Downton Abbey’ Season 3, Episode 1 Recap

• PBS
• “I bring chaos and drama! ... and quips!”

After a questionable second season, whose times jumps played havoc on all aspects of the series, last year’s “Downton Abbey” Christmas Special righted the ship that show creator and head writer Julian Fellowes let run precariously off-course. Now that “that pesky war” is over with, Fellowes can return to what he does best: posh manner drama (with plenty of downstairs intrigue).

Like last year, I did cheat again this time and procure the episodes as they aired first in the U.K. (if you want to know why the episodes air here so late, Slate has a good explanation for it), and can confirm that the third season is miles above the second in terms of story (with another surprising Christmas Special). But that is the last you’ll hear of it (and NO spoilers in the comments, please), because unlike last year, the season doesn’t require constant reassurance that you’ll need to stick with it. It speaks for itself.

Now onto the specifics: it’s 1920, and things much as they were in 1912. The biggest difference is that unlike a Jane Austen novel, life continues even after marriage, and so we pick up both with Anna and Bates’ trials (literally, and snooze) as well as Sybil and Branson after their move to Ireland. The most important marriage of them all is the one still on the horizon, though: Matthew and Mary, and show’s OTP (or “one true pairing,” to use fan speak that means soulmates) are finally ready to tie the knot (and do, amen).