EDITH, DON’T HAVE A BABY! IT WILL KILL YOU!!!
Yes, the babies are cursed at Downton Abbey. Apparently, if it is a girl, the mom dies. If it’s a boy, then the father rolls his convertible. So Cora should be thanking O’Brien for “Her Ladyship’s Soap.”
Well, I had heard the rumor that Dan Stevens who plays Matthew did not sign on for Season 4 so when Lord Grantham’s speech about two heirs played over Matthew speeding down a country lane, I just knew. I was just surprised that he was written out in such a way that he could not return. No coma or nothing. No “working abroad”. Dead, it seems. Oh well. Maybe there will be a Downton Afterlife spin off where Matthew tells Lavinia that they could never be together in Heaven because he won’t betray Mary.
Even more disturbing than Matthew eating it right after his son is born? A character named Shrimpie.
The Downton clan goes to Scotland to see Rose and her parents, Shrimpie and Shrew. I mean, Susan. Deer stalking and fly fishing fun ensues! Also, a ghillies’ ball. Anna surprises Bates by learning to dance for the ball which I thought was a little rude considering his leg but he was quite proud. No one was proud of Moseley’s dancing however, who had another “Oh, Moseley!” moment when he drank the spiked punch meant for O’Brien. O’Brien and Susan’s maid clashed because Susan liked the way O’Brien did her hair but her maid just couldn’t get it right! Yeah, that Susan is a charmer. But her husband’s name is Shrimpie so you have to cut her a little slack.
Edith’s editor friend, Gregson, just happens to be in Scotland, too, can you believe it? He stops by to get to know the Granthams better because if they think he’s a good guy then they’ll ignore the fact that he’s married to a woman in an asylum. Matthew encourages Gregson to break it off with Edith because no good can come of it. Edith agrees…at the beginning of the episode. At the ball, she decides to continue seeing him. Perhaps it was to spite Mary who said, “Oh God, not another one of your hard luck cases?” Even Matthew has to later acknowledge, ” You can be horrid when you want to be” but tells her he knows her true, wonderful self. Later, they have a lovely moment mooning over their new son where Mary tells him, “I hope I can be your Mary Crawley for eternity.” Then the infant’s eyes roll back in his head and his devil voice says, “Eternity ends tonight! THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE HEIR!” OK. That last part didn’t happen.
Lord Grantham was a little jealous of his cousin Shrimpie because he kept up the traditional ways of the manor. But not only is Shrimpie in a loveless marriage and going to India and named Shrimpie, Duneagle Castle is bankrupt. So LG finally realizes that Matthew’s plan for Downton Abbey is a good one. I hope he had time to tell Matthew this before he got in the car!
Meanwhile back at Downton Abbey, Branson has stayed behind because he probably couldn’t say Shrimpie with a straight face. I’m just guessing. Anyway, a new maid, Edna, starts hitting on him big time. While she’s trying to get with him, she’s making him feel bad for not hanging out downstairs anymore. Mrs. Hughes lets her go for being so forward and familiar with Branson. She may have also let her go because she doesn’t want another Ethel on her hands. Or another person around with an “E” name. (I’m just saying that I’ve often called Edith, Ethel and vice versa in my notes. Julian Fellowes, pick a new letter.)
Mrs. Hughes also had to break some bad news to Mrs. Patmore. The new food supplier, Mr. Tufton, takes a liking to Mrs. P. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hughes witnesses him being a big ole dog at the fair and has to tell her that he only wanted her for her cooking. Much to my relief, Mrs. Patmore was relieved.
Yes, there was a fair! The downstairs crew attended and won a tug-o-war contest. Jimmy had bet some locals and got stinkin’ drunk from the winnings. He stumbled into some of them who wanted to get back the money. Who can save him? Why, Thomas of course! He jumps in and tells Jimmy to run. And he does. Rude. But at least it was to get Dr. Clarkson. Later, Jimmy goes to see how Thomas and his wounds are doing. He asks him why he followed him and Thomas is like, why do you think? “I can never give you what you want,” he tells Thomas. He knows but he at least wants to be friends. Jimmy seems cool with that. (Thomas, are you planning on being evil ever again? Because currently, you’re awesome.)
What else did I learn from Part 7? Someone else got a friend speech, too. I’m looking at you, Dr. Clarkson. He asked Isobel to the fair and then not-so-subtlely asked if Isobel was open to getting married again. She responded with a “I love my life and having great friends like you, Doc.” It’s happened to the best of us, Dr. Clarkson. Also, Ivy and Daisy are friends now. Rose is coming to live at Downton Abbey. Carson would rather eat broken glass than have fun at a fair. Isis was only spotted four times. And Maggie Smith didn’t have many good lines!
Except this: “That’s the thing about nature, there’s so much of it.”
But Thomas wins with the response to “She’s a woman, isn’t she?” about Mrs. Patmore: “Only technically.” (Ah, there’s still some of that old Thomas in there.)
What will Season 4 bring, I wonder?
