Actually I wondered with that last scene if it sort of foreshadowed that Edith knew that she would be alone but that she had her daughter and that she was at peace. There was something about her look at that moment, watching the children, and it made me wonder. I’m sure it won’t be that simple… there has to be more drama.
I listened to the Masterpiece podcast during lunch and the guy who hosts it said this was probably his favorite episode ever. I think I might agree.
@2VU0609 Edith is an adult. Mary is stuck in about 7th grade. That’s probably the biggest difference between them.
@missypie Still, though, she did marry beneath her and while she may not care, others will and she’ll have to deal with the fallout. And while we’re on the subject, an I the only one who thought Violet’s little speech about social position and love was just a little bit out of character? OTOH, she tried to leave her husband for Prince Gargarin years ago so maybe she’s harkening back to that.
I was so hoping that breakfast scene would have ended with Bertie turning to Mary,
“Of course Mary,
The FUTURE MARCHIONESS and I so hope that you, Tom, Master George and little Sybie will visit us frequently at the CASTLE.
Dont fear Mary DEAR, I know how CLOSE you are to your SISTER. Id HATE to see that bond dissolve
…Beeahtch.”
But nope, Bertie ran out, like a little girl, scared away by Mary’s big bad reveal.
And nobody’s pissed at Tom for spilling the beans…
The only resolution is for Mary to apologize to Bertie. Even then, I think Edith dodged a mistake. She can make a better match–Somebody that will have her back and treat her like the grown up she is.
@operadivasmom Mary’s so-called “growth” hasn’t made her a kinder person by any means IMHO. I’ve always wondered why her parents didn’t do more about her snarkiness over the years.
“Poor Bertie”? Isn’t that from The Knick? 
Marys a cold fish.
Carson is a poser. I can’t believe that Mrs Hughes allowed herself to be saddled with his grumpy, judgmental, superficial braod but.
I wondered the same thing. We all know that the world of the British aristocracy is going to change a lot during their lifetimes. Perhaps Edith will be a lot better prepared for what the future has in store.
I think I identify too closely to Edith. Since my son was 4, I’ve raised him without his father. He had loving grandparents. If I dated someone who mistreated my son, the man was OUT. When my ex-fiancé was critical of my son, made him cry, I drove son back to his college, and told son that man would never be my husband. My son felt bad, as this man had been in his life for YEARS. I don’t mean to,digress this wonderful thread, just so you all know why I fear Edith will remain unmarried, but supported by her family and loved by her daughter.
Yes.
B-)
I think that the way the scene where Mary outed Edith was brilliantly written and played. One could see Mary vibrating with unhappiness and stress, and just knew that she was about to lash out.
This is the thing that Mary has done to Edith that comes closest to Edith writing to the Turkish Ambassador.
Team Edith here! Although I agree she may have dodged a bullet with the mother-in-law (although she’s weathered a ferocious granny herself; could be an interesting matchup!).
Carson has always been the bastion of tradition, so why is anyone surprised that he is opposed to all of the changes going on around him? Remember that he was opposed to taking on Bates, who we’ve come to love (in the context of the program; still appalled at the actor’s behavior). Mrs Hughes has taken on a huge challenge!
But they’re certainly paving the way to other occupations: Mrs Patmore with her B&B, Daisy with her credentials, Molesly with his teaching (and good for him for adapting!), Spratt with his advice column, Andrew with the pig farming…good to see that Downstairs could survive. Upstairs, not so sure. 
(I read a fun book a while back which posited that the Royal Family had been deposed and ended up in public housing. Interesting to see how the various family members are depicted - I think it was called “The Queen and I.” One could certainly do a similar take on Downton. I think Violet would adapt splendidly!)
I love Violet. She really does get the best lines.
While Mary can be extraordinarily unpleasant and arrogant, I think we need to remember that she is the oldest daughter, and has been subjected to pressures and expectations of duty that the others haven’t from day one. She may or may not have been particularly fond of Patrick, but she was expected to marry him, solidify the line, and produce an heir. She had little or no choice in the matter. It was her duty. She resisted being put in the same position with Matthew, hence her relationship with that unpleasant newpaperman whose name I forget, yet it was her duty to the rest of the family to marry the heir, if possible. It was ironic that Matthew was the man she actually fell in love with, yet she couldn’t actually have him unless he was definitely going to inherit. Then she lost him. Her duty to her son and to preserving the estate and the tradition became her primary focus, perforce. She couldn’t run off with some man: she had to live at Downton, in her parents’ house, keeping things together and meeting the challenges of preserving the estate for her son while other places crashed around them. Anyone she married would have to be willing to do the same.
^^^That’s something else I never understood. Did Patick, the original heir, necessarily have to marry Mary? Edith was in love with him. Wouldn’t marriage to any of the three daughters kept the estate in the family?
I just rewatched it on apple TV. Very interesting to see again! The bananas line is when Edith and her editor agree to say, bananas, if they think advice columnist is real, NOT an imposter.
And at the end Lord Grantham and his mother and Cora are talking about Edith and surprises. He says we haven’t seen the last one from her yet, or something like that. I wonder… could it foreshadow Bertie coming back, or even Gregson (although that would jump the shark), or will Edith, so lovingly watching the children, decide to move to London and openly claim Marigold as her own daughter?
I’m hoping for that last possibility although it’s probably even more unrealistic than Gregson coming back.
Carson is even more unbearable the second time around, lol.
@stradmom - I read that book too! I remember it was by the same woman who wrote the Adrian Mole diaries, which were hilarious. One thing I remember is the Queen trying to pinch pennies and make ends meet but then she goes out and buys a jar of jam and eats it. Funny book.
What would happen to DA in the end? Would all the servants depart to live a new life? Would DA be sold and converted to some sort of public service office or museum?
A great many of the great houses in Britain were simply torn down in the 20th century, even houses of significant architectural merit.