This was quite the action-packed ep. And there was even a Baby Bump montage thrown in as well. Where to begin…
First off, I half-expected for the footman to return with some explanation like, “He’s been released into our care” or whatever and he’d be back polishing silver. Oh no. He’s in jail, I guess. No sign of him. Thank you, Up/Do 2.0 for your verisimilitude. (Hat tip to Kim for “Up/Do 2.0”!)
Now, Part Two. A new maid shows up who mysteriously knows how to clean mothy fur. She rooms with Ivy who I finally figured out was the girl who played Anne Frank, Ellie Kendrick. I’m ashamed it too me this long. Meanwhile Lady Persie is getting friendlier with the chauffeur who is getting Fascism-ier. He even wears a Fascism uniform to the dinner table which freaks the hell out of the new maid. See, she’s an escaped Jew from Germany. Rachel, the maid, also has a husband in prison, a secret daughter and a wicked asthma condition. Mr. Amanjit, Lady Maud’s personal secretary, becomes her confidante. I’ll admit it: at this point, I became a Rachel/Amanjit shipper. She got him into the Downstairs gang so that he doesn’t have to eat alone in the study. Just when I was thinking of a “Team…” name, well, I don’t want to spoil but…don’t get used to Rachel.
And the Upstairs crew? Well, Sir Hallam is stressed at work with Haile Selassie visiting and such. Pregnant Lady Agnes does not notice her husband’s fatigue because she is pram-shoppin’! A point dear ol’ Mom is happy to point out. Meow.
Action sequence! Lady Persie and the Fascist Chauffeur participate in a march. A march that Amanjit and Rachel go to protest. It erupts in a fight. Afterwards, Amanjit picks up some marbles, saying that the children threw them to trip up the horses. All of this excitement gives Rachel another asthma attack. Her final asthma attack, sadly. Damn, we only had one episode with her.
Sir and Lady Holland are called downstairs to speak to Downstairs. Lotte, Rachel’s daughter, is there. What do we do with her? Lady Agnes suggests contacting a relative in Germany to take her in. She didn’t quite get the “escaped because we’re Jewish” thing. Sir, however, declares that she live with them when Lotte gives him some marbles. This is where I think I missed something. Either he was just moved by the gift or he somehow knew the story about the kids, the marbles, the protest and the horses. I’ll assume Amanjit told him because Amanjit is the conscience of the house. He also spouts little gems like, “It’s as if we keep our secrets, we keep our dignity.”
See how long this post is? A lot happened…
So what did I learn from Up/Do 2.0? All spoiled rich girls will go to Fascist lengths to rebel and get with the “help”. Steam from a kettle was the go-to asthma relief in 1936. And there’s heavy turnover downstairs at 165 Eaton Square.
