Downton Abbey Series 4 Premiers in the UK This Sunday!

I haven't spoke much lately about my deep love of Downton Abbey. This year's trailer is out, which indicates an amazing season of new faces, new trials, and changes for many characters. The series premiers in the UK this coming Sunday, but fans in the States must wait until January 5, 2014 before the series runs on PBS.





With the death of her beloved Matthew six months before, Lady Mary is in a time of transition; trying to find her way as a single mother and to keep Downton thriving for her son and heir, George. As you can tell from this trailer, the detached Mary we met in Season 1 has returned. At least we can blame a bit of that on the pain of her loss.

Lady Edith, however, is poised to take this ever-changing world by storm as she embraces her independence. What will happen between her and her very married editor, Gregson?

Lord Grantham, who right before Matthew's untimely death, embraced his and Tom's plans for the future of Downton may need to switch gears. And what role will Lady Mary play in the estate's management now that Matthew is gone? Is love in Tom's future?

Downstairs looks like it will be just as exciting if you can judge by the clips in that video trailer. Daisy's future was up in the air last season as Mr. Mason asked her to consider moving to the farm with the plan she will eventually inherit it. Will the softer side of Thomas be a permanent fixture around the house or is that a thing of the past? How about Jimmy, Alfred, and Ivy--the young servants at Downton--will they remain satisfied in service? What do Anna, Bates, Mrs.Hughes, Mrs. Patmore, and Mr. Carson have to look forward to or dread?

Downton Abbey Addicts shared this synopsis from the first episode:

Following Matthew’s untimely death, new mother Mary is struggling to come to terms with her loss. Robert and Violet disagree on how to bring her through it. Downstairs, hearts are set to be broken as Jimmy finally takes an interest in Ivy. Carson has an unwelcome reminder of his past while Mrs Hughes sees an opportunity to help grief stricken Isobel. Thomas is up to his old tricks and has the children’s Nanny in his sights.

Are you eagerly awaiting the start of Downton Abbey? I'm going to find it hard not to look for spoilers after it airs in the UK.

What Downton Abbey Writers Did Well in Season 3 (Part 2)

Now we'll move from upstairs to downstairs. There is much moving and shaking down here as well. Please be aware there are spoilers ahead.

Since the servants have no idea that Lord Grantham has lost Cora's fortune, they can't understand why they aren't working with a full staff. Again, we see Fellowes taking that main problem revealed in the first episode and showing how it impacts the entire household. The staff is trying to prepare for Matthew and Mary's wedding day, but having a tough time of it. When Mr. Carson asks his lordship for more help, he is flatly refused.

O'Brien, however, does manage to get her nephew, Alfred, installed as the new footman by pleading with her ladyship, who persuades Lord Grantham. And here is where the next major plot--in my opinion--comes from. When Bates was imprisoned for the murder of his ex-wife Vera, Thomas Barrow took over as Lord Grantham's valet. Everyone is certain, however, that Bates will be exonerated and return to Downton Abbey, meaning Thomas will be demoted. By bringing Alfred to Downton, O'Brien, Barrow's only friend and conspirator, creates a rival for Thomas, and he's destined not to lose. O'Brien isn't about the be bested either, and works her evil magic throughout the servants' quarters for the rest of the season with disastrous results.

Downstairs this season should be called the Season of Unrequited Love. Daisy is attracted to Alfred. Alfred is attracted to Ivy (a new hire once the money issues are solved), and Ivy likes James (Jimmy), another new footman. Thomas also likes Jimmy, and thanks to O'Brien's meddling, he believes Jimmy feels the same way.  Being gay during this time period, however, was very dangerous. It was a crime. Believing O'Brien's lies leads Thomas to approach Jimmy while he's sleeping. When he awakens to find Thomas kissing him, Jimmy freaks out and threatens to go to the police if Thomas isn't let go without a reference (you can thank O'Brien for that idea, too).

Thomas plays an increased role in Season 3. We see a softer side to this villain when he cries over Lady Sybil's death. Though he rarely shares much about his life with the others, he admits to Anna (Mary's lady's maid and Bates's wife) that Lady Sybil was one of the few people who was ever kind to him.

A year passes between the episode where Thomas is caught kissing Jimmy and the final episode. Viewers are left to wonder what has transpired between Jimmy, Thomas, and Alfred--who witnessed Thomas's advances--during that time. We see in the final episode that Jimmy is still uncomfortable around Thomas, who ended up with a promotion to under butler after the dust settled. And in this final episode, Fellowes does something brilliant: he makes Thomas a hero of sorts.

Jimmy has always been too cocky for his own good. When the fair comes to town, Mr. Carson lets the servants take time off while the family is away on holiday in Scotland, to attend. Jimmy bets on the tug of war race, and when the Downton team wins, he ends up making a tidy sum, which he stupidly flaunts all over the place. Getting quite drunk, Jimmy wanders off where he is accosted by two men intent on robbing him. Thomas had been following Jimmy. He ends up taking the beating meant for Jimmy, who runs off. In a moving discussion, Jimmy visits Thomas in his room some time after the beating and asks him why he did it. "You know why," says Thomas. He admits to following him because he was afraid he might get into trouble. Jimmy is impressed with Thomas's bravery and agrees they might try to be friends.

The coming changes are perhaps seen best through the eyes of Daisy and her father-in-law, Mr. Mason. Though her husband William died in the war, Daisy has remained close to Mr. Mason. She visits the farm upon occasion. During one visit, Mr. Mason suggests she leave Downton Abbey and come live with him, learning how to run the farm, which he intends to pass on to her. He tells her that the days of the big houses are ending and she won't be working in service forever.

We see  growth and changes in Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Anna, and Mrs. Patmore during Season 3, too. We see how Lady Sybil's death affects Mr. Carson, who had known Sybil her entire life. Mrs. Hughes has a health scare, invests in a new invention called the toaster, and grows closer to Mr. Carson. Mrs. Patmore is courted for the first time in many years. Anna, who is separated from her husband, Bates, for most of the season, works hard to see him freed from prison.

Fellowes wrote many moving and brilliant scenes in Season 3. And though there were some disappointments along the way, overall, he has proven himself capable of carrying on such a grand endeavor as Downton Abbey.

They are already filming Season 4. I follow this blog for spoilers and photos. I hope that despite the actors who left after their three-year contracts were up, the new characters and those that continue to be part of this stellar period drama will keep viewers watching.

What Downton Abbey Writers Did Well in Season 3 (Part 1)

In the absence of anything of value to report for You've Got Mail Monday, I wanted to follow up my Downton Abbey Season 3 Finale post with a discussion of the great things about Season 3. Be forewarned, if you haven't watched the third season yet, there are spoilers ahead.

Let's start upstairs. In the opening scenes of the first episode, Lord Grantham learns one of his investments has gone bad, very bad. He loses the lion's share of Cora's fortune, which sets the scene for everything that will transpire for the rest of the season. I love how creator and writer Julian Fellowes starts immediately with the main issue and how he builds an entire season around it, just like he did in Season 1 with the entail and Season 2 with World War I. Yes, there are other issues that branch off of the larger problem, but everything ties in nicely.

Matthew and Lady Mary end on a happy note in Season 2, but that isn't destined to last. After the family learns of Robert's misstep, Mary and the Dowager Countess conspire to influence Cora's mother, Martha Levinson to help save the estate. When they realize why it won't work, Mary hopes that Matthew will agree to take the Squire fortune to save Downton. Of course, that would be too easy. The honest and honorable Matthew does not want to take the money because he feels he did wrong by Lavinia. While recovering from the Spanish Flu she learned Matthew was in love with Mary despite being engaged to her. Matthew believes this news was responsible for her relapse and ultimately her death. Even once the whole money issue is settled, Mary and Matthew find themselves warring over Matthew's plans to modernize the estate against Lord Grantham's wishes. Their troubles carry over until the last couple of episodes, where we finally see them looking forward to a life of wedded bliss and influencing the future of Downton.

Poor Lady Edith. If she didn't have bad luck she would have none at all. Not as beautiful as her stunning older sister and not as much of a rebel as her younger sister, she's been ignored most of her life. Just when things seem to be looking up for the middle Crawley daughter, she gets jilted at the altar by a conscience-stricken Sir Anthony Strallan, who realizes marrying a crippled man old enough to be her father is not what's best for her. Unlike her married sisters, she's expected to break the fast at the table instead of in bed. It's at this table she receives the news that an article she wrote has attracted the attention of Michael Gregson, an editor who offers her a job writing for his publication. Of course, Lord Grantham is against it, claiming Gregson is only after her name. She is an amateur, after all. Does anyone other than me wish Lord Grantham would get off his high horse?

Lady Sybil is destined to be just as big in death as she was in life. Her spirit will be felt through the halls of Downton Abbey for years to come. After marrying the chauffeur, Tom Branson, they move to Ireland and live the life of regular people without servants where she is known as Mrs. Branson. Their return to the estate for Matthew and Mary's wedding is filled with controversy. Lord Grantham didn't want Tom there and it was his mother who gave them the money to come. Tom is just as much of a rebel as ever, and Mr. Carson isn't having an easy time adjusting to Tom's move from servant to member of the family--like many of them. After the wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Branson return to Ireland until a tragic event brings them back to the estate.

Now, unable to return to the land of his birth, Tom feels like a man without a home. Life doesn't get any easier. According to Dr. Clarkson, Lady Sybil shows all the signs of eclampsia, but the obstetrician Lord Grantham brings in to handle the delivery disagrees. Emotions run high after the birth of Tom's daughter, as the entire family watches Lady Sybil succumb to seizures that cut off her ability to breathe. "This can't be," says Lord Grantham. "She's only twenty-four years old."

While Lady Sybil's death is one of the saddest moments of Season 3, it is also one that was well-written by Fellowes, well-performed by the actors, and necessary for Tom's character to grow. If Sybil had lived, Tom never would have stepped out of her shadow. By the end of Season 3, we find Tom enlisted as the estate's agent, helping Matthew, and eventually their father-in-law, to modernize the estate and make it profitable.

Sybil's death brings about changes for other characters, too. Lady Mary and Lady Edith temporarily bury the hatchet and even share a hug to love each other as sisters should. Robert and Cora were at odds over how to deal with Dr. Clarkson's news of Sybil's condition, and Cora ends up blaming Robert for her death. It's not often we see this couple at odds, but Fellowes and the actors handle it superbly, making their reconciliation that much more powerful. And who can forget the Dowager Countess, overcome with grief over the loss of her youngest granddaughter, clutching a pillar for support as she walks across the entryway of the estate the next morning or grasping the mantle after she has finagled Dr. Clarkson to tell Robert and Cora that even if they had brought Lady Sybil to the hospital and performed a cesarean, she most likely would have died, allowing the healing to begin.

In my next post, we'll take a look at Season 3 downstairs.

Downton Abbey Season 3 Finale Doesn't Sit Well With Viewers

Photo: Giles Keyte, Carnival Film & Television Ltd. for Masterpiece

Season 3 of Downton Abbey has had its ups and downs. And while I think overall this season, which recently ended with an explosive finale that left many declaring they had no plans to tune in for Season 4, was a good one, it ended very badly.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Unless you've been living under a rock or purposefully avoided it, you've heard the major news about the untimely death of Matthew Crawley in the final moments of the episode. 

Photo credit: PBS

Unhappy with the storylines his character Matthew has been strapped with over the past three seasons, especially his Season 2 miraculous recovery from a war injury that left him paralyzed, Dan Stevens opted not to renew his contract. This left creator and writer Julian Fellowes with a big issue. The entire premise of Downton Abbey has centered around the entail and how the sinking of the Titanic and the presumed death of the heir to Downton brought Matthew from his solicitor's job to the estate as the next in line to inherit. Lord Grantham, the father of three lovely daughters, but no sons, isn't thrilled with the idea of a country bumpkin like Matthew Crawley inheriting, but if he's going to inherit the estate, then a pairing between Crawley and the oldest daughter, Lady Mary is best. And though they faced many obstacles--the war, Matthew's engagement to Lavinia Swire, the Spanish Flu, fertility issues, and more--Matthew and Mary finally tied the knot at the beginning of Season 3.

Since happiness is so hard to dramatize, according to Fellowes, Matthew and Mary's marriage would be plagued by fights over his ideas to modernize the running of the estate, sticking Mary in the middle of the two men she loves (her husband and her father), Matthew's desire to have children and Mary's desire to wait, and the tragic loss of Lady Sybil after giving birth, which found Mary and Matthew supporting their brother-in-law Tom's desire to see his daughter christened as a Catholic, while Lord Grantham was determined to fight it. 

When the dust finally settles during a cricket match, Lord Gratham concedes to Matthew's ideas on how to make Downton self-sustaining and profitable, Tom is in as the estate's new agent, and it looks like Matthew and Mary will finally enjoy wedded bliss and concentrate on doing their duty to produce an heir. 

The season finale picks up a year after the cricket match, with the family visiting cousins in Scotland. It was nice to see them in a different environment, but knowing Matthew's death was coming--since Season 3 wrapped up in Britain on Christmas and angry fans started screaming about it more than a month before the season begin in the States--made it less enjoyable. 

One of the reasons people--myself included--are so up in arms about Matthew's death, is because it was handled so poorly. Lady Sybil's death, while tragic, was not only realistic, it served a higher purpose. Tom could never grow into the man he will become or prove himself to the family if Sybil was there to push her family into liking him. The rift that occurred between Robert and Cora over Sybil's condition, would not have happened. I partially agree that happy couples are boring--just look at Anna and Bates now--so we need a bit of tension in Robert and Cora's relationship to make their healing and reconciliation a part of their growing together as a couple. 

The reused plot of killing off a parent on the day/night of his/her child's birth has also already been done in the case of Lady Sybil a few episodes earlier. Fellowes took the easy way out. Matthew was so blissfully happy at the birth of his son, he's busy thinking of how wonderful life is, his eyes looking into the sky instead of on the one-lane road in front of him where a truck is coming the other way. Really? That's how he meets his end? He survives a war and gets killed because he's too happy? Even an agents' blog I follow is talking about this poorly written ending. 

I feel the fans' reactions to Matthew's death will put a lot of pressure on Fellowes to come back with a stellar Season 4. News in recent days has found that all the main characters will be returning. The new season will start six months after Matthew's death, so we won't be subjected to another funeral. Fellowes is calling this season the "rebuilding of Mary," and there is a casting call out for a new love interest (also not sitting well with some fans). I plan to tune in, but if Season 4 doesn't come out strong I don't know if I'll be sticking with it. It will definitely be interesting to see how many viewers tune in as opposed to how many did for the first episode of Season 3.

Thanks Goodness Some Smiles for Residents of Downton Abbey

photo credit: pbs.org

Well thank goodness, some sun on the horizon for the residents of Downton Abbey, at least some of them anyway. If you haven't seen last Sunday's episode, you might want to stop reading now.

SPOILERS AHEAD

After the tragedy of Lady Sybil's death, the fights between Robert and Matthew over the future of the estate, and the tension over Baby Sybil being christened Catholic, everyone needed some cheering up.

Bates makes a quiet return to the estate, which is great news to everyone except Thomas Barrow, who will now be forced to step down as Head Valet. As we soon see, however, Bates's return is the least of Thomas's worries. After weeks of being fed lines from O'Brien that Jimmy appreciates Thomas's overtures, Mr. Barrow decides to act. He slips into Jimmy's room and attempts to kiss him while he's sleeping. Not only does Jimmy awaken, he's horrified. To make it worse, Alfred witnesses the whole thing.

As Thomas tries to explain to Mr. Carson, men like him have to try and read the signs, and he felt Jimmy was giving him those signs. While disgusted by the whole thing, Mr. Carson agrees to let Thomas go quietly with a good recommendation. Jimmy will have none of that. If Mr. Carson doesn't get rid of Thomas and provide him no reference, he'll go to the police.

Surprisingly, it's Thomas's nemesis Bates who comes to his rescue and gets O'Brien to call off the dogs; though ultimately it will take Lord Grantham's influence to squash the potential scandal.

I have to admit to not liking Bates much in this episode. Lord Grantham offers he and Anna a cottage, but when they get a peek at it, Bates does not show any gratitude. He only complains about its condition. Though it seems like Bates is almost letting bygones be bygones when he helps out Thomas, he's actually trying to get him a reference so he'll move on. His goodness is a bit clouded by these actions, and I can't help but wonder if prison has changed him more than we realize.

The arrival of cousin Rose brings with it a breath of fresh air. But this flapper is destined to bring shame on the family. This storyline bugged me, too. Having a flapper can add an interesting element to DA, but I don't know why they paired Rose with a married man. Though, this did give Matthew Crawley one of the best lines of the episode, "‘Married men who wish to seduce young women always have horrid wives."

I was glad to see Rose sent away, but I've heard rumors she'll be back next season. Part of me can't help but feel she is partially a replacement for Lady Sybil. The main difference is that Lady Sybil never stopped being a lady, despite her forward-thinking ways.

This also brings me to the disappointing storyline for Lady Edith. Someone finally recognizes her talents and he happens to be a married men who flirts with her, justifying it by telling her about his wife who is in an asylum and no longer knows him. I know World War I wiped out a lot of the men Edith's age, but can't they find one who isn't attached for her to fall in love with?

And though there is much more that takes place in this two-hour episode, I will only comment on two other things:  Mary and Matthew, and Matthew, Robert, and Tom.

Mary and Matthew have done their share of sparring lately. Matthew sees his plan as the future for Downton Abbey and Lord Grantham wants nothing to do with it. Mary's loyalties are torn between the man she loves and the father she adores. To complicate matters, Matthew and Mary have been trying to have a child without any results. Matthew is worried his war injury caused the problem. Mary isn't sure what it is, but she goes to the doctor without telling Matthew and discovers the problem is her. She secretly has surgery performed, but that means no physical relations with her hubby until she sees the doctor again. When they accidentally run into each other at the doctor in London, Mary spills the beans over lunch. Her aristocratic upbringing doesn't allow her to share the details with Matthew, but he's just relieved that she's still interested in him. And when she tells him she's in his corner with the plans for Downton, things couldn't be any better for the two lovebirds.

Throughout the episode, Robert is fighting Matthew's ideas for the future of Downton, but he has Tom in his corner. They all meet with the estate's manager, Jarvis, who ends up resigning in a huff. I liked how Cora stuck up for Robert when Matthew said the last time he took an interest he ruined the family. At breakfast one morning, Tom has a pointed conversation with Robert, telling him for Downton to survive they must pool their resources and work as a team. Impressed with how Tom expresses himself and Matthew's ideas, Robert agrees to give it a go. At the end of the cricket match against the villagers, Robert, Matthew, and Tom share a manly group hug, painting a happy picture for Lord Grantham and his sons-in-law.

Tomorrow night is the Christmas special. I already know some of what is going to happen, so this happiness seems like it will be short-lived. I can't imagine going almost another year before Season 4 airs. I might have to break down and buy Seasons 1 - 3 on DVD, so I can get my Downton fix. I also have some Downton Abbey fanfiction ideas brewing. This is a wonderful period drama. And I highly recommend it.

WSJ Wednesday: Downton Abbey and Class Warfare

The Wall Street Journal has become the only paper I read. Why? Because like the geek that I am, I enjoy politics, business news, book reviews, and the chance to look at some mansions every once in a while--which they feature in their own special section.

In the Saturday/Sunday, February 2 - 3, 2013 edition of the Journal, I found an article that capitalized on my love of politics and my favorite current television show, Downton Abbey. Raymond Zhong, an editorial page writer for The Wall Street Journal Europe, sat down with Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of Downton Abbey, to discuss its appeal, but also some of the criticism it garners. Fellowes says he doesn't understand the accusation of snobbery, because he feels it's the opposite of that partially because all of the characters are taken seriously:  upstairs and downstairs. In addition, his mother came from an upper-middle-class family, but his paternal aunts always looked down on her because of she was descended from traders and farmers. One can assume this would impact his work.

Now that I've gone the scenic route in finding a focus for my article, I found a few things that Fellowes said about Americans thought-provoking. "...I think politicians try to encourage us to think in a hostile sense [of] people who have a different circumstance to our own. Which I find very unproductive and uncreative."

The man doesn't even live here, but he knows us so well. Actually, I think he was more referring to life across the pond, but it definitely applies to America, too. All political parties use class as a source of division. Instead of helping Americans to find their common ground, they seek to divide us to further their own agendas.

But then Fellowes says something that makes me shake my head. "...the impression I get is that there is not the kind of obligation to dislike those who are better off or be frightened of those who are worse off...The Americans, I think, are better at seeing themselves as a kind of community--that the important thing is to be an American."

Well, we might be better at it than the people of Great Britain, but if anything, the Tea Party movement, the Occupy Wall Street movement, and union versus non-union scuffles are just some ways in which we are made to feel some type of obligation to dislike those who are different than you. I'm fairly certain most people have heard about the 1% versus the 99%. If that isn't divisive, I don't know what is.

But I think my favorite comment by Fellowes is about history and our pasts. "..you'd go into the attics of some of these houses and there would be lines of bedrooms, and in some cases, there'd be nameplates, and it would say 'Mary' on it, and inside was an old iron bedstead. And you had a real sense, then, of a life that you just missed..."

As a lover of history and a believer in preservation, I am fascinated by this concept of "a life that you just missed." We all come into this world with hopes and dreams. We aspire to leave our mark on the world in even the tiniest of ways. And those that come after us, preserve whatever legacy we leave behind. I think that's all been lost in a world that focuses more on what divides us--the haves and the have-nots as it is often said--because we aren't taught to cherish what we have anymore. We're taught to always want more. That's a concern for a mother of two young children:  how to steer our daughters' focus from never being satisfied to feeling blessed. It's a regular battle, because I grew up with next to nothing. Even with the challenges our family deals with living primarily on one income, I'm grateful because I already have been blessed with more than I had as a kid, and because I don't take things for granted. I'm not unhappy because Bill Gates and Donald Trump or even Cam Neely have more than I do.

What a better world this might be if could find a way to focus on common goals rather than be torn apart by our differences. How would that change the political arena? Could you imagine a world where Democrats aren't labeled as bleeding-hearts and Republicans aren't accused of only caring about the wealthy? Could they then be more productive in improving our economy and in building a better world for future generations?   I fear what I hope for is an impossible to reach utopia.

Trouble Brewing Upstairs and Downstairs at Downton Abbey

SPOILERS AHEAD. STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN SEASON 3, EPISODE 5.

As the last of the mourners leave Downton Abbey, a somber Lord Grantham and Carson seemed dwarfed by a house filled with tragedy. As I said in my last post about DA, dark days are ahead. Perhaps the only tiny glimmer of light is that it looks like Bates will soon be returning home. Thank God, because I don't think I can stand any more of those dreadful prison scenes.

In preparation for tomorrow night's episode, a brief review of last week's episode is in order. Lord Grantham is destined to continue his desperate attempt to hold onto the past while the world is quickly changing around him. With Tom's announcement that he will name his newborn daughter Sybil and that he will christen her a Catholic, Lord Grantham has just about had his fill. And just when you think he might explode if he has to take any more, his wife, daughters, and mother attended a luncheon at Isobel's house which was prepared by her new kitchen maid, Ethel, who was previously making a living as a prostitute. He storms over there demanding his family leave at once, only to have to tuck his tail between his legs and run home alone. And let's not forget that Matthew keeps pushing for him to review new ideas on how to make Downton Abbey profitable. Even Mary is not agreeing with her father these days. It is she who announces at the dinner table in front of everyone that Lady Sybil confessed she wanted the baby to be christened Catholic. It is she who tells her father that it is nice Tom wants to name the baby Sybil and who isn't afraid to tell her father that the reason he's angry is because things aren't going his way. Prior to Lady Sybil's death this conversation might have been between Lady and Lord Grantham, but Cora is still avoiding him like the plague, blaming him for not heeding Dr. Clarkson's advice to bring Sybil to the hospital.

That brings me to my one bone with this episode. Poor Dr. Clarkson. Even when he's right, he's wrong. The Dowager Countess, concerned for her son and daughter-in-law asks Dr. Clarkson to tell Lord and Lady Grantham that even if Lady Sybil had been brought to the hospital she probably would have died anyway, in the hopes this will help Cora forgive Robert and allow them to grieve for their loss together. At least he sticks it to Sir Philip Tapsell when he informs them of this news destined to start the healing of their marriage.

Downstairs, Mrs. Patmore sums it up nicely, “You know the trouble with you lot is that you’re all in love with the wrong people.” While Daisy pines for Alfred, Alfred hopes to catch the eye of Ivy, and Ivy thinks Jimmy is a dream. Problem is so does Thomas, who is being set up to take a huge fall thanks to O'Brien. This can't end nicely for those involved.

Daisy does get some grand news, however. When she visits Mr. Mason, he tells Daisy he wants her to come and live at the farm and learn the trade because he plans to leave it all to her some day. Hmmm...from servant to land owner. How do you like them apples?

The picture above is from perhaps the most touching scene of the entire episode. Mary and Matthew come up to check on Tom and Baby Sybil. Here, we get a glimpse of how these three adults and perhaps Tom's daughter might hold the key to the future of Downton. It is obvious at this moment how much Matthew wants children; and for the first time, I feel viewers get a glimpse that Mary might really be changing her mind about waiting.

The previews of Sunday night's episode include Rose, so we'll have to get used to another new character making her way to Downton Abbey. I can't help but feel her addition is in some way a replacement for the loss of Lady Sybil, but only time will tell.

Dark Days Ahead at Downton Abbey

I've watched Sunday night's episode of Downton Abbey three times and I still can't make it through without crying. Tragedy has befallen the Crawleys, and I daresay, it will be a long healing process for the entire household--upstairs and downstairs.

Without giving too much away, I must admit the direction they are taking Lord Grantham's character isn't appealing to me. His pig-headed ways have endangered the future of Downton and played a role in the most recent tragedy. He is trying to hold onto a world that is slowing slipping away, but he won't admit it. He is the master of the house and he expects the women to obey him and support his decisions.

Now, that's not a problem for Lady Mary. Playing a typical oldest daughter to perfection, her father has no faults in her eyes. She is entirely against her husband Matthew's interference in running the estate, despite the fact that she encouraged him to become familiar with the business and his money is what saved their home. When she overhears him talking to the lawyer about the mismanagement he has discovered, she takes him to task. Lady Mary, like her father, wishes to maintain the traditions and hierarchy that are becoming a thing of the past. I fear, like her father, she is going to have a hard time adjusting to a post-World War I world.

Edith gets some good news, but her father still thinks he knows better than she does. And unknowingly, Lord Grantham pokes a stake in Matthew's tender heart when he tells him he'll understand when he's a father, not realizing Matthew desperately wants to have children and is afraid the injuries he sustained in the war might have affected his fertility.

Finally, we see a total clashing of the social classes as Dr. Clarkson and Sir Philip Tapsell, the obstetrician hired by Lord Grantham, argue over what is best for Lady Sybil during childbirth. One can understand why Lord Grantham is unsure of Dr. Clarkson based upon past experiences, but how he could ignore the common sense pleadings of his wife Cora when she says that Dr. Clarkson has known Sybil all her life? And that Sir Philip, in the end, isn't even willing to admit he made a mistake is unconscionable.

Rougher days are ahead for the people of Downton Abbey. Tom wants his daughter christened as a Catholic, which will cause more turbulence in the house. The only bright spot is that Bates and Anna might have finally found a way to free him.

Downton Abbey Season 3 Starts Off Strong

Downton Abbey started off strong in Season 3. I won't share spoilers in case you haven't had a chance to see it yet, but it's riveting. Familiar faces blend with new ones to create a thrilling season opener that captured 7.9 million viewers.

Here is a brief synopsis:

While the family plans for Lady Mary's upcoming nuptials to Matthew Crawley, Lord Grantham learns one of his investments has gone belly up, leaving the future of Downton Abbey uncertain. Lady Edith continues her pursuit of Sir Anthony Strallan, much to the disapproval of the Dowager Countess of Grantham. The arrival of Lady Grantham's mother, Martha Levinson, creates new drama for the entire house; as does the arrival of Lady Sybil and her husband, Branson, who is just as fired up as he was before they left for Ireland.

Downstairs, O'Brien convinces  Lady and Lord Grantham to hire her nephew as a footman, angering Thomas, who is sure to cause trouble. Anna continues to exhaust all avenues in her efforts to clear Bates of Vera's murder. Mrs. Hughes receives some disturbing news, and Daisy stages a protest when she doesn't receive her promotion.

The acting and writing for Downton Abbey remain superb, though I truly wish they would give Lady Edith a storyline that didn't involve her acting like a selfish, spoiled rotten brat. I want to feel sympathetic toward her plight as the forgotten middle child who has watched while the family dotes on the beautiful, older Lady Mary and whose good behavior is downplayed against her younger sister Sybil's antics, but Edith is like pouring vinegar into baking soda, exploding everything. She creates her own issues with her sour attitude. It will be interesting to see how her relationship with Sir Anthony moves forward and if it changes her any.

Season 3 of Downton Abbey Starts Sunday

I am so excited! The third season of Downton Abbey starts tomorrow night. And though I know one of my favorite characters will be eliminated in the Christmas episode, I can't wait to watch all the goings on upstairs and downstairs as Anna tries to prove her husband's innocence, Matthew and Mary plan their life together, and Robert deals with a financial catastrophe.

If you visit the PBS website at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/ you can watch a group cast interview with fans asking questions that took place in New York. There's also a preview of the first 10 minutes of the third season there.

TV Show Review: Downton Abbey Season 2

When we last left the residents of Downton Abbey, news of Great Britain entering World War I had just reached the Crawley family. Season 2 opens in 1916 with Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) finding himself at the front, along with his superior, Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens).

Back at Downton Abbey, second footman William (Thomas Howes)  is trying to show kitchen maid Daisy (Sophie McShera) how much he loves her, while bemoaning being left behind because his father won't allow him to sign up. John Bates (Brendan Coyle) has survived many things over the past few years, but nothing is as bad as the return of his bitter wife, who seems hell bent on keeping him from his true love, housemaid Anna Smith (Joanne Froggatt). Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) decides to become a nurse while drawn to the house's very political chauffeur. Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) is eager to contribute to the war effort, and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) weighs what she is willing to pay to keep her secret.

As much as I loved Season 1 of Downton Abbey, Season 2 is even better. The action of the front, the upheaval of all the lives at Downton Abbey, the continued interference of Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith), the house being infected by the Spanish Flu, and so much more leaves me eager for Season 3. The superb storytelling continues from creator Julian Fellowes. I haven't been this excited over a television show since Dawson's Creek went off the air.

New characters and familiar faces combine to create a fabulous historical that draws viewers in. It's not a surprise the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honored Masterpiece with a Golden Globe Award for Downton Abbey at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The series took top honors in the Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television category.

If you want to be ready for Season 3 when it comes out, you can purchase Season 1 and 2 on DVD of Blu-ray from PBS.