Thursday, January 23, 2014

Downton Abbey: Season Four, Episode Four



This episode of Downton was better than last week’s.
Anna (Joanne Froggatt) is still reeling from her rape. She won’t tell Bates (Brendan Coyle) what happened but she won’t let him touch her and even warns Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan, a force to be reckoned with) that if she becomes ‘with child’ she’ll kill herself. Now, I already know that won’t happen because this season, the producers already admitted that no major characters will die so that prediction won’t happen. I’m perfectly fine with that. On the other hand, Anna wants to move back into the house because she fears that she’s spoiled for Bates. In the meantime, Bates fears he did something wrong, that he’s at fault because Anna is without fault. It’s not looking good for the only remaining happy couple in that show, if you don’t count Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern).
But my prediction is alive and well for Edith (Laura Carmichael). She went to visit Michael Gregson (Charles Roberts) in London to sign some papers which will give her control of his property while he moves to Munich so he can become a German citizen. Fine, whatever. But she doesn’t sneak back into her aunt’s house until six in the morning. So, yes, people, read between the lines. They had sex. Auntie (Samantha Bond) isn’t pleased but it is not her job to tattle. However, the question remains, what did she actually sign? She didn’t read the papers that well, so who knows what that will mean. That certainly could come back to haunt her more than sleeping with Gregson.
Mary (Michelle Dockery) receives a proposal from Tony Gillingham (Tom Cullen). Though she is surprised by this, he means every word but she isn’t ready. And she isn’t. She likes Tony plenty and I’m glad she does, but Matthew still occupies her brain. She refuses, though she tells Tom (Allen Leech) that she feels she may regret doing so. I think she could be right.
As for Tom, he admits the truth to Mrs. Hughes, who then blackmails the evil maid Edna, who leaves, thank goodness. That is probably the main reason I liked this episode better than last week, Edna leaves, never to return. Tom is okay again. Nothing bad really happened. She was just using him as a pawn to move up in the world.
More drama is set for next week. Yikes, but I can’t wait. Also, give Maggie Smith more lines. I miss her snappy attitude. But the acting remains top notch and the plot lines just fit in better than last week. Grade: B+

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