PBS was very smart to include the pre-end credits message: “Season Two now in production.” Because the other scenario would be: Blackout, “What?”, credits, “But–“, Antiques Roadshow ad, “Nothing’s been resolved!” I’m happy to report that more Downton Abbey goodness will be arriving stateside about a year from now. I know, a year. But it’s enough of a nibble to keep me going…
How were things left? A little lacking in the Maggie Smith/Penelope Wilton sparring department. Somebody needs to get on an Epic Dowager Countess/Mrs. Crawley Battle Fan Fic pronto.
While that is hopefully being generated somewhere in the ether, let’s have a Bates Updates™:
- Bates was accused of stealing wine by Thomas, O’Brien and a naïve Daisy
- Daisy feels bad, tells truth
- Bates confesses to Carson, Anna and Hughes that he was a drunk and thief
- Anna finds out from Bates’ mom (!) that his wife was the thief and he confessed to save her
- Bates fancies Anna!
Result: Sorry, Bates, you tried to make us think that you were at one time no good but you have always been noble. You sweet thing.
A little sad that Thomas got to quit to volunteer to do medical help for the war before Carson was able to fire him. Where was the “You’re a disgrace!” scene? Season Two, don’t let me down. O’Brien, at least, had a “You’re better than this” realization after she kicked some soap for Lady Grantham to slip on coming out of the bath. It was a great scene where O’Brien is a second too late to tell her to be careful and then: scream! Quite the fall since it resulted in the Lady’s miscarriage. Oh! Lady Grantham was pregnant.
Yeah, the pregnancy made the whole “Who’s the heir of Grantham?” thing come up again. Matthew was a little let down for a moment about possibly not being the heir. But the next moment? Soap.
Mary v Edith got really ugly this episode. I confess I’m on Mary’s side. Don’t go writing to foreign dignitaries about your sister’s dead Turk business. Keep that in the family. So I must say I was delighted when Mary ruined Edith’s potential proposal. Although, Mary also ruined her own with Matthew by “waiting and seeing” what his prospects will turn out to be. Damn, Mary, go with your heart. But that’s kind of why I root for Mary: she’s been so pressured with her firstborn responsibilities to land a respectable marriage, that she doesn’t know what to do or what she really wants. There’s a confused girl under that bitch.
Meanwhile, the third sister, Lady Sybil, is getting all progressive and political and feminist and cool. She got knocked out at a political rally but was saved by Matthew and the Chauffeur. Another Fan Fic idea: The Chauffeur and Lady Sybil. Get on it, people.
And Lady Sybil finally helped Gwen get a job as a secretary. I wish I could phonetically spell out how Gwen says “secretary”. Because it is awesome.
So what did I learn from Downton Abbey Part Four? Nothing spoils a garden party like an England-is-entering-into-war-with-Germany announcement. And nice guys will eventually win out if PBS loves me at all.
