DOWNTON ABBEY – Live-action drama created by Julian Fellowes; rated TV-14; airs Sunday nights on PBS as part of “Masterpiece”; 47 minutes. Episode 4.7: “Episode 7” (original airdate, Feb 9, 2014). Directed by Edward Hall, written by Julian Fellows (8 out of 10)
Previously on Downton Abbey: The Grantham Family lives on a huge estate in Yorkshire, England and is faced with creeping modernity as times change in the early 20th century. The family are trying to keep their estate, which includes the risk of expanding into new, more risky areas, such as pig farming. Michael Gregson, engaged to Lady Edith, has been lost while travelling in Germany.
The staff also deals with their own challenges, including the rape of Anna Bates, a secret only known to her husband and Mrs. Hughes, the head housekeeper. However, she has refused to divulge the identity of the rapist, Mr. Green, Lord Gillingham’s valet.
Last week: The family settles on expanding into pig farming. Edith finds out she is pregnant. Rose has been carrying on an affair with Jack Ross, a bandleader at a club in London. The family receives word that Cora’s brother has been involved in a scandal with oil leasing in America. Alfred, a footman, was accepted into a culinary training program and has been replaced permanently by Mr. Molesley, who previously worked in the house as a butler.
In this episode:
The main plot this week revolves around the delivery of the pigs. Unfortunately, Lord Grantham has been summoned to America to stand by Cora’s ne’er-do-well brother, who is being called before a Senate Committee on the issue of the oil leases (the unfolding Teapot Dome scandal). While he is away, Lady Mary and Mr. Blake find themselves quite consumed with the task of managing the pigs, ending in some hijinks by the end. Also, while Lord Grantham is away, the mice will play– Edith and Rose return to London on, shall we say, very different agendas. Once again, in very Downton fashion, we have several different storylines all unfolding at once.
Other things to look forward to in this episode:
The Dowager Countess falls quite ill, and is nursed back to health by Isobel Crawley. Needless to say, whenever those to are around each other, verbal barbs are exchanged. Now imagine a feverish Dowager Countess hallucinating. . . it’s great.
Tom might be getting back into politics, after being invited to a rally to hear a member of Parliament
Alfred returns back to Downton whilst on a visit to see his father, causing conflict among the staff. Well, among Ivy and Daisy at least.
Mr. Gillingham returns to Downton, bringing along Mr. Green. The last few minutes of the episode with Mr. Green in the servants’ hall. . . . OhMyGosh, SRSLY you guys– that last minute!!!!
I’m tempted to go buy the Blu-Rays now so I can watch the final episode because of what that portends, but I must not.
Dowager Countess quote of the week:
“Can I get another nurse? I insist. This one talks too much. She’s like a drunken vicar.”
Rating and final review: 8 out of 10
There is no other show that can keep so many plots running at once. In this episode, not a single one, not a single character, gets short shrift. It’s amazing how they can pack it all in. This is all killer, no filler, and we know what is being teased for next week, as we get the penultimate episode.
CAST:
The regular characters: Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham), Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), Brendan Coyle (John Bates), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley), Kevin Doyle (Joseph Molesley), Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates), Lily James (Lady Rose MacClare), Rob James-Collier (Thomas Barrow), Allen Leech (Tom Branson), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham), Sophie McShera (Daisy Mason), Matt Milne (Alfred Nugent), Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore), David Robb (Dr. Clarkson), Maggie Smith (Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham), Ed Speleers (Jimmy Kent), Cara Theobold (Ivy Stuart), Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley)