Disasters are beginning to reveal themselves across the whole of Downton in the second episode of the third season.
British society is changing, we’re in the Roaring Twenties and everyone is having to adjust to the new world. A world without war and, at least for the Crawley family, possibly without money.
Matthew (Dan Stevens) is continuing to be stubborn concerning the money left to him by Lavinia’s father, Reggie Swire, despite the fact it would save Downton from being sold.
“I’d be taking money under false pretences. I’d be stealing.” Matthew tells Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery).
Yet his refusal to hand over money that has been left to him doesn’t seem to hinder their marriage. The episode is littered with bedroom scenes, nothing raunchy though, after all this is Granny’s favourite programme too.
Mary hasn’t given up on Downton though, saying “I’m going to be Countess of Grantham one day and in my mind the Countess lives at Downton Abbey.”
We’re all addicted to the Mary and Matthew storyline, but a lot is going on elsewhere.
Downstairs, the head housekeeper, Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan), suspects she has breast cancer and Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol), the cook, is no help at all. Thomas’ (Rob James-Collier) attempts at getting the new footman into trouble end up with O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran) wreaking her revenge with disappearing shirts. The ovens also break down and the house is left hosting an indoor picnic.
Upstairs, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) is still fixated on Sir Anthony Strallan (Robert Bathurst), but he doesn’t seem to mind. Her father, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), on the other hand, isn’t impressed.
A question that we all thought had been answered in the last season has sprung up again; is John Bates (Brendan Coyle) a murderer?
We were led to believe he was sitting quietly in jail, but this episode of Downton Abbey sees Bates attack his cellmate for threatening him.
“I forgot I was sharing a cell with a murderer.” His cellmate says.
“Don’t forget it again.” Bates answers.
As if we weren’t already hooked to Downton.