Seriously! Way to much to force the entire family to watch another agonizing death.
Remember, Tom worked briefly as a journalist also when he and Sybil were first married and they lived in Dublin.
Does anyone else feel like Brendan Coyle has just made out like a fox this season? I am guessing the actors get paid by the episode and he has barely done anything this year. I know it was logical that Anna had to undress Mary in last night’s episode and Bates would have been done with his duties with Lord Grantham earlier since he retired early after their little tiff at the dinner table, but it just seemed wrong that he was enjoying a leisurely read in bed (twin beds!) while Anna was concluding her day.
Also, it was a bit poignant for Tom to be telling Mary that life involves being hurt. If I remember correctly, IRL, Allan Leech introduced Michelle Dockery to her fiancee and she lost him to cancer just before Christmas.
I quite enjoyed Mr Carson’s comeuppance about the dinner, particularly the twinkle in Mrs Hughes’s eye as she instructed him.
My wrist may start developing pains if I don’t get some more support around the house. 
My guess was that Coyle was in rehab, which obviously didn’t work.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/downton-abbey-star-brendan-coyle-banned-driving-36861174
50 months is a loooong time!
Not long enough. Killed by a drunk driver is a longer time.
I also was a bit shocked by Roberts comment to his sister. I think he told her to shut up…at her house, as a guest, at her table. Then snapping at Edith. I enjoyed this episode. I was never interested in the Storyline with Baxter and that guy.
Mrs. Hughes’ and Mrs. Patmore’s little scheme to teach Mr. Carson a lesson reminded me of something Lucy and Ethel would have done.
Wasn’t surprised by Robert at his sister, kind of thought he was always just putting up with her mostly and annoyed with her scheming.
So just one more regular episode and then the probably 2 hour Christmas special/series fanale? Man, they’ve got a LOT to wrap up, it seems to me.
Next week’s episode is 90 min and then the Christmas finale is 2 hrs.
I think Mary and Henry will get back together. There’s not enough time to bring someone else back! She’ll decide something very un-Marylike and say love is more important and we’ll work out the details later. I bet he stops racing though.
Did anyone else see the blurb that they are planning a follow up movie that will be set in the 1930s? Evidently, Maggie Smith declined, so advancing the timeline will allow for her to meet her maker in the “in-between.” What I read said that Michelle Dockery & many others were on board. Hope it’s true!
I’d love to see a series based on Mrs. Patmore’s B&B, with different stories every week centered around the guests with other story lines revolving around small town British life in the 30s, kind of like a British version of a Maeve Binchy book brought to the tv screen.
@doschicos, what a great idea!
I will feel so cheated if Lady Violet dies off camera.
Agree. That would be a great idea. You should pitch it to PBS! I like Doc Martin so much because I enjoy the scenery , the characters, and the glimpse of small town British life.
Me, too Missypie! Although I would love to see a movie in a few years. However it won’t be the same without her.