Downton Abbey’ Season 3, Episode 2 Recap

The second hour left us just as breathless as the first ... except for Bates, who provided time for bathroom breaks.

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  • PBS
  • “She’ll die soon and we’ll get the money.” “No, it looks as if she might bury us all.” “Pity.”



PBS aired the first two episodes of “Downton Abbey” back to back. Here’s my review of the first hour.

Hardly a pause for breath, was there? The second hour of “Downton” swept through with as many swirling plots as the first, spending far more time Downstairs than Up this time (or so it seemed), and culling a few stories (Branson and Sybil) while cultivate some new, heartbreaking ones (Mrs. Hughes). Still, the night belonged to Mrs. Levinson (Shirley MacLaine), and her saving the day, but not the estate.

As I mentioned in my review of the first hour, though Mary and Matthew are no longer a “will they / won’t they” couple, their uses have not been diminished. For one thing, they make a much better couple in bed than Bates and Anna (and I am very sorry to bring that image back to your mind). How perfectly adorable for Matthew to worry about being caught in Mary’s bed (at least he survived it!) and for her to turn his “shut up and kiss me” entreaty from before to wedding to the even more delightful “now stop talking and kiss me before I get cross.” Oh, you two!

But the newlyweds have more to deal with than just getting to know one another in intimate settings - Mary spent much of the episode scheming with her Crawley grandmother to “fleece” (as Matthew put it) her Levinson grandmother. Despite decent performances from the former, the latter was not fooled for even a minute. She knew they were after her money and she let the pantomime continue until she ultimately revealed that even if she wanted to save the estate she couldn’t. The money was tied up and going to Cora’s never aforementioned or seen brother Harold. So that is that. However ...