Forget Love Actually. Love really was all around during the two-hour Downton Abbey Christmas special, and we couldn’t be happier!
Prison blues
Just in case we forgot about how the season ended, the Christmas special opens with a reminder that Anna Bates is being held for the murder of Mr. Green in a London prison. Lady Mary takes Mr. Bates’ place to visit her, despite worries that it could get into the papers — by as we know, Lady Mary is no stranger to a scandal.
Meanwhile, the rest of the house is preparing to travel to join the Sinderbys for some pre-Christmas shooting at Brancaster Castle, in Northumberland. They’ll be attending with a smaller staff, meaning the rest of downstairs has the opportunity for a small break.
Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson share a quiet drink, as they look over houses for their Bed and Breakfast opportunity. It seems as though the retirement plan they’d been throwing back and forth throughout last season is going to come to fruition.
Pride and prejudices
When we arrive at Brancaster, we meet Lord Siderby’s butler. Stowell, to the surprise of absolutely no one, has his prejudices. In particular, against Branson. Barrow, in a show of solidarity, fights in Tom’s corner — which doesn’t endear Stowell to him in the slightest. Of course, Barrow isn’t the only one who notices this poor treatment of the (now) beloved Grantham son-in-law. Lady Mary is, rightfully, unimpressed by Stowell’s cold manner.
As they head out for their first day of shooting, Lady Sinderby takes a stand and chooses to accompany Branson, leaving Mary to deal with her husband. Mary makes a good effort at trying to alleviate some of Lord Sinderby’s prejudices, but to no avail, as he stands firm with them. Meanwhile, Cora tries to get out of Robert exactly what he was doing in York before they left for their trip, but he not-so-subtly evades the question.
Back at the prison, Anna reveals a piece of information that may solidify the case against her — and prove a pattern in her behaviour. When she was younger, her step-father made some advances on her, and she threatened him with a knife to keep him away. Though she only injured him, and no charges were made against her, it is cause for them to be worried as the case gets closer to coming to trial.
A Royal reunion
At dinner, Lady Rose and Mary discover that Stowell’s prejudices extend further than just Branson — and there is no love lost between him and his employer, Lord Sinderby. Of course, that could mean trouble for the Sinderby family in particular, as Lady Rose astutely points out that anyone working that closely for someone will by privy to their darkest secrets. What skeletons does the righteous Lord Sinderby have hiding in his closet?
Not anything that Lady Mary could deem too damaging, as she enlists Barrow’s assistance (via Baxter) to help take Stowell down a peg or two. When will this family ever learn about escalation? Not today, as Barrow relishes in the opportunity to cause a little mischief — and convinces Baxter to get in on the action too. In true Downton fashion it all comes to head at dinner, as Barrow plays a little switcheroo with Lord Sinderby’s dinner. This has the Aldridge patriarch blowing up at Stowell over the “healthy” alternative he provided, and some of the backlash hits Barrow too. Not too surprising, really.
Back in Yorkshire, the Dowager Countess’ mission to reunite Prince Kuragin with his Princess has finally been realised. The reception is a little frosty from the Princess, who seems to be taking her fall from grace particularly badly, and there is no love lost between her and the Dowager Countess. The Princess suggests that there is more to Violet’s Russian adventure than she’s let on, and this reunion seemingly marks the end of the Dowager Countess’ potential romance with the Prince — as Kuragin and his wife embark for France to begin their new life together.
The truth about Lord Grantham’s brief excursion to York also comes out. He believes he may have angina. Though he tells Cora in one breath to not worry about him, in his other he insists on speaking to Edith and making his peace with her regarding Marigold because “you never know what might happen.” What a way to comfort your wife.
The conversation with Edith goes well, however, as she tearfully asks for his forgiveness for her illegitimate child. He tells her that he believes that Gregson would have done right by her, had he survived Germany, and it is a very sweet moment that will hopefully put Edith back on the path to happiness.
Blossoming romance
Branson isn’t the only person leaving for America come next season — Atticus has received a job offer in New York. We sincerely hope that this doesn’t mean that Matt Barber’s endearing character will be absent when Downton next returns. His storyline with Rose is one of the more interesting ones that was introduced last season, and we’re definitely not ready to say goodbye yet. Don’t take him from us, Fellowes!
At Downton, Mr. Carson is ready to close a deal on one of the prospective houses that he has been looking at with Mrs. Hughes, but it seems their retirement plan just isn’t to be — shattering hearts worldwide. Mrs. Hughes tells Carson about her sister, who was born disabled and requires constant care, and all of her savings has gone towards the upkeep of that care since the death of their mother. Though she says she hopes that Carson will be able to continue on without her, the prospect of doing so doesn’t seem to sit right with him.
Of course, Lady Mary couldn’t be without a suitor for long. Taking Atticus’ place as the party heads out to shoot again, we’re introduced to Henry Talbot. We’re treated to a very Pride and Prejudice-esque dynamic between the two, as she pokes at him in an attempt to rile him up. We can’t be too upset at this newest romantic prospect for Mary — she needs someone who’ll go toe-to-toe with her, and Matthew Goode’s Talbot is the perfect contender.
It is a little ironic, we think, that he eventually turns out to have a hobby for fast cars, and Mary’s seeming pique of interest in him upon that discovery — have you forgotten how your husband met his end already, Lady Mary?
Not everyone could end the Christmas happily. Following the disaster that was the dinner introducing Isobel to Lord Merton’s sons, she offered him an ultimatum. Either she was accepted into the family, or the wedding is off. Isobel stands firm in the fact that she doesn’t want her last days spent in the middle of a family dispute. Lord Merton’s sons are equally stubborn, and refuse to change their tune — so Isobel puts the final nail in the coffin of Lord Merton’s advances toward her. At least she’ll always have Violet.
Violet who, as it turns out, almost eloped with the Prince back in Russia. Oh-err, where do we sign up for a spin-off featuring a younger Dowager Countess’ risque life?
People in glass houses…
In the story that never ends, Anna’s case is going to trial. Mr. Bates, of course, can’t let that stand. He signs a written confession for Mr. Green’s murder, and goes on the run. The back and forth of the he-did-it, she-did-it is getting kind of tiresome, and we’re hoping that it comes to an end soon. There’s only so much misery at the expense of the Bates’ that we can take.
Good ol’ Mr. Molesley gets the key for the Bates’ house, and heads there in search of a photograph of Mr. Bates. His intention? To canvas all of the pubs in York to find anyone who recognises him from the day of Mr. Green’s murder, in order to clear his name. He’s a good guy, that Mr. Molesley.
Stowell, on the other hand, isn’t — and Lord Sinderby not quite so righteous as he makes himself appear. Stowell orchestrates Lord Sinderby’s mistress and illegitimate son to arrive at Brancaster, and Lady Rose’s quick thinking saves him from ruin. She introduces the woman as a close and dear friend, and has Lord Grantham and Lady Mary play along. This, finally, endears Lord Sinderby to her, and it seems like all the “disapproving” family drama is over with.
Merry and bright
The family returns to Downton in time for Christmas, and to greet Anna as she’s released from prison on bail. She’s clearly conflicted, as her freedom comes at a very steep price — her husband. He’ll go straight to the noose if he’s caught, even though everyone knows he didn’t do it.
Mr. Molesley’s search for evidence to clear Mr. Bates’ name comes up fruitful, with Baxter’s help. They’ve found a landlord of a pub who recognises him, most notably his limp, and upon further reflection realises that they served in the war together. The solitary witness damning Anna to her sentence is also having doubts, so it may be good news all around. Is it to much to hope that this plot is put to bed, for good?
So, it’s celebrations all around, as Upstairs and Downstairs mingle — eating, drinking and being merry. Lord Grantham, who only has an ulcer, says a tearful goodbye to Branson. Tom will be leaving with Sybbie in the new year, and spends some time committing as much of Downton to memory. Though he promises to return, eventually.
Mr. Carson takes Mrs. Hughes away from the bustle of the party, and gives her the best Christmas present we could have ever asked for. He’s invested all of his savings in one of the houses that they liked, and put both of their names to it. But that’s not all, he does what we’ve been hoping for since the last Christmas special. He proposes. Not a business venture, an honest to goodness proposal, which she accepts. There wasn’t a dry eye in our house, as one of the best slow-burn romances on television in a long time came to a perfectly beautiful climax. This is one wedding we’ll be eagerly awaiting when the show returns for season 6.
The episode closes out with Mr. Bates returning from his time on the run in Ireland, and taking Anna into his arms before sharing an emotional kiss.