Keep Calm and have yourself a merry little Christmas

Downton Abbey 

Season 2 – “Christmas Special”

“Oh the weather outside was frightful, but Violet was still delightful, and since they love Mary so, Richard and Matthew came to blows.”

Season’s Greetings. I bring you good news and tidings of great joy. Mostly.

We've reached the end Ladies and Gentlemen. Season 2 is done, finished, final, no more. But don't be too sad. We could have been left with only the memories of episode 8 to keep us going until Season 3.

No sugar plums but the images of dead Lavinia, chained Bates, sad Matthew and even sadder Mary, dancing around in our heads.

Perspective.

I will admit under oath and fear of imprisonment, that I was excited about this episode.
Not only did we get a bonus Downton Abbey but the previous UK Christmas Specials I have seen, which were mostly, if not all Doctor Who, were all very well done. Therefore I was expecting some high quality work. I'm glad to report that I was not disappointed.

Was it perfect? Like parts of the second season it wasn’t always but there were enough moments and sparks of absolute brilliance that you couldn’t help but enjoy the sleigh ride.

So without further ado, let's rock around this Christmas tree.

  
We wish you a Merry Christmas

It was Christmas time at Downton and do they know how to party. I can’t remember how many nights I would stay up just waiting for that magical day when I would get to stand in a line and wait for the people I work for to hand me stuff.

I’m kidding. The Downtonians’s had a very wonderful Christmas thing happening as we first join them during Christmas time of 1919. The festivities included a presentation of presents from those upstairs to those down (Mary + Anna BFF’s 4ever) to a roaring game of charades, an occasion that cemented Sir Richard as the evilest man of all time. Though I shouldn’t be surprised he hates charades, he has always struck me as more of a monopoly man.

As the New Year came to a close many if not all of our characters were in need of a little holiday cheer.

Edith still couldn’t hold onto a man. Thomas was stealing dogs, losing them than somehow still come out on top of the situation. Daisy was still fretting over William before she finally found some peace and a new place for herself in Downton and Lady Rosamund was being conned by an old guy and her maid.

Oh, and Sybil’s pregnant. Yes, that right, Branson and Sybil are going to have a child. Somebody may want to warn England.

All is calm, all is bright

Yes, the residents of Downton all had their share of problems, but at least they weren’t jail. Poor, poor Mr Bates, he looked miserable. I loved that fact that everyone was Team Bates and working had to support Anna and get him out of jail.

Saying that with friends like these who needs evidence. You knew that Bate’s quip about the “late Mrs Bates” was going to come back to bite him, but it didn’t stop the crushing feeling as Robert struggled to admit the particulars of that damning conversation. Mrs Hughes and O’Brien have also been called up to give statements that seemed to lead towards a guilty verdict but it was Robert’s testament that did Bates in.

Going into the sentencing,  I thought I saw where this was leading “Season 3: Bates in Jail” but no immediately following Bate’s guilty verdict being read, the judge put on his hat and proclaimed that Bates would be hang by the neck the following day. I swear I think my heart stopped just for a minute there.

Luckily this is TV land and I know a good doctor so everything was a little better by the end of the episode. Following a winning appeal Bate’s is now looking at a life of imprisonment rather than execution, so yay?

Deck the Halls

But who has time to stay worried about silly, little things like murder trails, when there is still the hunt. I don’t know what I was expecting an proper English hunt to look like, but in my mind it was something along the lines of that scene from Mary Poppins, when they are in the street painting and the cartoon men on horses blow their trumpets and chase the talking fox who Mary Poppins ends up saving from becoming dog food or a scarf.

It turns out an actual non-illustrated hunt is a lot like high school except in tweed. Mary chooses to stand next to Matthew during the shootings, thereby declaring her love for Matthew for the entire world to see.

At that point nobody really understood why Mary was still with Carlisle. Even Robert, once he stopped making out with Maids and paid attention, didn’t get it.

Questioning his daughter’s attention, Cora thought “well, there’s no time like the present” (I’m really, really sorry for that one) and decided to fill Robert in about the night of the dead Turkish diplomat.

What followed was a series of purely excellent moments as Mary finally confronted the event that she felt shamed her whole world war ago.  

From Robert’s acceptance of his daughter’s transgression (he can’t throw stones) and his “go find us a cowboy us a cowboy” speech to the Mary’s confession to Matthew about her past lover was perfect. We all knew that Matthew could never hate Mary, but it didn’t make it any less special for us to see that Mary now knows it as well.

Now all the cards were on the table and the fists started to fly. So long Richard Carlisle. I’d say don’t let the door hit you on the way out but you did really seem to actually have cared about Mary at the end and there’s probably someone already there to open and close the main door for you.

So what else was left for this episode to do? Oh yeah this happened.....
　
... And a Happy New Year?

Matthew proposed to Mary. In the snow. There was twirling. It was awesome.

Well, that’s it for Downton Abbey the second season. I have really enjoyed writing about this fantastic show and I really hope that you have enjoyed reading them.

Next: Season 3. I’m excited. What do you want to see from season three?

We know some of what’s going to happen: SPOILERS:

Shirley Maclaine in the house, Branson’s at the dinner table, Matthew and Mary are wedding planning, episode one will start with Bates walking out of jail with a guard shouting behind him “sorry for the misunderstanding.” Ok, I may have just made up the last one.

Until then, I wish you an early merry Christmas and a happy season 3.

For my other Downton Abbey Season 2 recaps click on the link here: http://popandfizz.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Downton%20Abbey

You can also follow me on Twitter: @Hanniebee852

(It’s like this, but shorter.

Keep Calm and Marry On

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 8

Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Lavinia Swire and Matthew Crawley. Or was it supposed to be Mary and Richard or Sybil
and Branson or Anna and Bates or Robert and Jane or Thomas and O’Brien?

In the next to final episode of season 2, relationship drama fills the township in a thick fog of heartache and emotional betrayal as the show moves from wartime hardships back to its soapy roots.

Four couples enter into the Downton Wedding arena, but only one love-struck pair actually makes it down the aisle. That is before the groom is arrested for murdering his ex-wife and is sent to prison forever and ever (or at least until the Christmas Special.)

And while the majority of romantic couple this episode are otherwise engaged, the already married pair do not fair much better with a near case of sudden death not even enough to stop the wandering eye of a man in the prime of his mid-life crisis.

Yes, nothings borrowed and everyone's blue.     

For better or worse

Nothing is very rosy in the garden of the newlywed Mr and Mrs Bates. Since it has become dreadfully clear that nobody in the law enforcement agencies surrounding Downton has watched the past seven episodes as we have, assume that Bates killed his ex-wife.

They may have stuff like evidence and motive but we know the truth of his innocence right?

Anna, defender of the convicted valet and champion of being proactive, when it looks more and more likely that her fiancée will be taken away, takes charge and marries the love of her life in a hastened but romantic wedding ceremony, so that she will not be excluded from any legal decisions. Practical but charming, isn’t that the Bates way.

After only one night of wedded bliss the world once again crashes in on the loving couple as Bates is escorted to prison by two policemen in fancy hats as I contemplate whether I could survive a whole third season of sad Anna and a jailed Bates.

For richer or poorer

For all future grooms out there, barging into the sitting room of your betrothed’s family, who you are more than certain are going to disapprove and you start yelling at them, it is not a good move. While Branson and Sybil are all “but we love each other and nothing shall keep us apart” they do not find too many supporters of their union.

 It’s very lucky for the young lovers that the patriarch of the Grantham family was also only very recently making eyes and smacking lips with one of the help, that without that leg to stand on Sybil and Branson get the blessing to wed.

While they may not be my favourite romantic pairing, the star-crossed lovers are growing on me and I have high hopes that now that Sybil and Branson are married he may stop yelling at his beloved and start fighting other people. Whatever happens next, season 3 is going to be very interesting and I cannot wait for Branson’s first sit-down dinner with the new in-laws.  

In sickness or in health

The Spanish flu. The Spanish flu, you say is sweeping through the nation. What are the chances that, that virus could possibly make its way into the halls of Downton Abbey causing all sorts of chaos and health related drama for the good people upstairs and down?

Pretty good I say.

One by one numerous characters are struck down by the illness to various different degrees. Some like Carson and it seems Lavinia are only slightly unwell, but poor Cora is nearly claimed by the disease. From high fevers to nose bleeds it does not look good for our Lady of the Abbey.

Fortunately she has a legitimate medical reason for feeling sick to her stomach and unlike us doesn’t have to witness the gut curling madness that was Robert and Jane the maid making out.

Your wife is dying in the next room Robert! Dying!

Coming to his senses after a number of close calls and the realisation that Carson and Mrs Hughes probably already know (they probably even knew before it started what was happening and just forgot to warn him) Jane “leaves/is sent packing” from the grounds of Downton never to be seen from again, just in time from Cora to make a full recovery and presumably never find out what happened. Or will she? (Imagine dramatic music playing- now)

Until death do us part?

As the curtain closes on season 2 and the Christmas special right around the corner, coming into this episode you knew or at least hoped that something was going to be done about the love square that was Mary, Matthew, Richard and Lavinia, but who knew that it would involve one of the sides being removed altogether.

Firstly, Matthew can still walk and therefore procreate, and while everyone was in full swing making preparations for the Crawley-Swire wedding, we knew that all cards were now back on the table. They knew it, Violet knew it, even Isis the dog knew it (he’s just too classy to say anything.)

With Richard  becoming more and more the evilest of villains and Lavinia still the humblest of wallflowers, the sparks between Matthew and Mary had never been more evident.

The dance, the kiss, the interruption, the outbreak of a deadly pathogen.

From the moment Dr Clarkson said that Lavinia only had mild symptoms you knew that she was a goner, but it was the way she chose to leave her mark that was very impressive.

With the simple statement of “isn’t it better this way” Lavinia swiftly and brutally crushed any hopes of Matthew and Mary being together ever again in the saddest, noblest, most devastating way possible. Well played Miss Swire, you lacked fire in life, but you sure went out with a bang.

So much happened this episode, O’Brien nearly confessed to the soap incident to Cora while she was on her death bed, Moseley drank half the wine in Downton trying to impress, Violet was awesome, I nearly stood up and applauded as Thomas slowly crept his way back into employment at Downton making himself indispensable during their time of need. He may be evil, but sometimes you just have to admire his work.

With the dismantling, shattering, rebuilding and launch of so many different relationships, nobody came out of this episode unscathed.

As wedding season passes, with thoughts of veils and flowers tucked away and swapped for funeral attire, let’s hope that as we head towards Christmas that there is an abundance of Christmas cheer hidden behind a tree somewhere, waiting with good tiding and great joy for our Downton favourites.

 If anyone is going to make it to season 3 happy and healthy they are going to need it.  

Keep Calm, nobody else knows what they’re doing either

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 7

In the words of John Lennon “War is over.”

In the words of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham “Don’t be defeatist, dear, it’s very middle class.”

As the final pieces of the hospital are taken away from Downton Abbey, we find ourselves gazing upon an estate and its residents returning to their normal state. Which luckily for us, “normal state” means secrecy, romance, medical negligence, suspicion, betrayal, yelling, baking and various dinner scenes.

Yes, post-war life had officially begun for our favourite aristocrats and friends, and boy did they come out swinging.

Robert and the Help: It seems that all it took was a few sideward glances and some light fawning from new maid Jane (Clare Calbraith) to kick Lord Grantham’s mid-life crisis into high gear.

 Looking ahead to his life after the war, Robert laments that “before the war my life had value, I suppose I should like to feel that again.” Jane, who gives him her full attention and appreciation is just what Robert’s ego ordered, resulting in a number of sequences I feel like I should have been watching through my fingers due to sheer awkward horribleness.

Mr Bates in the kitchen with the rat poison: Oh Bates. Why must the writers hurt you so?

Afraid that the police will discover that he was the one who had purchased the rat poison that Vera had consumed before her death, Bates considered talking to the police in order to put a stop to any suspicion that may be thrown his way.

I bet he’s regretting all the “former Mrs Bates” comments now.

It goes to show that you must always be careful with what you say, just in case your vindictive ex-wife stages her own murder in order to continue to ruin your life from beyond the grave.

Driving Miss Sybil: After years and years of pining, rebuffs and slightly passive aggressive declarations of love, Sybil and Branson are getting married. That’s good, I guess.

Honestly, I understand and respect the appeal of them as a couple, but I have never really been a fan of Sybranson.

I know, I know, I don’t know what’s wrong with me either. I was a fan of Branson first season, he was the cool Irish rebel who rescued and care about Sybil but now I find him to be really off-putting. He wouldn’t accept any comprises in order to fit Sybil’s lifestyle with his, describing her upbringing and the people in her life in not very nice terms after basically declaring that she was in love with him despite her many, many protests.

Maybe she was in love with him, but in my opinion Sybil’s reason for wanting to marry him now, has more to do with her lack of purpose now that the war is over and the fact that he represents freedom from the future her family expects. She is in love with the idea of what Branson symbolizes, rather than the chauffeur himself. Which makes me a little sad for Branson. Until he starts yelling at someone again.

Flour power: I know it’s probably wrong but how good did it feel to see Thomas get his comeuppance. 

Thomas who is too searching for his purpose after the war (preferably one away from his servant-status at Downton) fell victim to what we could equivalent today to one of those “send me all your money and I will make you millions” e-mail scams. His gamble on the black market, selling supplies from a guy he met at the pub and didn’t get the name of, turned out to be a disaster, with the lesson we all must take away from this being taste-test before spending all your money on flour from a mysterious vendor.

Someone just find him the rum:  So stuff happened with Mrs Hughes and Ethel this episode and I’m sure it was powerful and well-written and very Downton Abbey-ish but I found myself not wanting to watch these particular scenes. It seems that my brain, the strange organ that it is could not connect the very talented actor, Kevin McNally who played the wonderful Mr Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, with the rude jerk who spent his screen time yelling at everyone. Take the baby and run Ethel, take him and run.

-Side Lunch Bar- Who would have thought however, that Mr Bryant’s moustache would be even bigger and more remarkable than his son’s. That Charlie is going to have some impressive facial hair when he grows up –End of Meal-

Mary and the Cad: Speaking of people that should run, did anyone else fear for Mary and Anna’s safety during this episode, emotionally and physically. Richard, ever the charmer, decided that he would have Anna, the docile housemaid report back to him every person that Mary saw, talked to, thought about, or whose pictures Mary drew hearts around anytime he wasn’t around. Not counting on loyalty or the fact that Anna is the best, he eventually found himself without a spy and a man to run his household.

Upon hearing about the mogul’s scheme, Carson a man of honour unlike some people (cough, Richard) takes back his offer to join Mary at the site of her sure-to-fail marriage.

Mary as you can imagine did not take the news very well.

Walk this way: This however was the least most important event to occur this episode because, Matthew can walk again! Huzzah! Heirs all around!

It seems that Dr. Clarkson, had doubted and therefore chosen to ignore the opinion of a second unseen doctor, who had diagnosed Matthew’s injuries as a case of spinal shock rather than a case of permanent paralysis in order to deprive him of any hope, whether it was false or not. That is a malpractice suit if ever I’ve imagined seeing one. Matthew’s a lawyer still right?

With this development all cards are back on the table and Violet, the most awesome and wise, not only knows it, but is the first to actively address and do something about it.

Going to Matthew’s bedroom (the scandal) Violet urges Matthew to reconsider Mary, the woman he actually loves.

Matthew however could not be schooled by the Dowager Countess, feeling obliged to marry Lavinia, who had previously agreed to essentially spend the rest of her life being his nurse.

But, isn’t it better to marry someone you truly love than someone you feel indebted to?

Yes, Mary and Matthew that was directed at you?

Ok, that was episode seven of season 2, sadly we are nearing the end. Episode eight is next, the final one before the one after that.

Start making those “Free Bates” t-shirts, I have a feeling we are going to need them .

Keep calm, you’re rocking the boat.

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 6 

In April this year we remembered the 100^th anniversary of the RMS Titanic’s tragic first and final voyage. The sinking of the Titanic has meant many different things to many different people. It was the loss of loved ones, it was about surviving a catastrophic disaster, and for a fair majority during the 90’s it was the reason they had to hear Celine Dion confess that her heart would go on and on repeatedly.

For the residents of Downton Abbey, 100 years ago it meant that the foundation that they had built their future lives upon was shaken loose and changed forever. It also means that if they were real and alive now, they would be very old. Except for Lady Violet that it’s, who would probably look the same, maybe even younger (she is a wizard after all.)

The sixth episode of Downton was ultimately in a way about beginnings and endings. As the war came to an end, those who lives at the Abbey had been overturned over the last few years could reflect on what they had lost; William, Matthew’s legs, the majority of the house, Mr Moseley’s ambition, but also what they gained; Sybil and Branson’s forbidden romance, Robert’s mid-life crisis, Thomas. As the battle lines were tore down, our favourite English family and friends unfortunately had to brace themselves for another exiting new development, which for many characters could have been the beginning of the end of their time at Downton. What’s that saying, when one door closes, another ones waiting right there to open and have a long, thought lost relatives smack you in the face.

Patrick Crawley, fiancé of Mary b.m. (before Matthew, a sad time for everyone) and heir apparent to the Downton Abbey Empire, was thought to have perished when the Titanic sank in season 1. You can imagine then, that it was quite a surprise to all those involved when a mysterious relative put in a request to stay at Downton Hospital, claimed to be non-other than the presumed dead Brit.

This Patrick (Trevor White), was an officer in the Canadian Army with the world’s fastest absorbed accent, and had a face that was unrecognizable due to a war-time injury, in the shadow-iest of shadows decided to confess his real identity, to the woman who had actually truly loved Patrick before the boat trip, unlucky in love Edith. Canadian Patrick’s claim was that after the ships sinking he had been pulled out of the ocean and mistakenly identified as someone not English and sent overseas and mountains and plains, without any memories to keep him warm at night. Eventually he joined the Canadian light Infantry which shipped him back to the motherland and the rest is complicated back story.

 

As you can imagine everybody took this news extremely well.

Matthew summed up his emotions on the subject best: “First my legs and now this?” The beautifully blue eyed man could not catch a break.

While Edith was quick to believe the new/old Patrick, because of the love, while Mary and Violet were very much convinced that they were just pawns in some kind of elaborate scam. A suspicion, which might have very well been right?

It seems that Patrick Crawley had a friend called Peter Gordon with whom he may have shared his life story with. There is a lot of toing and froing over whether Patrick is Peter. Edith is pro-Patrick’s re-emergence, certain he is her former, sort-a beau. Mary is adamant that the scarred man is fraud and seemly crushes Edith’s hope pointing out how Patrick/Peter’s memories could come from any “I grew up in aristocratic England” playbook, while Matthew thinks that they will all soon be rejoicing about an heir that can produce spares. Robert is entirely confused on the matter, devastated for Matthew, but after viewing a hand gesture from Patrick/Peter is as confused as if he was trying to figure out who knows, what on Once Upon a Time? I will figure it out!

Unfortunately, the Crawley & Grantham they do not have the benefit of another 15 episodes, to ponder this development as Patrick/Peter either loses his nerve or is beginning to feel awful about misleading Edith or is just saddened that his family does not believe him, disappears into the shadowy shadows leaving behind just a note saying: “It was too difficult, I’m so sorry. P. Gordon”

Make of that what you will.

Other surprises, whether you like them or not: 

- Sir Richard took it upon himself to poach Mr Carson, an ally of Miss Mary’s, to run the new property he had poached very close to Downton. The man knows nothing about proper staff-stealing etiquette and the way he manhandled Mary this episode has put him on the list of people. Maybe we should tell Branson he did something rich people do and he’ll pour gross stuff all over him.

- Matthew is sad and that makes me sad.

- Never on a TV show should you make vague assumptions that you would like someone dead, it will always come back to bite you. With Vera visibly deceased at the end of the episode the question is whether Bates was pushed by his ex-wife to far or is she setting him up for some post-mortem revenge? I say the latter because there is no way may Bates would do that and yes it is possible I’m in denial. I can accept that.

-   The scene where they had a moment of silence in honour of the ceasefire was very well done. All our Downton people gathered together, quiet and still in remembrance of the tragedy that has passed but looking forward to the dawn of a new day. For some the future is not so bright, Sybil has lost her purpose, Mary has to marry Richard, Thomas is still around and for others, things seem to be looking up Cora has her house back and masterfully got Isobel interested in another worthy cause that doesn’t involve her living room and Matthew may be getting some motion back in his feet very soon.

 

Thank you for reading, until next episode where Robert better stay away from that maid.

Keep calm and rest in peace

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 5 

The year is 1918. The Hundred Days Offensive, the push that ultimately won the allies the war is about to start. In Amiens, France soldiers walk through the trenches. Some are war weary, others eager to do their part for King and country. They all gather around an Earl in waiting, a man who only a few years ago shared the same station but now was expected to lead. With him, his trusted batman, once a loyal footman who spent a long time wishing and praying for his call to battle and now it was here.

The call is made, the men rush out, bayonets and pistols drawn, ready to fight the enemy that threatened all they hold dear. Shots ring out, soldiers fall. Matthew and William, two men born into different classes, now united and equal in courage and combat sharing the same goal, defeat the enemy and make it home. The battle rages on and in one swift blow, an explosion, terrible, loud and lethal ends the fight for these two warriors. William the brave lays still, his lungs crushed by the force of the blast. Matthew Crawley, sheltered by William, is also still, any feeling or hope slowly leaves the lower half of his broken body.

Both men helped defeat the enemy, both men are going home, but only one of them will get to stay.

With this episode the battle portion of the war ends for Downton Abbey in the most tragic way. From the moment war was declared at the end of the first season, as a viewer you knew that there would be at least one causality from the front, but it doesn’t make it any less shocking or terrible.

Poor, sweet, positive William’s last wish was to marry Daisy, his sweetheart, so that she would be cared for after he passed away.

Daisy who had never been comfortable with their engagement, following some gentle prodding, put her issues aside and married William in a small ceremony in one of Downton’s guest rooms (a room probably the size of the house he grew up in) surrounded by his friends and colleagues and those who had fought so hard to bring him home, moving passed their own grief to give William one final moment of happiness before he passed away (Carson cried, it doesn’t get much sadder than that.)

Despite the fact that we have seen changes in the social ladder since the start of the war, Lady Violet and Edith had to fight tooth and nail to get William back to Downton. Calling on familial favours and the fine act of blackmail Violet was able to give the former footman peace at the end.

For Matthew however, any sense of peace was gone for now. Not only had he lost the use of his legs, but he had also lost the chance of ever having a family (and supplying Downton with legion of heirs.)

The makeup department did a fanatic job this episode. From the moment Matthew was brought into the hospital on that stretcher he looked realistically broken. The contrast of William looking so perfectly healthy compared to Matthew but still knowing that his body was slowly failing him, that much more horrible. 

The entire cast was on fire tonight. From Mary’s grief, to Matthew’s anguish, to Robert’s fear, to Violet’s guilt, even the villains of the piece, Richard and Vera Bates, brought their A-game well done.

Other news from the front:

-Vera Bates, a pinnacle of wisdom and kind-heartedness, decided that now would be the best time to make good on her threat to destroy Bates and Anna, by exposing Mary’s death-inducing fling with the Turkish prince or Lord or Earl or whatever he was, season one was a very long time ago. Luckily for all involved, except for Mary it turns out, that Miss Crawley is now engaged to people in low places. May the real Sir Richard Carlisle stand up please? Yep, there you are.

- On another note, even though I am now completely scared for Mr Bates well-being I couldn’t help but be distracted by the live animal that  was clearly trying chew its way through Vera’s neck during her scene final scene with Richard.

- No good is going to come from Robert and maid blue-eyes. Stay away, Lord Grantham, stay away. Lock yourself in a room in some secret room that has a million and one doors until your mid-life crisis is over. Please and thank you.

- Major Bryant’s a keeper isn’t he?

- Exchange of the night courtesy of Lady Violet and a phone:  “Is this is an instrument of communication or torture? Hello, SHRIMPIE? Yes, this is Aunt Violet...I won’t beat about the bush, dear. Whom might we know on the board of the General Infirmary?”

(If she thinks the phone’s torture now, wait until she tries some of the new Angry Bird levels, those tiny green pigs will not beat me!)

Thank you for reading, until next episode goodbye dear William, hopefully the actor who plays you will find a new television show soon.  

Keep Calm and Don’t Stop Believing

Downtown Abbey

Season 2 episode 4

Imagine a world in which you crossed Downton Abbey with Glee?

I know!

Lord Grantham running around in a never-ending supply of sweater vest, encouraging his girls as they get ready for regionals! Lady Viola strutting around in a track suit, insulting Isobel and everyone else in sight through a megaphone, while Cora reassures the servants with soul lifting power ballads, as they all clean her house.

Luckily, this world will never exist. Instead, we have the right and proper version of Downton Abbey, with only the one timely and appropriate musical number. We begin with the Crawley sisters organising a performance for the injured troops currently residing in their house. As it goes hell freezes over and despite all other tragedies that grow to surround them during the episode, Mary and Edith come to together to sing a song. The musical swells, and everyone is captivated as Lady Mary, sings a song about a love so strong that nothing else in the world could matter. Then Mary’s own lost love walked in. Bravo! Encore! End scene

Ah, Downton Abbey.

All the drama and angst of a musical. Less of the choreographed dance numbers.

With this musical moment in mind, I started thinking about other shows that have memorable musical moments, which in my tired state created the Gleeful Downton Manor illusion I mentioned above. So to honour that to frame my review, I have taken the best parts of Glee, the music, and thought of songs that may have been used during the main plots points of this episode. That is if the creators of Glee, ever wanted to go back to England again after they were done filming it.

So, if you were too busy crossing Mrs Matthew Crawley out on all your notebooks, here’s what you missed on Downton Abbey: Europe’s at war, nobody’s happy about it.

Hit me with your best shot by Pat Benatar

Well that was fast. Last episode I was predicting an all out brawl between Cora and Isobel, with no survivors, but no, Isobel tapped out after the first round. It seems in the mythical land where fictional characters live in-between episodes, slowly but surely, Cora the heiress, who has never worked a day in her life, has become an impressive and effective caretaker. A fact that causes Isobel to lose her mind. After being pushed more and more out of any authority position, it all results in Isobel telling on Cora to the principal, Dr Clarkson. Issuing an ultimatum, her way or the highway, everybody else chooses the highway. So Isobel, the ever caring humanitarian, storms off in a huff to a place where her help would be appreciated. I’m sure Cora and Violet were heartbroken. Though, someone might want to have warned France. 

Too Much Time on my Hands by Styx

Isobel leaving to single handily stop the war left her staff, Mr Moseley and Mrs Bird (Christine Lohr, last seen chumming it up with Mrs Patmore before the war,) with an empty house and nothing to do. For people whose entire lives were about serving others, this was the darkest timeline.

Since reorganising can get old after a while, both Crawley house servants were looking for an outlet. Mrs Birds came in the form of an injured farmer, who wandered into their house looking for food. Earlier in the season we had seen the consequences of the men leaving for battle and now we are shown the aftermath when they return. Former soldiers, who were poor before they left, are now out of work and forced to beg for food.

Having discovered a treasure trove of hospitality, the farmer does what any could guest would do, he tells a few dozen of his closest friends. And so the super special secret soup kitchen is born. Well, sort of secret, by the fact that Daisy and Mrs Patmore walked two metres into town and saw what was happening and joined in. Since forcing Daisy into marriage is clearly not enough to help the war effort, Mrs Patmore starts syphoning food off the government, an act that sets of O’Brien’s spider senses. After a fact finding mission, in which she literally goes into town and glares at the building, reports all that she glared to her lady in chief.

But like all villains, O’Brien is put into her place by the increasingly, wonderful Cora, instead of shutting down the venture, gets in and helps out after ordering  that they start using Downton’s own food supply instead.

Lonely Boy by the Black Keys

While Mrs Bird is feeding the poor, Mr Moseley is trying to feed his ambition. With nothing but time Mr Moseley, volunteers his services at Downton Manor.  You can see the great pride he has in his work and the unbridled joy he has about the fact he may have the opportunity to be valet to Lord Grantham. But like everything else, it is not to be. Was there anything more heartbreaking, then when poor Mr Moseley, ran into the kitchen all excited to find everyone welcoming Mr Bates back. The he took his shoe horn. Poor Mr Moseley, I really hope he gets a love interest next season.

You’re My Best Friend by Queen                                                                                                                                      

But I couldn’t stay sad for long ladies and gentlemen because, BATES IS BACK. All right control yourself people. We witnessed the continuation of a great Bromance this episode. Like all relationships, it’s had its ups and downs, but they always find their way back. From Robert accepting the blame for their fight and confiding in Bates how he was coping, you could see that they had definitely broken through the great divide between employer and friend. Sorry dust in my eye. Let’s move on. 

Secret Love by Doris Day

Oh Ethel. When I went to high school we had a program called Choices, Decisions and Outcomes. Ethel may just have benefited from a class or two. The moment you saw her flirting with Major Bryant, the pregnancy warning lights flashed all around them, but I don’t think she could see them over his moustache.

Grenade by Bruno Mars

Lady Violet, the magical lady she is (it was the time at Hogwarts) suddenly got the notion that Sybill must have a secret beau, despite the fact that no one has mentioned anything of the sort before. It wasn’t long after she shared this theory that Mary spotted Sybil and Branson in a heated conversation, the kind that was probably more than watch the potholes.

 Branson is clearly a smitten kitten, but I am finding his approach off putting. There’s no romance, he just gets very forceful in his declarations and barks at her than she must be in love with him. Just because the over the top intense thing worked for Edward Cullen, that is no reason to use him as a role model.

 

Where’d you Go – Fort Minor  

And now to the main percussion piece of the episode, maestro.

After going on patrol, just because, Matthew and William mysteriously disappear from the front. I’m not sure what was scarier about the situation, the fact that they were missing or that fact that people just disappeared all the time and turned up in random locations.

When Robert discovered that once again, he may have lost an heir, in the first scene I can remember him sharing with just Edith, the heartache was written all over his face. Hugh Bonneville was on fire this episode, portraying a man trying to maintain his composure but opening himself up and letting out the pain and grief little by little. He wins all the prizes.

Or he can at least share them Michelle Dockery, whose heartache over the possibility of having lost William and the rapid joy at his return and happiness as he joined in the song then sadness knowing that she does not really have him back anyway, was beautiful.

Congratulations Downton Abbey creators, you played my heart strings like a profession musician.  

So what did you think? What do you think will happen once Mrs Bates returns? What songs would you have the cast of Downton sing if this was a musical? Will the thoughts of losing Matthew forever drive Mary to confess her feelings? What else does Violet know that she’s not telling us?  Do you remember when glee was good? Do you miss it too?

Well, the song must end eventually until next episode my friends, you can’t stop the beat. 

Keep Calm and Stay Occupied

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 3 

It’s invasion day at Downton. The troops are ascending and any hopes of things remaining the same have been abandoned. And we’re only three episodes in!

Yes, three episodes in and the world is shrinking all around the Granthams as number of wounded, on account of the war, expands. But if anyone thought they were escaping a heated battlefield into the tranquil surroundings of Downton, they have clearly never been in the middle of a cat fight before. 

They may not be any gunfire (yet, give it time) or any air raids, but a series of battle lines have been scrawled all over Downton.  There is never any question that this undertaking is needed, the magnitude of injured soldiers is overwhelming, the question that is brought up over the course of the episode is who will be in charge of the operation and how much change are the original Downton Abbey residents able to cope with. 

First change: Power my dears, it is up for grabs and the game is a foot. In one corner we have Cora Crawley, married mother of three, Countess of Downton and all round snappy dresser and in the other is Isobel Crawley, single mother of one, tireless medical practitioner and spokesperson for the downtrodden. Isobel, should be the logical choice right, then why do I spend the entire episode wishing she would simmer down and stop annoying everyone (including me and my mum.) After years of soul searching and questioning I came up with a conclusion - she is not a very gracious guest. In terms of Downton Abbey, this is not only Cora and Robert and Carson’s home, and as a viewer it’s ours too. This is the place we always come back to and where the characters we first cared about live. We don’t want someone coming in no matter what their intentions and bossing them around. 

In history meeting Television, Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey is filmed and the home of the real life Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, was also used during the First World War having been converted to a hospital and was used again during the Second World War becoming home to over 100 children evacuated from London during the blitz bombing raids that devastated England (that’s season 5 or 6 right there.)

 While her motives may be pure, despite not started out rich there is a definite snobbery on Mrs Isabella Crawely’s part. She is looking down on Downton occupants because they may not have the medical or social background she has, which doesn’t sit right with me. Now before someone starts a #OccupyDownton twitter campaign, I understand what they character is trying to do; I just don’t like her attitude.  They are trying to help and it is their home. If someone came into my space and started trying to tell me what to do I’d get defensive (and that’s the excuse teenagers will be using for years.) This all makes me team Downton on this manner (plus this side has Maggie Smith, I wouldn’t even think about crossing it.)

The changes are not only for the upper house but the Downton cooking and cleaning crew as well, who are not sure what chain of command they will need to follow. Luckily O’Brien and Thomas are there to look out for everyone’s best interests.

Doctor Clarkson (David Robb) was brilliant, it is incredible skill to keep a level head and just keep going amongst craziness, and in choosing both Cora and Isobel to be in charge is a priceless move. It makes sense and it’s going to be hysterical.

Second Change: World War I was also a time of changing ideologies. People were questioning their Governments and their current way of thinking. One of those people just happened to be our own Mr. Branson, the rebel struggling with his clue. Since his arrival he has talked about openly about uprising and change, so it makes sense that he would going this route. He just can’t seem to be able to protest. The war office doesn’t want him and they just won’t let him pour goop over a higher-ups head like he wants. His reaction to the ongoing Russian Revolution and what actually ends up happening to the Tsar’s family (I won’t spoil it) will be interesting, as to whether it will affect his social ideals.

The difference between William and Branson are also shown during the dinner scenes. The old school soldier, ready to go fight for his country and the new social ideas, the political soldier, fighting his country to get his point against the war heard. On a side note no matter what your views on the situation I’m glad he didn’t dump that concoction in the dining room. There is no way that was ever going to come out of the carpet; I don’t think Carson’s heart could have taken it.

Between outing the fate of Mrs Patmore’s nephew and breaking down in the driveway, Mr Lang was not doing ok. He really should have been one of the soldiers being cared for not serving them. This follows on with last week that no matter how much he is hurting he won’t stop working while nobody quite knows how to take care of him. Mr Carson’s conversation with him at the end was well done and well acted on both parts. It was gracious, but you could see how painful it was and how much shame over it both men felt having to do it.

Third change: A purpose really does suit Edith. I love that Edith after a romantic history tragic enough to fill a few novels; she has found her place as the unsung hero of Downton Abbey. Giving the soldiers what they need, rather than organising around them. Three cheers for Edith.

 

The Fourth change: Mary and Matthew, the sequel seems to be chugging on. Violet and Rosamund are adamant to destroy Lavinia with whatever secret relationship with Richard Carlisle. In a surprising but what felt like an earnt change when Mary finds out it is a scandal just not the kind she thought, she chooses to take the high ground and not ruin Matthew’s relationship. There might be hope for Miss Mary yet.

Final change (?) If you ever needed more proof that the next logical step for Downton Abbey was a Zombie apocalypse well here you go:

Violet- “I’m going up to London to stay will Rosamund for a day or too, I think we’ll have Lavinia for tea”

Mary- “You sound as if you are going to gobble her up”

Violet- “If only we could”

Other news from around the ping pong table:

- Quote of the evening Mary: “We can’t leave all the moral high ground to Sybil. She might get lonely there.”

- Poor, poor William and Daisy. One half of the couple is over the moon while the other is having someone except the proposal for them. None of this is going to turn out very well.

-The touches of the era are always wonderful. The inclusion of the curling iron tonight was another one.

-William and Matthew are going out into the field together- If I didn’t think it was going to end in some sort of tragedy after the way Robert said it and the promo for next week it would make a wonderful spin-off sitcom

- Robert’s exclamation to at the fact that Thomas would be in charge of Downton was a good call back. I had forgotten that he had wanted to fire him for being well, Thomas.

-Edith and the Soldier -no good will come from this either.

- Bates is back!! I can’t imagine working a pub either and despite horrible situation he is still optimistic and honourable enough that he won’t let Anna compromise her own self to be with him. What a gentleman!

-I like that the dog’s name is Isis. It’s is a nice bit of call back to the actual houses Egyptian history. (The 5^th Earl of Carnarvon along with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, and Highclere Castle is still home to an Egyptian exhibit.)

- Downton Abbey’s crew does the meaningful one shoot camera movement like nobody’s business

That’s it for this episode. The only logical next step would be episode four don’t you agree.

 Before then it’s time to batten down the hatches and hide the silverware kiddies, I think a cold war unlike anything they’ll see for another thirty years is brewing. 

 Until next time are you Team Cora or Team Isobel and do you too hope they threw away the container Branson made his masterpiece in, there’s no saving that right? 

If you do feel the need to start a #OccupyDownton campaign please follow me at @Hanniebee852 and let me know how it goes.     

Keep Calm and Soldier On

Downton Abbey

Season 2 Episode 1

The year is 1917. The month is April. The show is Downton Abbey. There is a war. It’s big. Really big and there is always a problem with really big things, like large animals or spills, they touch everything. You probably don’t know this about me since I communicate with you via a computer but I am an extremely clumsy person sometimes and know for a fact that if you drop something it has the ability to reach into places you didn’t even know existed. In the same way the war has been dropped on Downton and now it is currently reaching into the unknown places in the psyches of every single resident.

Last episode the Crawley family, friends and staff dealt with the initial blowback, the changes to lifestyle and the initial enthusiasm to help but now they have to deal with the continual consequences of ongoing warfare, both physical and mental. In Downton Manor, physically it has remained untouched until now, but psychologically everybody is mess.

 

Grand old Mr Carson, the spokesperson and model for proper civilised behaviour and customs is working himself to death. Two new arrivals are dealing with the very serious repercussions of war. Lord Grantham is this close to buying a shiny red carriage and running off with a maid and Mary is considering the ultimate horror, marrying the bad guy from the first Lara Croft film (or the whole “he’s new money thing”, your choice.)

The issues the men folk had this episode all resolved around the fears they didn't have before the war and are not ready to address or handle once it worked its way in.

There is the fear of war, fear of being redundant, fear of change, fear of losing your place and fear of your past.

Carson is not able to handle the fact that he may not be able to do things as he always has done or as he deems the correct way.

Mrs Hughes: “The world does not turn on the style of a dinner.”

Mr Carson: “My world does.”

With some many other bigger things going on in the world, the other staff is having trouble understanding why Carson is making such a fuss to keep up appearances, but this is what he does.

Robert Crawley is travelling on a one way ticket, destination mid-life crisis. He is no longer an active soldier but he is still wearing the uniform. He says early on in the episode that he envies the solders self-respect and ability to sleep at night. He feels useless and embarrassed and no good is going to come from this.

We also see examples of those who have been or are going into warfare. Mr Lang (Cal Macaninch) Mr Bate’s replacement (everyone at Downton misses Bates, I do too) is dealing with a serve case of nerves or ‘shell shock’ but today is probably what we’d call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) As demonstrated during the episode he is struggling to come to terms with what he has been through (something the others can’t deal with or understand or know how to help) but can’t not work, he needs to keep working,  it’s how he defines himself through working and how he survives. This is the case to with Thomas’s patient Lieutenant Edward Courtenay (Lachlan Nieboer) at the Downton Hospital. He is severely depressed after losing his sight, losing his identity along with it as his family moves on. There wasn't the help for the poor to recover or the expertise they needed to work still to support their families or just because they didn’t know what else to do, that was who they were, their purpose without that they did not know who they were plus there was not the understanding of PSTD or depression that we have today. Like Lang the seriousness of the issue is not cannot be helped or understood due to the time or lack of resources. Something that looks like it will be remedied as the soldiers march on Downton Abbey in the coming weeks. 

Alas we get to the ongoing romantic entanglements of the evening. Poor Miss Mary, it’s always awkward when the new mister meets the ex-mister and the ex-mister’s new fiancée who also clearly has some uncomfortable and seedy history with the new mister. Sir Richard Carlisle (Iain Glen) has had the unfortunate life experience of earning all his position, money and title by his own efforts and not an inheritance so clearly he is not a good match for Mary. There is a very interesting dynamic between Mary and Sir Richard, there isn’t romance or “talks of June and Moon” as he puts it but instead he views her as a partner, someone he could build a life with together. Unlike her other suitors he thinks highly of her and views her for strength of character rather than as a way to climb the social ladder. I enjoyed all their discussions and frankness with each other over how they view new money verses Downton’s old customs but I have a feeling any possible engagement may end before it even begins if his heated discussion with Lavinia, Matthew’s new fiancée is anything to go by. Plus he’s not Matthew so he has to go.

Other News from the trenches in an episode set nowhere near the trenches:

-“I’m not saying I’m important but I believe in this war” - William received his marching orders from the army and was very excited. His excitement played well against Robert’s frustration of not being involved and Lang’s struggles follow battle. 

-Poor, poor Mr Molesley (Kevin Doyle) - Can’t get the job, can’t get Anna.

-Edith really has the most tragic love life. First Mary’s fiancée part 1 then flirting and kissing the married farmer who showed her some attention -

Farmer: You’re pretty. 

Edith: Kiss me you fool.

-My heart breaks over and over again for Anna this episode, so I don’t think I can talk about it anymore.

- Mr Carson and Mary’s relationship is very sweet in how he cares for her and she breaks social conventions to go make sure he is alright. She listens to his advice more than anyone and tries to go tell Matthew how she feels.

- Sybil is taking her job very seriously but is still learning that she now has to take orders from others.

-The overwhelming amount of injured at Downton Hospital even took Matthew’s breath away after all the horrors he has already seen.

-Did anyone else notice the sort of Torchwood crossover? For the whole episode I thought Lieutenant Edward Courtenay looked so similar to Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) from the Dr Who universe and it turns out that the actor who played him was actually cast as Jack’s brother in a few episodes of Torchwood. Does that mean we will get to see Captain Jack in all his glory at Downton during World War 2?

So that is it for this week boys and girls. What did you think? Is the battle between Cora and Violet over who runs Downton going to end in an all out cage match? What do you think the mystery is between Richard and Lavinia and does it involve a time travelling triangle?

The war is spreading its long fingers into Downton as the wounded ascend. Lord Grantham summed it up best “It’s a brave new world we’re heading for,” and I’m sure it is going to be very, very interesting.    

They didn't have Twitter back in the 1900’s but if they did I’m sure the Crawley’s would have followed me here at Hanniebee852.

Keep Calm and Make War

Downton Abbey

Season 2 episode 1

In 1916 the world was at war in more ways than one. There was the obvious war, you know with the bombs and guns but there were many smaller, quieter battles taking place that would ultimately shake up the way the world worked forever. Changes that were slowly but surely creeping closer to the unsuspecting occupants of Downton Abbey.  

There was the battle of the classes; with all men equal in death, did the class system even have a place any more. There was a war against the new ways and the old customs, new money and old estates and the acceptance of any change. There were wars of ideologies and there was the battle of the sexes with women rising out of their expected station. Introduce this to the constant bickering of the Crawley family and you have episode 1 of Downton Abbey season 2.

We open in the midst of a battle that is not in the movie ‘War Horse’ you can tell by the distinct lack of horses and the inclusion of one Matthew Crawley(Dan Stevens.) He’s still alive!!!! At the end of Season 1, the one thing that you could be sure of was that Lord-in-training Crawley (no matter what his Facebook relationship status with Mary may be) was heading to war. As with his rise in status at Downton, Matthew is higher up in the English army, leading a group on the Western Front. Amongst the bombs and shrapnel Matthew, his eyes even in the mist of German invasion the prettiest of blues, is looking forward to a few days free of fighting and is off to see a certain special lady. I wonder who that could be.

Psych. It’s not Mary (Michelle Dockery.) You mean he did not go back to her despite the fact she was continually weighing her options, the horror. Now Matthew’s sudden engagement may seem harsh, particularly as Mary clearly still has very strong feelings for Matthew, but he needed to move on to someone else, not only to get over Mary but to feel some happiness in the face of all this horror. On the flip side despite the weirdness of the ‘cousin’ thing (different times just think about something else). I am an advocate of Mary and Matthew; they have amazing chemistry and genuinely understand and bring out the best of each other. The simple conversation they have about the war during a patented Downton Abbey dinner scene highlights just that. She gets what he is going through and he understands that, but a reunion I feel needs to be earned. She needs to grow a bit more (every time that Mary shows emotion an angel gets its wings, true story) and he needs to experience the affections of anti-Mary, Miss Lavinia Swire (Zoe Boyle.) This love triangle is going to get interesting, at least if Lavinia steps out from playing the overwhelmed wallflower and becomes a viable threat.

In the lives of the other Crawley sisters, Sybill (Jessica Brown Findlay) is understandably heartbroken over losing so many friends in the War that she decides she wants to get a real job and help. With the help of Matthew’s mother Isobel (Penelope Wilton aka Harriet Jones, Prime Minister,) she signs up for a nursing course, very a big step for a girl who doesn’t even know how to make tea. Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) is too stepping up to the plate learning to drive as she realises that the young men won’t be around much longer.  These young women are moving with the times, as the men disappear the women’s role is expanding beyond last season’s ‘Let’s be a wife.’

Two people who are having trouble adjusting to the war are Mr Carson (Jim Carter) and Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville.) Mr Carson, a stickler for tradition and order refuses to make any changes despite the increased workload.  Such formal customs are becoming unimportant and out-dated in this new environment, showing the beginnings of changes in the class system.

- PREDICTION- Based on Mrs Hughes’s (Phyllis Logan) comments I have a feeling Carson’s ticker may be in trouble- OK I’M DONE GUESSING-

Lord Grantham/Mr Crawley/ Robert according to IMDb, is also feeling displaced in the world. Though unlike Carson it’s because he, himself is now unimportant and out-dated, reduced to a fancy title and a seat in a smoking room watching the war unfold. What’s that saying ‘War is old men talking and young men dying?’

 Other Downton Gossip:

 

-  Branson (Allen Leech) finally made his move. Yay or Nay?

-  Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and Bates (Brendan Coyle) are the sweetest but only got one moment of happiness before it all came crashing down and he had to leave again. Did anyone else start screaming at Mrs Bates, “You leave Bates alone, you leave him.” Just me, ok.

-  Ethel (Amy Nuttall) is annoying and ungrateful but shows how the world’s thinking has changed - I want the best and I’m not ashamed to admit it- sound familiar to anyone?

- Isobel may have annoyed me tonight but her calling out O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran) while she was lurking was fantastic

- Thomas (Rob James-Collier) and Matthew’s ‘we’re all soldiers here’ was my favourite scene. These are two men of completely different stations who are united by circumstances and their love of the same place. Then just as I’m starting to feel sorry for Thomas he goes and does something really, really stupid.

- Lady Violet Grantham (Maggie Smith) is the best, the end.

The world according to Lady Violet Grantham (as it should be): About Matthew and Mary’s separate journeys as they return to Downton: 

 “Oh that’s a relief, I hate Greek drama. When everything happens off stage”.