I wondered about Anna running out of the pharmacy without full instructions myself and what that may mean down the line. I thought last night’s episode a little “ho hum” but a lot is being put into place for future episodes. I’ve been catching up on DA for the past year, having not watched it when it started. So glad I’m finally current!
I suggested Lord Gillingham as the murderer upthread. Remember that Mary told him to fire Green, without saying why. If he found out he was employing a rapist, he might have decided to dispense justice himself. Noblesse oblige. I like Mrs. Hughes as the culprit, though.
This is a very interesting history of birth control, by Planned Parenthood:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/2613/9611/6275/History_of_BC_Methods.pdf
I don’t think it was Mrs. Hughes. If she did it, why would she be alarmed at finding Bates’ train ticket and give it to Mary? Also, Bates lied about not having been in London since his mother’s death. Sadly, I think it was him.
I don’t trust Gillingham, even though he does have nice eyes! ;
Are we supposed to think Tony is better looking than Charles? 'Cause I think Charles is way more handsome. Also, anyone else think it’s a little odd for Mary and Tony to arrive at their sex vacation hotel and then promptly… go out to eat?
Mrs. Hughes was in town to run errands or to meet up with Mr.Greene. They quarreled on the street and then an event happened such as she tripped, a kid ran past and threw himf balance, something. She paniced and ran away. Mr. Bates will be accused as a witness saw him near the incident.
Bates will find out about Anna’s purchase and assume that is why she is not p.g… Didn’t he mention that they needed to “do something” to get her pg? As if they were not having sex? It was a passing comment. So if that is true and they have sex and then, after, he finds out about her purchase all #### will break loose.
Thanks for the info on the birthcontrol method. I thought the box was too big for a condom but did not put it together. Also do not know when those became available.
Why is no man interested in Rose? Other than she is not interesting?
I think they have to go oldest to youngest in terms of marrying them off.
Which means, given that Edith is older, it will probably never happen.
Maybe as time goes by, Edith will be able to forget Mr. Gregson. Maybe. I hope so, for her sake.
Remember in the very first scene last night that Anna found the photo of Marigold under Edith’s pillow? She gave it to Mrs. Hughes to give to Edith, along with other things that they found in the room. I’m sure that will pop up again in about four or five more episodes.
I agree that Bates will find out about the purchase. He will go into town and the clerk or clerk’s husband will ask him how his wife is feeling or something similar, since Anna said she needed the birth control for health reasons.
Interesting. But did the clerk know Anna’s name or identity? I might have missed that. I was multitasking during that scene. 
The woman who waited on Anna didn’t know who she was-- she said something like, “I see you are married,” presumably because she saw her wedding ring. But if she had known Anna, she would know she was married. But the other customer could have overheard something.
Also, Rose is not a sibling so does the marriage order count?
The marriage order doesn’t count anyway. When Edith was stood up at the altar, Mary was still single, wasn’t she?
No, Mary was married when Edith was stood up. Remember, that was the episode where Matthew agreed to use his inheritance from Lavinia’s father to help save Downton. There was a conversation between Matthew and Mary on the subject and he agreed to tell Robert but not until later so as not to “upstage Edith’s special day” or words to that effect.
Not sure the whole “marriage order” thing is really a concern anymore since Mary is a widow, an heir has been established (George) and Rose is not a sibling.
Oh and I think Bates did bump off (well maybe shove) Mr. Greene. And I really hope Michael Gregson comes back.
Is anyone else wondering about Violet’s somewhat shady past? Looks like that’s coming up next episode…
I will never get tired of Violet and Isobel’s back-and-forth one upsmanship.
If Downton Abbey has two consecutive sisters pregnant out of wedlock, and three consecutive babies without a conventional family, that will be a real indication that Julian Fellowes has run out of ideas. I think he is running out of ideas anyway, but things haven’t gotten that bad.
I do expect some trouble around the contraceptive device (whatever it is). That shotgun has been very conspicuously hung above the mantel here in Act I, so I expect it will have to be discharged sooner or later. What will be interesting is if Lady Mary decides that Lord G isn’t all that in the sack, and that she should sample what Mr. Blake has to offer as well. Maybe she’ll get around to a gamekeeper fond of good Anglo-Saxon words?
Lady Rose: A victim, presumably, of having no considerable family fortune, and of the dearth of marriageable men of her class and generation in England following WWI. In any event, this year she’s about to be Disney’s newest Cinderella, Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Natasha in the BBC’s War and Peace miniseries. If that ain’t a trifecta, I don’t know what is. Plus starring in a comedy opposite Bradley Cooper, which puts her in pretty good company. It’s hard to feel sorry for her. What few eligible men there are left in the English countryside are probably intimidated.
I’m suspecting the trouble around the device will be Bates finding out Anna bought it. And I do hope Mary will turn up her aristocratic nose at Lord G, because it would be hilarious to see her deliver the news to him that he’s not up to spec.
Oh for heavens’ sake, the contraceptive device is a diaphragm (or a pessary, as it’s called in The Group). I notice that the British histories of birth control call it a cervical cap, but it’s not clear where the line shades from cervical cap to diaphragm.
I have never been too fond of Rose, but she is growing on me this season. I want Tom to be happy, but I don’t want him to leave Downton. Mr. Carson’s desire to be on the same page as Mrs. Hughes was so sweet. The absolute best thing was already mentioned upthread - Violet and Isobel’s banter. I liked this episode as it set things up for lots of possibilities.
I’m confused about something:
In last week’s episode, Violet was trying to undo any interest Lord Merton had in Isobel by pushing that other woman toward him. The motive was that if Isobel married Lord Merton, she’s be the lady of the county instead of Violet. But this week, Violet entertained only Lord Merton and Isobel for lunch together. Is she trying to get them together or keep them apart?