DOWNTON ABBEY: Series Six, Episode One {RECAP}

Downton Abbey returned to American television for its final series tonight and started off with over an hour of the usual drama of the Crawley family and their staff.

For ease of all of these recaps, each story of a character stands alone, though we know that most of them overlap to a large degree. Therefore please read after watching each episode.

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We’re in 1925 in this final season of Downton and it looks as though the Granthams are all well.

The hunt is on and a strange woman is around, looking evil, especially at Mary. Turns out she was a chambermaid at the hotel that Mary and Gillingham were at last year and she wants money to keep quiet about the affair. The woman,Ms. Bevin, comes again – lying by saying she works for the Dowager – and tries one more time to get the money from Mary. Ms. Bevin comes a third time and this time Lord Grantham pays the woman to leave them all alone. But Mary does get a happy ending – Lord Grantham had her sign a confession with only a small payment – and Mary also gets more support for running the estate for her fortitude in dealing with this woman.

Except that the house is out more staff than ever – no kitchen maid or house maids soon – and they should cut out Barrow’s position if they want to be more economical. The Dowager does sort of understand what the needs of a new generation are, which is more progressive than her opinions on other matters. However, telling Danker about the potential downsizing doesn’t go as the Dowager would have liked. Danker does come to visit and spread her supposed secret.

More downstairs troubles: Mrs. Hughes is worried about being a virgin at her age and what that will entail when she finally marries Mr. Carson. But it has to be said so delicately as we are in 1925, and the conversation is between Mrs.Hughes and Mrs. Patmore. Worrying about her virginity is what is keeping Mrs. Hughes from setting a date and now it’s Mrs. Patmore’s job to find out if that is going to worry Mr. Carson. Mrs. Patmore’s conversation is awkward, as you can expect, but it doesn’t give her hope that Mrs. Hughes will have an easy time in this marriage. At least after a day, Mr. Carson knows what has Mrs. Hughes unsure, and he’ll want a full marriage. Hopefully that isn’t a stopping point for them. Good thing it isn’t a hang-up for either of them and there’s a wedding downstairs to keep the house lively.

Edith is having troubles with her editor – he doesn’t seem to like her – but she won’t give up. She thinks about it more as she thinks about letting Michael Gregson’s flat, and she can’t put her mind to what she actually wants in life. Edith seems to think that she’ll not be in Yorkshire long as the family goes to look at a neighboring

The Dowager is up in arms because the York hospital wants to take over the smaller Downton hospital. It is causing a rift in the family as Isobel is in change of the finances and Lady Grantham just wants to do what is best for everyone, regardless of who has power and control. Dr. Clarkson is worried that the York hospital will take what it wants and leave nothing behind, but he can’t persuade Isobel to his cause. Lady Grantham is siding with Isobel on this one and oh boy! There’s a fight in the future.

Anna’s been feeling off, and it turns out that she keeps losing pregnancies in the first few months – and it has happened to her before – and she worries that she’ll never be able to give Bates a child. That doesn’t help matters when Sergeant Willis also comes with news of another woman who has come forward to say she killed Mr. Green. Why can’t this story line end? Oh wait, it might, the woman’s confession can be corroborated and both the Bates are in the clear.

Tom is doing well in Boston, it seems, and in his absence, Mary is going to take up being Agent of the estate. Rose is also fine in New York, so we know the American side of Downton is okay.

Mason, Daisy’s father-in-law, is nervous about his place now that his landlords are selling. Daisy isn’t happy with the prospect of him being forced out of his home. There are now new owners of the house but that won’t stop Daisy’s ire at the idea of being forced out. She lashes out at the new owners and how unfair it is to see history and hard work sold with no gratitude to the tenets given.