After last week’s double dose of Downtown goodness, we’re back to a single episode tonight. I’m assuming you were one of the almost 8 million who tuned in last week, making the premiere the second highest rated program in primetime last Sunday (take THAT, football!) In fact, in Seattle, Boston, New York, and my place of residence Austin, the Downton premiere scored above a 10 share (over 10% of households were watching!) showing exactly which of our cities are the most fancy.
This week’s episode picks up not long after the end of the last. The main theme, again, is Matthew’s would-be inheritance that could save the fortunes of Downton Abbey, and his reluctance to take it. (I’m giving away no more than was in last week’s episodes and this weeks promos, so this is hardly a spoiler.)
Some things to look forward to in tonight’s episode:
- Edith and Sir Richard (aka Grandpa
BoyfriendFiancee) prepare for their wedding - The Crawley’s look at options for what life beyond Downton would be like
- We get more developments in whether or not Mrs. Hughes is suffering from cancer or not (we get an answer this episode… or do we?)
- And we have more developments in the story of Ethel the former maid.
I must recommend the best way to watch the show is while watching Twitter. Specifically, follow Patton Oswalt (who, unfortunately, can’t make tonight’s episode) and, my favorite castmember, Brendan Coyle. But, in general, just search #downtonabbey and prepare for snark overload. Much as a fine cheese should be paired with a fine wine, so too should Downton be paired with Twitter.
What I see this as is a grand continuation of one of the strongest themes of the show, which is of honor, specifically misplaced honor. So many of our characters refuse to do the right thing simply because of a sense that it is not right. This permeates the show’s characters, from the simplest of creatures, such as Daisy the maid, up to the most gentlemanly of the Crawleys. Perhaps the best example of this is Bates, the longsuffering valet, and his refusal to simply rat out his ex-wife in order to be rid of her, eventually landing him, as he is now, in prison.
A meme of sorts has erupted, at least among my friends, of the idea that Bates, is, in fact, a Cylon. In fact, many of the characters could be fracking toasters, by my accounting: Bates, Carson, Thomas, Ethel, Kemal Pamuk, Patrick Gordon,Daisy, and, for good measure, let’s say Ms. Patmore. Somewhere, Kemal Pamuk and Lavinia Swire are being resurrected .#season3spoiler
Or might it be better to say they are Klingons? In the same way Worf suffered with dishonor to preserve the Klingon Empire, couldn’t we say so too does Bates suffer his condemnation?
Or, of course, they could just be British. I mean, these were the people who slaughtered each other over centuries over allegience to the Catholic, Anglican, Puritan, or any other number of Christian churches. Oliver Cromwell? Total Cylon.
In any case, another great episode of Downton Abbey. See you again next week!