Downton Abbey Series 5 Episode 2 Recap: Bye Bye Jimmy And The Not So Secret Secrets

Like all recaps, these posts contain spoilers from Sunday’s episode. Read at your own risk if you have not see the episode.

Upstairs

Mary is chugging ahead with her plans to go away with her semi boyfriend Tony Gillingham. She tells her family that is going away for a “sketching holiday” with a female friend.  I doubt that she will need her pencils and sketchbook. Before she goes away, she asks Anna to pick her up a little something to make sure that baby#2 does not come. When buying birth control Anna has to prove that she is not a slut by loudly announcing that she is married. The night before Mary is supposed to leave for her “sketching holiday” Charles Blake returns, they have a very interesting conversation on love and sex.

Mrs. Drewe is become increasingly suspicious about Edith’s curious interest in Marigold. I would think the same thing if I were in her shoes.

An art historian, Simon Bricker (Richard E Grant) has come to the Downton to examine a painting.  His interest lies beyond the painting (and towards the lady of the house) while her husband  is oblivious.

Speaking of Robert, the idea that Tom might take up with Miss Bunting and return to his old ways does not make the lord of the manor happy. Adding to the unease is the idea that Carson is heading the committee to build the war memorial instead of traditionally deferring to the Earl.

Rose, like many young people, is interested in the latest and greatest. To her, that is the wireless. Robert has to be eased (as he does into many things that modern) into the idea of bringing a radio into Downton.

Violet continues with her Emma like meddling and matching making with Isobel, Lord Merton and Dr. Clarkson.

Downstairs

After discovering Jimmy has been discovered in bed with Lady Anstruther, his pretty boy backside is out of Downton. Thomas admits to Anna that he and Jimmy had something going on, despite their history.

Mr. Carson is as bothered by Miss Bunting as Robert is. Daisy continues with her lessons with Miss Bunting.

Anna and Mrs. Hughes discover Edith’s broken heart when they begin to clean up her room.

Miss Baxter tells Mr. Molesley about her past. Mr. Molesley does not believe that everything she is saying is the truth.

Policemen come to the servants hall to investigate the mysterious death of Mr. Green last season.  Does this pose trouble Anna and Bates?

Analysis

I like the way the season is progressing. If the theme of this season is secrets, there is more than enough to keep the storyline going.

Dowager Line Of The Week– Unfortunately, I don’t have one. But I am so thrilled that Joanne Froggatt won the Golden Globe on Sunday for best supporting actress. It was well deserved.

 

Advertisement

Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread Book Review

The timeless themes of Persuasion are love, loss and moving on from the emotional wounds of the past.

Mary Jane Hathaway’s new book, Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin’ Cornbread (Jane Austen Takes the South), transports Jane Austen’s final and most romantic novel from early 19th century England to a modern day small town in the South.

Lucy Crawford is a member of a very prestigious and wealthy family. But with a dead mother, a spendthrift father and a crumbling antebellum mansion, her life is not all peaches and cream.  Jeremiah Chevy has risen above his wrong side of the tracks, born to a teenage mother childhood. Ten years ago, Lucy and Jeremiah were young and in love. But Lucy’s father and aunt did not think that Jeremiah was not good enough for her.

Cut to 10 years later. Jeremiah is a successful doctor. The clinic he is working in needs more space. Lucy’s Aunt Olympia, who convinced Lucy to end the relationship ten years ago, suggests that the clinic move into the Crawford mansion to help with the financial costs of maintaining the property. Can Lucy and Jeremiah get back together or will their relationship remain as it was?

I very much enjoyed this book. While the core of the was Persuasion, it was still unique enough to be a stand alone novel.  What I also liked was that the author gave the reader a peak into the mind of her leading man. In Persuasion, most of the novel is through Anne’s eyes. It was a nice change to be able to know what Jeremiah is thinking and feeling.

I recommend this book.

Where Were You, President Obama?

In response to the murders of 17 French citizens last week in Paris, world leaders came together in a show of unity against terrorism.

Where were you, President Obama?

Every other president and major political leader was there. Even Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was in attendance (His presence on Sunday, I believe to be questionable, but that is another topic for another time).

The fact that there was no American presence in Paris sends the world a very bad and dangerous signal.

Your very lucky that the twenty second amendment exists. Otherwise I have a feeling that this would be your second and final presidential term.

Now This Is A Politician

In response to the murders of 17 French citizens last week, Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands made the following statement on television:

“if you do not like freedom, in Heaven’s name pack your bag and leave,”

Now this is a politician. This is a man who respects his country, his city, the citizens who elected him into office and the culture that opened their arms to him. While he remains true to who he is and what he believes, he stands up for the laws of his adopted country and his fellow citizens, even if they disagree with him.

If only the big man in the white house would do the same.