A day off Downton re-watch continues…
Poor Edith, though when Granny makes a comment about her French being excellent, I think Edith rather bites her head off. Granny really does care about her - she usually makes a witty comment to lighten the mood.
Thomas getting angry about calling Tom ‘sir’: don’t you remember, Barrow, who Tom married and how that tragically ended? Can’t you get off your high horse for once? Oh, and of course he’s got to give Daisy a message for Miss Baxter. Ugh.
Rose meets the Prince of Wales via her friend Madeleine’s father. Introduction to Mrs. Dudley-Ward. Yes, PLEASE bring in historical figures, it’s much more fun. I do love the PoW talking about Shrimpy (Shrimpie?), too. Shrimpy’s one of my most favorite characters with the least screen time.
Martha! She knows: Mrs. Hughes always knows what’s going on. 😊
Harold is such a great character. He is exactly who he is 😂
Oh HAHAHA Ethan Slade! He’s so funny, he can’t understand all these English people. Dude, you’re in London, not America.
Mrs. Patmore to Mrs. Hughes: you’re a sight for sore eyes. Everyone needs Mrs. Hughes.
Daisy gives Baxter the message, and Molesley overhears. I love his protective instincts.
The only interesting thing about conversation between Mary, Mr. Blake, Tony, and Rose is Mrs. Dudley-Ward.
Mr. Carson to Mrs. Hughes: “I’m glad to see you.” 😍 I’m sensing a theme. 😁
Her face when he suggests taking the staff to the science museum 🤭 She’ll…nudge him.
It’s a bit awkward when Cora and Robert get home to find Martha and Harold. The Teapot Dome business…
Awkward when Tim meets Miss Bunting and the Dowager encounters them. Awkwardness all around.
Mrs. Patmore praises Daisy. Mr. Carson 1, Ethan 0 (over C calling Ethan Mr. Levinson, after his employer)
Miss Bunting, asking what the problem is with Tom bringing friends back to the house. Me: THE PROBLEM IS BARROW SPYING ON YOU. Why Tom couldn’t explain that in the pub, Idk.
Dinner? Socializing? Whatever, lots of introductions in London. Lord Thingy, Madeleine’s father. He blows off Martha; she’s not impressed. I forgot Rosamund shows up with Sampson, the card sharp. Oh, Mr. Gregson, we need you 🥺 Robert’s not happy.
I really don’t care about the Tony/Charles stuff.
Oh god, Lord Thingy pushing Madeleine towards the Levinsons after Sampson mentions they must be the ones propping up Downton (he’s not totally wrong). AWKWARDNESS.
Ethan playing the waiter. 😂😂😂Carson is 🤯 Mr. Carson 2, Ethan 0.
Anna! It’s good to see her recovering her spirits. Oh, Mrs. Hughes asking about donating clothing.
Harold, crapping all over England/traveling.
Edith: “I sometimes think we should make more scenes.” I agree.
Tom, showing Miss Bunting around the house. It’s not actually unreasonable for her to want to look down from the gallery. I’d ask, if I were her. Oh god, Barrow. Just waiting to make trouble. “Very good, sir.” Sigh…he needs a boyfriend. A distraction. Something.
Oh boy, Sampson sitting at the table alone, after Rose and Freda were talking about the Prince of Wales.
Tom tries to explain to Barrow about the previous night. It doesn’t work, because Barrow doesn’t want to see it in a good light.
Isobel and Lord Merton. They’re actually well suited, IMO. Intelligent conversation. He’s sweet on her 🥰
Rosamund and Edith. Rosamund is right that it wouldn’t be right to mess up the arrangement with the Schroeders (not sure of the spelling, just guessing). I feel for Edith, but really, once the decision was made she should’ve stuck to it. Ack, I feel bad for the Swiss family, Edith, and the Drewes (though they haven’t been sucked into this yet).
Alfred wrote to Daisy. He’s been taken on at the Ritz. It’s nice Daisy’s so excited for him.
The Dowager and Isobel leaving for London. The Dowager complaining about not traveling with a maid 😂
The two of them are GOLD.
Anna gives Mrs. Hughes Mr. Bates’s old coat. Mrs. H finds the ticket and Baxter sees. Oh dear.
Going to Buckingham Palace for the presentation. Glitz! Glamour! Gumption. Robert: onwards, into the breach.
Ethan asking Mr. Carson about anything “going on” between Daisy between Alfred. Mr. Carson 3, Ethan 0.
It’s nice Robert and Cora can be with Rose when she’s presented. It would’ve been nice for Shrimpy to be there, but at least Rose was well supported. #family
Oh dear, Mrs. Hughes and Mary thinking Bates was in London “that day”. Why couldn’t they leave it alone? For once, though, I think they actually agree about not judging Bates for anything he might’ve done to avenge his wife’s honor.
Levinsons/Lord Thingy and Madeleine. I do like Harold and Madeleine; maybe not in a romantic sense but they have an understanding.
Rose talks to Freda. Oh dear, the letter’s missing. Rose introduces Martha to Freda; Martha knows who Freda is, thanks to American newspapers. Oh, how things have changed: now, the Internet spreads everything in 3 seconds.
Harold going to introduce himself to the Prince of Wales. AWKWARD.
Ethan asks Daisy about preparing a picnic. Mrs. Patmore 1, Ethan 0.
Tom smacks Barrow down: would you ask His Lordship to sit in the back?
Mrs. Patmore: All women need a bit of interest shown to them, especially if it’s not proper. 😉
Robert to Bates: is the man who can do a bit of forgery in London? Bates: he is. 😶
Poor Edith. No, she really doesn’t need to complicate things. But she will.
Bates mentions to Mrs. Hughes that he hasn’t been in London since his mother died. TRUE.
Putting the plan together to get into Sampson’s flat. Mary: “I don’t mind lying.” Everyone: WE KNOW. It’s a lot of finagling to figure out who’s coming to the card game and who’s going to break into Sampson’s flat.
The picnic. I really love the fashions here. Harold’s hat (a boater?). Madeleine and Harold’s conversation is completely honest. “You’re better than your father.” ❤️
I just really can’t with the Bates/Mary/Mrs. Hughes situation. It’s just going to drag on unnecessarily.
Trying to explain about the evening plans without giving up the real reason to Granny, Martha, and Isobel: complicated and not very convincing. There’s a nice moment between Tom and Harold.
How Ivy got to London, when at the beginning of the episode, they said she wasn’t needed there, Idk.
Barrow tells Robert about seeing Tom and Miss Bunting upstairs at the house, totally misrepresenting what actually happened.
Ethan tells Daisy Mr. Levinson wants to bring her to America. Hmmm.
Mary, Charles, Rose go through Sampson’s flat. Barrow confronts Baxter. Stop bullying her!!
The card game ends. No success. Blake wants Mary to come to him when she’s in trouble again. I like him better than Tony, but it won’t happen.
Mr. Carson has suggested approximately 47 outings, and no one’s interested. Mrs. Hughes: I’ll have to be more obvious.
Edith being mysterious with her father.
Bates, smoothly taking over helping Mr. Sampson with his coat. Smooth. He hands the letter over to His Lordship.
Mary gets rid of evidence. If only it actually helped, and not hurt things.
I love seeing the set up for the ball. SO much work behind the scenes. Also behind the scenes, Mrs. Hughes pins up a picture on Mr. Carson’s board. Nudge.
The ball begins and the Prince of Wales comes in. He opens the dancing with Rose. Using Robert’s words, what a kick-off.
Tom: these may be my family, but they’re not quite my people. Then he dances with the Dowager. 😊
Martha says no to Lord Thingy. She’s always honest, and invites Lord T to Newport to meet rich widows.
Harold and Madeleine part ways on friendly terms. I just don’t think he’s the marrying type. Not everyone is.
Molesley tries to tell Baxter not to let Barrow bully her.
Mary says she doesn’t like dangling Tony, Charles and Evelyn on a string. Then just tell them NO. Argh, it’s just a game with her. Tony tells her about Charles’s future inheritance. And then moans that makes Charles more eligible than him. Well, you CHOSE to tell her.
Lord Merton goes to dance with Isobel. Charles goes to dance with Mary. Tom encourages Edith to fight her corner. I don’t think he’s knows quite what that means to her. Rosamund knows why Edith plans to go to Europe, and she’s not happy.
Martha tells Violet she turned down Lord Thingy. They always have verbal tussles, those two.
Mrs. Hughes walking in on a sleepy Mr. Carson 🥰 He FINALLY gets the hint about the seaside outing. 😊❤️
Mary, talking about Tony to Charles: “I think he wants it to be a fair fight.” Yawn. She won’t pick either of them.
Oh, Edith. Getting the Drewes to take on her child. If ONLY it was left there. Sigh…Mr. Drewe understands what’s going on. He deserves better. His wife deserves better. Little Marigold deserves better than to be shuffled around. JMO.
The seaside!!! Mrs. Patmore enjoying the sun and ice cream. Barrow bothers Baxter. She puts him off. Baxter tells Molesley he’s made her strong. ❤️❤️❤️
Daisy turns down Ethan’s offer. Ivy offers herself. She must REALLY want to get out of England.
Aw, the Bateses on a nice stroll. Enjoy it, you two!!
MY. FAVORITE. PART. “You can hold my hand. Then we’ll both go in together…and if I did [sound risqué], we’re getting on, Mr. Carson, you and I. We can afford to live a little.”