The Downton Abbey season finale just finished airing, and wow. If that wasn’t enough drama to tide you over until Christmas, we don’t know what is!
Let them eat cake
Preparations for Lady Rose’s wedding are underway, and Mrs. Patmore continues to outdo herself. The wedding cake that they’re working on is nothing less than stunning, and it is rightfully pointed out to her just how amazing it is. Though Mrs. Patmore splits the credit with Daisy, who is working on painting the decorative flowers.
The brief respite for Anna and Mr. Bates is broken when Mr. Carson informs them that the sergeant and the officer from Scotland Yard will be coming in the morning to speak with them both. Baxter, who appears to have overhead, puts herself forward to testify to seeing the train ticket whole — though neither of them seem enthused about her coming forward to help. We’re getting the sinking feeling that Mr. Bates isn’t the one who requires saving this time, however.
When the officers arrive at Downton, they reveal that during their investigation they’ve uncovered a darker side to Mr. Green. Several women, when pressed, have come forward to admit that he attacked them. They look at Anna, as she fits their profile, but she refuses to come clean. They request Anna’s presence at Scotland Yard for a morning, when she’s in London.
Elsewhere, Prince Kuragin visits the Dowager Countess in order to proposition her. Though the Princess is still alive, the difficult time he’s endured has made him want his final years to be spent with the woman he truly loves — Violet. We’re not sure we’ve ever seen the Dowager Countess so flustered, though she doesn’t give him a definitive answer to his proposal.
To London
The entire household heads to London in order to finish preparations for Lady Rose and Atticus’ wedding, though there is a new footman temporarily joining them. Barrow, unsurprisingly, takes a shine to the man almost immediately. Could this be a potential love interest for Thomas? After the (often self-inflicted) ordeals he’s suffered over the last few seasons, we can only hope.
Atticus’ family comes to the Grantham’s London home for dinner, and are joined by Shrimpie and Mrs. Flintshire. As always, Mrs. Flintshire is unbearably unpleasant, and dinner is almost as offensive as last week’s with Lord Merton’s sons. She manages to alienate just about everyone, and she snidely comments on if the Sinderby’s have difficulty finding “help.” Lady Sinderby, however, is on fine form and quips back “Not very. But then we’re Jewish, so we pay well.”
Downstairs, Lord Grantham calls on Mrs. Patmore to implore that she come to the unveiling of the Downton war memorial — though he knows it’ll be emotionally painful for her. She eventually agrees, though it is still a sensitive subject.
At Scotland Yard, Anna is surprised to find out the true nature of her being called there. She’s asked by the officer to line up with some other women, as a man comes through to look at them. Far from Mr. Bates being the possible murder suspect, it is a woman that they’re looking for. She might be needing her own alibi, and fast.
Andy, the temporary footman, returns to his duties following a night out with Denker — and when Thomas enquires after how he enjoyed, it is definitely not favourable. Perhaps Spratt is on to something.
It’s all fun and games until…
Atticus goes on his stag party, but decides to retire early to the disappointment of his friends. A woman tries to join him in the elevator, but he pushes her away, telling her if he gave her the wrong idea then he was sorry but he’s not interested. As he’s getting ready for bed there’s a knock at the door, and the woman from before pushes her way in. She doesn’t try anything on with Atticus, just slips the straps of her dress down, poses, and then leaves.
Lady Rose heads out for lunch with Mary, Branson and Edith when some mail arrives for her. Inside are photographs of Atticus and the woman from the night before. Rose is clearly upset, but Branson and Mary take charge of the situation — with Branson offering the sensible advice that Rose talk to Atticus before doing anything rash.
Meanwhile, Baxter, Molesley and Daisy take a trip to a museum together. As they’re walking back through the park they come upon Rose and Atticus talking with each other, though they don’t stick around to find out more. Baxter hints to Mr. Molesley that she’d be open to marriage. Season 6 may just be weddings galore at the rate we’re going!
Following his meeting with Rose, Atticus confronts his father about the staged photographs. Lord Sinderby gives Atticus his word that it wasn’t him who concocted the plan to “expose” his indiscretions to Lady Rose — he gives his disapproval freely about the match, saying that while Rose is a lovely girl, it will dilute the heritage of their family line.
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
Daisy, impassioned by her trip to the museum with Baxter and Mr. Molesley, decides that London is a better place for her to be — surrounded by art, history, and culture — and informs Mrs. Patmore that she’ll be handing in her notice. Mrs. Patmore is visibly upset by the news. Daisy has become her surrogate daughter over the years, so we can hardly blame her reaction.
After the news of the photographs reaches Shrimpie, he immediately knows who is responsible for it. His soon-to-be ex-wife, Susan. He challenges her on it, and threatens her that if she does a thing to ruin Rose’s happiness with Atticus he will make it known that it was her fault. She doesn’t seem curtailed in the slightest.
Speaking to Lady Mary, Branson makes it known that he intends to go ahead with his plan to move to America to start a new life with Sybbie. It won’t happen immediately, however, and agrees to stay until Christmas. We’re not ready for crying painful tears into our wine on Christmas day, Tom.
Though Mr. Carson covers for her with the Dowager Countess, Denker’s true nature finally comes screaming out. She returns to the house drunk, and makes a scene in the kitchens. Barrow, as he does, finds out that Denker has been using Andy’s money to gamble. He insists he’s coming along next time and that Andy will enjoy himself more.
Objections?
Mrs. Flintshire refuses to give up without a fight. After Lord Sinderby admitted that divorce is one of his most hated things, she tells him that she and Shrimpie are in the process of one. She makes sure to highlight that their names will be splashed across the papers, and tarnish theirs in return. Lady Sinderby, however, is having none of that nonsense. She thanks Mrs. Flintshire for the forewarning, and tells Atticus’ father that if he puts a stop to the wedding that she will leave him. And then they’ll have a scandal.
We’re going to be seeing more of her in season 6, right?
At the reception, Lord Gillingham and Mabel Lane Fox turn up hand in hand, and Lord Grantham laments on what a handsome couple he and Mary would have made. Gillingham and Mary have time to properly wish each other well, and we find out that he and Mabel plan to marry in December. That Christmas special is about to get awfully crowded.
A rather intolerant woman approaches Lord and Lady Grantham, and commends them on putting on a brave face regarding Rose marrying a Jewish man. Cora puts her down pretty soundly by reminding the woman that her own father was Jewish, and it was a beautiful moment. The ladies of the household were killing it in this finale.
Cuff ’em
Of course, the episode couldn’t end in happiness for everyone. The officer from Scotland Yard comes to the house to arrest Anna, after she was identified from the line up as the woman standing by Mr. Green before he “fell” into oncoming traffic. The whole household is, understandably, shocked. Lady Mary insists on calling up her lawyer to represent Anna, as she’s taken away to the station.
Meanwhile, Barrow heads out with Denker and Andy. At the club, he manages to win back the money that Denker conned from the temporary footman, and exposes her to the manager as pulling tricks in order to get free drinks. That was very well played, Thomas, if we do say so ourselves.
Back at Downton, the war memorial is unveiled, and Lord Grantham reveals that he’s had an individual stone memorial commissioned for Mrs. Patmore’s nephew, Archie. She’s very obviously touched by the gesture, and we’re glad that this plot (at least) had a happy resolution. Whilst walking with Mr. Mason and Daisy — who pay tribute to Mr. Mason’s son, William — it’s revealed that Daisy won’t be going to London after all. At least not until she’s passed her exams.
As Robert looks over at Edith and Marigold, he finally realises what has been hiding under his nose the whole time — that Marigold looks like Michael Gregson. After that it takes very little to put two and two together. Cora convinces him to keep it a secret just a while longer, and Lord Grantham admits that he’s pleased to have another grandchild.
Everyone starts to make their way back to the house, and Mr. Carson puts it to Mrs. Hughes that they “must always travel in hope.” With Anna’s fate in the balance, we have to agree.