Downton Abbey 3.02

I would much rather have a Sybil and Branson in bed scene than a Mary and Matthew one. (Screepcap from the series three premiere)

I couldn’t take this episode seriously. But I can’t really say I tried, I spent most of my time pining for a Branson and Sybil scene (which I knew wasn’t going to happen this episode), fruitlessly hoping for Edith and Evelyn to get together, and wishing Sir Carlisle would make a cameo and be all “I don’t care what anyone thinks because I’m more awesome!” If you can’t tell, I like Sir Carlisle.

So, Mary and Matthew have returned from their honeymoon in the South of France. And it seems they bought a car. With what money, I have no idea seeing as Lord Grantham lost all the money and Downton Abbey may have to be sold. I could care less about the car. And as cute as their “waking up in bed together” and “going to sleep together” scenes are, I couldn’t help but wish they were Sybil and Branson’s scenes. I know Mary and Matthew is the ship that guides the fleet, but Sybil and Branson have been married since before the Christmas Special, and we didn’t see the wedding, they only get one cute scene, and the rest is mostly Sybil and Branson trying to weather all of the mean-spirited guests, the “Branson is not an aristocrat” digs, and the “Branson we don’t want to hear any more of your politics” looks.

Honestly, I find this whole Lavinia’s father’s inheritance plotline to be really tiresome. Matthew doesn’t want to take the money, but Mary wants him to take the money because she’ll lose Downton if he doesn’t. Matthew’s view on the matter, which I swear has been stated eight times since the series three premiere, just make me roll my eyes and wish for  a scene change. With those kinds of principles, he’s going to sink. Fast. On the other hand, Mary annoys be just as much. I couldn’t stand how her every conversation with Matthew this episode was, “Take and money and save Downton.” And she doesn’t even want Downton to survive to save her father from humiliation or to prevent the servants from losing their jobs. She basically wants Downton for herself. That’s what the whole show’s been about. She’s losing Downton in series one, and she’s finally got it in series three by marrying Matthew, but now she’s losing it again because her father is an idiot.  I could care less about the whole situation. They should just skip to the part why they resign themselves to adapting and they move into a smaller house, just as the Americans, Cora and Martha, suggested.

Or maybe Sir Carlisle should just drive up and say, “I paid Downton’s debts, but now that means the place is mine. Get out, all of you.”

I’m not even going to comment on the whole Americans issue and the win Martha over with excess plan. I was already tired of it when last week’s preview mentioned it.

Really, I’m tired of Mary and Matthew’s disagreements. When Sybil and Branson disagree, it’s all good because they don’t seem on the verge of ending their marriage. And the two of them, though they try to change the other’s opinions, like the fact that they disagree. Sybil and Branson wouldn’t have it any other way. And they respect each other’s principles and opinions. They understand that the other have needs. Mary is just bulldozing over everything Matthew wants and needs and over his opinions. But I’ll stop talking about that.

As much as I don’t want Edith to marry Sir Strallan (I really want her to marry Evelyn), I have to concede that it’s a good deal. If she wants to marry him, there isn’t a obvious reason why she shouldn’t. Lord Grantham let Sybil marry a chauffeur, so why can’t Edith marry a gentleman? And Edith is right when she says that Lord Grantham is shallow. I think they just agreed to get married, as evidenced by the not-so-ambiguous conversation. I expect they’ll announce it next episode. Will Lord Grantham fight against it? *overly dramatic gasp* Probably not.

I’ll just say it here. Mrs Hughes is going to die. The executive producer stated that a major character was going to get killed off (Source: Orlando Sentinel, Zap2it). I originally thought it was going to be Branson with his political opinions landing him in some trouble and getting him killed in a riot or murdered by another political group.  But now Mrs Hughes found a lump in her breast and there’s a chance it might be cancer. Dr Clarkson says it’s unlikely. Later in the episode, Dr Clarkson says the tests are inconclusive. Let’s face it, Dr Clarkson is the most incompetent doctor ever to appear in a drama. Exhibit A: the Spanish flu last series finale, couldn’t recognize depression midway through series two, would’ve let a patient die because he didn’t want to do a modern medical technique in series one. If Dr Clarkson says it’s unlikely Mrs Hughes will get cancer, that means there’s a one hundred and twenty percent chance she’ll get cancer. Just because I saw it coming doesn’t mean I’m not going to cry when she dies.

Random thoughts:

• I miss Branson and Sybil. I literally jumped at any couple that remotely looked like them.
• I want more Branson and Matthew bromance.
• I couldn’t take the whole lack of white ties and missing dress shirts thing seriously. Maybe because I’m American? I dunno.
• And Alfred and Miss Reed’s romance made me roll my eyes.
• ETHEL! I never really felt anything for her before.
• “It’s on the menus. I don’t write them for my own enjoyment.” Sometimes, Mr Carson, I think you do.
• This episode, my favorite character is Isis, the dog. She was so cute this episode. She’s actually my third favorite character (after Branson and Sybil). She never causes trouble. Well, that one time was actually Thomas’s fault.
• I couldn’t get over how ridiculous, both in looks and actions, Martha is. I know they can’t help but make Americans out to be the mean people here, but really?
• Crack ship of the day: Violet and Martha.

Thoughts on the preview (Well, below is a commercial, so it’s not the same)

• Below is the series three trailer. It’ll help with some of my comments.

• I guess Edith and Strallan are getting married. I’m happy something is finally about her too. She wanted to desperately to get married. Look at her when the girls were getting Mary ready for the wedding. She felt so left out. However, the series three trailer has a wedding veil falling. Is that bad?
• “Of all of them, Strallan is the most traditional choice.” Does Edith have other suitors? Because I did not know these people existed. And Violet is obviously not happy about the match.
• Woo. Matthew does get the inheritance. So Mary and Matthew argue some more about it. Not looking forward to that.
• Yes! Sybil and Branson show up. You can see them in the corner of the picnic shot. Those outfits match the ones the Bransons were wearing in promo photos! Sybil has the most adorable baby bump! She’s rubbing her bump! Gah! I want adorable Branson family scenes. The series three trailer had a two second scene where a tearful Branson and Sybil run to each other and kiss. That’s going to kill me. They’re going to have an awesome storyline this series.
• “Downton Place.” They sold. They have to leave, because it’s final. Awkward considering Branson and Sybil are coming back when they downgrade from castle to mansion. And the Bransons can barely keep themselves afloat.
• Apparently someone is more than fashionably late for Edith’s wedding. Strallan? Because he’s not in the wedding photo? Lordy, Fellowes, Edith deserves better than that.
• And it is cancer.