DOWNTON ABBEY: Images Are Not Always as They Seem

As has been of late, this episode and recap discuss the aftermath of a sexual assault. If you find this triggering, please do not read further.

While last week felt like a lull before the end of the season, this week ramps up everything that’s been floating around into a series of burning fires that don’t seem to be quick to put out.

There’s news on the side of Mr. Napier returning to Downton with his boss, Mr. Blake. It seems that they will be around soon enough, and that is a good thing for Mary to focus on. Of course while she’s focusing on that, Edith has no news from Michael, and starts to worry more than seems reasonable. News also arrives that Cora’s brother, Harold, has had some financial difficulties in America. Robert sounds disinterested, but it might be cause for concern later.

By the end of the episode, however, Edith has to worry about the lack of news of Michael – everyone seems to think that he’s gone missing. Even though she won’t reveal that she’s pregnant to anyone, the two details are weighing heavily on her mind.

Despite being rejected in the last episode, Alfred has been offered a place at the Ritz course – as the fifth candidate – which he takes happily. Daisy and Ivy are still fighting over Alfred, even as Jimmy tries to put the moves on Ivy too. At least she has the sense to reject his advances. Molesley comes back to the house as a footman, even though he was being cautious about his new full-time employment.

Rose has her plan for Robert’s birthday party, and asks Cora who is better at keeping a secret. Rose’s secret is a band she wants to bring, that Mrs. Hughes would have to watch and look after before the show and after. I think seeing Jack Ross might be too much of a shock, even for Carson, though. One awkward question to Mr. Ross by Carson sets things off a bit, but it all ends up for the best because Mr. Ross is the sort of man who doesn’t easily shocked.

Isobel and Violet continue to fight, yet again over young Peg, who seems to always been in the Dowager’s parlor when items go missing. Too bad neither of them really wins the argument – wounded egos are not much of a prize.

Anna and Bates decide to go out to dinner one night, as they need time to reacquaint themselves with each other. Anna’s still having trouble not thinking about her rape, but thinks a night out will be what she needs to reconnect with her husband. They share a very awkward dinner at a local hotel, with help from Lady Cora. But at the end, Cora also hears just a bit about Anna’s troubles and doesn’t know what to do.

When Napier and Blake arrive, it turns out that they aren’t in Yorkshire to help save landed estates from financial ruin, but instead are looking into how the failing estates might affect food supply. Mary and Blake have a series of tete-a-tetes that might be the death of the estate, or it could be something else all together. Blake doesn’t think that Mary will fight for the land.

The musical surprise from Rose hits Robert with a bit of a shock, but he recovers quickly and likes that it’s different. Jazz at Downton is a nice chance of pace, and a sign that change can happen, even there. Even the Dowager joins in with the fun. Robert and Mary at least want to pay for the evening. That news is delivered while Rose and Mr. Ross were making out, and oh what a scandal that could be.