Downton Abbey’ Season 3, Episode 3 Recap

“Vulgarity is no substitute for wit”

Image

  • PBS
  • Look at me I’m Edith C! For once everything is all about me!



Does any other show burn through plots as quickly as “Downton Abbey?” There was the good, the better and the worst at the manor this week, and while the episode was high on drama, it lacked any real risk. This was our third hour spent contemplating Downton’s ruin because, without Bates around, somebody has to fall on their sword unnecessarily, so it might as well be Matthew. No one ever really thought Downton would be sold though, did they? After all, the servants didn’t even know that it was a possibility, and the show isn’t called The Crawleys.

It was always a question of timing for when the manor would be saved, and there was no other option (after Mrs. Levinson said she was unable to access her fortune - she was whisked away quickly after that, wasn’t she?) but for Matthew to accept Reggie Swire’s money and gift it to Robert. While Matthew pouted and sighed, Mary actually read the letter about the money in question, and found it to be so exceptionally explicit that Matthew should accept the money without feeling guilty that even Matthew believed it was a forgery.

Thank heavens for Daisy and coincidence though, which allowed for Lavinia to somehow post a letter to her father while she was on her death bed without anyone knowing. Why would Lavinia have been left alone for long enough to compose a letter? And why ask Daisy of all people to post it? Why am I looking for logic with this show though. Ooo aren’t Cora’s dresses lovely!

The thing about “Downton Abbey” though is that even when it’s ridiculous, it’s wonderful. Matthew accepts the money, Downton is saved, and he and Robert are business partners (that seems like a bad idea), and that was the least interesting part of the episode (minus Shawshank Bates, of course).