the evening that carried weight, so many stories that took off running. The sudden advancement in last night's episode seemed a lot like Daisy's near confrontation of Lady Cora. It came storming out of the kitchen, tired of holding it's tongue, & ready to go to war......or so to speak. Last night the writers had thrown off whatever sleepy fog they were in for the first three episodes and made stuff happen
In Daisy's case, she didn't actually have that confrontation. Thank goodness Lord Grantham showed up just in the nick of time. He naturally assumed Daisy was there because she'd already heard the good news that they were going to rent the farm to Mr. Mason. It stopped Daisy in her tracks. And she quickly scurried back down to the kitchen not sure to do with the misplaced righteous anger she'd had coursing through her veins. Lady Cora said she felt as though she'd dodged something. Oh, you did Cora. You did. And, so did Daisy!
So my heart goes out to Thomas....not out of pity - because he can't stand pity....but out of compassion. Last night was painful to watch for poor Thomas. He got to briefly step into the role of butler during Carson & Mrs. Hughes' honeymoon. This is the position he has longed for. With it he had also expected to receive respect....because in truth he longs for that as well. Rather, the staff just seemed to barely bear with him & bided their time until Carson returned. If anything they seemed to take every opportunity to remind Thomas that this position was temporary & he was certainly not there because of any merit of his own.
There were so many heartbreaking moments with Thomas last night. There was a brief conversation with Lord Grantham where Thomas indicated how much he had enjoyed his week in the role of the butler. It would have been nice if Lord Grantham could have just been gracious and thanked Thomas for his hard work that week & stepping up to the plate. Instead he basically told him he could never expect to reach the heights of Mr. Carson because Carson is a kind man & Thomas could learn a few things about kindness from him. Except, while Carson is certainly a principled man and is a defender of propriety, I don't know that 'kindness' is always an accurate descriptor. In fact, he's often quite unkind to Thomas. And then Lord Grantham basically confirmed Thomas's worse fear that his time at Downton Abbey is short and that it's best to continue searching for other employment.
There was also the scene with Thomas & Baxter talking outside. I have a terrible memory & I should really write things down. I don't recall the specifics of the conversation. But, I remember Thomas telling Baxter that she's lucky because people actually like her. She made some comment. I forget the specifics. But, she was downplaying herself. Thomas told her she doesn't give herself enough credit. This was the first part of this scene that touched me. Thomas said something nice to someone else. There was that period of time where Thomas was basically blackmailing Baxter & torturing her mentally. Rather than allow this to make her bitter toward him, she has taken it upon herself to show Thomas kindness even when he rejects it outright. She has slowly built up a trust with him. And, he's still afraid to admit how much he appreciates the fact that she's the closest thing to a friend that he has. So, the fact that he stepped out & said something to build her up was huge for Thomas. She later said that she admired Thomas for not caring what people think of him. And this was the second part of the scene that just ripped my heart out as he turned away and said something to the effect of "You're wrong about that. I do mind." There Thomas goes opening his heart just a teensy tiny crack.
And, of course, at the end of the evening's episode Carson & Mrs. Hughes (as she will continue to be known because it was just too hard for everyone to remember to say Mrs. Carson now) return. A welcome back party has been planned downstairs, and all the upstairs folks venture down to welcome them back...even the Dowager Countess who mentioned she hasn't been downstairs in at least 20 years. Isobel quipped, "Do you have your passport?". Oh, those two! Anyway, all is back to the way it was. And, Thomas recedes once again into the shadows. In fact we see him standing back in the hallway observing the others...once again forgotten.
My other takeaway from this week's episode was that this seemed to be the week of "WWSD - What Would Sybil Do?" We were reminded several times throughout the evening of Sybil's good nature & giving heart. The biggest reminder was the return of Gwen, the former housemaid. As a little aside - I have to say that there have been so many characters that have come & gone over the course of these past 6 years...often just appearing as a minor blip in the storyline....that when they return again I really don't remember who they are. Apparently we were supposed to remember the man Edith ran into on the street as someone she had met before. Although, I am like Edith. I would have walked right past him never realizing our paths had crossed before. And, the new race car driver/ possible new love interest for Mary has been seen before? Apparently. But, I couldn't begin to tell you in what context he first appeared.
Anyway, Gwen is now Mrs. Harding. She and her husband work to raise funds for young women to achieve higher education who otherwise lack the opportunity. Gwen herself has done well. She was a housemaid with higher aspirations. With Miss Sybil's encouragement she took classes to become a secretary. She went on to work in the secretarial field before marrying Mr. Harding, who to the best I can figure is high enough in the social structure to have the respect of the Granthams, but isn't quite as high bred as they are.
Gwen didn't realize that one of the stops she and her husband were making to try to rally support for their cause would be Downton. She feels understandably awkward and doesn't immediately 'fess up to why Lady Mary would think she looks familiar. "Have we met before?" Lady Mary asks. "No, we haven't officially met." Gwen replies...which while it's technically true, it's stretching it a bit.
Thomas' cranky nature gets the best of him & he can't help buy 'out' her at their lunch. It doesn't go as he imagined though. And, instead everyone seems annoyed at him for trying to put her in an uncomfortable position and instead they ooh & ahh over her and seem genuinely glad to see her. This is where we are reminded again that Miss Sybil did a great deal to mentor and encourage Gwen.
So is it any wonder that later that evening as everyone is gathered & the discussion of the farm & Mr. Mason comes up, the question "What would Sybil do?" helps them all find their moral compass. Even Mary later notes her own moral failings in comparison to her dead sister. Perhaps there is hope for cold hearted Mary yet if she's able to acknowledge that she is indeed cold.
Other notes from the evening:
- The Dowager Countess seems to be fighting a losing battle. Even when she brought in reinforcements to support her side of the hospital merger debate, it backfired. She knows she's outnumbered. And, at dinner it appeared that she could spit or cry....neither of which is appropriate. So, she had a bit of a contained hissy fit.
- Foreshadowing? Lord Grantham continues to have shooting stomach pains. Something is most definitely not right. At one point Lord Grantham & Lady Cora are talking about his mother & how upset she is over the whole hospital issue. And Lord Grantham worries it will be too much for her insinuating it could kill her. Cora alludes to the seeming immortality of the stubborn Dowager and says something along the lines of "You never know. She will probably bury you." Ugh. Is the series going to end with just that happening? Will Lord Grantham die and be the final death stroke for the floundering estate?
- Ok. So Lady Mary referred to Tom Branson as her brother. I guess she doesn't see him as a romantic interest. But, she does seem intrigued by this car racing fellow. And, he doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by Lady Mary....which of course appeals immensely to her.
- Oh, & thankfully Anna told Bates the reason for her & Mary's midnight excursion. Let's hope they have a bit of good luck now & that Anna's pregnancy is uneventful from this point on.
Anyway, Gwen is now Mrs. Harding. She and her husband work to raise funds for young women to achieve higher education who otherwise lack the opportunity. Gwen herself has done well. She was a housemaid with higher aspirations. With Miss Sybil's encouragement she took classes to become a secretary. She went on to work in the secretarial field before marrying Mr. Harding, who to the best I can figure is high enough in the social structure to have the respect of the Granthams, but isn't quite as high bred as they are.
Gwen didn't realize that one of the stops she and her husband were making to try to rally support for their cause would be Downton. She feels understandably awkward and doesn't immediately 'fess up to why Lady Mary would think she looks familiar. "Have we met before?" Lady Mary asks. "No, we haven't officially met." Gwen replies...which while it's technically true, it's stretching it a bit.
Thomas' cranky nature gets the best of him & he can't help buy 'out' her at their lunch. It doesn't go as he imagined though. And, instead everyone seems annoyed at him for trying to put her in an uncomfortable position and instead they ooh & ahh over her and seem genuinely glad to see her. This is where we are reminded again that Miss Sybil did a great deal to mentor and encourage Gwen.
So is it any wonder that later that evening as everyone is gathered & the discussion of the farm & Mr. Mason comes up, the question "What would Sybil do?" helps them all find their moral compass. Even Mary later notes her own moral failings in comparison to her dead sister. Perhaps there is hope for cold hearted Mary yet if she's able to acknowledge that she is indeed cold.
Other notes from the evening:
- The Dowager Countess seems to be fighting a losing battle. Even when she brought in reinforcements to support her side of the hospital merger debate, it backfired. She knows she's outnumbered. And, at dinner it appeared that she could spit or cry....neither of which is appropriate. So, she had a bit of a contained hissy fit.
- Foreshadowing? Lord Grantham continues to have shooting stomach pains. Something is most definitely not right. At one point Lord Grantham & Lady Cora are talking about his mother & how upset she is over the whole hospital issue. And Lord Grantham worries it will be too much for her insinuating it could kill her. Cora alludes to the seeming immortality of the stubborn Dowager and says something along the lines of "You never know. She will probably bury you." Ugh. Is the series going to end with just that happening? Will Lord Grantham die and be the final death stroke for the floundering estate?
- Ok. So Lady Mary referred to Tom Branson as her brother. I guess she doesn't see him as a romantic interest. But, she does seem intrigued by this car racing fellow. And, he doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by Lady Mary....which of course appeals immensely to her.
- Oh, & thankfully Anna told Bates the reason for her & Mary's midnight excursion. Let's hope they have a bit of good luck now & that Anna's pregnancy is uneventful from this point on.
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