Downton Abbey 3.04

Tom shows up at Downton Abbey alone when he is wanted by the Irish police for allegedly instigating the arson of an aristocrat’s home.

So why weren’t they all over this episode, Fellowes? You have some explaining to do… I only care about the Bransons and Edith, really.

I’m going to start out by saying that there was waaaay too much Bates storyline in this episode. I think the Bates storyline should just hurry up and get finished. I honestly don’t care about Bates in prison. I don’t even know what’s going on in prison. I just to know who killed Vera and why.

I really didn’t like Ethel, but I was so sad when she gave her son away. But I thought her scenes were over-long.

So, to what I really care about.

Sybil’s phone call was so mysterious. I love her. When Tom came in and Robert was yelling at him, all I could think was “Stuff it, Robert.” Everytime Tom was on screen I started to cry. Tom and Sybil is my OTP, and I cannot stand it when they are unhappy. When Tom started sobbing in the bedroom (what used to be Sybil’s and is now their bedroom), I just lost it. It’s obvious he loves her so much.

Before anyone tells me how much they hate Tom. I’ll reproduce for you what I posted in the comments on a Radio Times review of the episode:

Ireland is to Tom what Downton Abbey is to Mary. And Tom would never really leave Sybil and their (not just her, their) child in the end. He may consider it for a moment, but in the end Tom would choose Sybil over politics. The scene where he is sobbing in their bedroom is indicative of how much he loves her. And remember that he just received news that he cannot return home, ever. He is upset, he is angry. He isn’t thinking very rationally at the moment. Once he has time to sleep on it and think, he’ll make the better decision in the end: staying at Downton for the safety of Sybil and their child. When he is in Ireland, he is willing to risk his life for a better Ireland for his family. When he is forced to stay in England, it is better to stay and bear with the humiliation for his family. He’ll probably make the latter choice, based on his track record.

And about Tom attending all those meetings and burning homes. He really should have told Sybil, but then he probably knew she wouldn’t agree with it and did not want to upset his pregnant wife. What else are you going to do when the English are burning the farmer’s homes. Fellowes isn’t doing a very good job with this storyline: he only gives the English point of view and shoves the Irish to the side. He’s basically saying, “Oh, why can’t the Irish just get over it.” There’s a lot of historical context and reasoning behind what Tom and the Irish are doing, but Fellowes isn’t letting any of it breathe.

But Tom is naive and he probably honestly thought there wouldn’t be any chance of people getting hurt. He may know the world is harsh, but he doesn’t really understand how harsh other people can be. This is the guy who thought the Romanov family wouldn’t get shot, and he has displayed an aversion to violence. Tom does feel guilty, yes. But that’s because he’s beginning to realize that he cannot fully support the actions needed to gain Irish independence, but he desperately wants Irish independence and cannot let Ireland languish under English rule. It’s another contradiction in his heart, which the official descriptions are always talking about. He opposes aristocracy yet loves an aristocrat; he desperately wants Irish independence yet he cannot bring himself to support all of the methods needed to get it.

And about “abandoning” Sybil. They had a plan. She knew she was going to be by herself in Ireland for about a day. The plan was Tom leaves for Downton, she locks up the flat and follows on the next boat (or whatever it was). You can tell they discussed this because she’s not as upset as she should’ve been. And they mentioned that they planned for this. And please, Sybil can take care of herself. She doesn’t need Tom to defend and protect her all the time. He wouldn’t have married her if she did. He hasn’t abandoned anyone yet. He’s still at Downton, and we know he’ll be around next episode.

But Sybil did not know he went to those meetings. It was so heartwarming when they had that reunion kiss. He cried (the ugly kind) right through. Afterward, he just collapsed into sobbing in her arms. He couldn’t stop touching her afterward. He just kept reaching out and touching her.Hand holding is kind of their thing, and they’re always stroking each other’s cheeks. But when she learns he was attending those meetings, she dropped his hand. SHE DROPPED HIS HAND. DROPPED. IT. And he just looks at her. And looks so sad. DFKLJSLDKFBALJSD.

I am upset that this Irish question storyline is a mess. It is out of character for Tom to blatantly disrespect Sybil by not telling her. Especially since this involves burning down the house of an aristocrat. This is something that Sybil would relate to. She would identify. It’s almost like Tom is supporting the arson of Downton. And it’s horrible how Irish republican inevitably comes around to violent.

The kiss in their bedroom makes me believe that he will be forgiven. I can deal with this particular kiss. Here, Tom wanted to go back to Ireland, even if it meant he would be arrested. At the very least, he wanted Sybil to go back so their child would be born in Ireland.

This tells me that Tom is going to just stop arguing about the fact that Sybil is going to have their baby in England. This tells me he is going to make the prudent decision. This makes me happy.

Sybil argues that he must stay in England for their child. And she will not endanger herself and their child by going back to Ireland. Tom, as of this very moment, cannot promise her that he will stay. But he nods and kisses her as a way of saying that he will consider it and will definitely think about it. The next morning, he’s calmly having breakfast with Robert, Matthew, and Edith. I think that means he’s decided to stay.

But the problem is that every argument in the series ends in a kiss. I’m looking at you Mary and Matthew… You just can’t do that.

But I see so much Tom and Robert tension for the future. Especially with Robert and Carson putting down the Catholics, and Tom is Catholic! Can you be anymore obvious, Fellowes?

So, the other thing I care about: Edith. I’m so happy that she’s doing something. She’s written to the newspapers in support of more widespread women’s suffrage. Edith points out that she cannot vote because she’s not a thirty+ landowner. Tom and Matthew are so proud of her.

I still think Allen Leech is better looking… From the Downton Abbey wikia. Originally from the series 3 press pack.

And Mrs Hughes and her toaster were so cute. But I was really annoyed when she accidentally burned the bread and there was smoke everywhere, Mr Carson comments to her that he thought Tom was burning Downton down. Fellowes, that is low.

And Jimmy is adorable. But he’s a bit full of himself. Thomas is quite attracted to

Hot damn.

him though, and I’m excited for that storyline. I personally think Allen Leech (who plays Tom) is better looking than Ed Speleers (who plays Jimmy). My sister does not agree. But Tom in his pyjamas, hot damn. Were you always this smoking hot?

And I really see some potential for Robert and Matthew tension. Matthew learns that the estate is being mismanaged, but Robert sees no cause for concern. And additionally, both Robert and Tom see Matthew as an ally. There is definitely some conflict between Robert and Tom in the future and Matthew will be dragged into it. This will probably happen over breakfast or dinner I guess.

But I really am upset that Sybil and Tom, Edith, and Jimmy were sacrificed for the dead Bates storyline.

Preview stuff, predictions for the future, and more Tom and Sybil feels (like there isn’t enough on this blog already) will be in another post.