As usual, this recap contains spoilers from this weekend’s episode. Read at your own risk if you have not seen the episode.
Upstairs
Rose and Atticus are officially married. But before that, Atticus has his stag party. But just before he is ready to hit the sack, a woman enters his room and then walks out. The next day, Rose is sent the pictures. There are two suspects, both of whom do not want this marriage to happen: Atticus’s disapproving father and Rose’s nasty Debby Downer mother, Lady Susan. In discussing his future daughter in law with his son, Lord Sinderby uses the S word, shiksa. To a Jewish parent whose child is involved with someone who is not Jewish and is not happy about the relationship, that is the ultimate 4 letter word. But in the end, Rose’s wonderful father, Shrimpy steps in and confronts his ex-wife, who paid for the woman and the pictures. I’m genuinely happy for Rose, I hope they have a happy life together.
Atticus’s father disapproves of several things, one of which is Rose’s relationship with his son. He also disapproves of scandal and divorce, both which have come into the room when the knowledge that Shrimpy and Susan’s marriage has ended. Atticus’s mother, being the sensible, reasonable and loving mother that she is, tells her husband that if he prevents their son’s marriage, she will leave him and create a real scandal, fast. That shut him up.
Robert, despite his traditional facade, is not as traditional as he thinks he is. When playing chutes and ladders on the floor with Sybbie, he admits that his father would not have not done the same with his daughters. He finally comes out of his haze and realizes that Marigold is his grandchild. And, to his credit, he gives Mrs. Patmore’s nephew a fitting tribute.
The will they/wont they saga of Mary and Tony Gillingham is over. Tony and Mabel have resumed their engagement and have set a date. Mary admits that Tony was good when she needed him, but it was not meant to be. Matthew Goode will having a guest spot during next week’s finale, which means that even with Tony out of the picture, Mary will continue to have men at her beck and call.
Will true love conquer all for both Isobel and Violet? The engagement between Isobel and Lord Merton, now referred to as Dickie continues, but with sons like his, it will be a fight to the finish. Prince Kuragin, despite the fact that his wife is still potentially alive, tells Violet that he wants to spend whatever time he has left with her. Then he plants himself down on the couch and looks like he will not move until he gets an answer. Violet looks surprised at the suddenness and stubbornness of his proposal.
Edith looks finally happy. She has her publishing company and her daughter, both of who come from her late boyfriend.
Tom seems like he is ready to move to Boston with his daughter. His cousin proposes that they go into business together. Mary admits that she may be a bit lonely without Tom and Rose.
And finally, during wedding party, one of the guests comes up to Cora and Robert and makes a comment about Rose marrying into a Jewish family. Without cracking, Cora tells the woman that her father was Jewish. Score one for the countess.
Downstairs
Julian Fellows seems to have a sadistic streak with the Bates’s more than he does with Edith. While the rule for on screen relationships is that happiness turns away viewers, what he did to them this week blew my mind. Anna is arrested for killing Mr. Green and taken away in handcuffs in front of entire household (No!!!! Sob!!!). Mrs. Hughes tried to interject when the police came to the London house to question Anna, but she was rebuffed.
I am convinced that Baxter and Moleseley cannot linger in this awkward, but comfortable platonic state forever. If I could ask one thing of Julian Fellows for series six, I would ask him to get these two together.
After seeing the possibilities that London has to offer, Daisy gets a bee in her bonnet to leave Downton (and Mrs. Patmore specifically) and find another job. In a very surprising show of emotion, Mrs. Patmore admits that Daisy has become more than just an assistant cook to her.
Thomas is proving to be one of the most interesting characters in the Downton Abbey arsenal. One moment you think he is an a**hole, then the next moment, he is saving a young, naive and temporary footman from the conniving claws of Miss Denker, who continues in her merry war with Mr. Spratt.
Analysis
This is the next to last episode of the season. Story lines are being tied up, but just enough to lead into the final episode of the series and into series six. While some story lines are getting old (i.e. Robert and Carson moaning on how times have changed or Poor Edith), I feel satisfied with the the series up to this point.
Dowager Moment Of The Week
While Maggie Smith always gets more than her fair share of smart lines (and for good reason), Violet’s shock and momentary silence of Prince Kuragin’s proposal is my Dowager moment of the week.
Writergurlny 