Series 1: Episode 5

Old traditions die hard in this episode as the inhabitants of Downton Abbey prepare for the Annual Downton Village Flower Show. Countess Violet always wins the Grantham Cup for the “Best Bloom in the Village”, but Isobel Crawley questions whether the Dowager Countess wins first prize out of merit,  or simply out of old English tradition.

 While Isobel Crawley and Countess Violet continue to butt heads, Lord and Lady Grantham worry if Lady Mary is also breaking tradition by not entering the institution of marriage. Lady Mary has denied all of her suitors, and she is becoming something of a lost cause to the other members of her family. What is worse, Lord Grantham has received word that there are rumors around London that Lady Mary is unsuitable for marriage. To put these rumors to rest, Lord and Lady Grantham decide to invite yet another potential suitor to Downton for dinner. But Lady Mary is tired of being setup with potential suitors. To her own surprise, she is becoming more and more attracted to Matthew Crawley. However, she has denied Mr. Crawley once, and it is unknown whether he will give her a second chance.

The arrival of Sir Anthony Strallen, Lady Mary’s potential suitor,  brings further chaos to the sisters of Downton. Mary finds her potential suitor boring, but her sister Edith finds him genuinely interesting. The two sisters quarrel over the attention of Mr. Strallen after dinner, and begin to place a bet as to which sister can effectively capture his attention. While the two sisters fight over Mr. Strallen, Matthew Crawley is left alone, and he soon realizes that he is not really wanted by any of the Downton sisters.  Thus, it is in this portion of the episode, that we learn that Lady Edith’s and Lady Mary’s rivalry may have greater implications.

My favorite illustration that best explains the sisterly rivalry between Lady Mary and Lady Edith occurs in the beginning of the episode when Mrs. Grantham is reflecting on the difficulty of raising three young women. She starts to compare bringing up three young daughters to the literary classic Little Women, but instead notices that “they are at each other’s throats from dawn until dusk”.

The rivalry between Lady Mary and Lady Edith therefore becomes central to the theme of the episode, as their distaste for one another carries on through the Annual Downton Village Flower Show. Lady Mary finds that she can no longer capture the attention of Matthew Crawley, and she uses her frustration to insult Lady Edith about her clothing. Lady Edith takes Lady Mary’s cruel words to heart, and begins to plan revenge. Though the competition between the two sisters seems immature and ugly, it reminds me of the sibling rivalry I share with my two younger brothers. Though we may not fight over potential suitors, we definitely compete for the attention of our parents. 

But the quarrel between Lady Edith and Lady Mary is not the only surprising development in this episode. After waiting several episodes to determine the true nature of the relationship between Anna and Mr. Bates, Anna finally tells Mr. Bates she is in love with him! I never thought that their relationship would amount to anything, but it was a great distraction from all of the fighting going on between Lady Mary and Lady Edith. 

The final surprise in this episode occurs when Countess Violet engages in an unlikely change of heart. When the Dowager Countess realizes that she is always given first prize at the Annual Flower Show out of tradition instead of merit, she decides to award the Grantham Cup to Bill Molesley, a lonely gardener who lives in Downton village. Perhaps this means that the Dowager Countess will not be so cold in future episodes to come.

Overall, I thought that this episode was pretty interesting, but not as exciting as other Downton Abbey episodes I have seen in the past. In my opinion, there were several stories to be developed in this episode, and not enough time to adequately capture their significance to the show. 

Series 1: Episode 4

Though the excitement at Downton Abbey has dwindled since the death of Mr. Pamuk, there are still many questions left to be answered within the Downton household. As a result, the theme of loyalty becomes a central thread throughout the course of this episode.

What is more, the annual Downton fair brings a great deal of joy to the servants at Downton. For once, they are allowed to leave their posts as servants to enjoy the simple bliss of the town fair. However, the annual fair becomes problematic when it becomes a means for relationships to develop among some of the characters in the show. For instance, when the town fair is setting up in the beginning of the episode, Lady Mary rekindles her relationship with Matthew Crawley when she admits that she has still not recovered from the death of Mr. Pamuk. Moreover, she assures Matthew that she no longer holds anything against him, and that in actuality it is her stubbornness and frustration with her current situation that makes her so unpleasant.

But the town fair is even more instrumental in the character development of Mrs. Hughes and Daisy. In the previous episode, we learned that Daisy had something of a soft spot for Thomas, the evil and conceited footman. Though it is clear that Thomas does not have any type of attraction towards women, he makes it his mission to compete for Daisy’s attention when he realizes she has a bit of a crush on him. Even though Thomas sees this as a game, the shy and genuine William is clearly upset when Thomas offers to take Daisy to the village fair. My biggest problem with this awkward situation is that Daisy is so naive about Thomas’s sexual preference that she continues to make a fool of herself throughout the entirety of the episode. When this was coupled with her uneducated English accent and her vulgar comments towards William, it was almost too much for me to bear! It seems like Daisy still needs to understand her rank in the hierarchy of servants at Downton.

Mrs. Hughes, on the other hand, reveals a softer side of her character in this episode. Since the beginning of the series, Mrs. Hughes has been somewhat of a private character, but she finally comes into her own when she admits that she had another life before she was employed at Downton. This development in her character is further revealed when she attends the town fair with an old boyfriend. At the end of the night, her old lover asks her to leave her life at Downton to spend the rest of her life with him. For a moment, Mrs. Hughes is torn between the life of a farmer’s wife and the life that she created at Downton as housekeeper. However, she soon realizes that Downton has changed her for the better, and that her career choice at Downton is the relationship she must keep.

Yet another interesting development in this episode is the maturity and growth of Lady Sybil (played by Jessica Brown Findlay). Though at first I thought Lady Mary was my favorite character, in this episode I found that Lady Sybil seemed to have much more substance and curiosity than Lady Mary. Throughout this episode Lady Sybil defines herself as a rebel who is independent from her comfortable and traditional roots. Though she is still loyal to her family, she begins to articulate her passion for politics and women’s rights. Not only is she a strong advocate for women’s rights, but she finds happiness in helping those who are less fortunate than her.  This is further exemplified when she supports Gwen and her desire to leave Downton to become a secretary.

Finally, the key moment when Lady Sybil’s maturity and growth is realized is when she showcases her new frock in front of the Downton family. Instead of choosing a dress that would follow traditional feminine lines, Lady Sybil chose an outfit with pants! Elegant upper-crust women are never seen in pants! (or at least in comparison to the rest of the women in this period drama) This is a scandalous move on Sybil’s part, but it fully illustrates her desire to defy convention. In my opinion, the best part about this scene is Countess Violet’s facial expression..she looks both surprised and horrified! Perhaps this refreshing choice of clothing is too much for the women of Downton.

Overall, this was an excellent episode, as it further developed many of the characters in the PBS television series. Though the town fair seemed to be the key player in the development of several relationships, the most exhilarating portion of this episode was Lady Sybil’s rebellious display of women’s pants. Jessica Brown Findlay’s performance in this episode was a refreshing change in direction for Downton Abbey, and I can’t wait to find out what she comes up with next!

Series 1: Episode 3

Wow! In this episode, a little English hospitality proves to be far too much for the Downton household. After watching the first two episodes of Downton, I thought I was instantly hooked, but this particular episode was by far one of my favorites!

Gwen sends some mysterious mail, and Anna discovers her typewriter hidden inside a suitcase  while she is snooping around in her bedroom. As a result, yet another technological innovation is introduced into the plot of the show. The discovery of Gwen’s typewriter becomes controversial within the Downton household when she reveals that she secretly wants to leave her position as a maid to become a secretary. 

But Gwen is not the only female at Downton that does not recognize her proper position within the estate. Edith, the ugly but flirty sister of Lady Mary, invites Matthew Crawley out to see some churches and have a picnic. She naively mistakes the friendly occasion for a date, and quickly realizes that Mr. Crawley is more interested in churches and Lady Mary than he is in her.

While Edith desperately continues to flirt with Mr. Crawley, Cora finds out that Lady Mary has been secretly corresponding with Evelyn Napier, a Marquis’s son. Cora jumps at the opportunity to invite Mr. Napier to Downton, with the hope that he will make an offer of marriage to Lady Mary.

Thus, the excitement begins as the Downton home is thrown into chaos with the arrival of Evelyn Napier and his handsome Turkish friend, Kemal Pamuk. A hunt and an elegant dinner are planned, and the arrival of the two men becomes way too much for the Downton women to handle. Lady Mary is instantly attracted to Mr. Pamuk, and for a few minutes it seems as if she’s found her Mr. Darcy. I have to admit, that for a moment I was also smitten with the effortless charm of Mr. Pamuk. However, the mutual attraction becomes even clearer when Lady Mary ditches Mr. Napier during the hunt to spend more time with his friend. 

I just want to say that I was really impressed with the fact that Lady Mary accompanied the men on the hunt. I think it speaks volumes of her character since none of the other women at Downton even bothered to come. 

Anyway, when Lady Mary and the men return home after their hunt, the obnoxious, homosexual, Thomas reveals that the women in the house are not the only ones attracted to Mr. Pamuk. Yet Thomas simply embarrasses himself, as Mr. Pamuk makes it clear that he does not feel the same way. As the elegant dinner begins, the attraction between Mr. Pamuk and Lady Mary becomes painfully evident to the Downton family and to Matthew Crawley. Mr. Pamuk invites Lady Mary into a back room and the chilling excitement at Downton continues!

Though Lady Mary appears restrained at first, she cannot get enough of Mr. Pamuk. When he comes to her bedroom later that night, she by no means makes any attempt to make him leave. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens, and he falls dead in her arms.

Lady Mary is instantly thrown into an emotional roller coaster when she is forced to ask Anna, the housemaid, and her mother to help her move Mr. Pamuk back into his bedroom. If the Downton family finds out that Mr. Pamuk was in her bedroom, then she will be publicly shamed forever. Though Lady Grantham is disgusted by Mary’s idiotic decision, she promises to keep it a secret from the rest of the Downton household.

Pamuk’s tragic death, however, proves to be too much for Lady Mary. In many ways, he taught her a great deal about being human. Although Lady Mary always seems to be in control of everything, he taught her that in other ways she is still also very immature. Another important lesson he taught her was that money doesn't mean everything, and it most certainly cannot prevent death. It is here that I think Lady Mary’s character will change for the remainder of the show. She can no longer be cold and mean to all of her suitors, and she must find meaning in her life besides simply marriage and money. 

But Pamuk’s death also has a profound impact downstairs as the servants debate whether Pamuk died of natural causes. The news of Pamuk’s death also troubles Lord Grantham, as he is worried that Pamuk’s death at the Downton estate will ruin his reputation. Mr. Carson, on the other hand, reveals a softer side of his personality when he tries to console Lady Mary by telling her that she is his favorite. Perhaps just like Lady Mary, Mr. Carson also finds status to be a defining factor in his life.

With status being a central theme to the show, it is also revealed that there will not be a romantic relationship between Mr. Napier and Lady Mary. Due to everything that has gone on during his stay at Downton, there is simply no hope for their future as a couple.

Overall, this was a wonderful episode. In my opinion, it sets the course for the remainder of the season. The tragedy of Pamuk’s death injects a theme of mystery into the British drama that gives it an even more addictive quality. Mr. Pamuk seemed like the epitome of a handsome and  healthy foreigner, and it will be interesting to see if he really did die from natural causes. Could there be some hidden agenda behind his death? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see...  

Series 1: Episode 2

The tides have changed at Downton Abbey with the arrival of Matthew Crawley (played by Dan Stevens) and his unconventional mother, Isobel Crawley (played by Penelope Wilton). Last episode, Lord and Lady Grantham invited the Crawley’s to stay at Downton Abbey with the hope that Matthew Crawley would become the new heir to the Grantham title by marrying their eldest daughter, Lady Mary (played by Michelle Dockery). Though Lady Mary isn’t thrilled with the arrival of her distant cousin, Matthew, and her parents manipulative ways, it will be interesting to watch how the unlikely relationship progresses. 

Another interesting development in this episode is the introduction of yet another technological innovation. In the beginning of the episode, creator Julian Fellowes introduces the automobile as an available mode of transportation. In the previous episode, the telegram was also introduced as a mode of communication that successfully delivered the news of the ‘Titanic’. Perhaps these references to technological developments will prove to be instrumental as the series continues. In many ways, these subtle references to technological developments allowed me to properly situate the program in both space and time.

But the introduction of the automobile is not the sole reason for excitement at Downton Abbey. Matthew Crawley and his mother Isobel, both have trouble fitting in at the Downton estate due to their lack of propriety. This obvious lack of decorum becomes central to the theme of the episode as it clearly divides the inhabitants of Downton from their new guests. Though Matthew’s mother Isobel is determined to fit in with the Downton family, Matthew struggles with the new change in circumstances. Even though Matthew Crawley is trained as a lawyer, the Downton household quickly makes it clear that Mr. Crawley is by no means a “gentleman” by society’s definition.

Status, then, becomes a central theme to the history of Downton Abbey.  For example, while at dinner, the cold and arrogant Lady Mary, compares the middle-class Matthew Crawley to an ugly sea monster by way of Greek legend.  She further articulates that because he does not hunt, or use his knife properly, that he is completely unsuitable for marriage. Lord Grantham, on the other hand, tries to make Matthew more comfortable at Downton by taking him on a walk around the grounds. It is on this walk that Lord Grantham expresses one of my favorite metaphors for Downton:

Lord Grantham: “ You do not love the place yet. You see a million bricks that may crumble, a thousand gutters and pipes that may block and leak, and stone that will crack in the frost”

Matthew Crawley: “And, you don’t?”

Lord Grantham: “No, I see my life’s work”

This exchange of dialogue further embeds the importance of status to the Crawley family.This idea of aristocratic status also plays into the relationship between Isobel Crawley and Countess Violet (played by Maggie Smith). Though Countess Violent has the luxury of status, it is Isobel who sees the importance of women in the workplace. The very idea of a proper woman holding  an occupation, is clearly foreign to the Downton household. However, Isobel proves her worth as a nurse when she saves the life of a Downton farmer by suggesting a modern treatment. This act of decency not only makes Isobel a hero of Downton, but it persuades Lord Grantham to name her Chairman of the Board. This development upsets Countess Violet, as Isobel’s promotion places her on an equal playing field with Countess Violet.

The upper-crust drama continues as the servants of Downton also struggle to define their household responsibilities. Thomas (played by Rob James-Collier) and Mrs. O’Brien (played by Siobhan Finneran ) continue to complain about their position in the hierarchy of servants, while Daisy (played by Sophie McShera) begins to form a crush on Thomas. Furthermore, Mr. Carson’s past as an entertainer is revealed when an old friend exposes his participation in “The Cheerful Charlie’s” to the Crawley family. Though Carson is humiliated, and offers to resign from his position at Downton, Lord Grantham decides to keep Carson as his Butler at the Downton estate. 

If this exciting chain of events didn’t make you dizzy during the second episode, what about the renewed friendship between Mr. Carson and Mr. Bates at the end ? I never thought that those two would ever see eye to eye, but maybe there are more relationships to be rekindled in the Downton household. 

So far, Downton Abbey has really captured my attention as a first-time viewer. Not only do I enjoy the beautiful costumes, but  I am very excited to watch the character development of Lady Mary and Mr. Bates. Maybe in the next few episodes Bates will finally reveal an attraction towards Anna, the head housemaid. I’m not sure if there is an attraction yet between the two characters, but I am eager to watch the development of their relationship!

Downton Abbey- Series 1: Episode 1

After watching the first episode of Downton Abbey, I was instantly hooked to the PBS Masterpiece classic. However, I have to admit that I was very skeptical at first about the captivating period piece.

Though the British television series seems much like Pride and Prejudice in the beginning, the exciting historical reference to the sinking of the Titanic brilliantly sets the tone for the remainder of the series. 

In the first few moments of the series premiere, viewers are invited into the home of the aristocratic Crawley family. The Crawley family resides at Downtown Abbey, and they are constantly surrounded by several of their loyal servants. In the beginning of the episode, Lord Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) is alerted by telegram that his cousin and his son have died as a result of the sinking of the Titanic. His cousins’ son Patrick, was engaged to the Grantham’s eldest daughter, Lady Mary (played by Michelle Dockery). As a result, Lady Mary is left without a fiancé, and the Crawley family no longer has an heir to the Downton estate. This terrible tragedy becomes significant to the plot of the show, as it begins to change the lives of the Downton family forever.

But the sinking of the Titanic is not the only exciting development that occurs during the first episode. In the first half of the episode, viewers are introduced to the interesting and delightful characters that inhabit Downton Abbey. Mr. Carson (played by Jim Carter), who plays the Butler of Downton Abbey always seems to be the deliverer of bad news throughout the entirety of the episode. What is more, he also has seems to have a watchful eye over the rest of the Downton servants.

Later on, Mr. Carson introduces the crippled Mr. Bates (played by Brendan Coyle) to the rest of the servants at Downton. Mr. Bates is the new valet that has been personally selected by Lord Grantham to work at Downton Abbey. The other servants of Downton are not so keen on Mr. Bates when they realize he is a fellow comrade of Lord Grantham. Thomas, the first footman, and Miss O’Brien, the lady’s maid, make it their duty to force Mr. Bates out of Downton Abbey before he even has a chance to prove himself to the aristocratic Crawley family.

Another interesting quality I found about the servants at Downton Abbey, is the evident hierarchy between maids, servants, cooks, footmen, and valet’s. Throughout the episode, there are several references to the responsibilities and relationships that are allowed by each position. None of these references are more significant in my opinion than the exchange of dialogue between Daisy and Mrs. Patmore in the Downton kitchen. 

Finally, one of the most intriguing events of the episode is the arrival of The Duke of Crowborough (played by Charlie Cox). Lord and Lady Grantham hope that The Duke will make an offer of marriage to Lady Mary, but The Duke willingly tells Lord Grantham that he has no intention of courting Lady Mary or becoming an heir to the Downton estate. But The Duke has a much bigger secret he is hiding. Towards the end of the episode, the show reveals that The Duke is gay, and he is having an affair with the footman, Thomas. Though I thought that this scandalous revelation would conclude the first episode, there was still one more twisted surprise. 

At the very end of the episode, Lord Grantham sends a telegram to Matthew Crawley (played by Dan Stevens), who is a distant cousin of the Crawley family. Lord and Lady Grantham have decided that Matthew is the next best heir to the Downton estate. This exciting turn of events sets the tone for future episodes to come.

After observing the exciting and complicated relationships of the Crawley family during the first episode, I can’t wait to see what writer Julian Fellowes has in store for the remainder of the first season. Though Downton Abbey is not a series I have followed in the past, the historical references, elegant costumes, and charming characters of Downton have completely captured my critical attention.