Monday, January 5, 2015

Downton Abbey, Season Five, Episode One

Well, season five has started. I don't know if I have any extra predictions for this season, so far.
Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Tony Gillingham (Tom Cullen) are almost engaged though she has high hopes for her potential second marriage, wanting it to be as happy as her first. Also desperate for the marriage to work, Tony offers to have a weekend by themselves wanting her to also be his lover before the two marry so they know everything about each other first. Mary is considering the offer. She's probably take it.
Edith (Laura Carmichael) is still visiting her secret love child, who was unfortunately given the name Marigold. Marigold is doing well living with the Drewes, though Edith is still somewhat depressed and Gregson is still nowhere to be found. My prediction? He's probably dead. I also don't think that Edith will be able to keep an acceptable distance from little Marigold.
Branson (Allen Leech) is still overseeing the land but is still having doubts and is sort of considering pursuing a relationship with the teacher Miss Bunting (Daisy Lewis) though her opinions largely clash with Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Branson is hesitant to go against Robert's wishes. Speaking of Robert, he is not appointed to be on the veterans committee and Carson (Jim Carter) is appointed instead and takes the position.
As for the servants, we finally find out part of Baxter's (Raquel Cassidy's) dirty little secret. She's a thief though who knows what she did with the jewels. And Moseley (Kevin Doyle) attempts to dye his hair though that ends badly.
Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is actually friends with Jimmy (Ed Speleers) who is sleeping with his former mistress (Anna Chancellor). And because of a sudden fire, which starts in Edith's room, Robert discovers that his footman is sleeping with his former boss and is disgusted.
The fire manages not to damage much and at least Mary's first though once hearing of the fire is of her son, George, whom she spends little time with. Earlier, she even admitted that she loved Tony in her own cold, unfeeling sort of way. But the future of Downton depends solely on little George, that will all be his one day.
Though I am largely over this show, believing they dragged it out too long and have too much time between seasons, this was not a bad way to start the season as so much could so easily go wrong and lives will be forever changed. The acting is still great and dialogue snappy, not to mention the flawless sets and costumes. I just feel that the best days of Downton are long gone, just as it could be with society changing right before everyone's eyes. Grade: B+

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