DOWNTON ABBEY: Change Must Occur {Recap}

Life at Downton is full of new ups and downs, as is always the case in the grand house in the 1920s. The first Labour government has been elected into Parliament and it brings about many changes in the house – both upstairs and downstairs.

Let’s start downstairs first and then move up:

Daisy has so much optimism about the Labour government and also wonders about life in the 1950s. It makes her want to better herself, and so she starts to look into coursework in maths so that she has more skills than just her cooking. It’s a struggle until Miss Bunting from the school offers to help tutor Daisy.

Thomas is still after Miss Baxter for what she knows of the Bates and as only he can do, all but forces Miss Baxter to tell Lady Grandtham that in a previous house, Baxter stole jewelry and then went to jail for three years. Lady Cora can’t tell what to do with Baxter and so her job is in limbo until Cora comes to a decision. Barrow’s put out by the fact that he can’t hold his knowledge over her anymore, and still looks like he wants to cause trouble. Even though Cora was bothered by Barrow knowing of Baxter’s past, his saving Edith from the fire allows him to stay on.

Jimmy can’t seem to escape his old mistress, Lady Anstruther, and when she comes to visit, everything goes wrong. They’re caught in flagrante, and soon Jimmy leave the house. Barrow has no one else to scheme with now, and that’s probably for the best.

Carson, rather than Lord Grantham, is asked to chair a village committee on erecting a memorial to The Great War.

Over at the Dowager’s home, Spratt is also having trouble not showing his disdain for Dr. Clarkson by not wanting to serve him. Please let all the staff know their proper place, if not for the family’s sake, but for the viewers.

However, upstairs (or in the village), life is still anything but simple.

Edith’s daughter Marigold – now staying with the Drewes – is growing up well, but Edith might be stopping by to visit too often. Mrs. Drewe worries about what will happen if Edith ever tires of Marigold then what will happen. Mr Drewe and Edith try to find a way to let her tell the truth but without telling the truth. Right away, this idea sounds horrible and won’t go how anyone wants. Coupling that with Mrs. Hughes finding Mr. Gregson’s old book puts Edith in a foul mood. Throwing his book towards the fire, but not making it, also means the house is on edge after the large party and Edith is nearly killed.

Isobel – after so many years of being ignored – is being chased by Lord Merton. The Dowager has been setting up luncheons to help Lord Merton’s case, but with limited success right now.

Mary still has too many suitors with both Mr Blake and Lord Gillingham making their intentions known. Lord Gillingham keeps coming to visit and over one dinner convinces Mary to spend a week with him where they can find out if they are compatible.

However, Tom’s fling with Miss Bunting, the school teacher, doesn’t bring out the best in anyone. At the Grandtham’s anniversary dinner, she’s invited and makes a point of disagreeing with Lord Grantham at almost every turn. Lord Grantham was already bothered by their relationship before, but now it’s more distasteful.

Downton Abbey airs on Sundays at 9PM Eastern/8PM Central on PBS.