I was very amused when Robert was discussing Edith with Cora and and said something like “even as a child, Edith couldn’t get her dolls to do what she wanted”.
I agree that Mary behaved horribly to Edith in this episode but of course Edith had to know that it was just a matter of time before Bertie found out about Merigold. She had ample time to tell him the night before but of course, being Edith she dithered and hesitated and allowed him to confirm the engagement without telling him the most critical fact which would affect their marriage and future particularly since he is now the marquess (something I saw coming just as soon as I saw the news poster). Of course, he will come back and marry her and forgive her for her cowardice. This is Julian Fellowes after all.
Meh, I still like Mary better. Contrary to what Tom called her, she’s no coward.
I have so many comments about this episode that I have decided that I won’t mind watching it again next weekend while we wait for the finale. Does anyone else find it rich that there is this sweet alliance between Tom and Lady Violet? Someone upthread mentioned that Mary’s repentance had more to do with them than with her parents and I had the same thought. I want something happy for Tom as things wrap up. I also want things to look up for Barrow.
How many times, how many people advised her to tell poor Bertie about Merigold before any more time passed but no, poor Edith just lets him stumble along and ends up letting him be humiliated by being the only one to not know her (not so) secret. Of course, he’ll end up marrying her anyway. He’s as much a Poor Bertie as Edith is a Poor Edith
I agree that Carson is becoming extremely annoying and it’s hard to understand why. He has surely had enough life experience and age to have acquired some wisdom and compassion for the blameless Mrs Patmore. I can certainly understand his being fed up with Barrow, but he has been unnecessarily cruel. I blame Fellowes again.
I can understand Carson’s reticence about the family helping Mrs. Patmore. There was a saying that a lady should see her name in the papers just three times - when she is born, when she marries and when she dies. That sentiment lasted quite a long time.
I still don’t feel that bad about Barrow, although at least in this episode he shows some self-knowledge that he himself caused most of his current difficulties. Put all of his current social and job security problems on top of his homosexuality, and the suicide attempt is not difficult to understand. But even though he’s good with the children, he’s still a bastard and his chickens are simply coming home to roost.
I have no doubt that Bertie will be back. He was just blindsided, but now will have time to get used to the idea.
I agree that Edith should have listened to her mother and Aunt and told Bertie, but not everyone was offering her that advice. Robert was telling her not to tell him.
I thought it sad that everyone’s first reaction was to laugh at Mrs. Patmore’s predicament. My first response was concern because she has worked so hard and invested so much.
That’s interesting. I didn’t take it as them laughing at the predicament but how ridiculous it was that Mrs. Patmore would be thought to be running a ‘house of ill repute’ because that’s just so so off base for how proper she is. I was worried for her, that all of her work would be ruined, but I still found it amusing because it was so ridiculous that she would ever be involved in anything tawdry. I’m very glad they ignored Carson’s objections and stood by her.
I also couldn’t figure out how two people having an affair in her B&B could be somehow morphed into her running a “house of ill-repute.” I always thought a house of ill-repute was a house of prostitution. Unless it means something else in England.
I agree. I would imagine that most of the hotels in London could be houses of ill repute!!
If you haven’t seen it, the “Manners of Downtown Abbey” was a great show and explained so much. The show’s expert explained a lot of the protocol from the era. There is to be a second show about the manners next week. Our PBS station is also reshowing the first one. I highly recommend it.
Finally a good episode! I have to admit that was pretty good and I was getting cynical.
Well, I love Mary but she pushed the envelope too far with Edith. She was too mad that she didn’t know about Marigold sooner. It was more of a “see? I know what’s going on around here”. Total self absorption I admit.
I think Edith was trying in good faith to tell her beau about Marigold but he seems SO stuck on his mother that she didn’t trust him to side with her. Every time she broached the subject he had something stupid to say. And maybe she’s right. He’ll have to prove himself a bit. I’ll predict Mary will give him an earful and set things straight to redeem herself.
But for all the Mary Haters…Mary is the only one of the family that visited Barrows and wished him well. And brought son George to visit. For being a “stuck up B**” she’s the only one who shows up downstairs to take care of Anna (the arrest of Bates), took care of Anna with her pregnancy, visited Barrows (totally outside her realm), insisted (although unwanted in the end) that Hughes/Carson wedding would be in-house. She cares about what goes on in the house–and it may be just " good business practice" but at least it is still good. And (again for Mary haters) I don’t think Tom would waste his time trying to help Mary if he didn’t already see her better side and live up to it.
doschicos–nobody laughed AT Mrs. Patmore. It was just so ludicrous that anyone one would even THINK that
Mrs Patmore would be involved in that scenario. Which is why the family went out to support her.
Did “Bananas” mean that they didn’t think the person who showed up was the writer of the advice column, or they did think it? Mr. Fang says Spratt is fronting for Violet.
CardinalFang, I was confused about that too. I thought they were going to say ‘bananas’ if they believed the person was an imposter. So, they both thought Pratt was there for someone else?
Also, if Pratt was there on behalf of Violet, she, presumably, then, would have known that he was in London when she got back from her trip. (“A good butler should just KNOW when I’d return!”) hilarious line and so Violet!
Wonderful episode and, I, for one, want Bertie to come back and for the two to wed.
I had a moment when I thought Mary would go after Bertie, a la Scarlett O’Hara.
The downstairs help have so many great characters. Baxter is so lovely, and Mosley has grown. I loved how he connected to the kids, using Baxter’s advice. At last, daisy didn’t whine. Mrs pat more could have her own show!
If and when Bertie reappears to resume his suit to Edith, she should beware. There was a small but definite red flag raised that he may be a “Mama’s Boy” - always deferring to his mother’s wishes and always putting Edith in second place. That situation usually does not result in a happy marriage.
I agree that Mrs. Patmore could have her own show! We could vicariously indulge in all that poached salmon salad, tea, and scones. How fun it would be to get cooking lessons from her, and maybe Andrew could teach us all about serving. No drama unless the stove gets too hot!
