Downton Abbey: Season 6, Episode 2
January 10, 2016 11:27 PM - Season 6, Episode 2 - Subscribe
Mrs. Drewe continues to want her baby back. There's more hospital drama. Lady Mary offers to help Anna find a doctor and to decorate Downton for the upcoming wedding, but only one of those things is actually wanted. Thomas goes job hunting.
Okay, so I thought there was already a recap written for this, but apparently not. Major points of the episode:
* Mary's still acting as the estate's agent and gets involved in a farm show, which involves pigs and god help us all, the Drewes, so we can bring back the whole baby drama again. Mrs. Drewe makes off with Marigold (nobody was paying attention to her!) at the farm event, which makes both Lord Grantham and Mr. Drewe conclude that the Drewes must go even if they've been there since Waterloo. CONVENIENT FOR MR. MASON, EH?
* Edith fights with her editor some more and sorta tentatively plans to move into the London flat, which might be a good idea under the circumstances.
* Lady Mary is super helpful in this episode, offering to deck out Downton for the wedding because she loves Carson. Unfortunately for both of them, Mrs. Hughes wants to have the wedding somewhere else where she doesn't have to be a servant on her wedding day, and Carson can't quite actually deliver that message too clearly when asked about it.
What's more well received is Lady Mary taking Anna off to her own doctor, who can stitch her up a bit on the next pregnancy to hold it all in, as it were. Lady Mary owes Anna after all of that dead body disposal and diaphragm-hiding, donchaknow.
* I glaze over during the hospital drama and can't recap that for shit.
* Carson is delightedly making Thomas think he's going to get fired (also, nobody will let Thomas anywhere NEAR Andy the new footman), so Thomas applies for an "assistant butler" job. The show makes its greatest 2015 reference ever when Thomas finds out the job is really butler AND valet AND footman AND chauffeur for the pay of only one, and then he gets insulted for his lack of wife. Forget that!
Okay, so I thought there was already a recap written for this, but apparently not. Major points of the episode:
* Mary's still acting as the estate's agent and gets involved in a farm show, which involves pigs and god help us all, the Drewes, so we can bring back the whole baby drama again. Mrs. Drewe makes off with Marigold (nobody was paying attention to her!) at the farm event, which makes both Lord Grantham and Mr. Drewe conclude that the Drewes must go even if they've been there since Waterloo. CONVENIENT FOR MR. MASON, EH?
* Edith fights with her editor some more and sorta tentatively plans to move into the London flat, which might be a good idea under the circumstances.
* Lady Mary is super helpful in this episode, offering to deck out Downton for the wedding because she loves Carson. Unfortunately for both of them, Mrs. Hughes wants to have the wedding somewhere else where she doesn't have to be a servant on her wedding day, and Carson can't quite actually deliver that message too clearly when asked about it.
What's more well received is Lady Mary taking Anna off to her own doctor, who can stitch her up a bit on the next pregnancy to hold it all in, as it were. Lady Mary owes Anna after all of that dead body disposal and diaphragm-hiding, donchaknow.
* I glaze over during the hospital drama and can't recap that for shit.
* Carson is delightedly making Thomas think he's going to get fired (also, nobody will let Thomas anywhere NEAR Andy the new footman), so Thomas applies for an "assistant butler" job. The show makes its greatest 2015 reference ever when Thomas finds out the job is really butler AND valet AND footman AND chauffeur for the pay of only one, and then he gets insulted for his lack of wife. Forget that!
I suppose the hospital matter is one of those things which allows Fellowes to throw everyone he loves against each other, but in a manner that theoretically assures that no long term or serious feelings will be hurt by its conclusion. One year it's estate management with Branson/Matthew against the Earl, and another it's tensions over turning Downton into a hospital. The only problem is that while it's always fun to watch a few barbs slung here and there, the stakes simply have not been presented as high enough for anyone but the characters to care.
I feel as if there should be some kind of reliquary created, perhaps to hold Mr. Drewe's hat or something. The guy has been nothing but a saint in almost every regard concerning the wishes of the Abbey. "Hi, I know your family has lived and worked this land for over a century, before Waterloo as you like to mention from time to time, but see, your wife is simply making things uncomfortable for my family about my granddaughter. Of course, this whole thing will likely blow over in a few years as Marigold grows up and we send her off to school and what not, but it's just plain embarrassing for everyone involved. Oh, and thank you for raising such nice swine, I appreciated the medal they gave me."
Blegh. If anything, the farm tenant situation just goes toward highlighting everything awful about the system on both sides. Mr. Mason gets kicked right off with no say, and Mr. Drewe's family which has been on the land for over a hundred years, is swept away as a matter of emotional convenience. I've always felt Fellowes is very much pro-aristocracy, a man in love with the families and manors, so I'm never sure if he realizes how much of a dig against the system it is or simply sees it as part of the story of his families without a great realization of how damning a case it makes against them. At the same time, he obviously loves inserting characters who are against the system, be it Branson or an increasingly activist Daisy.
We should call it the Thomas the Tin Can subplot, everyone gets a kick in. Is Thomas trying to simply make a friend of the new footman or is he trying to groom him to be a minion or is he otherwise interested in him from a romantic perspective? This has never been made clear, and as a result, I'm at times conflicted on whether I should care that much or not for Thomas' complete failure at attempting to do whatever it is his aims to be. I do get that others on staff generally believe that Thomas is up to no good, but we've had little input from Thomas himself.
I can only assume that Fellowes is going to surprise us with a child for Bates and Anna. Otherwise, the current streak of nice things to happen to Anna and Bates will lead us to conclude that Anna will die from a complication of the surgery. Let's hope that's not the case.
Is it safe to assume that Edith will fire Mr. Swinney and take on his job, while moving to London permanently? (ALSO removing Marigold from the Abbey and thus, making the Drewe removal even more ridiculous?)
posted by Atreides at 6:55 AM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
I feel as if there should be some kind of reliquary created, perhaps to hold Mr. Drewe's hat or something. The guy has been nothing but a saint in almost every regard concerning the wishes of the Abbey. "Hi, I know your family has lived and worked this land for over a century, before Waterloo as you like to mention from time to time, but see, your wife is simply making things uncomfortable for my family about my granddaughter. Of course, this whole thing will likely blow over in a few years as Marigold grows up and we send her off to school and what not, but it's just plain embarrassing for everyone involved. Oh, and thank you for raising such nice swine, I appreciated the medal they gave me."
Blegh. If anything, the farm tenant situation just goes toward highlighting everything awful about the system on both sides. Mr. Mason gets kicked right off with no say, and Mr. Drewe's family which has been on the land for over a hundred years, is swept away as a matter of emotional convenience. I've always felt Fellowes is very much pro-aristocracy, a man in love with the families and manors, so I'm never sure if he realizes how much of a dig against the system it is or simply sees it as part of the story of his families without a great realization of how damning a case it makes against them. At the same time, he obviously loves inserting characters who are against the system, be it Branson or an increasingly activist Daisy.
We should call it the Thomas the Tin Can subplot, everyone gets a kick in. Is Thomas trying to simply make a friend of the new footman or is he trying to groom him to be a minion or is he otherwise interested in him from a romantic perspective? This has never been made clear, and as a result, I'm at times conflicted on whether I should care that much or not for Thomas' complete failure at attempting to do whatever it is his aims to be. I do get that others on staff generally believe that Thomas is up to no good, but we've had little input from Thomas himself.
I can only assume that Fellowes is going to surprise us with a child for Bates and Anna. Otherwise, the current streak of nice things to happen to Anna and Bates will lead us to conclude that Anna will die from a complication of the surgery. Let's hope that's not the case.
Is it safe to assume that Edith will fire Mr. Swinney and take on his job, while moving to London permanently? (ALSO removing Marigold from the Abbey and thus, making the Drewe removal even more ridiculous?)
posted by Atreides at 6:55 AM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
"We should call it the Thomas the Tin Can subplot, everyone gets a kick in."
Bwahahahaha. Like Mrs. Baxter, I both feel sorry for him and at the same time am all, "Well, if you act like an ass to everyone...."
"Is Thomas trying to simply make a friend of the new footman or is he trying to groom him to be a minion or is he otherwise interested in him from a romantic perspective? This has never been made clear,"
That's the problem: with Thomas it can and has been any or all of the above. You never know with him if he can be trusted to be an actual friend to someone, or if he's chasing them, or if he wants a minion. This is why the entire staff has apparently secretly warned Andy not to have anything to do with Thomas.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:45 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Bwahahahaha. Like Mrs. Baxter, I both feel sorry for him and at the same time am all, "Well, if you act like an ass to everyone...."
"Is Thomas trying to simply make a friend of the new footman or is he trying to groom him to be a minion or is he otherwise interested in him from a romantic perspective? This has never been made clear,"
That's the problem: with Thomas it can and has been any or all of the above. You never know with him if he can be trusted to be an actual friend to someone, or if he's chasing them, or if he wants a minion. This is why the entire staff has apparently secretly warned Andy not to have anything to do with Thomas.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:45 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Anna's "Yes, I will be putting my feet up" is the funniest line she's ever had.
posted by naoko at 9:51 AM on January 11, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by naoko at 9:51 AM on January 11, 2016 [12 favorites]
Daisy spouting socialist rhetoric like a firebrand fellow-traveler was pretty funny, too.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:05 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 10:05 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Andy is not a fool. I think he's figured out to give Thomas wide berth on his own.
posted by donajo at 10:15 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by donajo at 10:15 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think that by this point Thomas is thorny and scheming just because he doesn't know any other way to behave. He does pride himself on a job well done, and to have his responsibilities taken away from him must rankle.
posted by Liesl at 12:35 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by Liesl at 12:35 PM on January 11, 2016
He does pride himself on a job well done, and to have his responsibilities taken away from him must rankle.
I feel really badly for Thomas (while recognizing that he's a total dick) because I think he listened to his elders and worked really hard and did all the right things and completely optimized himself for a job that is ceasing to exist. He's a terrible person, sure, but professionally he was super ambitious and he did whatever he could to realize that ambition and, as he reaches the point where his efforts should be paying off, the rug is pulled out from under him and it's all for nothing and his hard work is wasted.
It's kind of like when he got all that black market stuff after the war and he was so proud about how thoughtful he was in getting stuff that would last like flour and sugar and then realizing he'd been cheated -- he was thoughtful, he put in the effort, he did everything he could to make it work, and outside forces just screwed him. No matter how hard he works and how much scheming he puts in, his considerable ambition is perpetually frustrated and, godawful as he is, it's really not fair and I can't help but sympathize with him about it.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:01 PM on January 11, 2016 [11 favorites]
I feel really badly for Thomas (while recognizing that he's a total dick) because I think he listened to his elders and worked really hard and did all the right things and completely optimized himself for a job that is ceasing to exist. He's a terrible person, sure, but professionally he was super ambitious and he did whatever he could to realize that ambition and, as he reaches the point where his efforts should be paying off, the rug is pulled out from under him and it's all for nothing and his hard work is wasted.
It's kind of like when he got all that black market stuff after the war and he was so proud about how thoughtful he was in getting stuff that would last like flour and sugar and then realizing he'd been cheated -- he was thoughtful, he put in the effort, he did everything he could to make it work, and outside forces just screwed him. No matter how hard he works and how much scheming he puts in, his considerable ambition is perpetually frustrated and, godawful as he is, it's really not fair and I can't help but sympathize with him about it.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 1:01 PM on January 11, 2016 [11 favorites]
No matter how hard he works and how much scheming he puts in, his considerable ambition is perpetually frustrated and, godawful as he is, it's really not fair and I can't help but sympathize with him about it.
Absolutely. That moment with the black market stuff really hit me hard. He may be one of the most complex characters on the show, which isn't necessarily a hard thing to achieve, but even so, I'm not sure if any other character hasn't evoked so many different reactions and emotions out of me as Thomas.
posted by Atreides at 1:04 PM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Absolutely. That moment with the black market stuff really hit me hard. He may be one of the most complex characters on the show, which isn't necessarily a hard thing to achieve, but even so, I'm not sure if any other character hasn't evoked so many different reactions and emotions out of me as Thomas.
posted by Atreides at 1:04 PM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Actually I feel like they dropped the "Thomas is an evil schemer" thing a while ago, when he was shooting up trying to "cure" himself.
And I have a strong suspicion that the reason Andy keeps declining all of Thomas's attempts to spend time together is that Andy's going to turn out to also be gay, and probably also has a crush on Thomas, and he's keeping away from him as self-preservation of his secret, to stay out of trouble. I could be wrong, but I predict at some point this season something's going to finally get those two stuck alone in a room together, and we'll get the full-on "You mean..." "You too?" "So all this time we..." (the string section swells as their lips lock together, clasping each other passionately).
posted by dnash at 8:01 AM on January 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
And I have a strong suspicion that the reason Andy keeps declining all of Thomas's attempts to spend time together is that Andy's going to turn out to also be gay, and probably also has a crush on Thomas, and he's keeping away from him as self-preservation of his secret, to stay out of trouble. I could be wrong, but I predict at some point this season something's going to finally get those two stuck alone in a room together, and we'll get the full-on "You mean..." "You too?" "So all this time we..." (the string section swells as their lips lock together, clasping each other passionately).
posted by dnash at 8:01 AM on January 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Carson is being a dick to Thomas. Let the man know that he's valued, jeez, is that so hard? Mr. Carson is being rather thick about his wedding. Mrs. Hughes needs to speak up and say something, it's clear Carson won't.
The Drewes and Marigold thing...that's a hot mess and I don't understand why it's playing out the way it is. Mrs Drewe is no idiot and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Edith is Marigold's mom. I mean, Robert figured it out.
I thought that Mr. Mason had all this land and the farm to leave to Daisy, so to find out that he's a tenant...that's no bueno. It's also confusing.
Clearly Edith needs to move to London with Marigold, the Drewes need to stay put and Mr. Mason needs to be a greeter at Wal-Mart.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:53 AM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Drewes and Marigold thing...that's a hot mess and I don't understand why it's playing out the way it is. Mrs Drewe is no idiot and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Edith is Marigold's mom. I mean, Robert figured it out.
I thought that Mr. Mason had all this land and the farm to leave to Daisy, so to find out that he's a tenant...that's no bueno. It's also confusing.
Clearly Edith needs to move to London with Marigold, the Drewes need to stay put and Mr. Mason needs to be a greeter at Wal-Mart.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:53 AM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I thought that Mr. Mason had all this land and the farm to leave to Daisy, so to find out that he's a tenant...that's no bueno. It's also confusing.
Don't get me started how confused I am over that business. If I cared enough, I would go back and rewatch those episodes and see if there's an implication if Mason actually owned a farm or was simply talking about the leasehold.
posted by Atreides at 10:49 AM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Don't get me started how confused I am over that business. If I cared enough, I would go back and rewatch those episodes and see if there's an implication if Mason actually owned a farm or was simply talking about the leasehold.
posted by Atreides at 10:49 AM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think Mason was just going to pass on his lease/tenancy to Daisy. He never owned the land.
Carson doesn't like Thomas (plus the gay thing, as he was one of the few staff bothered by it) and even though he puts up with him because he has to, well... he'd be pleased if Thomas bugged off on his own.
I agree, Mrs. Pterodactyl, Thomas's ambition hasn't gotten to pay off. Like many of us in this day and age, really. What he'd really have to do is wait for Carson to retire, but that's assuming that job will still exist by the time Carson left, and given how things are going... We're all pretty betrayed in our time period, I guess it's weirding me out to be reminded that sort of thing was happening earlier on, and it's not a modern trait to do this shit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:02 AM on January 12, 2016
Carson doesn't like Thomas (plus the gay thing, as he was one of the few staff bothered by it) and even though he puts up with him because he has to, well... he'd be pleased if Thomas bugged off on his own.
I agree, Mrs. Pterodactyl, Thomas's ambition hasn't gotten to pay off. Like many of us in this day and age, really. What he'd really have to do is wait for Carson to retire, but that's assuming that job will still exist by the time Carson left, and given how things are going... We're all pretty betrayed in our time period, I guess it's weirding me out to be reminded that sort of thing was happening earlier on, and it's not a modern trait to do this shit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:02 AM on January 12, 2016
Is it just me, or is this season somehow, just kind of boring so far?
I mean the hospital thing, god. All I hear when they start talking about that is "wha wha whaaaa wha whaaaaa." I can't even sort out who's on whose side, much less why. As a dramatic engine to drive the season forward, it's not exactly World War I, is it?
Otherwise they're making little tempests in a teapot for the characters to have something to fret over. Okay, the characters are well enough established by now that there's a degree of pleasure in simply watching them be who they are, so it's not like I'm hating the show now or anything. But it just seems to be drifting toward a sequence of happy endings.
The Drewes evaporate because they don't really count.
That means Daisy's father in law or whoever can have their farm.
Edith fires her asshole editor, moves into that flat in London with Marigold and possibly that nice man she met at the shooting party last year and runs the magazine.
Mary marries one of those guys who are being dangled in front of her and finally stops being a total bitch to Edith.
Bates and Anna have a baby.
Carson and Mrs. Hughes get married and run a bed and breakfast or whatever they're planning for that house he bought.
Mrs. Patmore and Daisy open a socialist food coop or something. Mrs. Patmore is oblivious to the socialist part.
Molesley and Baxter hook up finally and start a private investigation agency in Brighton.
Denker and Spratt get a show on BBC radio where they review household appliances and cleaning products and the like. They continue to hate each other, but act chummy in public for the sake of the show, like Siskel and Ebert or Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman.
Okay, I'm making up the last few, but the show really does seem to have nothing new to say this season and is just trying to make everything all tidy by the end. I'm mainly here for the nostalgia so far. Perhaps they'll find a way to make it more compelling. (No spoilers, British people who've seen the whole season.)
posted by Naberius at 11:36 AM on January 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
I mean the hospital thing, god. All I hear when they start talking about that is "wha wha whaaaa wha whaaaaa." I can't even sort out who's on whose side, much less why. As a dramatic engine to drive the season forward, it's not exactly World War I, is it?
Otherwise they're making little tempests in a teapot for the characters to have something to fret over. Okay, the characters are well enough established by now that there's a degree of pleasure in simply watching them be who they are, so it's not like I'm hating the show now or anything. But it just seems to be drifting toward a sequence of happy endings.
The Drewes evaporate because they don't really count.
That means Daisy's father in law or whoever can have their farm.
Edith fires her asshole editor, moves into that flat in London with Marigold and possibly that nice man she met at the shooting party last year and runs the magazine.
Mary marries one of those guys who are being dangled in front of her and finally stops being a total bitch to Edith.
Bates and Anna have a baby.
Carson and Mrs. Hughes get married and run a bed and breakfast or whatever they're planning for that house he bought.
Mrs. Patmore and Daisy open a socialist food coop or something. Mrs. Patmore is oblivious to the socialist part.
Molesley and Baxter hook up finally and start a private investigation agency in Brighton.
Denker and Spratt get a show on BBC radio where they review household appliances and cleaning products and the like. They continue to hate each other, but act chummy in public for the sake of the show, like Siskel and Ebert or Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman.
Okay, I'm making up the last few, but the show really does seem to have nothing new to say this season and is just trying to make everything all tidy by the end. I'm mainly here for the nostalgia so far. Perhaps they'll find a way to make it more compelling. (No spoilers, British people who've seen the whole season.)
posted by Naberius at 11:36 AM on January 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
Otherwise they're making little tempests in a teapot for the characters to have something to fret over.
Honestly, I feel like that's been the show for at least two seasons now.
I think the first couple seasons were excellent, then somewhere along the way they were shocked at how big and popular it became, but they had no clear plan for where it was supposed to be heading. Didn't they pretty much skim over all of WWI in one season? But time seems to have slowed way down as the seasons go on, because they can't let it get too close to the 30s or it would have to become quite a different show. It's increasingly unrealistic to me that the Dowager Countess is still alive at this point, but they daren't kill her off because they well know her one liners are probably the #1 attraction for many viewers.
I do still enjoy it, just not nearly in the same way I did when it began.
posted by dnash at 12:28 PM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I feel like that's been the show for at least two seasons now.
I think the first couple seasons were excellent, then somewhere along the way they were shocked at how big and popular it became, but they had no clear plan for where it was supposed to be heading. Didn't they pretty much skim over all of WWI in one season? But time seems to have slowed way down as the seasons go on, because they can't let it get too close to the 30s or it would have to become quite a different show. It's increasingly unrealistic to me that the Dowager Countess is still alive at this point, but they daren't kill her off because they well know her one liners are probably the #1 attraction for many viewers.
I do still enjoy it, just not nearly in the same way I did when it began.
posted by dnash at 12:28 PM on January 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Carson doesn't like Thomas (plus the gay thing, as he was one of the few staff bothered by it) and even though he puts up with him because he has to, well... he'd be pleased if Thomas bugged off on his own.
I thought so, too, but then when he told Carson he had an interview, Carson got all shirty and made the comment about Thomas not letting the grass grow under him.
Not liking Carson much this season. Especially after showing he could actually be human WRT Mrs. Hughes. I really liked her taking him to task about kowtowing to "the blessed Lady Mary".
posted by Beti at 7:55 PM on January 13, 2016
I thought so, too, but then when he told Carson he had an interview, Carson got all shirty and made the comment about Thomas not letting the grass grow under him.
Not liking Carson much this season. Especially after showing he could actually be human WRT Mrs. Hughes. I really liked her taking him to task about kowtowing to "the blessed Lady Mary".
posted by Beti at 7:55 PM on January 13, 2016
This is the first episode where I've really felt completely unsympathetic toward the Crawleys as a whole. The hospital thing, which I sort of have my hands around, seems to be all about the public good in an abstract way, and it's not like anyone has asked what the people in the area want. The Drewes, perfectly good tenants, are being tossed out because of Edith's screwups (not in having the baby, but in not womanning up and just dealing with it), and Mrs Drewe wasn't entirely wrong that they let Marigold wander away. Mary is interfering in the Hughes-Carson wedding all unwanted, and even though it's to the good, same for Bates. Cora won't help Daisy, unless it's by giving Mr Mason the farm the Drewes used to have, which is a convenience for the Crawleys and not for anybody else.
The Crawleys have alway been high-handed, but the only thing in this episode that isn't totally self (Crawley)-centered is Mary and Anna, which is kind of hilarious given that Mary is normally (and is in this episode to Carson and Mrs Hughes) as imperious as any of them. When even Edith's trials with the editor can't make me sympathize with her, the bloom is off the rose.
posted by immlass at 1:49 PM on January 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Crawleys have alway been high-handed, but the only thing in this episode that isn't totally self (Crawley)-centered is Mary and Anna, which is kind of hilarious given that Mary is normally (and is in this episode to Carson and Mrs Hughes) as imperious as any of them. When even Edith's trials with the editor can't make me sympathize with her, the bloom is off the rose.
posted by immlass at 1:49 PM on January 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Actually, immlass, it feels to me like Cora is doing a bit of scheming of her own to make sure Mr. Mason gets the Drewe farm....
Cora is the main reason they took little Marigold to the farm 'to look at the pigs'; they could have left her at the Abbey, but it's like Cora wanted to dangle Marigold in front of Mrs. Drewe and get her upset over losing the child all over again. Same with the farm contest: keep bringing the kid to where Mrs. Drewe is very likely to be, and one of these days you'll get a reaction that'll give an excuse for shoving out the Drewes. Bam, Mrs. Drewe scoops up the kid, "oh my, we can't have that!", and presto: the Drewes (who know Marigold is actually Edith's daughter) are forced out, and as a bonus there's now space for Mr. Mason so the Crawleys can look all generous and big-hearted.
And damn, somebody should tell Mary to back the heck off and let Carson and Mrs. Hughes plan their own darn wedding!
posted by easily confused at 8:29 AM on January 17, 2016
Cora is the main reason they took little Marigold to the farm 'to look at the pigs'; they could have left her at the Abbey, but it's like Cora wanted to dangle Marigold in front of Mrs. Drewe and get her upset over losing the child all over again. Same with the farm contest: keep bringing the kid to where Mrs. Drewe is very likely to be, and one of these days you'll get a reaction that'll give an excuse for shoving out the Drewes. Bam, Mrs. Drewe scoops up the kid, "oh my, we can't have that!", and presto: the Drewes (who know Marigold is actually Edith's daughter) are forced out, and as a bonus there's now space for Mr. Mason so the Crawleys can look all generous and big-hearted.
And damn, somebody should tell Mary to back the heck off and let Carson and Mrs. Hughes plan their own darn wedding!
posted by easily confused at 8:29 AM on January 17, 2016
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Yeah, the hospital kerfuffle is mind-numbing. I half expect the Dowager (or someone)to succumb to some sort of emergency that the local hospital isn't equipped to handle, proving the need for the merger. That would be a nice, typical TV World resolution.
The Thomas subplot was fun, if only for Carson sticking it to him at every opening. The implication of some dialog between the two is that Carson would be retiring once the wedding is held. Is that correct? I can't see why he would.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:32 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]