Downton Abbey season 5, episode 6 just finished airing, and we finally have some much needed closure on Michael Gregson.
Grieving
The episode opens on Edith receiving a telegram from her editor in London. They finally have some news regarding Michael Gregson. As Carson so helpfully points out it can’t mean anything good — if it’d been good news, he’d have telephoned. It seems what everyone else has long suspected is true.
Whilst waiting for the editor to arrive, Lady Mary and the family make arrangements to have a picnic and join in a point-to-point that weekend. Charles Blake and Lord Gillingham will be present at the race, and both plan to return to Downton afterward, which will obviously work out well.
Elsewhere, Anna forgets her button box and Mr. Bates offers to go back to their home to retrieve it for her. As he’s searching for it he comes across the book and contraceptives that Lady Mary asked Anna to hide away for her — and he makes the obvious leap that his wife doesn’t want to have his child. Uh-oh.
When we return to the house, we finally learn the fate of poor Gregson. It appears that upon arriving in Munich he got caught up in the “Bierkeller Putsch” (which saw Hitler face a sentence of five years in prison, though he ultimately only served nine months.) Though we’re still some ways off from it, we’re certainly moving slowly towards World War II.
Edith seeks out Marigold in her distress, in order to find some comfort, but Mrs. Drewe refuses to allow her in the house. When Mr. Drewe asks that Edith give them more time, she proclaims that she has none.
Challenges
Since the unfortunate incident with Simon Bricker, Robert has been refusing to return to his and Cora’s bed. He doesn’t believe that the situation is as innocent as either of them proclaimed, but Lady Grantham is firm that he should take her word on it. When Lord Gratham still refuses to budge, she challenges him. He can stay away from their room so long as he can wholeheartedly say he has never given in to flirtations with another woman since they’ve been married. Looks like that affair with the maid hasn’t been forgotten after all.
The Sergeant and the officer from Scotland Yard make their return this week, but to question Baxter following a tip-off. It seems as though Barrow decided to make trouble — though what Baxter knows isn’t substantial enough. Mrs. Hughes, who remains present during Baxter’s questioning, also learns of Baxter’s turn in prison. She doesn’t make any judgements, however, only asks whether Lady Grantham knows. When it’s established that she does, Mrs. Hughes says there’s no need to discuss it further.
As if we could love Mrs. Hughes any more.
Barrow, though he knows he’s wronged her, calls on Baxter to “talk.” He’s finally asking for help from someone, as the treatments he’s been taking have turned on him. She tells him to grab everything — the pills he’s been taking, and the syringe. They’re going to visit the doctor.
Revelations
The truth of what Barrow has done to himself comes out. When he was in London he put himself through electrotherapy and followup treatments of saline injections to make himself more like other men. Doctor Clarkson advises Barrow to accept the burden of his sexuality and choose harsh reality over false hope.
As he walks back to Downton with Baxter, they seem to mend their relationship a little — and we can only hope that this is the beginning of a friendship that Barrow so desperately needs.
At dinner, Lady Mary debuts her newest look. She’s chopped her hair short and styled it in a severe bob, which perfectly suits her. Edith takes exception to her showing off her latest fashion when she’s just lost the love of her life. As someone who lost her own husband, Mary’s reaction seems oddly harsh — but does rightly point out that its been at least a year since Gregson met his end, though it hadn’t been officially confirmed.
Back at their home, Mr. Bates and Anna have it out over what he found when searching for the button box. Mr. Bates makes the assumption that Anna doesn’t want his children because she believes he’s a murderer. He reveals that he wanted to kill Mr. Green for what he did to Anna, but even though he bought a return ticket to London he never got on the train. Anna is relieved to learn that he’s not the one responsible for Mr. Green’s death, and this should hopefully lift the burden on both of them — their secrets were putting a heavy burden on their marriage.
Anna goes to talk to Mrs. Hughes about the ticket, as it had been in the pocket of one of the coats that she donated to the Russian refugees. Mrs. Hughes confirms that the ticket is long gone, and with it the undeniable proof of Mr. Bates’ innocence.
While the rest of the family are away at the picnic, Branson walks in on Edith attempting to pen a letter. When he engages her, she admits that she’s leaving Downton while everyone is away from the house. He doesn’t stop her, and she asks that he convey her goodbyes.
New beginnings
The truth comes out at the Drewes’ home, as Edith finally tells Mrs. Drewe that she’s Marigold’s birth mother. Mrs. Drewe refuses to believe it, even after being shown her birth certificate. Mr. Drewe comes clean about penning the “letter” from Marigold’s father, and tells his wife that they have no legitimate claim to the child. Edith takes Marigold, as a devastated Mrs. Drewe cries in the background — but not before she sweetly presses a teddy bear into Marigold’s hands, and asks her never to forget them.
At the picnic, Isobel admits to the Dowager Countess that she’s accepted Lord Merton’s proposal and will be telling the rest of the family when they return to Downton. Violet tells her that she’ll hear no more objections from her, though she’s clearly not happy about the situation.
Lady Mary refuses to give an inch to her “love rival,” Mabel Lane Fox, as she finishes ahead of her in the race. Though it hardly seems to matter, as Lord Gillingham and Mabel look to be just as much in love as they were before he broke off their engagement. Perhaps Mr. Blake’s plan has worked out after all.
When the family returns to Downton, they learn from Tom that Edith has left — without word on her destination, or if she’ll ever come back. Lady Violet, knowing of Edith’s illegitimate child, heads straight to Yewtree farm to see if the Drewes know any more information. Neither of them have what Lady Violet needs, and she leaves disappointed, knowing she may never see Edith or her great-grandchild again.
Thinking on their future, and inspired by Mrs. Patmore’s purchase of a property, Mr. Carson proposes to Mrs. Hughes that they invest in a home together — as a business venture. But he’s fooling no one as to his true intentions, and we may have needed to bite our fist to stop ourselves from gleefully squealing.
Edith arrives at her destination in London, and proclaims to little Marigold that they’ll be much happier now that they’re together — though their situation isn’t ideal. Ice-cream and champagne all around?