"I'm surprised that your halo doesn't get so heavy. It must be like wearing a tiara around the clock." So says Lady Grantham to the big hearted Isabel who, coming back to life after grieving for her son, it comes involved in the issues of the villagers who needs help, getting Lady Violet to hire a local lad to help with the gardening. Like Isabel, Tom too becomes involved as the eternal outsider, and he has become invaluable to Lady Mary and helping with the running of the estate. In fact, Tom truly grounds Mary even more than the late Matthew did, and they are only meant to be in-laws and friends. Over the remainder of the series, he will be like the brother that she never had, and it's a bond that no distance can end.
There's a new ladies made for Cora now that Edna is gone, simply known as "Baxter". Raquel Cassidy joins the cast and will remain through the end of the run and into the movies. Here, though she's a woman of mystery to the staff because she's a friend of Thomas's, and obviously he's using her for information. But as she gets settled in, hopefully she'll be able to stand up to him in a way that won't make them enemies but will make the point that she can't be used. You know though that every time someone new crops up at Downton, they have to have a secret. One thing that isn't secret is her use of that new contraption, a sewing machine, another device that scares Mrs. Pathmore.
It's nearing the end of the road for valet Alfred who wants to go onto an esteemed cooking school in London on a scholarship, so this means unopening that will give Mosley employment. There's also an issue with one of the tenants who hasn't been able to pay their rent, and Robert shows a generous side even though the estate is in financial trouble. Edith's romance with Mr. Gregson hasn't exactly been front burner when he's appeared on screen, but the lull in her story is about to end for her. There have been no feuds with Mary either, giving an indication that the tragedies in the family have softened them at least for now.
The most important element of this episode is Bates confronting Mrs. Hughes over Anna's situation and threatening to resign if he doesn't tell her. You can see the horror in Bates' eyes and later his tears as Anna's hurt becomes his own and you know this is going to have dire consequences small moments like this have more effectiveness than the outbursts of anger. Their storylines seem though to be pushed out to extreme lengths so you have to settle in to the fact that another one is about to begin. To lighten things up, there's Lady Rose and her vibrant personality, helping to prepare a big party, something that Downton never seemed to have a shortage of.
There's a new ladies made for Cora now that Edna is gone, simply known as "Baxter". Raquel Cassidy joins the cast and will remain through the end of the run and into the movies. Here, though she's a woman of mystery to the staff because she's a friend of Thomas's, and obviously he's using her for information. But as she gets settled in, hopefully she'll be able to stand up to him in a way that won't make them enemies but will make the point that she can't be used. You know though that every time someone new crops up at Downton, they have to have a secret. One thing that isn't secret is her use of that new contraption, a sewing machine, another device that scares Mrs. Pathmore.
It's nearing the end of the road for valet Alfred who wants to go onto an esteemed cooking school in London on a scholarship, so this means unopening that will give Mosley employment. There's also an issue with one of the tenants who hasn't been able to pay their rent, and Robert shows a generous side even though the estate is in financial trouble. Edith's romance with Mr. Gregson hasn't exactly been front burner when he's appeared on screen, but the lull in her story is about to end for her. There have been no feuds with Mary either, giving an indication that the tragedies in the family have softened them at least for now.
The most important element of this episode is Bates confronting Mrs. Hughes over Anna's situation and threatening to resign if he doesn't tell her. You can see the horror in Bates' eyes and later his tears as Anna's hurt becomes his own and you know this is going to have dire consequences small moments like this have more effectiveness than the outbursts of anger. Their storylines seem though to be pushed out to extreme lengths so you have to settle in to the fact that another one is about to begin. To lighten things up, there's Lady Rose and her vibrant personality, helping to prepare a big party, something that Downton never seemed to have a shortage of.